What is the Kawasaki Versys 1000?
The Kawasaki Versys 1000 is a series of adventure-touring motorcycles that Kawasaki has produced since 2012. The bike's name, Versys, is a derivative of the name “VERsatile SYStems” - although there is the hint of this bike enjoying its moniker in another way, as a bike “versus” the rest of the competition.
Having introduced the Versys 650 a few years earlier, Kawasaki wanted to expand their market by offering the family of riders who had cut their teeth on the smaller bike something larger. The company succeeded in retaining its market share and attracting a host of new owners by building what many people believe is the best value in the class. While the Versys 1000 may not have had all the dynamics of other companies’ motorcycles, the bike has continued to be an excellent basic touring bike for the money.
For 2022, the Versys is powered by the 1043cc in-line four cylinders producing 120 hp, which is more than enough power for the touring rider. While the engine is not as powerful as the Harley Pan American, the bike still is a refined ride. The bike handles well on long trips, with plenty of grip when accelerating or braking. While the performance of the bike is admirable, the bike tends to handle straightaways better than the imperfections of highways that many touring bikes face. In other words, the bike likes the open road as long as it is smooth pavement. Bumps and hard surfaces not as much.
The bike's appearance is very badass, and the 2022 version successfully promotes that image. The bike is offered in three colors, Metallic Gray and two versions of Metallic Black. (Diablo and Flat-Spark). The lines are sleek and athletic, as you might expect from a sport bike. Kawasaki has succeeded, whereas other companies have failed, in making an adventure-touring bike that looks as sexy as any other bike on the market.
There are many electronic add-ons that the Versys is equipped with, like traction control, cruise control, ABS, and driving modes. There is even Bluetooth connectivity on the bike. While the driver assists are excellent, making the journey more comfortable, they have also succeeded in elevating the bike's price to over 18 grand. (This price puts it on par with the Pan American or even more than the BMW XR TE). If Kawasaki truly wants to keep their bike as the reasonable alternative to everything else in the field, it might want to reconsider the amount of bang for the buck they are offering. If they aren’t careful, they will price themselves right out of the market they have been grooming and satisfying for over a decade.
What are the Best Tires for a Kawasaki Versys 1000 LT?
There are various manufacturers who build tires for the adventure-touring class of motorcycles. Here are some of our favorites.
Pirelli Angel GT II
Pirelli has been making quality tires for years. The Angel GT is the best of the bunch. The first GT was an excellent tire, but the folks at Pirelli made it better. This is a top-rated tire on several websites.
Using a new compound, Pirelli sought to make a tire that could last the duration of lots of use, improve grip on wet surfaces particularly, and maintain some comfort for its riders. Knowing that more and more bikes were adding driver assist aids like traction control, it needed a tire that could handle the sudden input of power that traction control might give to a tire that might be slipping.
The new tread pattern provides excellent water evacuation from the front tire. The large center strip of the rear tire is paralleled by two long-running grooves, which help keep the water away from the base of the tire and allow more grip on road surfaces. During a turn, the tire holds well and provides the necessary traction for powering through curves.
The ride is comfortable but firm and not like stiffer tires that might make the bike's handling awkward. A rider won't have to fight the bike's weight when heavily loaded, which I suspect, Pirelli had on their minds, knowing that riders would most likely load their bikes down with additional weight.
Pirelli is an Italian tire manufacturer that has been in business since 1871 and is based out of Milan. The company makes tires for many racing applications, both motorcycle and Formula One. Recently, Pirelli sold a majority share of their company to China Chemical, but at present, it has no plans to stop making tires.
Rating
The tires have a 4.9 rating on Amazon.
Load and Speed (58 - front; 73 - rear)
- The load limit for the front tire of the Pirelli Angel GT is 520 lbs.
- The load limit for the rear tire is 73, which is 805 lbs.
- This tire's speed rating is W, rated for 168 mph.
Pros
- A quality tire that is built to last a long time
- Excellent grip on dry or wet surfaces
- A rich tradition in the manufacture of motorcycle and racing tires.
- 4.9 stars on Amazon Website
Cons
- Built overseas
Price
- For more information, please see the manufacturer's website.
- Check on Today’s Price at revzilla.com
Michelin Road 5
Michelin decided to drop the Pilot from their successful Road series tire to convey a more balanced approach to an all-weather sport tire. This tire has been in production since 2019 and is one of Michelin's best-selling tires. The company uses a dual compound called 2CT for both the front and rear tires, which allows the tread to wear more evenly and maintain traction even after the tire begins to show signs of wear.
One of the most significant innovations in this tire’s design is how the siping is flared toward the outside. On most touring tires, the siping is a single slit and gets smaller and narrower as the tire wears, limiting the ability of the tire to move water off the surface of the road. Road 5 does quite the opposite. With spoon-like markings, the water rushes into the deep recesses of the siping, away from the center of the tire because the design of the grooves is more prominent toward the sidewall, and the water flows toward the side and off the tire.
Once again, this tire is a top staff pick at Revzilla and has a 4.9 rating on Amazon. It consistently makes many riders’ best-loved lists. While Michelin has come out with a sixth generation of the Road series, these Road 5s are still worth every penny.
Michelin is a French multinational that has been making tires since 1889. Today, the company has grown into a global giant, with 123 production centers in 26 countries and employing over 124,000 workers worldwide.
Rating
The tires have a 4.9 rating on Amazon.
Load and Speed (58 - front; 73 - rear)
- The load limit for the front tire of the Michelin is 520 lbs.
- The load limit for the rear tire is 73, which is 805 lbs.
- This tire's speed rating is W, rated for 168 mph.
Pros
- The unique compound holds well
- The award-winning grip on wet surfaces
- 2nd most prominent maker of tires
- Excellent tread wear
- 4.9 stars on Amazon Website
Cons
- Built overseas
Price
- For more information, please see the manufacturer's website.
- Check on Today’s Price at revzilla.com
Continental Road Attack 3
This tire is made in Germany at Hanover and is an excellent all-purpose touring tire. The Attack 3 has been around for five years and uses a single polymer compound to provide excellent grip on all surfaces. Using a technique called TractionSkin, the tire has a rough tread exterior designed to minimize the break-in period. (Other manufacturers often use a liquid-releasing agent to smooth and slice the tire's surface as it is popped out of the mold, but Conti has chosen not to, which makes the surface more sandpaper-like and improves the traction right out of the gate).
The best thing about the tire is the single compound rather than the dual used by many competitors. This means you get the same gripping force from the center as you would on the sides of the tire. (Imagine taking the tractional quotient on a hard turn and putting that into the center). Since most touring bikes spend most of their life on the center line, this added grip to the center improves wet surface control and provides additional mileage to the tire.
This tire is another of Revzilla’s favorites. It has a 4.9 rating on Amazon and is #17 on the Street Sport Motorcycle list.
Continental is a large conglomerate specializing in making tires. The company began in Hanover, Germany, in 1871, making small rubber products and bicycle tires. In 1904, the company was the first to offer grooved automobile tires, which had better grip and wear than smooth tires. Currently, Continental is one of the world's top five manufacturers of tires.
Rating
- The tire has a 4.9 rating on Revzilla.com
Load and Weight Limits
- The load rating for the front tire is 520 lbs.
- The load rating for the rear tire is 73 or 805 lbs.
- The max speed limit is W or 168 mph.
Pros
- A quality tire that can be used on the road or off-road
- Made by the largest maker of tires
- Number one replacement tire for stock Dunlops
Cons
- Tread seems to wear quickly
Price
- For more information, please visit the manufacturer’s website
- Check here for Today’s Price on revzilla.com
Metzeler Roadtec 01
Metzeler Roadtec 01
Riders wanting a balanced tire that can work for a daily driver should consider the Metzeler. These tires have been available for several years and are designed to increase tread life while maintaining a grip on all road surfaces. These tires use a different compound than the Interact tires that Metzeler is famous for, and the new composition makes for a striking difference in both mileage and wear. The Roadtec is very good on wet surfaces, with exceptional traction for both acceleration and stopping power.
The ride is comfortable, and the tire absorbs imperfections in the road, keeping the rider well-placed. The stiffer sidewalls provide good contact during turns, and the large contact patch of the center portion of the tread helps to provide the stability that the tire needs on long stretches of pavement. Metzeler is one of the most sought-after tires on the European market, and it could be that riders overseas are on to something.
Metzeler has a strong presence in Europe and currently only produces motorcycle tires. In 1986, the company was purchased by Pirelli, who has a long tradition of making quality tires.
Rating
The tires have a 4.7 on Revzilla.com.
Load and Speed (58 - front; 73 - rear)
- The load limit for the front tire of the Metzeler Roadtec 01 is 520 lbs.
- The load limit for the rear tire is 73, which is 805 lbs.
- This tire's speed rating is W, rated for 168 mph.
Pros
- Most popular in Europe
- Excellent tread wear
- 4.7 on Revzilla website
Cons
- Built overseas
Price
- For more information, please see the manufacturer's website.
- Check on Today’s Price at revzilla.com.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV Tires
The folks at Pirelli strike again in our list of the best tires for the Kawasaki. This is a great street touring tire made for where most touring riders spend most of their time on the pavement. The Diablo series has been around for twenty years, and this is the fourth generation of the tire, which has sold over 5 million tires since its introduction in 2002.
The Diablo Rosso IV offers a more significant contact surface than its predecessors, which provides a better grip. An improved compound helps in adhesion during turns. Whether the rider is aggressive or a gentle cruiser, the tire should hold up well regardless of how hard it gets pushed.
The Rosso IV has a unique tread pattern that helps shift water away from the tire. The faster the bike goes, the better the channeling effect away from the center strip. This is important since the weather can change quickly, particularly on a long trip.
As mentioned before, Pirelli is one of the more prominent manufacturers of tires in the world. Based out of Milan, the company continues to produce motorcycle tires for several racing applications. They have a wide variety of tires for the sport-touring market.
Rating
The tires have a 4.9 on Revzilla.com.
Load and Speed (54 - front; 73 - rear)
- The load limit for the front tire of the Pirelli Diablo Rosso is 520 lbs.
- The load limit for the rear tire is 75, which is 853 lbs.
- This tire's speed rating is W, rated for 168 mph.
Pros
- Great tire for the daily commuter
- Flash tread design
- Very popular tire for the last 20 years (Diablo family)
- Excellent tread wear
- 5.0 stars on Amazon Website
Cons
- Built overseas
- May wear prematurely as opposed to other brands
Price
- For more information, please see the manufacturer's website.
- Check on Today’s Price at revzilla.com.
Bridgestone Battlax Sport Touring T31
The T31 has been out for several years and demonstrates a good performance record. The tire has an attractive tread design, with long central siping leading to the outer edges. The grooves create excellent water-shedding ability, which is precisely what Bridgestone intended.
The grip is perfect on dry pavement, and a dual compound in the rear help keep the center of the tire planted on the pavement. While the company also improved the silica on the front tire, which aided adhesion, the tire doesn’t lack any confidence during a turn. It holds well even when a rider is aggressively powering through a curve.
Bridgestone merged with Firestone to form the largest tire company in the world. The company recently announced that it would increase its motorcycle tire production, so we expect its tires to dominate the market for quite some time.
Rating
The tires have a 4.5 on Revzilla.com.
Load and Speed (58 - front; 73 - rear)
- The load limit for the front tire of the Bridgestone T31 is 520 lbs.
- The load limit for the rear tire is 73, which is 805 lbs.
- This tire's speed rating is W, rated for 168 mph.
Pros
- Great tire for all road surfaces
- Tread evacuates water
- Excellent tread wear
- 4.9 stars on Amazon Website
Cons
- Built overseas
Price
- For more information, please see the manufacturer's website.
- Check on Today’s Price at revzilla.com.
What are the Signs A Motorcycle Tire Needs Replacing?
It is always a good idea to inspect your tires before riding. But what should you look for? How do you spot a faulty tire?
The tire seems low or flat.
If you inspect your tire and feel it is not holding pressure for some reason, it is time for a closer look. There is a reason that the tire has lost pressure, either from a leak or because it has been sitting too long.
There is a puncture in the tire.
During the inspection, you should take time to look for any piece of metal or debris that may have punctured the tire. If you need to cover the tire's tread with a soap/water mixture, this can help identify the leak. (Put air in the tire and spray the tire with the solution. Look for tiny soap bubbles that will show where the lead is).
Any puncture on the sidewall is an immediate warning that the tire should be replaced.
The tire shows signs of dry rot.
Dry rot is never a good thing for your auto or motorcycle tires. The symptoms of dry rot are a dulling of the tire combined with small feathering cracks on the tread. Because the rubber compound is breaking down, the tire is beginning to show signs of weakness. You should never ride on tires that show signs of dry rot, even if it is to the local repair facility.
If you spot signs of dry rot, replace the tire immediately.
The tire has a bubble or wart on the surface or sidewall.
If you notice a soft spot on the tire (often looks like a wart or raised bubble), then replace the tire immediately. Sometimes, even the best motorcyclists make a mistake, scraping a curb or even laying the bike down on the street. Do not ride on your tire if you spot this abrasion. If you do, you are pushing the bike past the limits that the tire can do.
