Kawasaki’s Best Affordable Adventure Touring Motorcycle Now Looks Better Than Ever

This already excellent mid-size winner gets a light update highlighted by a big improvement in paint schemes.

Published 8 hours ago

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Twenty-five years ago, Sandra Bullock reminded us that sometimes all it takes is a little makeover to go (undercover) from tomboy FBI agent to Miss Congeniality.

Of course, what she really did in that surprise box office hit was make her coworkers appreciate how awesome she was all along.

kawasaki versys 650 hero — The new 650’s Metallic Deep Blue paint scheme is sure to turn heads.

Believe it or not, a similar dynamic plays into the latest motorcycle news from Kawasaki.

Thanks to some fresh new hues, the brand’s midsize adventure touring bike, the Versys 650, is suddenly worth a closer look.

Specs appeal

Sitting smack in the middle of the Versys range — the brand also offers a 300 and an 1100 — lands the 650 in Goldilocks territory.

Though the seat height of 33.3 inches (and 6.7 inches of ground clearance) may put off newer and shorter riders, the curb weight of 482.9 pounds is pretty approachable.

kawasaki versys 650 lean — This bike’s power and handling should provide plenty of day-trip thrills on curvy roads.

Meanwhile, the 649cc parallel-twin engine makes 66.1 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 44.9 Ib-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm, more than enough power to zip through gridlock and rip through twisties far beyond city limits.

Helping to keep things under control is a responsive braking set-up — dual semi-floating 300mm discs up front and a 250mm disc at the rear — complemented by Kawasaki’s own traction control system.

The suspension is just as solid: a 41mm inverted telescopic fork, with adjustable rebound damping and adjustable preload, plus a single rear shock with remote spring preload adjustability.

kawasaki versys 650 mountains — Like any respectable touring bike, it can be outfitted with saddlebags for more ambitious side quests.

Meanwhile, to ensure you don’t get (too) lost on any epic journeys, the bike offers powerful LED lights and a full-color 4.3 inch TFT dash you can pair with your smartphone for foolproof navigation.

All those features are standard, with the option to upgrade to more loaded Tourer and Grand Tourer editions.

Image conscious

The most notable aesthetic update is likely the bike’s redesigned upper cowl, complete with a new windshield that can be adjusted to one of four positions, right from the seat, for optimal protection.

But nearly as significant, if not more so, are three of the best paint jobs this bike has ever had.

kawasaki versys 650 black — This black-and-silver combo is a elegant reminder that simpler is often better.

While the previous edition’s black with red accents sounds respectable, in reality it comes off a tad dorky.

This time around, the headliner is a Metallic Deep Blue with some gold accents that Kawasaki clearly believes in, judging from how heavily it features on the promo materials.

Reminiscent of a BMW adventure bike treatment that costs roughly three times as much, this edition effortlessly pops.

kawasaki versys 650 grey — While probably the least appealing of the three, the grey/green paint scheme is still pretty solid.

Slightly less bold are the Metallic Graphite Grey and Metallic Spark Black editions, but each delivers its own understated style that doesn’t try too hard.

Throw in the fact that the 2026 edition comes in at the equivalent of just a couple hundred dollars more than its predecessor, and this makeover feels like its own surprise hit.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Kawasaki Versys 650 rolls into UK dealerships next month at a starting price of £8,049, which converts to roughly $10,812. Fingers crossed it heads across the pond sooner rather than later.

2026 Kawasaki Versys 650

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About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.