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Recommendation for avoiding front tire rising off pavement on 2017 kawasaki versys LT?

Blankpage said:
Suzuki oil cooled inline fours, 600, 750, 1100… are screw and locknut valve adjustment, easiest method possible no shims needed.

As far as wheelies, rules are girls have to show their boobs when you wheelie in front of them, been that way since forever. Embrace it.
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i never knew that was a rule. :laughing
 
berth said:
More than likely the windscreen.
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The windscreen on the versys is smaller in some ways, making more wind on me than the bandit. Even though the versys windscreen looks taller, its more narrow than the bandits. And the versys has a more upright seating than even the bandit, which seems to place my head higher in versys relative to windscreen.
 

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One thing I notice right away about this versys, the seat position, angle is not particularly comfortable. It has a weird forward slant that crams my pelvis and man bits into the edges where the front of seat and gas tank meet. Can't really sit back comfortably as it angles my hips forward again cramming into the lower area of seat and tank merge.

Bandit seat and angle is way more ergonomic and comfortable.

Anyone modify their versys seat and angle to be more ergonomic and comfortable?
 
You're probably better off researching and asking questions on the versys specific forum, as all this has been asked and answered 100 times already over there.

Stock Seat Sliding forward | Kawasaki Versys Forum https://share.google/OosQb33EwhG4uzBA7

BARF is a great and social place for Bay area riders, but asking technical questions about a specific model that probably five people here have firsthand experience with isn't going to get you as far as the model specific forum.
 
Congratulations on the Versys, that is an excellent machine!

Many companies sell aftermarket windshields for the KLE650, look for reviews online to see which suits you best.

Same thing with the seat - several aftermarket options for all kinds of issues. Not cheap though.

Generally speaking, there are going to be a few pain points when you get a new bike. Your mind and body need a few hundred miles to adjust to the new bike and then you will be comfortable. On the spectrum of comfort the Versys is a VERY comfortable bike, most everyone should be fine after the initial break-in.

And no, it is not super easy to wheelie a Versys.
 
I've owned three 650 Versys, and still have two of them. Probably a total of about 170-180K miles between them. Yes, they'll wheelie. Hell, they'll get airborne if you work hard enough at it, but the point is that you have to work at it. If you're not trying, it's not coming up unless you are irretrievably kack-handed.

Yes, I feel the same way about the saddle that you do. You should know that Kawasaki made them that way (downward sloping and narrow at the front) to make it easier to get your feet down. I replaced the saddles on all of mine, and all my replacement saddles were level and wider at the front than stock. Not a problem for me at 6'2". Your mileage may vary. Some saddle makers appear to make lower saddles which would reduce the issue. On my first Versys, I replaced the stock seat with a Corbin I got on eBay. The next two I used kits from Seat Concepts. Much cheaper, and a great result. And they make a low one.

Not a fan of lowering. If you do choose to lower by using a lowering link on the rear shock, make sure you lower the front (raise the forks in the triples) by an equivalent amount. Otherwise, your sweet handling Versys will handle like a truck with under-inflated tires.

As for brand and model specific forums, I've been underwhelmed by those for the Versys. Some good info. Lots of bad info.
 
OP, if you want to read a ton of ruminations about the 650 Versys posted over the better part of a decade, here's a thread for ya.
 
My seat was modified with a gel pad in a hollowed out area in the underside of the foam. Allows the stock cover to be reused.
I eventually removed the pad. The hollowed area allowed for a nice comfortable dish to the seat.
 
cozy said:
One thing I notice right away about this versys, the seat position, angle is not particularly comfortable. It has a weird forward slant that crams my pelvis and man bits into the edges where the front of seat and gas tank meet. Can't really sit back comfortably as it angles my hips forward again cramming into the lower area of seat and tank merge.

Bandit seat and angle is way more ergonomic and comfortable.

Anyone modify their versys seat and angle to be more ergonomic and comfortable?
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a sargent seat has always had the effect of sliding me down and back. i don’t like them for this reason but it sounds like that is the position you desire. the one drawback is they tend to be a bit wide.
 
two wheel tramp said:
a sargent seat has always had the effect of sliding me down and back. i don’t like them for this reason but it sounds like that is the position you desire. the one drawback is they tend to be a bit wide.
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I don't want any seat sliding me either direction. Just be level and comfy and good for a shorter rider like my 5 foot 5 inch size
 
People add 1" spacer to the front seat mount to raise it an inch to level it out. I am running a Sargent seat, the stock seat was painfully.
 
Aftermarket seat, or having the seat shaved and reshaped can help both of your issues at once More than likely.
 
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