Comparison test: Kawasaki ER-6n against Versys

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Comparison test: Kawasaki

Kawasaki ER-6n versus Versys

1200 euros cheaper and still eight hp more – at first glance the Kawasaki ER-6n seems to be a real bargain compared to its sister Versys. But is it also at second glance?

A win-win situation is generally referred to as a double-victory constellation in which both parties achieve a benefit. Kawasaki might also have expected a double sales success when the ER-6n was joined by the Versys 2006, a sister model with an almost identical engine and similar frame. But while the ER went away like sliced ​​bread, Sister Versys was gathering dust in the shops. In Germany alone, the ER-6n sold 2,556 times last year, making it third on the approval hit list. In the same period, only 416 Versys were approved in Germany: 63rd place. There could be many reasons for this. Maybe the design was too unusual. Or the stinginess is cool mentality: in fact, with the ER-6n you get eight more horsepower for 1200 euros less. Now Kawasaki wants to achieve more success with the revised Versys. So for many Kawa fans the question arises which of the two is the better motorcycle.

Comparison test: Kawasaki

Kawasaki ER-6n versus Versys

Bilski

Striking, but also elegant? Both the low and high beams of the Kawasaki Versys are better than those of the sister ER-6n. They spread wider and are lighter.

Advantages that it can only make optimal use of on flat roads or on the racetrack. Because a powerful engine is only worth half without a corresponding chassis. Everyday life usually has country roads of the second, third and fourth order ready. The higher quality spring elements of the Versys cope better with these conditions. They offer more adjustment options, greater spring deflections, react more sensitively, dampen better and provide better feedback. However, the shock absorber reaches its limit faster in pillion mode than that of the sister. Equipped in this way, the Versys excels above all on rough roads and provides its driver with the necessary information through more precise feedback to correctly assess the limit area and thus to drive more safely and faster if necessary.

In the package with the described engine tuning and the more casual seating position, it can be summarized as follows: The Versys is more casual, more lively on bad roads and demands less attention. It is better suited for tourist rides, slippery sliding and roads that are not ideally tarred. The ER shows its strengths together with the more revving motor on perfectly flat paths. The shorter spring travel and the more tightly coordinated spring elements mean that there is not so much movement in the chassis. The ER remains generally more stable in curves and when braking, but steers a bit more wobbly and not as homogeneously as the Versys. While you can still live with the very strongly damped strut of the ER, the trampling and insensitive fork especially spoils the ride over bumps.

Aside from dynamic driving fun, the Versys has other advantages. Its wind protection is much better, the consumption of 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers is 0.3 liters lower, the range in connection with the larger tank is much higher and the comfort for the passenger is better. The processing is also of higher quality. Instead of the plain steel swing arm, a massive aluminum swing arm is used here. The upside-down fork including the fork bridge is optically and technically clearly in favor of the Versys. It is clearly the higher quality and more versatile motorcycle of the two.

Why she ranks 60 places behind her sister in the sales rank can be explained by the term friendliness in addition to the price difference. In addition to the much heavier Versys, the petite ER looks more inviting and controllable, without exuding the habitus of the mainstream at the same time. In addition, its essence is clearly defined: naked bikes. While many may be standing in front of the Versys and are not sure which drawer to put the motorcycle in.

Ultimately, a win-win situation for Kawasaki becomes a twin-win situation: Regardless of which machine the customer buys in the Kawa store, the decisive factor is that he buys one at all.

Technical data Kawasaki Versys

Bilski

Weightless, but not lifeless: Driving a Kawasaki Versys is completely relaxed and yet full of experiences.

Engine:
Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, one balancer shaft, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, fork rocker arms, dry sump lubrication, injection, Ø 38 mm, regulated catalytic converter, alternator 336 W, battery 12 V / 14 Ah, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, Six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, secondary ratio 46:15.
Bore x stroke 83.0 x 60.0 mm
Displacement 649 cm3
Compression ratio 10.6: 1
rated capacity 47.0 kW (64 PS) at 8000 rpm
Max. Torque 61 Nm at 6800 rpm

Landing gear:
Steel tubular frame, load-bearing motor, upside-down fork, Ø 41 mm, adjustable spring base and rebound stage damping, two-arm swing arm made of aluminum, spring strut, adjustable spring base and rebound stage damping, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, double-piston floating calipers, disc brake at the rear, Ø 220 mm, Single-piston floating caliper, ABS.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 17; 4.50 x 17
Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17
Dunlop D 221 tires tested "G"

Mass and weight:
Wheelbase 1415 mm, steering head angle 65.0 degrees, caster 108 mm, suspension travel f / r 150/145 mm, seat height * 835 mm, weight with a full tank * 211 kg, load * 178 kg, tank capacity / reserve 19.0 / 3.0 liters.
guarantee two years
Service intervals 6000 km
Colors Yellow black
Performance variant 25 kW (34 PS)
price 7,995 euros
Additional costs around 180 euros

* MOTORCYCLE measurement

Technical data Kawasaki ER-6n

Bilski

Nimble: The Kawasaki ER-6n sticks in the rearview mirror thanks to its performance and great freedom from lean angles, even of more powerful bikes.

Engine:
Water-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke in-line engine, one balancer shaft, two overhead, chain-driven camshafts, four valves per cylinder, fork rocker arms, dry sump lubrication, injection, Ø 38 mm, regulated catalytic converter, alternator 336 W, battery 12 V / 14 Ah, mechanically operated multi-disc oil bath clutch, Six-speed gearbox, O-ring chain, secondary ratio 46:15.
Bore x stroke 83.0 x 60.0 mm
Displacement 649 cm3
Compression ratio 11.3: 1
rated capacity 53.0 kW (72 hp) at 8500 rpm
Max. Torque 66 Nm at 7000 rpm

Landing gear:
Steel tubular frame, load-bearing motor, telescopic fork, Ø 41 mm, two-arm swing arm made of steel, suspension strut, directly hinged, adjustable spring base, double disc brake at the front, Ø 300 mm, double-piston floating calipers, rear disc brake, Ø 220 mm, single-piston floating caliper, ABS.
Cast aluminum wheels 3.50 x 17; 4.50 x 17
Tires 120/70 ZR 17; 160/60 ZR 17
Dunlop Roadsmart tires tested, rear "B."

Mass and weight:
Wheelbase 1405 mm, steering head angle 65.5 degrees, caster 102 mm, spring travel f / h 120/125 mm, seat height * 800 mm, weight with a full tank * 205 kg, payload * 177 kg, tank capacity 15.5 liters.
guarantee two years
Service intervals 6000 km
Colors Orange, black, green
Performance variant 25 kW (34 PS)
price 6795 euros
Additional costs around 180 euros

* MOTORCYCLE measurement

MOTORCYCLE measurements

Drawing: archive

Power on the crankshaft. Measurements on Dynojet roller test stand 250, corrected according to 95/1 / EG, maximum possible deviation ± 5%

The more direct throttle response of the Versys cannot be represented with the full load curves in the diagram. As promised by Kawa, the Versys twin produces more torque at medium speeds. This kindly happens just above idle. These slight advantages are only noticeable in everyday life when driving with lazy gears and especially when driving with a passenger.

In order to represent them, additional measurements were carried out at a low speed on the mountain. The Versys can easily separate itself from the ER due to the greater torque.

Measurements:

Top speed:

 model  Km / h
 ER-6n  200
 Versys  185

Acceleration:

 model  0-100 km / h
  0-140 km / h (sec)
 ER-6n  3.9  7.2
 Versys  4.1  7.9

Draft:

 model  60-100 km / h
  100-140 km / h
  140-180 km / h (sec)
 ER-6n  4.5  5.1  6.6
 Versys  4.6  5.1  10.0

Fuel consumption (country road):

 model  Liters / 100 km
 ER-6n  Normal 4.8
 Versys  Normal 4.5


Theoretical range (country road):

 model  Km
 ER-6n  323
 Versys  422

Additional pulling measurement in third gear:

Solo:

 model  35-80 km / h (sec)
 ER-6n  4.0
 Versys  3.6


with pillion passenger:

 model  35-80 km / h (sec)
 ER-6n  5.4
 Versys  5.1

Conclusion

Bilski

What do you want? The Versys can do almost everything better: wind protection, throwing lights, changing loads, coupling, steering, transporting, consuming…

1st place: Kawasaki Versys
More expensive and less powerful, but better in many ways and above all more versatile: the Versys is an all-rounder.

2nd place: Kawasaki ER-6n
The inexpensive fun bomb with slight weaknesses in ergonomics, processing, chassis tuning and everyday usability.

Scoring:

Category engine:
Question of the mapping: The Versys reacts more spontaneously to gas commands, which also leads to fewer load changes. Your clutch is also a bit easier, the gearbox shifts more smoothly, and the engine runs more smoothly. With a cold start, however, the Versys twin turns up for an unusually long time. Nevertheless, there is no herb against the ER-Power: In the metrologically relevant area, the ER not only accelerates faster, but also pulls through better.

Winner engine: ER-6n

Category chassis:
Dance lesson: In solo operation, the suspension setup of the Versys shines. Your spring elements offer more travel, respond sensitively and provide good feedback. With a passenger there is a lot of movement in the chassis and the shock absorber reaches its limits. Overall, the Versys is more comfortable than its sister. It runs more stable in the curves, but unfortunately its fork is insensitive and makes bad roads a less pleasant experience.

Winner chassis: Versys

Category everyday life:
Pole position: Except for the fact that the Versys is a bit worse to rank because of its disguise, it can do almost everything better than its sister in everyday life. With the ER, the strangely cranked handlebars take getting used to. Both models afford a faux pas in terms of payload, because 177 kilograms (ER) and 178 kilograms (Versys) are not too much. What is strange about it: The rear of the Versys is even reinforced by the pillion peg carrier assembly.

Winner everyday life: Versys

Category Security:
Series spread? The pressure point of the ER brake is slightly more precise than that of the Versys. Although the ABS control intervals are roughly the same for both, the Versys decelerates worse due to the longer spring travel and the associated wheel load distribution when braking hard.

Security winner: Versys

Category costs:
Head to head: The ER is more enjoyable to drink on the country road due to its performance and wears slightly more tires – a lead for the Versys.

Winner Cost: Versys

   Max points
  ER-6n  Versys
 Overall rating  1000  581  608
 placement    2.  1.
 Price-performance note  Top grade 1.0  1.8  1.7


Price-performance winner: Versys
With a Muggle sail (Swabian for wafer-thin), the Versys is one step ahead.

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