Kawasaki Versys 1000 BS6 Launched. No Compromise In Performance

The BS6-compliant 2020 iteration costs Rs 10,000 more

• The new-gen Versys 1000 was first launched in February 2019.
• It is Kawasaki’s flagship road-biased adventure tourer in India.
• The BS6-compliant bike witnesses no change in features, power or torque or even kerb weight.

Kawasaki has launched the BS6-compliant version of its flagship adventure tourer, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 in India. The 2020 iteration is priced at Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom India), which is a premium of Rs 10,000 over the 2019 version. Despite going green, the power, torque output as well as the kerb weight of the motorcycle have remained unchanged. The bike was first launched back in February 2019 at Rs 10.69 lakh (ex-showroom India). Kawasaki offers this motorcycle via the CKD (Completely Knocked Down) route.

The 2020 Kawasaki Versys 1000 is powered by a 1043cc in-line 4-cylinder liquid-cooled engine which churns out 120PS at 9000rpm and 102Nm at 7500rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission with assist and slipper clutch. Keeping the bike under control are traction control, cornering ABS and cruise control. 

It also gets sophisticated underpinnings in the form of a 43mm upside down front fork with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability, rear linked monoshock with rebound damping and remote spring preload adjustability. Brakes include dual 310mm petal discs up front and a 250mm petal disc at the rear. Since it’s a road-biased adventure tourer, it rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped with 120-section front and 180-section rear tubeless tyres. 

Other notable features include an adjustable windscreen, all-LED lighting system and a semi-digital instrument cluster. That said, Kawasaki hasn't added anything new in terms of features in the BS6-compliant bike. The Kawasaki Versys 1000 is the only other BS6-compliant large capacity ADV after the Honda Africa Twin 1100 in India as of now. Its primary rival, the Ducati Multistrada 950, is yet to be updated to comply with BS6 emission norms.