The last of the popular 650 platform, the Versys 650 this year featured Kawasaki’s renowned 4.3″ TFT color display with Bluetooth connectivity, but was the first to feature traction control. For model year 2023, Team Green has its best-selling Dual Purpose engine given a completely new color.
Come on, you’re right, strictly speaking the Versys 650 was not the very last engine of the 650 platform to be equipped with the well-known TFT display. With the Vulcan S, Kawasaki has a fourth model in the house that is powered by the same 180° twin, but that is somehow far removed from the other three models Z650, Ninja 650 and Versys 650.
Moreover, we do not expect that a modern TFT color display will find its way to a custom model. Just like that will never happen with the Z650RS, the fifth and most recent model of the 650 platform. Including those two models, the Versys 650 is the third last model from that platform to get a TFT display, but we do think it will be the last model.
That was certainly not the only thing that Kawasaki had adjusted in the major 2022 update. The design was quite refreshed, with gills now also under the headlight unit à la the Ninja models and a much, much better windshield that not only fits nicely on the nose in terms of design, but is also super easy to adjust in height. In addition, it was the first of the 650 platform to be equipped with adjustable traction control.
For 2023, Kawasaki has only changed the color palette of the Versys 650. Candy Lime Green remained, but in a slightly different form, the color Metallic Smoke Gold is completely new. Of course, the attractive accessory packages have remained and the bike is also available in 35kW trim.
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.