2008 Versys

kohburn · 12-04-2015, 03:59 PM

Per request some pics of my versys. It's a first Gen with 2 tooth decrease on rear sprocket. Madstad windscreen bracket and a few minor accessory mods.

kohburn · 12-04-2015, 04:20 PM

SpudRider · 12-04-2015, 04:22 PM

Thanks for posting the photos of your Versys.

Are those the stock tires?

kohburn · 12-04-2015, 05:20 PM

The stock tires are terrible "deathwing" tires. I ran shinko 705s front and rear. After 5000 miles the rear was flatted down the middle so decided to try a Mitas E07. Love the Mitas.

SpudRider · 12-04-2015, 06:31 PM

Are those Metzler E07 tires in the photos?

kohburn · 12-04-2015, 07:03 PM

the front tire is still the shinko 705, on the front it still looks new and has about 8000 miles on it. the rear tire in the photo is the mitas. (typed the wrong tire in previous post)
the mitas costs almost twice as much as the shinko though. probably won't last twice as long but has much better off road traction and equal onroad traction.

kohburn · 12-04-2015, 07:06 PM

some of the other mods i added were, heated grips, replaced stock kickstand with KLR650 kickstand which works in sand, 1.5" front fender risers to fit taller front tire, cyclops H7 LED conversion for low and high sockets, 12v accessory port and USB charging ports, auto chain oiler. it lives outside in the rain and sun 24/7 and has no rust on the chain. i run a blend of wd40 and gear oil on the chain.

MICRider · 12-04-2015, 07:58 PM

Love the Versys's! Your's looks ready to tackle the world!

Weldangrind · 12-06-2015, 12:33 PM

X2! I bet that's a very capable bike. I'd love to throw a leg over a Versys.

FastDoc · 12-07-2015, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kohburn

The stock tires are terrible "deathwing" tires. I ran shinko 705s front and rear. After 5000 miles the rear was flatted down the middle so decided to try a Mitas E07. Love the Mitas.

On the DRZ I find the 'Deathwings' to be very good 50/50 tires. I think they are poor in the mud and sand, but what 50/50 tire is good there? Also I don't trust them on the wet pavement but where I ride (dirt and gravel fire roads and some single track) I fing them to be pretty good.

FastDoc · 12-07-2015, 02:48 PM

The Versys is a wonderful bike. Same engine as an SV650?

Darkrider · 12-07-2015, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

The Versys is a wonderful bike. Same engine as an SV650?

Same engine as the Kawasaki Ninja 650, same chassis basically as well.

FastDoc · 12-07-2015, 05:24 PM

Oh. I should have seen that it was a parallel Twin. My bad.

kohburn · 12-08-2015, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastDoc

On the DRZ I find the 'Deathwings' to be very good 50/50 tires. I think they are poor in the mud and sand, but what 50/50 tire is good there? Also I don't trust them on the wet pavement but where I ride (dirt and gravel fire roads and some single track) I fing them to be pretty good.

wet is the problem - I commute on my bike every day and a fair bit of that is through the rain. never trusted them in the wet.

12-04-2015, 04:22 PM	#3
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Thanks for posting the photos of your Versys. Are those the stock tires? __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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12-04-2015, 05:20 PM	#4
kohburn Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Coastal NC Posts: 537	The stock tires are terrible "deathwing" tires. I ran shinko 705s front and rear. After 5000 miles the rear was flatted down the middle so decided to try a Mitas E07. Love the Mitas. Last edited by kohburn; 12-04-2015 at 07:03 PM.
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12-04-2015, 06:31 PM	#5
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	Are those Metzler E07 tires in the photos? __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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12-06-2015, 12:33 PM	#9
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	X2! I bet that's a very capable bike. I'd love to throw a leg over a Versys. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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12-07-2015, 02:48 PM	#11
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	The Versys is a wonderful bike. Same engine as an SV650? __________________ Happy to serve.
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12-04-2015, 04:20 PM	#2
kohburn Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Coastal NC Posts: 537
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12-04-2015, 07:03 PM	#6
kohburn Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Coastal NC Posts: 537	the front tire is still the shinko 705, on the front it still looks new and has about 8000 miles on it. the rear tire in the photo is the mitas. (typed the wrong tire in previous post) the mitas costs almost twice as much as the shinko though. probably won't last twice as long but has much better off road traction and equal onroad traction.
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12-04-2015, 07:06 PM	#7
kohburn Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Coastal NC Posts: 537	some of the other mods i added were, heated grips, replaced stock kickstand with KLR650 kickstand which works in sand, 1.5" front fender risers to fit taller front tire, cyclops H7 LED conversion for low and high sockets, 12v accessory port and USB charging ports, auto chain oiler. it lives outside in the rain and sun 24/7 and has no rust on the chain. i run a blend of wd40 and gear oil on the chain.
	0

12-04-2015, 07:58 PM	#8
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274	Love the Versys's! Your's looks ready to tackle the world!
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12-07-2015, 05:24 PM	#13
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Oh. I should have seen that it was a parallel Twin. My bad. __________________ Happy to serve.
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