The 2014 Kawasaki Versys-650

versys-mt-rainier
Day One @ Mt. Rainier

The local dealer was clearing these out for $5000. I took it for a test ride, hit an oil patch at 5mph a block away, and decided to buy it rather than repair the scuffed bodywork. Kawasaki was right when they named this bike. It truly is versatile, handling really well on and off-road. I’ve outfitted it as an adventure bike and ridden it all over the western US. Not a fan of the green though, so it’s black now.


Maintenance & Modification Log

JKALEED17EDA08317

8/12/2016 / 0 miles
200 miles around Mt Rainier <4000 rpm
Oil change – Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40, K&N filter
Add 30a accessory relay, USB power

8/28/2016 / 600 miles
300 miles around the Olympic Peninsula <4000 rpm
Oil change – Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40, K&N filter
Add LED driving lights, Spot Tracker + USB power, battery tender
Add Happy Trails SU luggage rack and 32-liter panniers
Oxford “Adventure” Heated Grips, Vortex swingarm spools, Mastech PN103.006 Crashbar,
Cyclops LED headlight hi/low bulbs 2200 lumen each

11/2016 – 3300 miles
Add Touratech rear top rack.

1/2017 – 3300 miles
Removed fuel evaporator canister
Paint front fairing black. Rewire accessory connections.
Add Pelican 1550 top case, BlackDogCycleWorks light mounts, turnbuckle rack supports

Capital Forest, Olympia, WA

2/2017 3500 miles
Oil & Filter change: Castrol Power RS Racing 4T 10w40 / HF303
Lube clutch and throttle cables
Install Nemo2 chain oiler, rear tail-brake-turn LED lights

5/2017  5800 miles
Shinko 705  Rear Tire – 150/70R-17 TL/Blackwall
Shinko 705 front tire – 120/70R17 58H

6/2017  6700 miles
Oil change: Lucas Semi Synthetic 10W40

6/2017 9000 miles
DID 520VX2-114 X-Ring Chain with Connecting Link

7/2017  10,000 miles
Oil + filter change  : Quicksilver 20w50 Motorcycle oil
brake fluid refresh f+r

9/2017 12260 miles
Shinko 705  Rear Tire – 150/70R-17 TL

10/2017
Oil Change 10w-40
Clutch cable lube

Eastern WA. (Photo: David Fox)

1/2018 : 14,000 miles
Adjusted throttle body at idle with Throttle Sensor Setting Adapter
New spark plugs – NGK (6289) CR9EIA-9 (old plugs looked fine)
New air filter
Added short clutch and brake levers, new clutch cable
Clean chain, clean sprockets
Set fork and shock sag to 1.90″

6/2018 : 15,000 miles
Oil/filter change. Mobil-1 10W40 4T Racing / HiFlo
Lube and adjust throttle cables

7/2018 : 17,000 miles
Valve adjust:
Old shims:  Exhaust 3.00 : 3.00 : 3.00 : 3.00 / Intake 3.00 : 3.00 : 3.00 : 3.00
New shims: Exhaust 2.95 : 2.95 : 2.90 : 2.90 / Intake 3.00 : 3.00 : 2.95 : 2.95
New Shinko 705’s  150/70R-17 rear tire, 120/70R17 front tire
DID 520VX2-112 chain with Vortex 452AS-43T chainring

8/2018 : 20,000 miles
Balance throttle bodies
Clean air filter
Front preload adjust to 50% (8-turns-in)

9/2018 : 22,000 miles
Oil + filter change (Mobile 1 4T / Mobil M1-110)
Brake pedal service adjust
Zero Gravity Sport Touring Windscreen

11/2018
New Front & Rear Brake Pads (Volar Sintered HH) (old pads @ 50%)
Pelican 1550 top box

WA coast, spring 2019. (photo: David Fox)

4/2019 : 25,000 miles
Lube clutch cable. Realigned pannier frame.
Chrome Battery YTX12-BS IGEL AGM Battery
Main throttle sensor to 1.025v IDLE, 4.25v WOT
Coolant flush /  Zerx G-05
Fork fluid flush – Maxima 10WT Grade-165/150 Racing Fork Fluid
New Shinko 705’s front and rear.
New OEM air filter

Hurrah Pass, Moab, UT (photo: David Fox)

5/2019 : 29,300
Replace left fork oil seal
Oil change SuperTech Synthetic 10w40
Brake bleed F&R – Bosch Fluid

6/2019 : 30,000
TFX Rear shock 141-0215-00 :: spring pre-load 170 N/mm @ 8mm
R&R Cyclops LED headlamp (high beam)

7/2019
7W Maxima fork fluid (right leg only)

9/2019 : 31,300
Shinko 705 170/60R17 rear
Galfer FD167G1371 Sintered Rear Brake Pads
Mosko Moto Backcountry 35 v2 panniers, Hood-5 Tank Bag
New front sprocket and chain

6/2020 : 35000
Replace left fork seal, fix scratched tube (hopefully)
remove Hepco Becker crash bars / Added TN422 – Givi Engine Guard
Added Zero Gravity SR windscreen
Oil change / Rotella T6 5w40
Cleanup accessory electrics
Replace air filter

5/2021 :
Remove pannier racks
Add BikeMaster Lithium Ion 2.0 Battery BMP9-FP

7/2023
Miles Maintenance
New chain, rear sprocket, oil change, Dunlop Mutant tires, brake pads

3/2024 : 43,000
Add pannier racks
Oil Change / Filter
Remove skid plate
New front turn signals