Reduce your riding costs!

Coming in issue #173 the Australian Road Rider team is putting together an article on how you can enjoy motorcycling at a lower cost than typically experienced.

Based around the editor’s Kawasaki Versys 650, we’re going to look at using this versatile mid range bike for general riding, recreational day rides, touring and even camping.

With the bike out of warranty and basic maintenance quite simple we’re working on the bike ourselves, we will show you how to save money on tyres and look at the options for luggage and accessories.

Performance without the price

Although Australian Road Rider’s Cost of Living feature involves a two year old bike, were taking a look at the cost to value equation of a modern mid-range bike.

Given the strict enforcement of relatively low speed limits in Australia these days it’s not like we can cruise the countryside at 140km/h, so mid-range bikes don’t lose out much there, while they use less fuel, are often lighter and easier to mange, are cheaper to maintain, run cheaper tyres which last longer and are usually cheaper to register and insure.

Of course they often miss out on some tech and convenience features, so we’ll be looking at options to improve the standard machine, too.

 

Servicing

One of the bike advantages of modern motorcycles is they can often be quite easy to work on, and the Versys is like this. The owner’s manual shows what needs to be done and while it doesn’t explain everything in detail, for an experienced home mechanic there’s enough information there to get the basic services – required every 12,000km – done at home. If you haven’t worked on bikes at home we recommend you get yourself a workshop manual – we prefer Haynes manuals to the factory versions, because the factory presumes you’ll have the special tools of a dealer and be a trained mechanic, whereas the Haynes manuals are designed for the home mechanic.

You can also find out a lot of what you need to know through the internet – check out Youtube and look for forums and user groups… but be aware sometimes there is some less than perfect information out there, so tread carefully and double check information wherever you can.

The requirements for servicing the Versys included replacing the engine oil and oil filter, checking/clean and possibly replace the air filter and spark plugs, checking wheel bearings, brake pads, suspension operation, coolant level and more. Our article in Australian Road Rider #173 will show how we did these jobs and offer some tips on how you can either do them yourself and how to get advice on anything you’re unsure of.

 

Part 3 – Improving on standard

One of the reasons we all love modern big bikes is the level of comfort and convenience features included – everything from electric screens to integrated panniers to heated grips and seats to cornering ABS, traction control, electric suspension and more.

Some of these things simply aren’t going to be available on less expensive mid range bikes, so Australian Road Rider is consulting with accessory importers to try out lots of things which will make the Versys more capable across a wide range of tasks, from commuting to dirt road touring.

We’re using Motul oils, Hiflofiltro air and oil filters, a YSS shock, SW Motard luggage in addition to the genuine accessories from Kawasaki.