How Much Power Does the 2021 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT Make?

The 2021 Kawasaki Versys 650 is Team Green’s adventurer-tourer built for versatility. Our test unit, dressed in the up-spec LT trim ($9,299), adds creature comforts like 28-liter-capacity hard bags and hand guards for better wind protection. Powered by the same 659cc parallel-twin engine as seen in Kawasaki’s naked Z650, the Versys packs a modest punch of power in an approachable package.

As part of the Cycle World testing protocol, we ran the Versys 650 LT on our in-house Dynojet 250i dynamometer prior to our first ride review. The sport-tourer produced a peak 59.60 hp at 8,070 rpm and 41.55 pound-feet of torque at 7,210. A tabletop-like torque curve beginning around 2,000 rpm adds to the Kawasaki’s versatility, as does the superlinear power delivery.

It translates to real-world performance, according to our CW tester Serena McKnight. “Spool up the Versys’ 649cc parallel twin with its 180-degree crank and you’re rewarded with an entertaining growl across the lower to mid rpm, rising to a higher pitch after about 5,000 rpm,” McKnight wrote. “The needle makes an energetic sweep across the analog tachometer, giving the rider visual evidence of the engine’s fast-revving character.”