August 2019
With Betty, my beloved BMW R1200GS, off to a new owner, it was time to find a worthy successor. Of course, I already had a shortlist in mind—because, let’s be honest, I’ve spent more time window-shopping bikes than I have riding them!
I’d never owned a Kawasaki, but there were three models that caught my eye: the Z1000SX, Versys 1000, and the mighty ZZR1400.
Kawasaki Versys 1000 at Flint Castle
The Z1000SX? Stunning bike—tons of power, handles like a dream, and I’ve seen firsthand how it performs, thanks to Bonzo, Ray, and Darryl, who all swore by it. But for some reason, I just couldn’t commit. Something was missing, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the color? Maybe it was because I don’t need to look that cool?
Next up, the ZZR1400—Bonzo and Darryl had both upgraded to this brute of a machine. But, as much as I love the raw power, I wasn’t keen on the idea of all that weight pressing down on my wrists. I mean, I’d like to ride without feeling like I need a wrist massage afterwards, thanks very much. So, that was a pass.
Finally, there was the Versys 1000. Now, I’ll admit, the original version with its twin stacked headlights was probably the ugliest thing to ever roll off a production line. But the newer 2015 onwards facelift model? Much better looking. Same, slightly detuned engine as the Z1000SX but comfier—sounds like a win to me. After scouring the usual suspects online—Facebook, Auto Trader, MCN, and eBay—I eventually found… Fiona.
Kawasaki Versys 1000
October 2019
After 2,000 miles of blissful riding with Fiona, disaster struck. My Koso heated grips stopped working. I checked the fuse, the power, all the wires—everything seemed fine. But no amount of email nagging could get Koso to reply. In the end, I said, “Sod it.” Those grips never really got hot anyway—just lukewarm at best, even on the highest setting. Maybe I’d been spoiled by the BMW’s grips, which were so hot I sometimes thought I’d need oven mitts just to hold on.
So, it was time to replace them. I’ve always liked the Oxford Products range, so I hopped online to my trusty supplier, Sportsbikeshop.co.uk, and had a browse. Of course, Oxford now has about 20 different types of grips—Premium, Advanced, Sports, Touring, Cruiser, Adventure. I mean, come on, how many ways can you heat a grip? Turns out, it’s all about length. Fiona’s grips are 130mm long, so I went with the ‘Adventure’ model, which can be trimmed from 132mm to 122mm—precision grip cutting, anyone? Order placed, and they were at my door the very next day.
Fitting them was a breeze once I’d removed the bar ends, handguards, and the old grips. The Oxfords slid right into place, and after a quick power test, it was already clear these were way hotter than the luke warm Koso grips. A blessing in disguise, really.
May 2020
May 24th, 2020—the day. The day I had to say goodbye to Fiona. Thanks to a classic SMIDSY (Sorry Mate, I Didn’t See You) car driver who breezed through a Give Way junction, Fiona’s life was tragically cut short after just 3,751 miles. It was a sad farewell, but hey, at least those new Oxford grips got a proper send-off.
Crashed Kawasaki Versys 1000
| Accessories | |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki engine guard | Kawasaki LED riding lights |
| Kawasaki panniers and top box | Kawasaki gear indicator |
| Kawasaki handguards | MRA Adjustable flip-up screen and spoiler |
| Carbon fender extender | SW Motech GPS mount |
Oxford Heated Advanced Hot Grips |
DoubleTronics dual headlight module |
| G2 Ergonomics throttle tamer | Powerbronze radiator guard |
| Custom comfort seat by cmseats.co.uk | |
