The Blackbird#

The stablemate of my trusty old 4Runner, the Relic, is a 2018 Kawasaki Versys 650 LT -- the Blackbird. The Versys 650 (the name is a mashup of "versatile system") is Kawasaki's vision of an adventure-touring crossover bike. The Blackbird has 2 main jobs for me: occasional across-the-nation adventuring, and transporting me to hiking trailheads of the Rocky Mountain states.

Versys 650

Features and add-ons for functionality, touring optimization, and safety:

  • Puig engine guard / crash bar cage
  • T-Rex-Racing center stand
  • Repurposed MTM locking ammo case as rear/tail storage box
  • ST2 Systems smart modules
    • brake-light strober module
    • self-cancelling turn signal module
  • 48 LED brake, tail, and turn-signal rear light bar
  • Kawasaki 28-liter hard saddlebag set
  • Kawasaki hand guards
  • Rostra cruise control
  • Continental TKC 70 tires (70/30 on/off road design)
  • Seat Concepts comfort-seat upgrade

With the above combination of features -- the cruise control being the most recent addition -- this bike covers the bases for me; it's an awesome adventuring partner for any road -- major highway to near-forgotten forest service road.
So many destinations beckon, as do the engaging rides to get there.

Versys 650

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