Summary

Despite very similar specs, these are two very different bikes.

Versys is more “fun” to ride round town, but not so comfortable on longer rides in stock form.

VStrom is better to customise and tour on. it has ABS.

The Versys had Michelin Pilot Road 2 tyres – wonderfully sticky. Despite having very similar dyno charts, the Versys definitely feels more torquey and pulls much more when over 160km/hr. The Versys suspension is far to harsh on less than perfect roads, even after tuning it as far as I could. I find this a major failing on a bike sold for it’s long travel suspension.

The VStrom tyre choice on road is not as sticky, but has a better range of off-road tyres.
The VStrom with Racetech fork valves and springs is a much better beast than stock, with steering sharpening up, and brake dive disappearing. Before it was a bit soft and somewhat harsh.

Drag racing them side by side shows the acceleration from 1st to 6th is basically exactly the same. Seat of the pants though feels like the Versys is MUCH snappier. Ass Dyno wrong again.

Braking is interesting. The ABS gives the VStrom an unfair advantage. I have tested the ABS in both wet and dry conditions finding it reliable in both. It tested at 1.05g using Dynolicious on the iPhone, vs only 0.82g for the Versys.

I am replacing my Versys with a VStrom, as I prefer the range of parts available, ABS and the different feel especially on the highway. The Versys is more fun to ride round town, if you can ignore the issues.

http://www.msf-usa.org/imsc/proceedings/a-Green-ComparisonofStoppingDistance.pdf

Most interesting. My next bike will have ABS methinks. I have no delusions about how good my riding is. If I can concentrate 5% more on traffic cause I don’t have to worry about braking, that’s a good thing.

My last significant off happened emergency braking into a roundabout. I thought it was clear, then a car with right of way came out from behind a blind fence. It was far too late to wash off that much speed, I swore I was going to have him hit me. As I braked and turned, the front wheel crossed the usual oily patch where cars drop oil on the centre of the wheel track. Presto – down she went, and I know how to cadence brake. I’m not good enough however to brake 100%, unlock for 0.5m and get fully back on again when trying 100% to avoid a car. ABS would have been fast enough. It wouldn’t have avoided the situation, but it may have been enough to keep the bike upright.

BUT – interestingly enough, every single helmet you could buy had passed the crash test standard, so the better / worse was opinion, nothing more. In Australia this is an Australian Standard (similar to the US DOT standard, and many others). Really, it’s a “minimum”, everything on the market is better than the standard, it’s just a question of how much.

There was a defacto “better” standard – Snell. This was only issued to the “best” helmets, so if you cared, you bought a helmet that also had Snell certification.

Well now there is something better. The UK govt has setup a research and testing laboratory to test and rate motorcycle helmets like they crash test cars – with a star rating. You’ll find it at http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/ 

The testing is based on the new EU standard ECE 22.05 and discussed on webbikeworld.

I just bought a new Shark RSR2 to replace my aging Arai Qantum(1996). The new Shark is comfortable, quieter than the Arai on my head, and has a 5 star rating.

I prefer the new EU standard over Snell etc after reading this debate on MotorCyclistOnline and the testing they did. The base concept is that the Snell standard is very tough, and a tough helmet is not as soft and squishy. Soft and squishy is more likely to be useful to you in the accidents you are most likely to die from. The more serious accident that the Snell rated helmet is designed to protect your head for, will leave you dead from other injuries and with brain damage anyway.

Of course nothing will protect you from those big ones that just leave you dead.

Basically, do you want a tough helmet, or a soft and squishy one. I’m thinking soft and squishy is probably best.

Here is the testing and analysis http://motorcyclistonline.com/gearbox/hatz/

And here is a more general discussion relating to same, and links to heaps and heaps of resources. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-faq.htm