2010 The new Kawasaki Versys is considered a sport bike

I was riding a Kawasaki Versys last week and thinking what a fine dual-sport bike this was. It handled well, the seat was reasonably comfortable, and was very agile. I had ridden one once before and it was in connection with a dual-sport event, so my "error" is easy to understand.

What's that about an error?

Well, looking for a few details about the Versys I went to the Kawasaki website. Hovering my cursor over the "Motorcycle" tab it brings up a sub-menu that offers, among others, "Sport" and "Dual Purpose." Mousing on over to that latter option, another sub-menu came up with three choices: KLR 650, KLX 250 SF, and KLX 250 S. Where was the Versys?

Looking around I found it under the--in my opinion--very unlikely category of "Sport." Wow, Kawasaki considers the Versys a sportbike? I never would have guessed. Just a kissing cousin to the Ninja 650R, right? I don't think so.

Granted that the Versys I rode last week had street tires on it. Nevertheless, the biggest giveaway was the seat height. Like any good dual-sport bike, this one is tall, 33.3 inches they tell us. Tippy-toes height for anyone with my 29-inch inseam. And how about that front suspension: 41mm according to Kawasaki. The same as the KLR 650 and just 2mm less than the other two dual-sports. But then, the Ninja 650R also boasts 41mm up front. (Gosh, what would that baby be like with knobbies?) Of course the riding position on the Versys is much more upright than on the Ninja, with the grips much higher.