Why did I buy a Kawasaki Versys X300?
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2020
- Listen to me babble on for over 13 minutes and still have a difficult time answering this question.
For those of you in a hurry, here are the main reasons.
1-I already have a dual sport (KLX250) which is set up for 95% off road, 5% on road. I wanted an Adventure bike for 95% on road, 5% off road.
2-I like the upright seating position that Adventure bikes offer over the position of a Sport or Cruiser bike.
3-Most budget friendly Adventure bike (if purchased new).
4-I like the idea of going on an Adventure, although time will tell if I ever actually go on one. - Авто та транспорт
I just purchased my almost new 2017 Kawasaki X300 Versys on Monday of this week. It had 1540 miles on the odometer and looks absolutely brand new! It was delivered to me by the original owner on Tuesday April 13, 2022 which is the first day that I rode my new motorcycle. The previous owner rode it to my state so that he could rest assured that I would register and title his motorcycle before he turned it over to me. First let me say that I am 68 years old. I am 5-10" tall, weigh 269 pounds and I have a 29/30" pants inseam. I looked all over for specifics on whether this motorcycle would be a good fit for me. I knew it was tall with the seat height at 30.9". But would I fit this motorcycle well. I already had a bad experience owning a 2002 BMW R1150GS that was a huge machine, a real monster. That BMW proved much too tall and heavy for me to safely handle so I sold it right away. I replaced that BMW with a 2001 R1200C Pheonix which proved much more manageable with it's seat height of a mere 29.9". But it is a 1200cc machine which means it is VERY heavy! So I bought a little Honda Grom which proved to be so much fun that I thought to myself, "wow, look at what I have been missing." Then I discovered a Blog online where a girl named Noraly is riding her 2022 Honda CRF300L from South America to Alaska. She calls her site "Itchy Boots" where she posts 3 videos per week on average. After watching her great adventures for a couple of months I decided that I must have a motorcycle just like hers. But then I discovered that the Honda CRF300L is nearly impossible to acquire right now unless you are willing to pay $2,000 over MSRP. Yikes. That is when I discovered the 310 BMW and the X300 Kawasaki Versys. I went with the Versys for several reasons. First, it was availability. Next was value and finally after watching many reviews on UA-cam I liked the twin cylinder water cooled engine making 40hp. So I bought one! I have ridden it 60 miles so far. This is what I can report. First, it IS TALL. We lowered the rear shocks to the lowest factory settings and now I can almost flat foot the motorcycle. It actually seems manageable although I almost dropped it going up the ramp into my shop today. Scared me a bit. The motorcycle is whisper quiet. I like this because my Honda Grom snarls like a mad dog with it's aftermarket Vance & Hines pipe. Really it is too loud. But the X300 has a very nice exhaust note. I do not plan to change this. Next, This motorcycle handles beautifully. The ride height seems tall but the bike is so friendly in every situation. I just love my new X300. Finally, this motorcycle is geared very low. Extremely low. But I guess Kawasaki wanted it this way. I go through the gears to find that I am in 5th at 37mph lol. I hit 6th at about 43 mph and that is the last gear. It seems like it should have a 7th & 8th gear lol. The bike redlines at 12,000 rpm. Whoa, that makes it a screaming machine. When you ride 65mph the engine turns 7,500 rpm. This is very alien to me and seems insane. But there is tons more throttle left after that, all the way to 12,000rpm. Amazing! This bike gets 51mpg so the high rpm must be efficient. I researched re-gearing the bike but you cannot alter it very much without disturbing the engine's code(s). For this reason I plan to leave mine all stock. Finally, the seat is very hard, most uncomfortable. I rode 40 miles today and my Fanny wanted off of this torture device. I guess I am spoiled by the Corbin Seat on my BMW R1200C. Finally, my biggest concern was, "will this motorcycle have enough power to haul my fat butt around lol". Yes it does! The low gearing is so powerful that this little Kawasaki doesn't even know that I am onboard. I get the impression that the X300 could carry a circus elephant if one was so inclined. I hope this little report will help others decide to buy a X300 Versys. I sure am happy with mine. So lite and easy to handle. That is where the fun is!!!
wow, I'm at 3800 miles on my 2022.
You just described lots of people’s journey into buying there first ADV bike. Basically, you got an off-road capable Ninja 300. Great looking machine, enjoy it. 👍🏼👍🏼
Getting ready to pull the trigger on a Versys x 300 (hopefully ABS). Hope you continue to post... subscribing.
Early retirement in the Philippines.....At 56 y.o., I moved here and purchased a Kawasaki Ninja 650......havent owned a sport bike for 30 years.
To make a long story short, (1) body hurts leaning overthe Ninja, and (2)
Roads here on the island are far too rough to use (with the rare exception of a startlingly quick pass on a smooth section of road)
any of the bikes performance.
Trading for a Versys 300x.
Live and learn.....
I bought my versys-x in June of 2020. Put 3000 miles on it. I love it. Light. Fun. Easy to ride. Quick for what it is. I love everything about it.
Eish i can feel you. im still saving for it, hopefully beginning of next year i will afford it.
I took mine on a 2 week 2500 mile journey to Norway. The bike is perfect for longer adventures. Loved it.
@Redrum Didn't film it no. Maybe next trip. :)
Man, that is so cool! Seems like most people complain about the seat. Did you have any issues with the seat?
@@uthe54 I just stand on the pegs every once in a while. No problems.
Nice, I rode mine on a 5800km trip :)
I'm in the same boat. I live in the boonies and have been thrashing my cruisers on dirt roads and washed out cattle guards. I just bought a Multistrada off a guy in Santa Fe and the added suspension and ground clearance is making my adventures so much more fun
I also bought a new versys x 300. I have had it a couple years and love it.
Price??
@@husseinqasim8608 $5000 usd with all taxes and fees
How many kilometers have you done during this time? Any problems?
@@Voolthe No problems at all, other than not enough time to ride it. It only has 500 miles on it!
@@aaronhanna6703 Greetings, I am looking into learning how to ride for the first time. I haven't made it to the dealership yet. I'm 6' 4" tall and weigh 200 pounds. Do you think it might fit somebody of my stature? I really like this style and think the 650 Versys is too much for someone who wants to learn first. Thank you and safe travels.
BTW, I'm 6'3" and I lowered the pegs 1 inch and installed 2 inch Rox Pivoting risers - I stand a lot and this really helps a LOT for tall people! I now have 3600 miles on her. I also installed T-Rex Racing engine guards, which I see you have also, and a T-Rex skid plate. I fabricated a light bar and put on two Auxbeam auxiliary lights - not street legal, but great any other time. Also, I suggest watching Fortnine vid on the X300 and also his vid on "How to do donuts on a Versys X300.. He loves this bike! -Ray near Durango.
Nice video man! I'm looking to get into riding after I finish school next spring, and for the longest time I've kept coming back to the Versys X300. I'm 25 but I don't really care about speed on motorcycles, so the sportbike category doesn't really wet my whistle. I just really like the idea of having a bike that is great to learn on, fun to ride in the streets, comfortable, but can also do a couple hours of highway duty and has the capability to take some light to moderate off-roading for areas I just want to ride around in and explore. Good luck with the channel man, hope I see it grow!
As a very new rider, I've definitely enjoyed my Versys 300. It sounds like a perfect bike for the riding you described. (There's also a very comfortable aftermarket seat available if the stock one is too hard; it wasn't cheap, but I'm very pleased with it, and am happy to pay for a quality seat.)
@@IstasPumaNevada yea I heard the seat is pretty hard but the whole point of going for the Versys over something like a 15 year old Ninja 250 is that I'd want to actually keep it in the stable for a decent period of time, so I'm not afraid to invest a little more into the bike for things like that that would make it even more of a pleasure to own and ride.
I paid $3700 for a 2009 Versys 650 in near mint condition, with only 5,050 miles on it.
Awesome fun, and plenty fast.
The 650 will last for 100,000+ miles and it gets the same fuel mileage as a Versys x300,...
You sound like me, except I'm about twice your age. I started riding when I was 18 and took off through the mountains of southeastern Tennessee on a much smaller bike. Now, in my fifties and living in Arizona, this X300 sounds like the next bike for me. My only challenge might be the seat height since I'm 5'5" (30" inseam) and shrinking, but I think my riding boots will compensate enough for that . It sounds like you didn't own one at the time of your posting. Did you ever get one?
Title should been. "MY life motorcycle history, an oh, I bought a 300versy"... LOL
Cool video. Like you I own the Versys & KLX. Both great bikes! Budget adventure bike & budget dirt bike.
I really have liked my Yamaha's in the past, but I feel like Kawasaki has made some bikes that just fit me and my riding style a little better. Thank you for your comment!
Recently saw your Versys review video. Very helpful. Thanks!
Just put a deposit down on a 2021! Have to wait a couple weeks until I take delivery. Can’t wait to ride it.
Congratulations! How you enjoying it?
@@DanielEnochs thanks! Been a blast so far. Got through the break in period in about a month so it has been fun the last couple weeks. Great bike and super smooth. 👌
Similar to you I had decided on the Yamaha XT250. I made a list of several upgrades like a windshield, halogen headlight, gear shift indicator that I wanted to get for it. When I went to the dealership to buy it, they had sold the XT. I started looking, again and discovered the Kawasaki Versys X-300. I, too, am 5'4' tall and seat height was a big factor for me. For only a few hundred more, this bike has a windshield, fuel gauge (low fuel light only on the Yamaha), gear ship indicator with a nice instrument panel, 6-speed as opposed to 5 speed and 2-Cylinder. September 1, 2021 will be one year since I took the motorcycle home. I have ridden 4200 on just day trips. I am so happy in choosing Kawasaki, I can't tell you enough. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for your comment! The XT250 was a fine bike, but feels more at home off-road. If you do more on-road than off-road, then you made the right choice going X300! Love hearing your experience!
Good summary of why you bought the Versys 300X. I just bought one and can add it is light weight (for what it is) and is easy to handle. Also you can modify this bike with so many accessories. It tops out at 100 mph so what more do you need ? (rhetorical question) With a red line of 12,000 rpm this seems insane and I will need to adapt to high revs to ride at freeway speeds. I am just starting and already from watching some UA-cam videos have a list of items to add or change to my 300X. Thank you for sharing.
UPDATE: 10/12/2021 - I've now added the strongest skid plate (T-Rex Heavy Duty), Barkbusters (T-Rex edition), Kawasaki crash bars and Aux lights, full LED swap out of all bulbs ( I highly recommend ), Givi top case with LED brake lights, bracket behind windshield for phone/GPS with wireless charging and a USB-C port, Dual USB-A ports on dash and a center stand. I'm videoing some of these upgrades and they can be found on my channel. Check them out.
How much did it all cost?
Nice choice, I looked at one, but I changed my mind and went with the cb500x. And love it, it doesn't scream and feels lighter then the 300x.its all good man, enjoy.
A Florida guy. Always recognize the hurricane bars on the garage door. Looked at a Versys yesterday for my next bike. Something to think about!
Came from Riding HDs and now I ride this mini ADV bike...The Versys X is a great bike. Its light, easy to ride, and cheap to run. The Seat SUCKS. I purchased a AirHawk2 seat pad and it helped a lot. Took me 5k miles to realize I would never get used to the Hard Seat. I purchased it New 2017 ABS 5000 USD OTD and loved it then, love it now
Great vid - I've had similar experiences - started on a KLR250, then a Husaberg FE390 (best dirt bike I ever sat on - still have it). 18 months ago I got a 2018 Versys X300 and recently bought a Suzuki Vstrom 650 (heavy, but great commuter and road trip bike- ONLY LIGHT GRAVEL ROADS!). X300 INFO: LOVE this bike for everything but high-speed pavement, but it actually does well even there, just no "extra" power at highway speed. That said, I just returned from a 644 mile trip on my X300 - southwest Colorado (I live near Durango) to Moab, Utah, then trails around Moab, then back home. Longest trip on the Versys so far AND IT DID GREAT!!! About 2/3 to 3/4 off pavement (TransAmerica Trail), but also some great mountain twisties on pavement and great on all but the worst off-road stuff. Several mountain passes, decent gravel / rocks, not too challenging. I have Mitas E07 tires (watch UA-cam reviews on them) - great 50/50 tire that only got me stuck in deep sand on one occasion near Moab - but some full knobby dirt bikes got stock also. For luggage I adapted Pelican cases to Givi racks - about 20-25 liter cases (one IM2300 and one 1520). This bike handles like a dream, has adequate power for commuting and with my new tires does great on forest roads and jeep roads in our area. I also live in the county - 5 miles to the nearest pavement, but gravel roads are good county maintained roads. Several other trips to local mountains have been great. You mentioned, Keepcounty
Great review. I read bad comments about the smallest little imperfections about this bike and chuckled. I rode a gs400 for a few years with knobies and went everywhere the dual sport guys went. I tried the Vx yesterday after a ten year break and bought it. Coming home in two days. Just ordered a front E07 and a rear Metzeler Enduro 3 Sahara. Only thing they had in stock.
Like you I'm on gravel right out the door so might as well invest in tires right away.
Congrats on the X300. I think you'll love it. I've had mine for over 2 years now. Let the engine wind up - the little Ninja 300 engine was made to rev. It might seem a bit much at first, but just ignore the high rpm if you're not used to it on other bikes. I also still ride my dirt bike - a Husaberg FE390 (just rode it on the TransAmerica Trail from Nevada to Port Orford this month - needed.a true dirt bike on that trip so I rode the Berg - ran into snow and had to ride VERY rough sage brush flats to get around the snow). That said - I could have done 90% of what we did on the Versys X300! We actually had to take quite a bit of pavement simply because of closed trails, so I was wishing I had the X300 for over half the trip. Let us know how it goes with the X300 / any upgrades, etc. Oh - one more thing: be patient with the break-in period - you'll be limited to about 45 mph until your break-in period is done.
I figure the engineers know what they are taking about with the break in! - Ray, near Durango.
@@GeezerWheels Thanks for the reply. I bought a 2019 with 6000km on it so no break in. My first ride was on twisties then gravel roads. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Even with stock tires the front stayed planted in loose gravel. I haven't been on a bike in 10 years and the Vx is just perfect for me. Thought I'd be apprehensive after such a long break but not at all. Rode it like I stole it. You know what they say about riding a bike. I'm in rural Quebec an hour north of Ottawa. I've already started planning long dirt road day trips on google maps.
It came with top box and stock side cases. Those are coming off soon. I prefer soft ones. I ordered a seatconcepts TALL Comfort, as I find it low for dirt riding. Bash plate and engine guards are on their way. Better foot pegs, grippy side stickers on the tank for my knees, foam over grips as I find the grips too small. I'm installing handlebar risers today if they fit(found my old set). I need to change the bars to straighter ones for upright riding when on gravel. Oh, welding larger plate on the sidestand is a must. This one just digs right into the dirt. I ordered a 13 tooth front sprocket too. I figure it's easy to change back to 14 when planning longer pavement rides.
So I bought this machine mostly for dirt roads, trails and windy roads. I'll use the car for in town, not the bike.
@@mimi1girl2dempsey3 Thanks for the quick answer! Sounds like you've got a great set up - I've done many of the same changes / especially necessary was better foot pegs - I think a lot of owners do that. Being a Canadian, you've probably seen the "Fortnine" UA-cam vids of this bike. He's done very good reviews and give it good marks. His and other's vids are part of the reason I bought one. We live at 7550 ft elevation (2300 meters) so very little if any riding in the winter / lots of snow and very cold here is southwest Colorado mountains. But summer riding is wonderful! Safe riding and God bless!
-Ray in SW Colorado.
@@GeezerWheels I've just discovered Fortnine a month ago. Result of being away from the sport for such a long time. Good info to go along with my past experience. My main concern right now is that I can't stop buying accessories. It's sooooo addictive. Gopro is on it's way and they don't give that away. I still need bark busters, Renthal handlebars, cell phone holder, bluetooth earbuds and a tank bad.
Cheers. Enjoy your rides
I started with a Honda CRF250L Rally, and just like you I was dissatisfied with the fact that it didn't like going over 60mph (especially here in western Montana where the speed limit's often 70+). So I got the Versys 300 (which would have been my first choice, but NOBODY had one available nearby when I was first looking) and it fit what I was looking for exactly. Having an inexpensive-but-good dirt-oriented dual sport and an inexpensive-but-good road-oriented adventure bike seems like the ideal pairing.
Especially how lightweight the Versys is.
Where r u in MT? Here in Helena they have a pretty decent inventory at the Kawasaki/Honda dealership.
Yeah. I drive my 2008 klx250s. The bike is Awesome off-road and backroads. But on the highway I get passed up. 70mph is topped out and that's pushing it.. honestly I want to ride this bike, I'm wondering if this would be a great next step up? I'm almost 5,10. 190ibs.
I got the Versys 300 ABS as a daily commute bike I also lift on dirt road pot holes not really friendly to sport bikes or cruiser stile but i also work 10.6 Miles away from home and no highway between my house and work and top speed limit is 60mph during that drive and the Versys 300 is known for 70+ MPG if driving calm and not 80mph half the time .....and i have always liked the smaller bikes ....had a Ninja EX 500 back in the day loved it but i also did motocross for a good wile and like the upright sitting much better of the dirt bike and Versys 300 than the Ninja now that am also much older .....just a great easy to ride bike is the Versys 300 not a race bike but goes any place i need to gets there plenty fast and sips fuel ......it is a sweet riding package....
heart moving story
I've been riding a CRF250F dirt bike for 8 months now and I plan on getting the 300X for my first bike, sat on it at a dealership and it felt really balanced. I'm finishing up highschool after then I'm getting my license.
That would make a pretty good combo.
@@uthe54 yeah it's a fun bike, I've been just riding it at SVRA parks.
Hey Mike, thanks for your video! You mentioned a few times you sold a bunch of your bikes. Do you have any recommendations/advice on how you did it? Websites, types of sales, networking, etc?
I have 10,000 mi on my xt250 and have settled on Dunlop D606 tires.
The XT can not produce enough power to wear them.
Yes, they suck on the road but the bike (as you said) sucks there anyway.
The 60 mph barrier is the problem and it makes the bike a town and woods bike only.
I put the same Givi engine guards on. I put a generic center stand looks like yours. I did not do a skid plate yet. Is that a T-Rex? I did put on wider foot pegs that makes a big difference for a little money when you stand up. I stand up a lot when I ride. I put an after market Ransoto slip on exhaust 60 bucks and it sound awesome. I put the USB in did you do that yet comes in handy on a long ride. I also bought the Yoshimura fender eliminator kit. Have not installed it yet. Maybe this weekend. I got a good deal for 65 dollars and it is good quality with a really nice 5 light led. I also put on the rear Givi rear rack Monokey system for the Givi E22N bags. 44 liters total and the set cost around 180 dollars on sale. They work great for camping and just using one for day trips instead of a tank bag. When camping if I put a dry bag on the top rack and cases I can carry everything easy. Have a fun time with you new Bike. Peace!!
The skid plate and the guards are both T-Rex. I had been researching alternative foot pegs but have been unable to find anything I liked. Can you please share what foot pegs you went with? Thanks!
@@uthe54 I just bought cheap add ons. I just removed the rubber on the stock pegs and the new wider rest just bolted on. So far they work very good. Off road really putting pressure on them I could see the small bolts failing. Street use no problem.
I was thinking about this bike just to commute to work, that way I could save the miles on my future Honda African Twin. I am planing an adventure bike ride from the US through Central and South America. I also live in Tijuana Mexico (by choice and to save in rent) and work in San Diego, so I cross the border almost everyday. Having a small bike to go through the cars stuck at the border waiting to cross is beautiful.
After watching a review by MC (a magazine) I am having second thoughts. For off roading it might be OK, but on the highway this thing sucks big time. If I were to buy it I would follow the suggesting in MC's video. Change the rear sprocket to change the gearing, brake pads, and brake lines. Among a few other things. If you are thinking about buying this bike and you have experience, I highly suggest watching MC's review first, he really points outs all the problems with this bike. That way you know what to expect once you get it. For me as a commuter the high RPM on the freeway kills it.
ua-cam.com/video/H9QhBWhzW8o/v-deo.html
By the way, your inexperience really showed when you said "driving," rather than "riding." Haha! It's all good, just have fun on your bike and be safe. I like that you are taking you time developing your skills.
I took a very different approach. I don't believe in beginner's bike. That is bull, a tactic by dealers to sell more bikes because they know that you'll be going back to get a bigger bike in no time. In all the 30+ years I've been riding I've never fallen or crashed. There goes the bigger bike theory out the window. And I am happy that there are some other very experienced riders out there who feel the sake way.
About 30 something years ago I started on a GXSR-1100. At that time the second fastest production street bike in the world. That thing could do 0-60 like in under 3 seconds. I am guesstimating. I've only owned 750cc and above sport bikes all my life. And the 750 ai only had it for a few months and got rid of it because of the lack of power. So I got rid of it and got myself a brand new 2000 ZX-9R. Loved that thing! Anyway, now I am planing my trip, like I said, and I am also at an age in which sports bikes are not fun anymore on my body. I am now moving into the ADV bike class. Mainly because of my trip. I have seen plenty of videos of people crossing central and south America and encountering lots of dirt roads on the way. My top pick so far the 2021 or 2022 (depends when ai buy it) Honda African Twin with manual transmission. None of the automatic BS for me. I want to feel like I am riding a motorcycle, not a scooter. Might has well go get me a manicure and hoar done and just ride a scooter. OK, more like an Adventure scooter. Like the new 2021 Honda X-ADV. an scooter on steroids. Now, that thing looks like a huge cargo ship full of fun. Check it out:
ultimatemotorcycling.com/2020/11/11/2021-honda-x-adv-first-look-motorcycle-scooter-adv-hybrid/
Thank you for your comments! I almost have 1200 miles on it now, making this bike account for about half of my motorcycle on-road experience. I took it out where I did half 55mph and slower roads, and the other half was 70mph highway totaling about 130 miles. While it handled 70mph just fine, it was a bit exhausting (boring) after while. I've done a fair bit of light off-roading (aka forest roads and easy trails) and the 300 felt fine. I do think if it was a 400 it would help drastically with its highway performance while not getting too big and heavy for off-roading. Seems like from what I've read, most people agree - a Versys 400 would be perfect. I would consider one!
Is the Versys X-300 really that big? Or is your body built skinny?
bought mine because it was in stock at the dealer, now 3800miles at 2 years, -3rd moto for me.
His autobiography starts at 0:01. X300 talk starts at 9:50.
I used this bike for 6 month solo tour, doing all kind of road, many single track, muddy, sandy, gravel, highway, mountains and beaches in Celebes island. 15tsd km with no problem at all.
This is a small beast bike.
I have owned the 300 X for 3 years now and it just feels very solid . Took my 1150 Bmw GS from Quebec to Mexico and back alone . However i am older now and the Beemer just outgrew me . I loved it but i wasn't strong enough to handle it anymore . The Kawasaki steped in and i am at home with it now .
I bought this bike a few months ago. first bike under 500 cc's and you have to get use to the fact that it's not a powerful bike but it can commute easily. for me, the fuel prices in California are astronomical at nearly $7.00 a gallon. so when I fuel it only takes $15.00 to fuel if its a quarter full. the Versys X300 can do easily 85 - 90 mph and you have to think are you ever really riding 120 mph all day everyday? my commute is 95 miles a day and so far this bike has performed very good. Add on at moment are crash bars, fog lights and fuel tank protection with skid plate on it's way.and near 3000 miles on the X300. so far so good!
Nice on the MPG! I've been trying to drive mine around more due to high fuel prices, but I can't quite figure out how to strap the car seat on the back yet!
@@uthe54 car seat? haha!
I'm just getting into motorcycles in my mid 40s. Everything I've been watching and studying keeps pointing me to the Versys X 300 has a great beginner bike and beyond. Most of my miles will be over the road riding with my buddy on his old man Harley. But I like the idea that this bike could also take me over forest service roads in the North Carolina mountains with ease.
I'm 36. Couple years ago I got a motorcycle endorsement for the first time (including MSF basic course), and a Versys 300. Very new rider.
From first-hand newbie experience, I'll say I greatly appreciate the Versys 300. It's relatively light (heavy for its displacement perhaps, but light compared to larger bikes), nimble, and is fine on dirt roads while also being able to reach and maintain highway speed with no problem. The high revs at highway speed are a little annoying at first, but very quickly I stopped noticing (and you can up the front sprocket by a tooth to give easier highway cruising (but no more; 2 teeth larger than stock on the front disables the gear selector readout)).
I've done 7 hour days at highway speed on this thing, stock gearing, and not had a problem at all, either with unusually high fatigue or with the bike itself. Up to 70 is fine; it's no rocket, but it's peppy. 70 to 80 is notably slower but it'll still cruise fine at 80. Up to and past 90, it isn't very happy with. As long as your buddy has even a passing respect for the speed limit, you should keep up fine. If you're tall-ish, you might think about getting a clip-on windshield extender to help keep the wind off your helmet and reduce neck fatigue (I'm 5'11" and the extra wind deflection definitely made highway speeds more agreeable.)
@@IstasPumaNevada Wow! Thanks for sharing this great info. The more I hear about the Versys 300, the more I'm set on getting one. Looks like I'll have to buy knew, as finding one used has been tough. Good thing new ones are relatively inexpensive. Seems as though people buy them and just keep them because they are so good. Sounds like height wise it will be a good fit as I'm 6' tall.
I bought one and its a good little commuter and travel bike. I have taken it on several 600 miles rides over the long weekends. Plus that big tank and it sips fuel. Good little bike for the money.
Considering it as my 5th bike. Seems like one of the best compromise between on-road, off-road, fuel range, cost of buying/running, comfort, and reliability.
Dr650 you could of had fun with. You can lower them and only need a kickstand shortened. Can buy low seat for a Dr650 and get it down to 32" seat height I believe. The sky is the limit for tire options and modified everything. It does well on the highway with 70 mph not a chore. Having 1 bike do it all and be able to touch the ground easily is hard to find under 400 lbs. The Dr650 is probably the best choice that covers everything.👍 That bike you have..the 300, it may do great with a 16 tooth front sprocket. Have fun!
Thanks for your suggestion. I had considered a DRZ400, but had not given a serious look at the DR650. I think the major concerns I would have (in this order) would be 1-carb vs fuel injection and 2-5 speed trans instead of 6 speed. Those may not be concerns of others, but coming from an XT250, I knew I wanted that 6th gear for the street aspect. I wouldn't be opposed to trying one out sometime though.
@@uthe54 yeah. Dr650 does much much lower RPM at 70 mph and 5th is more like an overdrive gear. I'm not sure you can even go 70 on a XT a d a DRZ 400 is not fun at 70. Dr can do it all day long. 👍 I never had a fuel injected bike. Never had a problem with any carburetor on 6 bikes.
@@uthe54 I owned a lowered DR and loved it at the time but opted for the Vx300 this time around. First gear is a bit high on the DR. Range is about half on a stock tank. I couldn't find a good windscreen for the highway.
Looking to swap my 700cc road bike for a 250-350 dual sport/scrambler/adventure type bike. What's the seat comfort like on these Versys 300s? Top speed on short highway jaunts?
A great motorcycle. But probably the worst feature of the bike is the stock seat. I could enjoy 3 to 4 hour rides before my tail would hurt. I finally broke down and bought a new seat pad and cover by Seat Concepts, and replaced the stock seat with it. Made riding 6 hours [plus] much more enjoyable. Also, short highway jaunts are no problem for this bike, just remember that the RPMs run much higher than you would be used to, but it is still quite smooth [unless it is a very windy day.]
I'm 59 and have just exchanged my ninja 400 for a 300 versys. I was only comfortable on the ninja when I was breaking the law due to the riding position.
Your comment made me laugh!
Already pissed off by the fact that people think they need to be "responsible adults" and get married and then let their spouses tell them what to do and what not.
Man if all I get in marriage is a buzz kill that's trying to kill my passion then I'd rather be irresponsible and ride solo.
I started riding on a TT125 as well. Bought a XT225 and rode that for a while. Thought I wanted something adventure and went to a V Strom 650. Best bike ever on the street but way too big for me offroad. Im 5'6" 130lbs for reference. Im looking at the Versys 300 because of the price. I can snag a leftover 2020 for $5k. Im unsure of the engine though. I never rev out bikes and the 300 might feel gutless unless doing so. Kawasaki needs to made a Versys 400 already. How many miles do you have on yours so far?
As of today I'm at 1500 miles. Planning more trips this year with it though, so hope to get some more in this year. Its a fun bike, but there is a bit of a learning curve at being "okay" with revving it up. I agree, 400 twin or even 500 twin but still lightweight package would be better.
I wonder how a CRF300L Rally would compare. I'm sure better off road, but how would they compare on road?
Man! you spent 11.5 minutes talking about everything but the versys 300 in a 13 min video.
So how does it handle with you being only 5’4”?
Hi there. I just got one of these last week, but on the freeway at 65 mph, the temperature goes up to the second highest bar. So, all the bars except the top one come on. Is that normal? What does your temperature go to on freeway speeds? It is my first bike, so I don't know if this is normal or not. With cars I am used to seeing the temp at around middle point.
I believe it is normal. I had the same concern when I got mine. Does seem like if its "normal" for it to run all the way hot, then it doesn't really make sense to have the gauge in the first place.
@@uthe54 Thank you for the reply. I asked this same question to several other owners here on YT, and they all have similar answers. I am just not going to worry about it. When I take it for the first scheduled maintenance, I will request that they completely change the coolant since they forgot to top off initially.
Another question. Mine needs 7000 rpm to do 65mph on the freeway, and around 8500 rpm to do 75 mph. Does yours do similar rpm at these speeds? The overheating light never comes on, but I am just a bit worried about such high rpm on the freeways, especially if I have to ride for some distance across town.
Dont wird about it, the viel is watercooled they Stay cool very Long. I rode aircooled bikes an i was worried too. No Problems With versys
@@motoadventure4580 Noted. Thank you for your time.
It is a high-rev machine. 8500 is “low-rev” for this bike, red line starts at 12000. Max torque comes at 10000, max power at 11500.
I just purchased my almost new 2017 Kawasaki X300 Versys on Monday of this week. It had 1540 miles on the odometer and looks absolutely brand new! It was delivered to me by the original owner on Tuesday April 13, 2022 which is the first day that I rode my new motorcycle. The previous owner rode it to my state so that he could rest assured that I would register and title his motorcycle before he turned it over to me. First let me say that I am 68 years old. I am 5-10" tall, weigh 269 pounds and I have a 29/30" pants inseam. I looked all over for specifics on whether this motorcycle would be a good fit for me. I knew it was tall with the seat height at 30.9". But would I fit this motorcycle well. I already had a bad experience owning a 2002 BMW R1150GS that was a huge machine, a real monster. That BMW proved much too tall and heavy for me to safely handle so I sold it right away. I replaced that BMW with a 2001 R1200C Pheonix which proved much more manageable with it's seat height of a mere 29.9". But it is a 1200cc machine which means it is VERY heavy! So I bought a little Honda Grom which proved to be so much fun that I thought to myself, "wow, look at what I have been missing." Then I discovered a Blog online where a girl named Noraly is riding her 2022 Honda CRF300L from South America to Alaska. She calls her site "Itchy Boots" where she posts 3 videos per week on average. After watching her great adventures for a couple of months I decided that I must have a motorcycle just like hers. But then I discovered that the Honda CRF300L is nearly impossible to acquire right now unless you are willing to pay $2,000 over MSRP. Yikes. That is when I discovered the 310 BMW and the X300 Kawasaki Versys. I went with the Versys for several reasons. First, it was availability. Next was value and finally after watching many reviews on UA-cam I liked the twin cylinder water cooled engine making 40hp. So I bought one! I have ridden it 60 miles so far. This is what I can report. First, it IS TALL. We lowered the rear shocks to the lowest factory settings and now I can almost flat foot the motorcycle. It actually seems manageable although I almost dropped it going up the ramp into my shop today. Scared me a bit. The motorcycle is whisper quiet. I like this because my Honda Grom snarls like a mad dog with it's aftermarket Vance & Hines pipe. Really it is too loud. But the X300 has a very nice exhaust note. I do not plan to change this. Next, This motorcycle handles beautifully. The ride height seems tall but the bike is so friendly in every situation. I just love my new X300. Finally, this motorcycle is geared very low. Extremely low. But I guess Kawasaki wanted it this way. I go through the gears to find that I am in 5th at 37mph lol. I hit 6th at about 43 mph and that is the last gear. It seems like it should have a 7th & 8th gear lol. The bike redlines at 12,000 rpm. Whoa, that makes it a screaming machine. When you ride 65mph the engine turns 7,500 rpm. This is very alien to me and seems insane. But there is tons more throttle left after that, all the way to 12,000rpm. Amazing! This bike gets 51mpg so the high rpm must be efficient. I researched re-gearing the bike but you cannot alter it very much without disturbing the engine's code(s). For this reason I plan to leave mine all stock. Finally, the seat is very hard, most uncomfortable. I rode 40 miles today and my Fanny wanted off of this torture device. I guess I am spoiled by the Corbin Seat on my BMW R1200C. Finally, my biggest concern was, "will this motorcycle have enough power to haul my fat butt around lol". Yes it does! The low gearing is so powerful that this little Kawasaki doesn't even know that I am onboard. I get the impression that the X300 could carry a circus elephant if one was so inclined. I hope this little report will help others decide to buy a X300 Versys. I sure am happy with mine. So lite and easy to handle. That is where the fun is!!!
I can confirm that this seat is probably harder than a 2X4", but I've found someone to make it more confortable...I'm 67 yo and I don't need this kind of treatment when riding...Oh, BTW, this is my "only complain"! I'm an ex-Harley rider....
@Brown Green It depends where you're going to ride. For myself I'm riding country roads paved and gravel (which I like best!). I'm trying to avoid highways, going over 110-120kph is not my cup a tea anymore and the engine becomes noisy above these speeds (due to high engine rev's!). But it's such a fun bike to ride...All things considered, I think this is probably the best lightweight bike I've ever had. I'm not missing my harley at all......my two cents!
Have you changed your front fender? It's not the annoyingly shiny default one.
The fender is stock. Bike is a 2019 model.
there's like... different stock fenders.. weird o:.. Some are shiny and will be destroyed by dirt... some are matte and seksy
how about Z400? Kind of a middle ground between ninja and versys?
What are the major differences between versys and Z ?
I don't know a whole lot about the Z, but I suspect its a great bike. Thought about getting one, but felt like the X300 was a little more set up for the kind of riding I wanted to do.
not much about the bike!?
Well, the title of the video does suggest that he was going to be talking about why he bought the bike. So he talked about all the other bikes and how his experience has developed to the point that got him to this bike.
Go on the adventure!
I've taken mine on several overnighters. Skip ahead to the 8 minute mark in my video here to check out my upgrades: ua-cam.com/video/hm5PR8_r8ZY/v-deo.html
I also changed the gearing to make it rev lower on the highway.
FF to 9":55 for WHY.
Hahaha your wife sounds smart hahaha
let me subscribe
Because you couldn't afford the ktm....just kidding 😁..bought a new 2020 myself..great bike...just bought a new 2022 klr as well...my 7th new klr...nice changes to a classic thumper
Your wife was wrong. Gixxer Bro!
Two balls !!!
U talk to much
Your off to a bad start when you let the wife tell you what you can do. She is to be your best friend not your boss. Everything else is great. Enjoy
Team work makes the dream work.....
To an extent...
A respectful and healthy balance in a relationship depends on a LOT of factors, like risks taken (even the most experienced riders will admit that riding a motorcycle _is_ riskier than driving a car), available time together, their particular financial situation, available storage space, etc. Personal things.
The fact that you refer to his spouse as "the wife" suggests maybe you have a bit more to learn in the relationship department. :D
@@IstasPumaNevada I think I said that in my comment, ie ,she is to be your best friend not your boss. Apparently your wife wears the pants, grow some baby boy. This is what my nephew tells me is the pussafing of the American Male.
MGTOW
The only winning move is not to play.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.