It's 2021, it's now been a year and a half since my wife and I did a world tour on 2 Versys-x300. 38 000 Kms of sand, mud, rocks and boring asphalt and both bikes are still good as new. 64 500 & 72 000 Km on the clock respectively. We love this bike. Simple, light, goes anywhere, always starts and really, I mean REALLY reliable. The engine accept to be drown in water & mud, get its oil changed and start the first time. We actually got the chance to meet the guy that developped this bike in Japan. Mr Wada : you did a wonderful job ! Oh, and did I say this video was one of the reason we chose this bike ? Great work as always from Fortnine. Love you guys ❤️
That sounds awesome. I have seen this video several times almost as if one will magically show up in my garage next to my cruiser. I am fairly certain that a Versys-X will be my next purchase.
I consider myself still a noobie. I have 2 bikes and commute 160 miles a day. My mechagirls(tm) have helped me maintain my sanity. I want to die riding.
4 years later , and still one of the best productions stuffed with emotionalism. Explaining on how for some a vehicle is more than just a status symbol, rather an experience of memories. Motorcycles make true enthusiasts feel something others won’t understand.
THIS is the one. This is Ryan's "breakthrough" video ... the one that catapulted his F9 channel from simply being excellent, to becoming ... one-of-a-kind / other worldly .... in terms of unsurpassed excellence on the You Tube platform ... or anywhere else.
In a world where bike reviews are - Ride this bike for the first time, not knowing about any feature, and only comparing it to liter bikes You really are at the *TOP* of what "reviews" are. Seriously, I appreciate the effort of the videos, but what's truly amazing other than the cinematography, is *you actually know how to do review videos* . I think it's just shitty that other reviewers go on about and say "This Versys 300 is nothing like my super charged 500 hp sports touring adventure three wheel bike" But you on the other hand, compare it to similar bikes, and actually know *WHO* buys these things. I mean, not everyone who buys a bike intends to make it their budget liter bike experience. Buying the CRF250L, you can tell that this is for the younger people, who might want a beginner bike to wreck while experiencing the adventure. Again, I really commend that you put out 100% on the videos, not just on the editing, but on the thought process of it. I seriously cannot believe that with that kind of effort, you don't surpass the other youtubers who just screams while playing video games.
I have a crf250l. It's a fun bike. I've also realized I'm not a trail rider. So while I might do the Alpine loop once. Or black bear pass once. Or any other trail once. It doesn't have the suspension for it. And it seriously lacks on the highways. 2 hours on the roads in Arizona getting ran over while doing 65 mph... not fun! Miles and miles of gravel neat but boring. Out and backs are boring too. Do I want a klr650? Do I want Nx650? Are there more capable bikes than the versys 300? Probably, however I am comparing it directly to the crf250l to be ridden in the same manner. Minus those 1 off trips. I think I'd rather a paved ride for 3 hours. Than a 3 hour ride of riding over helmet sized rocks. Anyways thatsxwhy I'm watching thus review.
Dude, seriously, this was like watching a masterpiece of a film. Your editing, clever use of time in story telling, the sound, music, script, scenery, questions, and acting have left an impact impression...
This channel is way underrated even at 1.46M subs. The cinematography and storytelling and all the other things you mentioned are on such an epic scale. Every other reviews channel, be it auto or moto, feels like amateur work. While I was watching this review and my friend asked me what documentary I was watching.
I have both a CRF250L Rally and a Versys 300. I got the Rally first, but mainly because there wasn't a Versys available at the time. These are my first and second bikes. From a very-new-rider's perspective, I think they're both great. The main reason I got the Versys was because the CRF250L Rally doesn't have quite long enough legs to keep up with the stupidly-high 70 and 80-mph speed limits we have where I live (Montana, U.S.). The Versys, while it doesn't have much extra power at those speeds, can easily reach and sustain them, while the 300cc displacement still keeps insurance comfortably low. There's plenty of dirt riding to be had here, but to get between areas you have to cover a lot of miles on high-speed-limit paved.
I'm old. (56). I recently learned on an old crappy dual sport that I love. I want the x-300 not some 500lb monster. Lots of us old dudes are thinking this way.
In my 30s and I much prefer a lighter bike (especially if you need to pick it up alone, and possibly on awkward terrain or a negative angle). They're just more enjoyable in my experience.
3 years and 13K miles on my 2017. Still loving every mile it ticks off. I've added a skid plate and crash bars got ride of the OEM rubber and now it excels in the dirt. (I'm an old dude = over 70)
You really are very clever and engaging. Thank you for bringing artistry, skill, poetry, intelligence and sensitivity to my favourite subject: motorbikes.
Yah, I'm old - 53 - and been riding since my twenties. I love the Versys X 300. Perfect for my style - some dirt roads but not really trails; some highway but prefer secondary roads or smaller. When you're old you'll want your X 300. Keep it in good shape til then! Great great great videos!
Same here, I am 51 and own an X300. I own other bikes too, everything from 80's classics like RD350, LC350 to 2013 Duke 390, Bonneville SE, 2018 Street Triple RS. Could afford to buy a much bigger and way more expensive ADV bike but I chose not to. The amount of fun I have on this little bike while just doing 80-100kmph is something I can't enjoy on much heavier ADV bikes. This little bike lets me enjoy the scenery. Love it.
37 The only BMW GS bikes that appeal to me in overall concept were the 1980s bikes that were still light and simple. I would love a 600-700 cc version of the Africa twin, or something like the versys x. My brother has the ninja version of this bike and it is honestly a fun time.
49, sold the Africa Twin and tomorrow morning will have an X 300 parked next to the WR250R which is parked near the cruiser. I can see it filling the hole between the two and also seeing a good bit of dirt when friends are visiting and we hit the trails. Great value riding.
I'm 53, been riding off and on for 30 years, and I just bought two cheap Chinese 250cc dual sport bikes for me and one of my sons. They aren't rockets and I'd have to be a little nuts to take them across the continent, but they're capable and great learner bikes for both of us. Might I upgrade to a KLR 650 at some point? Perhaps. But I'm enjoying every minute on my 250 as it is.
alright, I know this video is almost 5 years old but this is probably the most beautifully shot and weirdly thought provoking motorcycle review I've ever seen. You guys absolutely did not have to put this much effort into a comparison review of two motorcycles but I'm so glad you did.
I agree with everyone else that this channel is amazing. You guys to pan to focus on things a lot, IE: shot of cornfield, then camera pans to closeup of bike's tire. In this video from 0:30 to 1:00 you guys do this a total of 8 times. It's not a bad technique, but maybe mix it up a bit, maybe orbit around the bike a bit, or slow zoom in or out. Just my thoughts, even if you think they're crap and I'm an idiot, still love your channel and will watch your vids :D
I've watched this review many times in the last three years, and it keeps getting better. First time I saw it, I was the owner of an XT660Z Tenere, and felt that Versys X-300 would be the bike of my choice in this comparison. Then, I bought an MT09, wich I prepared for track racing, and came back to this video and got to the conclusion that, maybe, a bike like the CRF would be the bike of my choice, but as a second bike on my garage. Both options are great depending on what you're going to do on it, and if you want it as main or secondary motocycle. Maybe when this video gets to "Year 5" I'll change my choice again. And then again. This is not just a review. It's a legit short movie, and should get an Oscar. Period.
@@MartoradGaming It's not easy to say, mate. Both are great choices for a new rider. The XTZ660 is a powerfull trail motorcycle, with a humongous fuel tank and a quite simple to understand engine. It is also, pretty basic with almost no electronics more than just the fuel inyection. Great for trail trips and highway travel... not so great for daily use, because the high weight distribution and the limited turning range. The Versys on the other hand is a more equiped bike (ABS, two cilinders engine) lighter and newer. Consider this if you ever need spare parts (the XTZ660 manifacturing has been discontinued 5 years ago). If it had to chooose, I would choose the XTZ due to larger fuel tank, much more power, and a more straigh forward mechanichs (if electronics fail... there you go mate. Nothing will help you).
@@MartoradGamingI would always recommend the lighter bike for new riders. Add in ABS and it makes it even clearer which a novice should have as first road bike. If you ever need to brake hard on the road and swerve then you'll discover that heavier motorcycles are usually more difficult to change direction than other bikes. That extra weight requires extra direction force and skill to make the bike move in a direction you weren't planning on. And the 300cc is fast enough. If you've never had a bike before I would consider a used 125cc for a few months. Super lightweight, fast enough, and you'll be able to sell it for most of what you bought it for. Especially if you're in a city with maximum 60mph speed limit. And if you want to practice recovering from a short wheel skid then you could try what Ryan was doing by turning off the ABS while on grass and riding very slowly. I learned as a kid on grass, power sliding, skidding, unlocking a locked skidding wheel. Gives experience so that the time a car pulled out in front of me and I locked the rear brake as I was aiming for the escape path I didn't panic. I just eased off the brake pedal, the rear gripped, and I steered to the side of the car. Luckily. I had the front brakes on as much as I could while doing this. It's difficult to brake hard and steer around something unexpected. Smaller lighter bikes are what all European countries legally require new motorcycle licence passers to ride for 2 years.
Recently bought a 2023 Versys X and I love it. This is the best review of anything that I have ever witnessed. The production should be nominated for film of the year. Great job.
Kawasaki got it right with this one. A LOT of us want an adventure bike just for the plush suspension and legroom, and only really need enough off-road capability for the odd gravel or dirt road. That's what the Versys 300 is for. Softcore. Lots of guys that get CRF 230 or 250 end up complaining that it can't *really* do highway riding. You say the Versys can CRUISE at 130 kph. (80 mph) That's actually fast enough to do expressway riding and properly keep up with traffic, which is much more likely a scenario for most of us than riding through the woods like you're doing. I guess it comes down to what kind of off roading you plan to do. For me, a middle-aged guy with a young family, living in the Chicago suburbs, the only reason the Honda is even in the running is because their long-term quality is better than Kawasaki's. So for me, it'd be between the Versys 300, Versys 650, or the Honda 500 adventure bike. I'd probably go with the Honda 500x, and not screw around with tubed tires. Wish they had the Deauville here still, so I wouldn't have to screw around with chain maintenance either.
Yeah that 300cc kawasaki mill is hard for even they guys that race ninja 300's to kill. It's solid. Glad you are making the point here that it DOES in fact hold 80mph no problem, up hills etc, on the freeway. In the very beginning he prefaces the comparison by saying neither will 'really do' freeways, but I think this is the key difference between the two vehicles.
Such a great video. Watched several times over the years. 61 years old and taking my 2020 x300 to the Blue Ridge Parkway in a few weeks. Great bike and dont miss the KLR 650 I used to ride.
This is a masterpiece of filmmaking: the story, the image, the plot changes. You had me genuinely howling out loud and pointing at the screen at the first time-travel transition. Your videos are thoroughly entertaining and immensely valuable for a newbie figuring out whether adventure motorcycling is for him. Fantastic work as relevant as the day you published it! Thank you for making this!
What do you consider as contradicting about it? Just curious. I bought one and was shocked at how amazing it does off road and on. I am used to a much heavier bike though ( F 800 GSA ) so maybe these mixed reviews and opinions are all a matter of perspective. I'm trying to understand it myself. Thanks for your time in advance if you reply. Ride well!
It's less contradictory actually if you go hear Kawi sell it to you. It isn't really an off road bike, it's a road bike you can take on unsealed and crappy roads. The fact that it performed well enough for ryan to compare to to the fully off road but road legal CRF is actually amazing. I got confused by the ABS. Anyone who's ever taken their theory test knows ABS is bloody dangerous on off tarmac, so why wouldn't you be able to turn it off without removing the fuse? So I looked it up, and yeah, from the press launch, to sales packs and stuff Kawi aren't positioning this as a dirt bike. If you look at it as a 300 tourer/road-based adventurer that can go down some crappy roads, it's actually pretty damn good at it, and people are finding out that when you do it a bit of dirt it can handle it. Out in rural uninhabited Canada diving in streams and jumping logs isn't its home, in all honesty, and long term dirt use will probably go as well as Ryan says. I think there's actually quite a market for it. As ever there's no such thing as a bike that is equally perfect on mud and tarmac, but this sounds like it does pretty well surprisingly. As ryan ended the video - don't we already have a CRF? Yep, but I don't think we already have a bike like the Versys 300
I keep this video saved on its own tab so that I will never forget about it. I watch it at least once a week to remind myself how good it is. There's no reason for a youtube video to be this well done. Why did they try this hard? I don't know, but I love it.
This is some back in a day Top Gear / Grand Tour quality content and editing. Don't we all want to get into motorcycling after F9 videos!!! Love it. Amazing.
THIS!!! This was it... This was the video when they changed the direction of the channel. We went to professional cinematography and never looked back. May this channel last forever.
I’m 65. The versys 300x is right for me. Just bought one and so far I enjoy it. Road harleys for years.( 1976 superglide) bought it in 1985 sold it in 2019. Can’t load it in the cargo trailer I live in. Getting old sucks but I ain’t ready to stop living.
I never made a comment but I have been watching these videos for years. You have the rare talent on informing people on this dying hobby while actually making these questions that make you think, to inward questions of choices and decisions we make choosing to be on the bike. It's so well done, great work team. This was amazing.
Thank you Ryan. I'm 52 years old and haven't had a motorcycle since 1995. Was looking for something to get back in to it and after seeing this video I started looking for one. Picked up a 2017 with 4200 miles last week. I absolutely love it. Thanks again
Dope. Dope. Dope. Your videos not only get better in quality, your story telling ability has me re-watching this video from my iPhone 6S Plus to my 27in iMac with my eyes glued to the screen. I'm 2 months into owning/operating a photography studio in Houston, TX and can only dream to make a video/content that will captivate an audience as well as your videos do for me. Keep it up man. 👍🏻
Ryan you guys will be simply legendary in the review game! These are simply the best, most informative, most entertaining vids in the YouVerse!Your game is strong!
Great review! Been riding my Versys X-300 for two years now and Im still in love. I’m 51, it was my first bike and I ride it daily. Only thing that keeps me off of it is the snow and salt of Chicago winters. I do mostly city commuting and expressway trips where it performs very well always putting a big smile on my face. You really have to ride this thing to understand how competent it is on the highways with its little ninja 300 parallel twin. It’s capable to jump off road just for fun or be completely unrestrained by any obstacles I run into in the city. I think this is the best review of this bike I’ve seen on UA-cam.
I have been watching nothing but motorcycle videos for the past 1.5 years, and I somehow only recently found your channel. I have been binging like crazy. I have to say that the production value on your videos is absolute GOLD! I am beyond impressed. I am getting my first bike ever delivered this week (a grom) and I can't wait. The versys is going to be my next bike. Cheers!
you should make an actual career out of your photography and cinema skills. they really are up there with the professionals. I am legitimately speechless, at a loss for understanding for why you have so few subscribers
I suffer from Eremikophobia the quality of these videos should overpower that need. even if it doesn't, it should bring forth the quantities of subscribers and viewers tenfold what it currently is
As someone who just started riding on a Crf250l my heart sank and then rose watching this review. I wouldn't rather start on any other bike. Great review! -WillHeBrap
Yeah, I think the CRF is just to frame the Versys. They aren't really comparable. You get the CRF if you'll be riding off road, but sometimes have to ride to town or your mates or whatever, it's not a road bike. You get the Versys because you want a learner road bike you can tour on and some of the roads you'll ride on aren't sealed. Like I say, I think the CRF is just there to say "surprisingly, the versys doesn't suck in the mud" in stead of "these are kind of equal"
Watched this for the second time... feels like the first time ever. Spectacular movie. I have the XRE300. Unfortunately, I had to move down to Perú in order to have it. But the XRE300 is like the best of both worlds: big comfy seats, 27HP, and the same number for torque @4000 rpms. It cruises 120km/h @7k-rpm. With a Givi windshield and the CRF handguards, customized electro-actuated side boxes, 2 less teeth on the rear tire and the most spectacular customized BLDC 24V electro turbo... is the very best. Don't ask me for the final numbers. There's no Dyno here. But still feels the best ever.
Really enjoyable clip .They are both joy-filled bikes .. As a 67 year old liftime rider looking back .. I wish BMW would make just one under used Boxer (maybe an R80 inspired by the older R60 or R69s ) set up with a seat for 300 miles and earles forks , great suspention and modern brakes at $10k .(The R9T line is too frantic) I dont need 110 HP for the back roads .. IF one could get parts for the V7 Guzzi :) .. My friends in there 70 and 80's need light bikes for weaker legs and we cant lean forward on our wrists .. The R60 and R 50 of the late 1950s were called "Old Man Bikes" . As an old man I would love a modern version of one of those ...
Guy Wolff... I'm looking @ buying the Versys as my first motorcycle. I've been riding a pcx 150 as my commuter for almost 5 years now & want to move up a class. I also want to be able to travel a little farther than the pcx will comfortably allow. I won't be doing off road except for the occasional dirt road or forest road as I live in the PNW. My problem is I'm 5'3" 120 & this bike is just a little to big for total confidence. Do you think lowering it to gain an inch or inch & 1/2 would be a mistake? I've test ridden it numerous times & have no problem on the street or highway. It's stopping & parking & maneuvering in tight places that I'm concerned about @ it's current 32.1 seat height & 389lbs. The pcx is 30.1 & 289lbs. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I love riding & would like to be a little more adventurous. I don't own a car & prefer to either stay with the pcx or upgrade but don't want a cruiser or sport bike that has lower seat heights as I haul all manner of things on my pcx via the under seat storage or strapped to the back of the scooter.
@@cincraig I would get the bike and if needs be I'm sure someone builds a lowering link for the rear suspension. I have the same problem with a lot of bikes I'm short so I'm top toeing on everything. Lowering links are a lifesaver. Hope the advice helps ride safe
or you could get a tw200 lol almost cruiser seat height but you better dump 400 dollars into aux tanks (hint there is 3 that i know of that fit a tw200{second hint you need all three lol together}) which more then doubles hits fuel capacity and on 66mpg would bring you 349 miles of range..... but if your not in low gear all the time you get closer to 80 mpg. @@cincraig good if you never ride highway.... or atleast stick to them older highways where the speed limit is at most 60mph
These are more than motorcycle reviews. To a large degree, they are love stories telling stories about independence, travel, and tapping in to your heart and soul! What truly drives all of us. I cannot express how truly thankful I am that I am able to watch your videos, which by the way could be put on the big screen as they are that phenomenal. Thank you from a 58 year old guy, watching Feb. '22 from NW Wisconsin. Watching your videos is a reminder to hold on to the passion for as long as one can.
2021 - the genius that is the FortNine production team is not only amazing at the time made but also wears well, stands the test of time, doesn’t get old. Insert your own cliche’ here.
I have watched this many times. It is beautiful! The music, cinematography, and the story are just breathtaking. I can only imagine how many Versys X300’s this video sold. I want one!
Totally respect the approach and opinion. Having grown up on a dirt bike 30 years ago, I took a Versys-X 300 as my first road bike last year and have had an absolute blast. And as much as a dual sport isn't what I was looking for, I would definitely agree that they make for better starter bikes. Off-road is a much better venue for learning and playing safely.
Quite simply wow. I was so lost in the transitions that i totally forget when the video ended. my goodness i have never enjoyed a motorcycle review that much in my whole life.
LOL. I love the fact that this is the main video that got me to buy my Versys X300 in 2017. I'm a 5'4" woman who realistically rides 95% pavement, which makes the VX300 the perfect "pocket adventure bike". It's let me economically commute to work ever day, then on a rare weekend, take a 4 hour ride up to the mountains to find some forest roads for "off road" riding. Of course, since this video came out, Ricochet made an excellent skid plate, T-Rex provided great engine guards, and Bark Busters keep my levers from breaking off when I bite off more than I can chew and drop the bike. And since it's "pocket sized", it means I can still pick it up - which means a lot the older I get. For the casual off-road experience, it's a great bike - especially if you're on the short side.
I bought a Versys 300 because of this review. First bike ever, wanted one since I was a teenager and the Versys spoke to me. I'm amazed at the quality of video you put out, not just phenomenal for UA-cam, this would be amazing as a television program. Keep it up!!
These are fantastic bikes, about as perfect as they come. We rent them out and to date not one problem! They look large but feel surprisingly light! On and off road super capable. A very solid bike that i recommend over a CRF250 any day!
As a short person I don't have many options to choose from. Every dual sport has a seat height that I either can't reach or will be on my tip toes - from one side... So I found out the versys 300 is reachable for me and got into the vortex of watching videos about it. This one sold it to me because I will only be doing short trips and very light off road - more like dirt roads and unpaved surfaces. Very nice video!
I can appreciate you pointing out the Versys X-300's flaws, but it still has something that the dual-sports don't truly have. Versy-tility. For the chap that needs a true do-all bike, a dual-sport is an extremely antiquated approach. For a dude that needs a true commuter vehicle that can handle light trails, fire roads, power lines, and dirt roads with the fellas a couple times a month in the spring and summer the dual-sports are a poor choice. In 2021 a dual-sport is a good choice for the DEDICATED off-roader that doesn't have a truck and trailer to haul a dirtbike to their off-road digs. It's good enough for them to ride on the hardtop to get there, and that's it. Seeing as a skid plate is available now, and seeing as the kind of man that would buy such a bike ain't buying it for gnarly singletrack riding, the suspension is a non-issue. As for the ABS, well. For a small displacement bike like this I can agree with ripping it out altogether, and I will. It's just a lawyer feature for novices anyway. Beyond that, you have actually sold me a Kawasaki Versys X300. I'll add a skid plate, some engine guards, a luggage package, probably piddle with the gearing, and do the basic engine stuff (intake, exhaust, EFI box. Maybe a couple other little things) and I MIGHT put on some different tires.
The sound, the way you presented this bike. I have never seen a review come close to it before. The music and the way you used time is absolutely mind blowing. One of my favourite videos now.
I'm looking at the versys x as a commuter most of time (work in Seattle, WA, live 50 miles south.) but a fun adv bike some of the time. I also work construction so sometimes anything other an adv or dual sport isn't going to get me onto the site without parking far away and walking. It's priced low enough for me to not worry about spending the money, yet high quality enough that I know I can put 6k miles on it this year.
And you can afford fuel, etc to actually do the trips on something like this. psst. Go down hwy 12 toward packwood and then take the road past Mt. St. Hellens. It's a great ride. Perfect mix of fun road riding, and options for fire roads and dirt.
What in the HELL did i just watch???? I got a notification for a Kawasaki X-300 review but ended up being pulled into this amaze-balls looper film where by the end of it i didn't know where i was, or long i've been here. Your videos literally pull me into them and i get completely hypnotized by the quality and content. Keep this shit up F9.
Incredible: this review transforms a standard, even excellent, review into a masterpiece - a "Tale of Two Cities" - type review that transcends journalism. We laughed, we wept, we learned.... Dickens would have been proud. Thank you Ryan!
This isn’t a motorcycle review. It’s exploration of the human condition...
Through motorcycles
Totally agree!
😂😂😂 brilliant
Two years later, and still one of the best movies on UA-cam.
Same for me... I keep watching it over and over again
Ikr!
So good a review.
OMG. It's been 2 years, I need to get to work.
4 years, it's still pretty damned good!
It's 2021, it's now been a year and a half since my wife and I did a world tour on 2 Versys-x300.
38 000 Kms of sand, mud, rocks and boring asphalt and both bikes are still good as new. 64 500 & 72 000 Km on the clock respectively. We love this bike. Simple, light, goes anywhere, always starts and really, I mean REALLY reliable. The engine accept to be drown in water & mud, get its oil changed and start the first time.
We actually got the chance to meet the guy that developped this bike in Japan. Mr Wada : you did a wonderful job !
Oh, and did I say this video was one of the reason we chose this bike ?
Great work as always from Fortnine. Love you guys ❤️
Wow sounds like amazing tour 🤟🏼🔥
That sounds awesome. I have seen this video several times almost as if one will magically show up in my garage next to my cruiser. I am fairly certain that a Versys-X will be my next purchase.
👍🇨🇦
Niceee guys ...happy.family
Wow. What an adventure that must have been.
I feel like I should’ve paid to watch this
Haha. I am sure he would not complain if you did pay. This has to be one of the best productions.
I was also truly amazed by the quality of the production
Trump will not like it if it was on Netflix. Send him back!!!!
you did...with your time
Noah Blake agree
I came for a bike review, and left with an existential crisis; I need to buy a motorcycle.
Lol same here
Me too! Hahahaha
Im buying mine this monday :))
Make it a dual sport to learn.
I consider myself still a noobie. I have 2 bikes and commute 160 miles a day. My mechagirls(tm) have helped me maintain my sanity. I want to die riding.
4 years later , and still one of the best productions stuffed with emotionalism. Explaining on how for some a vehicle is more than just a status symbol, rather an experience of memories. Motorcycles make true enthusiasts feel something others won’t understand.
been 6 years
Yeah, this video makes The Deer Hunter seem like a cereal commercial.
best. review. in. history.
Agree! also, I am a SUB of your channel too, Saludos a la guardia civil! (plus I am a proud owner of a 2020 Versys X 300)
agreed
Venía a escribir algo así y tenías que ser precisamente TÚ xD
Vs, Mr. Maj.
MAJES! No pensé verte acá jajaja
You're stupid.
This video is made so well that it got me emotional for the bikes.
John Lemon it’s that piano track at the end.
Anyone know what the piano music at the beginning is called?
Adopt a bike then....
Me too...tears were starting to well....weird.
THIS is the one.
This is Ryan's "breakthrough" video ... the one that catapulted his F9 channel from simply being excellent, to becoming ... one-of-a-kind / other worldly .... in terms of unsurpassed excellence on the You Tube platform ... or anywhere else.
Yeah, this bloke is extremely talented.
It gave me an involuntary erection
Let's not get carried away by sound & vision. We'll remain Earthbound and clear eyed. That word you used, "excellent", is plenty enough.
His TW200 video was the first one I saw. Instant subscription!
Wow, a lot of effort went into making this video! Thank you for taking the time and patience to create it!
Yeah he is one of the best at what he does.Awesome stuff!!
This isn't a video...it's a movie masterpiece
In a world where bike reviews are - Ride this bike for the first time, not knowing about any feature, and only comparing it to liter bikes
You really are at the *TOP* of what "reviews" are.
Seriously, I appreciate the effort of the videos, but what's truly amazing other than the cinematography, is *you actually know how to do review videos* .
I think it's just shitty that other reviewers go on about and say "This Versys 300 is nothing like my super charged 500 hp sports touring adventure three wheel bike"
But you on the other hand, compare it to similar bikes, and actually know *WHO* buys these things.
I mean, not everyone who buys a bike intends to make it their budget liter bike experience. Buying the CRF250L, you can tell that this is for the younger people, who might want a beginner bike to wreck while experiencing the adventure.
Again, I really commend that you put out 100% on the videos, not just on the editing, but on the thought process of it.
I seriously cannot believe that with that kind of effort, you don't surpass the other youtubers who just screams while playing video games.
coool shit
Oh shit, gamegrumps called out!
You're right though, the effort deserves a ton more attention.
I have a crf250l. It's a fun bike. I've also realized I'm not a trail rider. So while I might do the Alpine loop once. Or black bear pass once. Or any other trail once. It doesn't have the suspension for it. And it seriously lacks on the highways. 2 hours on the roads in Arizona getting ran over while doing 65 mph... not fun! Miles and miles of gravel neat but boring. Out and backs are boring too.
Do I want a klr650? Do I want Nx650? Are there more capable bikes than the versys 300? Probably, however I am comparing it directly to the crf250l to be ridden in the same manner. Minus those 1 off trips. I think I'd rather a paved ride for 3 hours. Than a 3 hour ride of riding over helmet sized rocks.
Anyways thatsxwhy I'm watching thus review.
In a world, seriously, seriously cannot.
Dude, seriously, this was like watching a masterpiece of a film. Your editing, clever use of time in story telling, the sound, music, script, scenery, questions, and acting have left an impact impression...
This channel is way underrated even at 1.46M subs. The cinematography and storytelling and all the other things you mentioned are on such an epic scale. Every other reviews channel, be it auto or moto, feels like amateur work.
While I was watching this review and my friend asked me what documentary I was watching.
Came here for a bike review, left with a dramatic taste in my mouth. Ever consider making feature length films? I'd watch it. That was excellent.
Mathieu Gervais I
Me too. I thought it was awesome!
agreed
Comon answer his question!
They lifted everything from a movie called Looper. Music, visuals, pacing and narration. He's even dressed like the protagonist.
I have both a CRF250L Rally and a Versys 300. I got the Rally first, but mainly because there wasn't a Versys available at the time. These are my first and second bikes.
From a very-new-rider's perspective, I think they're both great. The main reason I got the Versys was because the CRF250L Rally doesn't have quite long enough legs to keep up with the stupidly-high 70 and 80-mph speed limits we have where I live (Montana, U.S.). The Versys, while it doesn't have much extra power at those speeds, can easily reach and sustain them, while the 300cc displacement still keeps insurance comfortably low. There's plenty of dirt riding to be had here, but to get between areas you have to cover a lot of miles on high-speed-limit paved.
Never heard anyone call 70-80 MPH „stupidly high“
I find this better than a Top Gear episodes. This is a first time I've felt this. Good work mate ! Subscribed
... and Ryan doesn't assault his camera crew when he doesn't like the catering menu.
@@robc4191 the camera crew aren’t usually bully type and don’t have ownership status so that they think they own everything and do anything.
I'm old. (56).
I recently learned on an old crappy dual sport that I love.
I want the x-300 not some 500lb monster.
Lots of us old dudes are thinking this way.
Just went thru my fourth back surgery - turned 60...Sold the 1200 and bought an XT-250 !!!!! Love it !!!!!!
In my 30s and I much prefer a lighter bike (especially if you need to pick it up alone, and possibly on awkward terrain or a negative angle). They're just more enjoyable in my experience.
I bought 2 of these. They work great for me
@@eatingplaydoh Which 2?
i started on the 500lb monsters and have a 1k lb gl1800 in the garage. but when it comes to hitting the dirt i heavily lean on the versys 300
3 years and 13K miles on my 2017. Still loving every mile it ticks off. I've added a skid plate and crash bars got ride of the OEM rubber and now it excels in the dirt. (I'm an old dude = over 70)
me too. 70 and lovin my Versys 300
You guys are not old you guys are 70 and young.
am looking at buying one and never ridden before - old dude as well 67. Is that too old to ride and how tall are you. Me 6'2"
You really are very clever and engaging. Thank you for bringing artistry, skill, poetry, intelligence and sensitivity to my favourite subject: motorbikes.
Matthew Seymour Amen, brother.
Yah, I'm old - 53 - and been riding since my twenties. I love the Versys X 300. Perfect for my style - some dirt roads but not really trails; some highway but prefer secondary roads or smaller.
When you're old you'll want your X 300. Keep it in good shape til then! Great great great videos!
Same here, I am 51 and own an X300. I own other bikes too, everything from 80's classics like RD350, LC350 to 2013 Duke 390, Bonneville SE, 2018 Street Triple RS.
Could afford to buy a much bigger and way more expensive ADV bike but I chose not to. The amount of fun I have on this little bike while just doing 80-100kmph is something I can't enjoy on much heavier ADV bikes. This little bike lets me enjoy the scenery. Love it.
37 The only BMW GS bikes that appeal to me in overall concept were the 1980s bikes that were still light and simple. I would love a 600-700 cc version of the Africa twin, or something like the versys x. My brother has the ninja version of this bike and it is honestly a fun time.
50 here, and still love to push my CRF250L on the singletrack... Maybe when I'm 55? ;)
49, sold the Africa Twin and tomorrow morning will have an X 300 parked next to the WR250R which is parked near the cruiser.
I can see it filling the hole between the two and also seeing a good bit of dirt when friends are visiting and we hit the trails. Great value riding.
I'm 53, been riding off and on for 30 years, and I just bought two cheap Chinese 250cc dual sport bikes for me and one of my sons. They aren't rockets and I'd have to be a little nuts to take them across the continent, but they're capable and great learner bikes for both of us. Might I upgrade to a KLR 650 at some point? Perhaps. But I'm enjoying every minute on my 250 as it is.
alright, I know this video is almost 5 years old but this is probably the most beautifully shot and weirdly thought provoking motorcycle review I've ever seen. You guys absolutely did not have to put this much effort into a comparison review of two motorcycles but I'm so glad you did.
Is this channel filmmaking gold or about motorcycles? Sometimes the lines blure. Keep up your awesome work!
Let's say it's a channel about motorcycle made by a team of really good filmmakers ~TeamF9
really can't argue with that.
That's for sure. This was really really good.
I agree with everyone else that this channel is amazing.
You guys to pan to focus on things a lot, IE: shot of cornfield, then camera pans to closeup of bike's tire.
In this video from 0:30 to 1:00 you guys do this a total of 8 times. It's not a bad technique, but maybe mix it up a bit, maybe orbit around the bike a bit, or slow zoom in or out. Just my thoughts, even if you think they're crap and I'm an idiot, still love your channel and will watch your vids :D
Jacob Lynn j
This felt like "Interstellar" type review, the story telling is so thought provoking. Background music was simply great.
Surinder it uses interstellar sounds probably
Surinder i think the intro is very interstellar like.
I got more of a looper feel from it, with the jumping back and the going through the years and the pocket watch.
@@x25xecally ... yeah, it's intentional .... Ryan F9 wanted to " tell the story" using a film style called "parody"
I've watched this review many times in the last three years, and it keeps getting better.
First time I saw it, I was the owner of an XT660Z Tenere, and felt that Versys X-300 would be the bike of my choice in this comparison. Then, I bought an MT09, wich I prepared for track racing, and came back to this video and got to the conclusion that, maybe, a bike like the CRF would be the bike of my choice, but as a second bike on my garage.
Both options are great depending on what you're going to do on it, and if you want it as main or secondary motocycle.
Maybe when this video gets to "Year 5" I'll change my choice again. And then again.
This is not just a review. It's a legit short movie, and should get an Oscar. Period.
I'm trying to decide between an XTZ660 Tenere and this Kawasaki X-300, what would you recommend for a first bike of a new rider like me?
@@MartoradGaming It's not easy to say, mate. Both are great choices for a new rider. The XTZ660 is a powerfull trail motorcycle, with a humongous fuel tank and a quite simple to understand engine. It is also, pretty basic with almost no electronics more than just the fuel inyection. Great for trail trips and highway travel... not so great for daily use, because the high weight distribution and the limited turning range.
The Versys on the other hand is a more equiped bike (ABS, two cilinders engine) lighter and newer. Consider this if you ever need spare parts (the XTZ660 manifacturing has been discontinued 5 years ago).
If it had to chooose, I would choose the XTZ due to larger fuel tank, much more power, and a more straigh forward mechanichs (if electronics fail... there you go mate. Nothing will help you).
@@MartoradGamingI would always recommend the lighter bike for new riders. Add in ABS and it makes it even clearer which a novice should have as first road bike.
If you ever need to brake hard on the road and swerve then you'll discover that heavier motorcycles are usually more difficult to change direction than other bikes. That extra weight requires extra direction force and skill to make the bike move in a direction you weren't planning on.
And the 300cc is fast enough.
If you've never had a bike before I would consider a used 125cc for a few months. Super lightweight, fast enough, and you'll be able to sell it for most of what you bought it for. Especially if you're in a city with maximum 60mph speed limit.
And if you want to practice recovering from a short wheel skid then you could try what Ryan was doing by turning off the ABS while on grass and riding very slowly. I learned as a kid on grass, power sliding, skidding, unlocking a locked skidding wheel. Gives experience so that the time a car pulled out in front of me and I locked the rear brake as I was aiming for the escape path I didn't panic. I just eased off the brake pedal, the rear gripped, and I steered to the side of the car. Luckily. I had the front brakes on as much as I could while doing this.
It's difficult to brake hard and steer around something unexpected.
Smaller lighter bikes are what all European countries legally require new motorcycle licence passers to ride for 2 years.
Recently bought a 2023 Versys X and I love it. This is the best review of anything that I have ever witnessed. The production should be nominated for film of the year. Great job.
Kawasaki got it right with this one. A LOT of us want an adventure bike just for the plush suspension and legroom, and only really need enough off-road capability for the odd gravel or dirt road. That's what the Versys 300 is for. Softcore. Lots of guys that get CRF 230 or 250 end up complaining that it can't *really* do highway riding. You say the Versys can CRUISE at 130 kph. (80 mph) That's actually fast enough to do expressway riding and properly keep up with traffic, which is much more likely a scenario for most of us than riding through the woods like you're doing. I guess it comes down to what kind of off roading you plan to do. For me, a middle-aged guy with a young family, living in the Chicago suburbs, the only reason the Honda is even in the running is because their long-term quality is better than Kawasaki's. So for me, it'd be between the Versys 300, Versys 650, or the Honda 500 adventure bike. I'd probably go with the Honda 500x, and not screw around with tubed tires. Wish they had the Deauville here still, so I wouldn't have to screw around with chain maintenance either.
All the big four last long. Change your fluids!!
Yeah that 300cc kawasaki mill is hard for even they guys that race ninja 300's to kill. It's solid. Glad you are making the point here that it DOES in fact hold 80mph no problem, up hills etc, on the freeway. In the very beginning he prefaces the comparison by saying neither will 'really do' freeways, but I think this is the key difference between the two vehicles.
Bla bla bla😳
Didn’t even realize I was rewatching this, it’s just that captivating.
These review videos are turning into art films. Great review.
This video is literally in my small list of awesome videos on youtube. Like, i'm not exaggerating. You guys did a great job
Such a great video. Watched several times over the years. 61 years old and taking my 2020 x300 to the Blue Ridge Parkway in a few weeks. Great bike and dont miss the KLR 650 I used to ride.
fortnine reviews 😍😍
Poignant and moving are words are never thought I'd use to describe a motorcycle review, but here I am
Especially while drinking a soy decaf latte :)
This is a masterpiece of filmmaking: the story, the image, the plot changes. You had me genuinely howling out loud and pointing at the screen at the first time-travel transition.
Your videos are thoroughly entertaining and immensely valuable for a newbie figuring out whether adventure motorcycling is for him.
Fantastic work as relevant as the day you published it!
Thank you for making this!
As a biker, a Versys 300 seems contradictory. As a video editor, holy cow, you're getting better every video. The photography is great.
It's a perfect bike for someone like me. Great on the street, but plenty of guts to handle the dirt roads around here as well.
What do you consider as contradicting about it? Just curious. I bought one and was shocked at how amazing it does off road and on. I am used to a much heavier bike though ( F 800 GSA ) so maybe these mixed reviews and opinions are all a matter of perspective. I'm trying to understand it myself. Thanks for your time in advance if you reply. Ride well!
It's less contradictory actually if you go hear Kawi sell it to you. It isn't really an off road bike, it's a road bike you can take on unsealed and crappy roads. The fact that it performed well enough for ryan to compare to to the fully off road but road legal CRF is actually amazing.
I got confused by the ABS. Anyone who's ever taken their theory test knows ABS is bloody dangerous on off tarmac, so why wouldn't you be able to turn it off without removing the fuse? So I looked it up, and yeah, from the press launch, to sales packs and stuff Kawi aren't positioning this as a dirt bike. If you look at it as a 300 tourer/road-based adventurer that can go down some crappy roads, it's actually pretty damn good at it, and people are finding out that when you do it a bit of dirt it can handle it. Out in rural uninhabited Canada diving in streams and jumping logs isn't its home, in all honesty, and long term dirt use will probably go as well as Ryan says. I think there's actually quite a market for it.
As ever there's no such thing as a bike that is equally perfect on mud and tarmac, but this sounds like it does pretty well surprisingly. As ryan ended the video - don't we already have a CRF? Yep, but I don't think we already have a bike like the Versys 300
The production value of these videos is insane. Congratulations, FortNine, it's an absolute pleasure to watch you!
I keep this video saved on its own tab so that I will never forget about it. I watch it at least once a week to remind myself how good it is. There's no reason for a youtube video to be this well done. Why did they try this hard? I don't know, but I love it.
That production quality. Damn! Thank you so much!
The piano at the end made me shed a tear. This is beautiful
I'd like to point out that several years later, this video is both part of why I got back into motorcycling *and* why it was a Versys X300.
This is some back in a day Top Gear / Grand Tour quality content and editing. Don't we all want to get into motorcycling after F9 videos!!! Love it. Amazing.
THIS!!!
This was it...
This was the video when they changed the direction of the channel. We went to professional cinematography and never looked back. May this channel last forever.
Ever since I saw this video, I've been wanting one of these bikes. I finally bought one today, and it will be delivered tomorrow. Can't wait.
I’m 65. The versys 300x is right for me. Just bought one and so far I enjoy it. Road harleys for years.( 1976 superglide) bought it in 1985 sold it in 2019. Can’t load it in the cargo trailer I live in. Getting old sucks but I ain’t ready to stop living.
I never made a comment but I have been watching these videos for years. You have the rare talent on informing people on this dying hobby while actually making these questions that make you think, to inward questions of choices and decisions we make choosing to be on the bike. It's so well done, great work team. This was amazing.
this `hobby` is dying?? that is strong stuff to any of us long-term bikers
this man never misses, all of his videos are masterful and thought provoking
Thank you Ryan. I'm 52 years old and haven't had a motorcycle since 1995. Was looking for something to get back in to it and after seeing this video I started looking for one. Picked up a 2017 with 4200 miles last week. I absolutely love it. Thanks again
Dope. Dope. Dope. Your videos not only get better in quality, your story telling ability has me re-watching this video from my iPhone 6S Plus to my 27in iMac with my eyes glued to the screen. I'm 2 months into owning/operating a photography studio in Houston, TX and can only dream to make a video/content that will captivate an audience as well as your videos do for me. Keep it up man. 👍🏻
Hows your studio been? Hope youre doing well
Ryan you guys will be simply legendary in the review game! These are simply the best, most informative, most entertaining vids in the YouVerse!Your game is strong!
Great review! Been riding my Versys X-300 for two years now and Im still in love. I’m 51, it was my first bike and I ride it daily. Only thing that keeps me off of it is the snow and salt of Chicago winters. I do mostly city commuting and expressway trips where it performs very well always putting a big smile on my face. You really have to ride this thing to understand how competent it is on the highways with its little ninja 300 parallel twin. It’s capable to jump off road just for fun or be completely unrestrained by any obstacles I run into in the city. I think this is the best review of this bike I’ve seen on UA-cam.
Why is a motorcycle review messing with my emotions?
40yr old former crotch-rocket specialist here...Versys 300 is where I'm at and love it🤟
One of the highest creative bars on UA-cam. This channel is the absolute the best motorcycle channel hands down. It could be the best channel period.
No TV show comes close to this channel. It captures the essence of bike riding.
3 years after and still one of the best reviews ever!
I have been watching nothing but motorcycle videos for the past 1.5 years, and I somehow only recently found your channel. I have been binging like crazy. I have to say that the production value on your videos is absolute GOLD! I am beyond impressed. I am getting my first bike ever delivered this week (a grom) and I can't wait. The versys is going to be my next bike. Cheers!
you should make an actual career out of your photography and cinema skills. they really are up there with the professionals. I am legitimately speechless, at a loss for understanding for why you have so few subscribers
Casue its Canadian Revzilla... :) And We have 10 month of winter in most of Canada! :D
Because it's not modern pop culture, it is too good for a broader audience. Let's keep it the best secret that it is!
Mason Farrell Sadly UA-cam's system values quantity over quality.
I suffer from Eremikophobia the quality of these videos should overpower that need. even if it doesn't, it should bring forth the quantities of subscribers and viewers tenfold what it currently is
Completely agree.
Crazy production quality once again. You guys are really outdoing yourselves!
I have watched this review at least 15 times, and somehow it gets better each time.
As someone who just started riding on a Crf250l my heart sank and then rose watching this review. I wouldn't rather start on any other bike.
Great review!
-WillHeBrap
Yeah, I think the CRF is just to frame the Versys. They aren't really comparable. You get the CRF if you'll be riding off road, but sometimes have to ride to town or your mates or whatever, it's not a road bike. You get the Versys because you want a learner road bike you can tour on and some of the roads you'll ride on aren't sealed. Like I say, I think the CRF is just there to say "surprisingly, the versys doesn't suck in the mud" in stead of "these are kind of equal"
Watched this for the second time... feels like the first time ever. Spectacular movie. I have the XRE300. Unfortunately, I had to move down to Perú in order to have it. But the XRE300 is like the best of both worlds: big comfy seats, 27HP, and the same number for torque @4000 rpms. It cruises 120km/h @7k-rpm. With a Givi windshield and the CRF handguards, customized electro-actuated side boxes, 2 less teeth on the rear tire and the most spectacular customized BLDC 24V electro turbo... is the very best. Don't ask me for the final numbers. There's no Dyno here. But still feels the best ever.
It is just incredible that a motocycle review can be aesthetically beautiful
Really enjoyable clip .They are both joy-filled bikes .. As a 67 year old liftime rider looking back .. I wish BMW would make just one under used Boxer (maybe an R80 inspired by the older R60 or R69s ) set up with a seat for 300 miles and earles forks , great suspention and modern brakes at $10k .(The R9T line is too frantic) I dont need 110 HP for the back roads .. IF one could get parts for the V7 Guzzi :) .. My friends in there 70 and 80's need light bikes for weaker legs and we cant lean forward on our wrists .. The R60 and R 50 of the late 1950s were called "Old Man Bikes" . As an old man I would love a modern version of one of those ...
Guy Wolff... I'm looking @ buying the Versys as my first motorcycle. I've been riding a pcx 150 as my commuter for almost 5 years now & want to move up a class. I also want to be able to travel a little farther than the pcx will comfortably allow. I won't be doing off road except for the occasional dirt road or forest road as I live in the PNW. My problem is I'm 5'3" 120 & this bike is just a little to big for total confidence. Do you think lowering it to gain an inch or inch & 1/2 would be a mistake? I've test ridden it numerous times & have no problem on the street or highway. It's stopping & parking & maneuvering in tight places that I'm concerned about @ it's current 32.1 seat height & 389lbs. The pcx is 30.1 & 289lbs. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I love riding & would like to be a little more adventurous. I don't own a car & prefer to either stay with the pcx or upgrade but don't want a cruiser or sport bike that has lower seat heights as I haul all manner of things on my pcx via the under seat storage or strapped to the back of the scooter.
@@cincraig I would get the bike and if needs be I'm sure someone builds a lowering link for the rear suspension. I have the same problem with a lot of bikes I'm short so I'm top toeing on everything. Lowering links are a lifesaver. Hope the advice helps ride safe
@@younggun9956 Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I do appreciate your feedback it means so much!
@@cincraig no problem ride safe and find adventure!
or you could get a tw200 lol almost cruiser seat height but you better dump 400 dollars into aux tanks (hint there is 3 that i know of that fit a tw200{second hint you need all three lol together}) which more then doubles hits fuel capacity and on 66mpg would bring you 349 miles of range..... but if your not in low gear all the time you get closer to 80 mpg. @@cincraig good if you never ride highway.... or atleast stick to them older highways where the speed limit is at most 60mph
Make a damn movie already!
he really should,
I would bring my whole family to see it
You definitely deserve your on TV show! The quality of your reviews, self tests and tutorials are second to none!!
TV is wrong media to quality this high.
You my friend are the David Attenborough of the motorcycle world. You got my sub.
VERY well put.
Great!
@@raptorgeezus3810 …….hows life in your Mom’s basement?
"Imagine if you're watching a movie..." Well, I don't have to, I'm definitely watching one.
These are more than motorcycle reviews. To a large degree, they are love stories telling stories about independence, travel, and tapping in to your heart and soul! What truly drives all of us. I cannot express how truly thankful I am that I am able to watch your videos, which by the way could be put on the big screen as they are that phenomenal. Thank you from a 58 year old guy, watching Feb. '22 from NW Wisconsin. Watching your videos is a reminder to hold on to the passion for as long as one can.
It's almost four years since Ryan did this amazing video...now it's time for Part Deux. Kawasaki Versys-X 300 vs. Honda CRF300L.
Hands down this is the best bike review I've ever seen in my life.
Congrats, you just made an old man cry. Yes, I too learned on a dual sport. The memories . . .
i am 56 and just bought a Versys 300x
I love the reviews, absolutely love them. it's a review but a story all at the same time.
2021 - the genius that is the FortNine production team is not only amazing at the time made but also wears well, stands the test of time, doesn’t get old. Insert your own cliche’ here.
That ticking noise is sooooo good
I have watched this many times. It is beautiful! The music, cinematography, and the story are just breathtaking.
I can only imagine how many Versys X300’s this video sold. I want one!
Totally respect the approach and opinion. Having grown up on a dirt bike 30 years ago, I took a Versys-X 300 as my first road bike last year and have had an absolute blast. And as much as a dual sport isn't what I was looking for, I would definitely agree that they make for better starter bikes. Off-road is a much better venue for learning and playing safely.
Quite simply wow. I was so lost in the transitions that i totally forget when the video ended. my goodness i have never enjoyed a motorcycle review that much in my whole life.
"What will I want when I get old?" I road dual sports since I was 12. 40 years later I own a dual sport. You will always crave it.
LOL. I love the fact that this is the main video that got me to buy my Versys X300 in 2017. I'm a 5'4" woman who realistically rides 95% pavement, which makes the VX300 the perfect "pocket adventure bike". It's let me economically commute to work ever day, then on a rare weekend, take a 4 hour ride up to the mountains to find some forest roads for "off road" riding. Of course, since this video came out, Ricochet made an excellent skid plate, T-Rex provided great engine guards, and Bark Busters keep my levers from breaking off when I bite off more than I can chew and drop the bike. And since it's "pocket sized", it means I can still pick it up - which means a lot the older I get. For the casual off-road experience, it's a great bike - especially if you're on the short side.
probably the best review ever made @fortnine you are quite literally one of the best youtubers and number one when it comes to motorcycles
Lol.....wow, I just watched my life go by. You certainly know how to get people to consider different angles.
2 year ago. I bought Versys-X 300 because this video. And thank you Fortnine for your very nice review. I'm very happy with my bike.
I bought a Versys 300 because of this review. First bike ever, wanted one since I was a teenager and the Versys spoke to me. I'm amazed at the quality of video you put out, not just phenomenal for UA-cam, this would be amazing as a television program. Keep it up!!
Me too
These are fantastic bikes, about as perfect as they come. We rent them out and to date not one problem! They look large but feel surprisingly light! On and off road super capable. A very solid bike that i recommend over a CRF250 any day!
Man that 10,000 rpm departure from the parking garage was hysterical. I really enjoy your videos.
This Christopher Nolan approved review transcends time
Every video this man makes is a piece of absolute art. I can’t stop watching
As a short person I don't have many options to choose from. Every dual sport has a seat height that I either can't reach or will be on my tip toes - from one side...
So I found out the versys 300 is reachable for me and got into the vortex of watching videos about it. This one sold it to me because I will only be doing short trips and very light off road - more like dirt roads and unpaved surfaces.
Very nice video!
I can appreciate you pointing out the Versys X-300's flaws, but it still has something that the dual-sports don't truly have. Versy-tility. For the chap that needs a true do-all bike, a dual-sport is an extremely antiquated approach. For a dude that needs a true commuter vehicle that can handle light trails, fire roads, power lines, and dirt roads with the fellas a couple times a month in the spring and summer the dual-sports are a poor choice. In 2021 a dual-sport is a good choice for the DEDICATED off-roader that doesn't have a truck and trailer to haul a dirtbike to their off-road digs. It's good enough for them to ride on the hardtop to get there, and that's it. Seeing as a skid plate is available now, and seeing as the kind of man that would buy such a bike ain't buying it for gnarly singletrack riding, the suspension is a non-issue. As for the ABS, well. For a small displacement bike like this I can agree with ripping it out altogether, and I will. It's just a lawyer feature for novices anyway. Beyond that, you have actually sold me a Kawasaki Versys X300. I'll add a skid plate, some engine guards, a luggage package, probably piddle with the gearing, and do the basic engine stuff (intake, exhaust, EFI box. Maybe a couple other little things) and I MIGHT put on some different tires.
Holy crap dude. The videos you and your team produce are, in a word, captivating.
The sound, the way you presented this bike. I have never seen a review come close to it before. The music and the way you used time is absolutely mind blowing. One of my favourite videos now.
I'm looking at the versys x as a commuter most of time (work in Seattle, WA, live 50 miles south.) but a fun adv bike some of the time. I also work construction so sometimes anything other an adv or dual sport isn't going to get me onto the site without parking far away and walking. It's priced low enough for me to not worry about spending the money, yet high quality enough that I know I can put 6k miles on it this year.
And you can afford fuel, etc to actually do the trips on something like this. psst. Go down hwy 12 toward packwood and then take the road past Mt. St. Hellens. It's a great ride. Perfect mix of fun road riding, and options for fire roads and dirt.
Price point on this bike is great, especially if you're not too tall.
Ive watched this b4 but i cant get enough. It's like a mini movie which ypu want to see every now and then....
This is just a video about a bike, but it feels like a movie, it's awesome, the scenery, the shots, the dialogue, everything is incredible
Just love the artistic way you make videos, they are beatiful. Ever thought of making a movie?
What in the HELL did i just watch???? I got a notification for a Kawasaki X-300 review but ended up being pulled into this amaze-balls looper film where by the end of it i didn't know where i was, or long i've been here. Your videos literally pull me into them and i get completely hypnotized by the quality and content. Keep this shit up F9.
Incredible: this review transforms a standard, even excellent, review into a masterpiece - a "Tale of Two Cities" - type review that transcends journalism. We laughed, we wept, we learned.... Dickens would have been proud. Thank you Ryan!
You left me in some deep thoughts with that final part. What an amazing channel you guys have. Artistic AND informative. Great work!
This I the first comment I ever made on UA-cam video...
But WOW!!! got goosebumps from watching this video....
This has to be one of the best scripts and storytelling of recent motorcycles breakdowns. Hats off 🎩
You're like a young Carl Sagan 'cept instead of cosmology it's motorcycles. History will treat you well.