@@angelicafitzgerald3142 first of all you need to know your bike before you're looking for more power^^ LED lights would be an great idea but the bike you're looking for allready exists! it's called versys 650, i guess you've watched the wrong review ;)
Nice review I like a lot of riders started in my teens on 250cc - 500cc bikes and had a blast on them. As I got older the bikes got bigger, and honestly after awhile you realize you had more fun thrashing a little 250 or 500cc bike down the back roads than you ever will a big bike. However my biggest issue now is at 6' 4" tall I don't seem to fit on anything under 900cc.
What? No sleeping bag? You must be hardcore man! I loved this video. Perfect for February dreaming of getting back to the new Forest for a few beers and a great ride or Brands Hatch for a couple of nights at the BSB. Can't wait!
I bought a Versys 300X in may 2018 and i'm very pleased with it, have a harley roadking ('98) and a yamaha TW125 (2004) and they all are great in their way, you have to use you're bike the way they were meant to be
Nice video and wit. I’m a California Versys x-300 owner, fantastic for twisty back roads. I added a 34.5” Corbin seat and Motowerk lowered pegs to improve comfort for my 6’1” height.
Mate, I just love your videos and style of presentation. Your humour is nice and dry and you stick to the points and don't faf about or pontificate. The bike itself is a little wonder. I wonder seriously why Kawasaki has not released a 400 version with the new Ninja 400 engine yet. I love the fact that it's tall, as that makes a huge difference in traffic. As for the panniers, I'd skip the 400 quid and buy some soft luggage from one of the aftermarket makers like Kriega or Enduristan and also skip the Kawasaki extras except possibly for the center stand, and buy some frame sliders, hand guards and a 12v socket also from the aftermarket. All in all you'll save about 500 pounds, if you're on a budget.
Great review and very realistic. I've had a vstrom 1050 and that bike was way too heavy. Looking for a lighter more manageable bike. And the reality is most adv bikers spend very little time off pavement (at least from my experience), therefore the review is very realistic.
used to tour on a kawasaki zzr 250 two up. redline14,000....80mph 10,000. 500 miles in a day was frequent, often chasing momentum and the redline hanging onto the tails of bigger machines. never got bored, or fell asleep on the motorway. dontworry about capacity just get out there
It is no baby, baby are the 49 cc like the ruckus, the best name for the Versys X 300 I have hard is the Hummingbird of ADV bikes. Other wise great video, I have had mine for 3 weeks and got just over 1600 Km on it would have more but too much rain in the past week. Love the way it corners and handles dirt and gravel roads, starting to get use to the seat, but have not gone over 200 Km non stop yet.
I've got a Honda Varadero 125 which is a nice large 125. I've been studying various different options to move up to. Although I now have a full bike license, I don't necessarily want to go crazy and buy a 1200 cc, just something of a decent size and a big of guts
This getaway could be even cheaper if you skip buying the tent. The x-300 is so light, you could just lay down on the ground and tip the bike over on top of yourself for shelter. The engine's residual heat would keep you warm.
I live in the Philippines and was looking at one of these for touring around with the missus. Lots of really rough dirt roads in places, you reckon this is really up to it? The bike I was looking at before stumbling upon tis was an XT250. This does look like it would be way more comfortable for covering a day in the saddle on smaller roads.
very good video, but fix the bike up wright, get rid of those side bags and put on some GVI Trekker 33 liter and a 46 liter for the top if you are riding single, Put all you heavy stuff in the side bags, I keep the top box for putting my helmet and riding gear in, to keep it safe and dry when stopped, I all so put heated grips, power out let , It came with center stand and engine guards which I put some LED lights on to be seen easier. I found that if I was going much over 90 Km per hour it would drink a lot of gas so I went with a 14 tooth sprocket up front problem solved I now get a average of 3.8 liters per hundred. in all round driving, but hear most of the roads are 80 Km with a few 90 Km so don't do much over 100 km except for passing. And even with the 14 tooth front sprocket it still dose great off road, I have driven many bikes over 1000 cc. but enjoy this bike more than most of them, You can have fun on the windy roads running it through the gears with out going over the speed limit. IT IS MUCH MORE FUN RIDING A SOLW BIKE FAST THAN A FAST BIKE SLOW. The Versys X 300 is also great on gravel roads and trails, but on single track keep your speed down as you do not have a lot of ground clearance, but I have yet to bottom out on it. And I do know it was a budget set up but lets get real and spend a little more and have a great bike, Also if going to do a lot of gravel and dirt roads I would go with better tires. I am going to be trying some Dunlop trailmax mission on my DR 650 and if they work out will be putting on my Versys x as well. again great video but going too cheep is not a good thing over the long run, the Versys x 300 is a great bike let the addons match the bike and make a great ADV bike.
I'm sure it handles pretty well off road too. KLR 650 type of bike, where you don't need lots of power to follow your friends on BMW 800GS or Tiger 800.
Quick way to save cash: Ditch the tent/sleeping mat, and instead, get a hammock/tarp. Your sleeping bag will keep you warm, the tarp will keep you dry, and the hammock will keep you off the hard ground. The tarp is also lightweight and folds for easy storage, while you can also use it in a variety of ways, not just as rain cover. Whereas a tent and sleeping mat are bulky, heavy, and take time to set up. Also, a tent will provide as much protection against predators as a wrapper does for a candy bar. I'd rather have quick reaction to a threat, with my firearm near me, not hoping that whatever I can't see outside the tent eventually goes away and doesn't attack me in a cocoon. If you're worried about insects, either find a hammock with a mosquito net built-in, or just buy one separately for cheap.
Ive had mine for 6 months now and have a bit of miles 5600 miles or so. Plenty of power to get on The interstate And very light for easy trail riding. Tires are meh.. But a great Commuter/ trail bike. I Ended up Parking my FXSTC HD for the season after i purchased this little machine. Awesome Bike for the $$.
Interesting video. Only 60 mpg? My 1996 cb250 gives me around 120mpg mainly around town. Was that a pot noodle you were eating? You motoring journo's know how to live ;)
usually the mpg claimed by these reviewers and magazines is bullshit. They spend all day redlining it. the average rider that is using this on public roads and short shifting for better economy will get much better figures.
@@benpar8120 Ok point taken. A better test then would be when both machines are producing say 10HP (more typical for mundane duties) what is the fuel economy? If both machines had near enough the same economy at the 10 HP, all other things being equal if I am being honest I wd prefer the 300 Versys for the occasional rush of blood....
Sick of trying to get out any distance on bikes that return less mpg than my frickin' 12 year old Volvo. Will it do 80 on a motorway is now the question?
Agreed. The tent should last many trips, as will the cooking stove, so spread the equipment cost over a year. A trip like this should cost no more than £30.
@@victormotebenjamin5963 ooops!! I was talking about a classic chinese bike on another video!!! I've owned a versys 650, a klx250s and a klx650r......I know kawi's pretty well and they are the best!
I would have bought this bike 3 yrs ago but unfortunately it is not available at the time. Getting one of this now doesn't make much sense to me. A little regret but I have to move on. If only the Versys 650 comes with ABS and better tech like the new Ninja 650 or z650. Unfortunately, versys 650 is pretty dated here in my country. Even CFMOTO 650 MT recently release with ABS and priced 1/3 cheaper than Versys 650.
Yes, but it is based on ER6N rather than Versys. It may be a copy of a bullet proof engine but I question the build quality. Only time will tell when it comes to Chinese bikes. Unlike Japanese that proven themselves.
Outdoor stores in the U.K. are the same as in the U.S., basically outposts for China, Inc. As for the bike, let's not have any illusions. A 650 would serve most adult male riders far better. 9000 rpm or more at 70 mph, right?
Slab Rankle you’re right, a larger bike would suit male and female riders looking to do more of this kind of thing, but there’s an A2 licence implication and some (usually older) bikers seem to be looking to downsize rather than go bigger. The little 300 was more than happy at 70 and 80 mph for prolonged periods.
Try riding a small bike, they are fun! Thrashing a 300cc keeps your license intact whereas doing the same on a larger bike can get you in trouble quite quickly.
@@alecjtaylor I have. My first bike was a Ducati Monster 620, which physically is no bigger or heavier than this Kawi, just a bigger engine. This bike is no doubt just right for some, but I think for most it's simply not enough bike. Just my opinion.
A 620cc bike isn't small ;-) From my experience (125cc to 1000cc) small bikes are 'fun' and can be more fun due to their reduced power. You can have more adventure on smaller bikes, their lack of power adds to the challenge. It's not achievement to ride 400 miles in a day on a BWM 1200GS, but it certainly is on a 125cc! Another way to look at it would be you get to experience all of a small bikes ability. A 1000cc sports bike can't be used properly on the open road, but I can thrash my 200cc KTM Duke on back roads and push it to the limit, rather than myself to the limit. Make sense?
Hey! I am an American (horrors!) Thank you for reviewing this bike in the ridiculous English way that you do....This is a cool bike, but if one is careful, one can buy a bike like this (cb500x) and a ZZR1200 for the same money (in America). Getting close to nature has been proven to be a great way to clear your mind. Motorcycling helps a lot. We (Americans) wish you people from England would come to America -- there are so many advantages here ....
Nothing about off road. No testing of the ABS (front not enough, rear too much). Not a single dirt track or even a semi-tarmac road tested. How about that high revving engine over a long distance - tiring? It's a tall bike for anyone under 5ft 8in or 5 ft 9 in. Rock hard seat will need after market solution. Panniers are outrageous at £400 extra, given that they are virtually tupperware boxes with as much charisma as - a tupperware box. The obsession with wringing horsepower at the expense of torque is silly. The gearing is already way too low for the sake of acceleration over comfort and practicality. In some ways it is a great bike, but it is over-priced for a sub 300cc and that seat is painful!
I just spent two weeks on this bike riding the length of Vietnam. I was inspired at first, but grew to love it. It was a blast!
This video was a sign for me 😂 I've been looking into the verseys 300 forever and watching all the reviews then this video gets posted on my birthday
Did you buy one?
@@moviebodunderage but that gives them 2 years to improve it before I buy one 😁
@@angelicafitzgerald3142 I'm not in a rush to buy a bike as well. Hoping they will put the 400 engine in it and some LED lights to freshen things up.
@@conceptcs yes that would be great a little more power and lighting is definitely a plus
@@angelicafitzgerald3142 first of all you need to know your bike before you're looking for more power^^ LED lights would be an great idea but the bike you're looking for allready exists! it's called versys 650, i guess you've watched the wrong review ;)
Great video, demonstrating the budget aspect of all of these aspects that go into that bike. Thanks!
Another entertaining video and an eye opener to a smaller capacity bike. Being a twin I imagine it’s pretty smooth too. Keep up the good work
Nice review I like a lot of riders started in my teens on 250cc - 500cc bikes and had a blast on them. As I got older the bikes got bigger, and honestly after awhile you realize you had more fun thrashing a little 250 or 500cc bike down the back roads than you ever will a big bike. However my biggest issue now is at 6' 4" tall I don't seem to fit on anything under 900cc.
"cold damp soggy field" sums up the UK quite well
great episode, and the bike looks like a proper fun little weekend warrior .
What? No sleeping bag? You must be hardcore man! I loved this video. Perfect for February dreaming of getting back to the new Forest for a few beers and a great ride or Brands Hatch for a couple of nights at the BSB. Can't wait!
I'm looking at this bike as my first A2 one, and an upgrade from my 125, thanks for the review!
I bought a Versys 300X in may 2018 and i'm very pleased with it, have a harley roadking ('98) and a yamaha TW125 (2004) and they all are great in their way, you have to use you're bike the way they were meant to be
Excellent work!
Nice video and wit. I’m a California Versys x-300 owner, fantastic for twisty back roads. I added a 34.5” Corbin seat and Motowerk lowered pegs to improve comfort for my 6’1” height.
Was the corbin seat worth it? I love the versys x but that seat is horrrible
Thanks, just bought one and I'm your height I'm gonna take a note of your seat
Mate, I just love your videos and style of presentation. Your humour is nice and dry and you stick to the points and don't faf about or pontificate. The bike itself is a little wonder. I wonder seriously why Kawasaki has not released a 400 version with the new Ninja 400 engine yet. I love the fact that it's tall, as that makes a huge difference in traffic. As for the panniers, I'd skip the 400 quid and buy some soft luggage from one of the aftermarket makers like Kriega or Enduristan and also skip the Kawasaki extras except possibly for the center stand, and buy some frame sliders, hand guards and a 12v socket also from the aftermarket. All in all you'll save about 500 pounds, if you're on a budget.
disekjoumoer thanks very much. 12V was the one thing I was looking for that I felt it was missing.
Kawasaki make one for the bike for about 50 pounds, which is quite a bit more than a 3rd party one would cost.
he he he.........kan net 'n SA'ner wees wat so naam het!!
En disso 😉
Great review and very realistic. I've had a vstrom 1050 and that bike was way too heavy. Looking for a lighter more manageable bike. And the reality is most adv bikers spend very little time off pavement (at least from my experience), therefore the review is very realistic.
used to tour on a kawasaki zzr 250 two up. redline14,000....80mph 10,000. 500 miles in a day was frequent, often chasing momentum and the redline hanging onto the tails of bigger machines. never got bored, or fell asleep on the motorway. dontworry about capacity just get out there
It is no baby, baby are the 49 cc like the ruckus, the best name for the Versys X 300 I have hard is the Hummingbird of ADV bikes. Other wise great video, I have had mine for 3 weeks and got just over 1600 Km on it would have more but too much rain in the past week. Love the way it corners and handles dirt and gravel roads, starting to get use to the seat, but have not gone over 200 Km non stop yet.
Ok that’s done it. With this review you’re now the absolute best bike reviewer on the Interwebs...
Try Fortnine for well produced, well scripted, well photographed and comprehensive reviews. Different league.
No one can touch fortnine in my opinion.
Love your humor in this lol
I've got a Honda Varadero 125 which is a nice large 125. I've been studying various different options to move up to. Although I now have a full bike license, I don't necessarily want to go crazy and buy a 1200 cc, just something of a decent size and a big of guts
I like all the Versys.I'd opt for the 650 LT.
Thank you 👍
A crisp and useful review with the right level of detail absolutely spot-on would like to see more
You guys make great commercials !!!
also you can fly to le touquet for the day from the airport
Hmmm got a Z900. Thinking about adding one of these.
lol good review, cheeky!!
Nice bike. I settled on the 250 V-Strom, good little commuter but seat a bit to solid. More or less the same set up.
Man, I wish they still sold these here, they seem like the perfect little touring bike for Scotland, used prices are mad.
This getaway could be even cheaper if you skip buying the tent. The x-300 is so light, you could just lay down on the ground and tip the bike over on top of yourself for shelter. The engine's residual heat would keep you warm.
It's got the look of a bigger bike
I live in the Philippines and was looking at one of these for touring around with the missus. Lots of really rough dirt roads in places, you reckon this is really up to it?
The bike I was looking at before stumbling upon tis was an XT250. This does look like it would be way more comfortable for covering a day in the saddle on smaller roads.
Hi, can't see why not. Throw some dual purpose tyres on and it should be fine, lighter weight is sometimes an advantage.
What would be your choice between this and the Honda 500x?
Quality review
Thanks
How well would this do with some heavy river bed dirt biking?
One of the best presenters on UA-cam.
very good video, but fix the bike up wright, get rid of those side bags and put on some GVI Trekker 33 liter and a 46 liter for the top if you are riding single, Put all you heavy stuff in the side bags, I keep the top box for putting my helmet and riding gear in, to keep it safe and dry when stopped, I all so put heated grips, power out let , It came with center stand and engine guards which I put some LED lights on to be seen easier. I found that if I was going much over 90 Km per hour it would drink a lot of gas so I went with a 14 tooth sprocket up front problem solved I now get a average of 3.8 liters per hundred. in all round driving, but hear most of the roads are 80 Km with a few 90 Km so don't do much over 100 km except for passing. And even with the 14 tooth front sprocket it still dose great off road, I have driven many bikes over 1000 cc. but enjoy this bike more than most of them, You can have fun on the windy roads running it through the gears with out going over the speed limit. IT IS MUCH MORE FUN RIDING A SOLW BIKE FAST THAN A FAST BIKE SLOW. The Versys X 300 is also great on gravel roads and trails, but on single track keep your speed down as you do not have a lot of ground clearance, but I have yet to bottom out on it. And I do know it was a budget set up but lets get real and spend a little more and have a great bike, Also if going to do a lot of gravel and dirt roads I would go with better tires. I am going to be trying some Dunlop trailmax mission on my DR 650 and if they work out will be putting on my Versys x as well. again great video but going too cheep is not a good thing over the long run, the Versys x 300 is a great bike let the addons match the bike and make a great ADV bike.
I'm sure it handles pretty well off road too. KLR 650 type of bike, where you don't need lots of power to follow your friends on BMW 800GS or Tiger 800.
You''ll bee having a pint, while your friends are stuck in the mud with those big bikes.
The real question is....did you actually stay the night in the tent or once filming stopped you just buggered off home? 😂😂
🤐
@@BikeWorldTVshow Haha. Joking aside, great video. Makes the bike seem really appealing.
Thanks
No sleeping bag or toiletries.
What a heavenly place you live in to enjoy a ride on a bike.. Which country?
Exactly. Doing the very same thing
Where you off to Jay?
North wales is on my doorstep
Cool, lots of adventure there.
Hi there, Anybody know if they have stopped selling the Versys 300 in the UK, and if so why? Cheers👍
Quick way to save cash: Ditch the tent/sleeping mat, and instead, get a hammock/tarp.
Your sleeping bag will keep you warm, the tarp will keep you dry, and the hammock will keep you off the hard ground. The tarp is also lightweight and folds for easy storage, while you can also use it in a variety of ways, not just as rain cover. Whereas a tent and sleeping mat are bulky, heavy, and take time to set up.
Also, a tent will provide as much protection against predators as a wrapper does for a candy bar. I'd rather have quick reaction to a threat, with my firearm near me, not hoping that whatever I can't see outside the tent eventually goes away and doesn't attack me in a cocoon.
If you're worried about insects, either find a hammock with a mosquito net built-in, or just buy one separately for cheap.
14.5 stone, yep telling people my weight in stones now. lol, thanks.
How about the Royal Enfield Himalayan?
👍
No fire, no sleeping bag, and I’m sure you would have a visitor checking on why your their! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
7:15 it's Indonesian tire company.
You seem quite tall how well do you fit the bike ,l’m 5’ 11” 153 lbs ?
I'm 6'4 and just bought one. I fit pretty well on it
Things I wouldn't camp without: Sleeping bag and insulation matt.
I'd rather have those than a stove.
I like x300
Is this bike not available in America
It has been sold in the USA for two years
@@2fastnlight thanks I'm buying it in may 2019 to go across the world
Ive had mine for 6 months now and have a bit of miles 5600 miles or so. Plenty of power to get on The interstate And very light for easy trail riding. Tires are meh.. But a great Commuter/ trail bike. I Ended up Parking my FXSTC HD for the season after i purchased this little machine. Awesome Bike for the $$.
17l tank with 60 miles to the gallon, classic UK
Interesting video.
Only 60 mpg? My 1996 cb250 gives me around 120mpg mainly around town.
Was that a pot noodle you were eating? You motoring journo's know how to live ;)
It was, only the best for our guys.
usually the mpg claimed by these reviewers and magazines is bullshit. They spend all day redlining it. the average rider that is using this on public roads and short shifting for better economy will get much better figures.
We do say that we were thrashing the nuts off it.
CB250 = 20 HP;Versys-X 300 = ~40HP so naturally fuel economy is not as good as the old Honda.
@@benpar8120
Ok point taken.
A better test then would be when both machines are producing say 10HP (more typical for mundane duties) what is the fuel economy? If both machines had near enough the same economy at the 10 HP, all other things being equal if I am being honest I wd prefer the 300 Versys for the occasional rush of blood....
Sick of trying to get out any distance on bikes that return less mpg than my frickin' 12 year old Volvo. Will it do 80 on a motorway is now the question?
it will, the question is why would you drive that fast with an endurobike?!
For some people £100 is a bar bill for a few drinks??? Hell £100 for me means food for the week for myself and family.
Agreed. The tent should last many trips, as will the cooking stove, so spread the equipment cost over a year. A trip like this should cost no more than £30.
Stay strong 💪
It's the first time I've considered buying a chinese bike!!! I guess I just might!
Kawasaki isn't Chinese. Its Japanese
@@victormotebenjamin5963 ooops!! I was talking about a classic chinese bike on another video!!! I've owned a versys 650, a klx250s and a klx650r......I know kawi's pretty well and they are the best!
How is this bike for midgets 5'9" like me??
It's made for normal sized people like you.
Did you say BMW G310 at 8:54 ??????????????????????????//
Yes he did 😂😂😂
I would have bought this bike 3 yrs ago but unfortunately it is not available at the time. Getting one of this now doesn't make much sense to me. A little regret but I have to move on.
If only the Versys 650 comes with ABS and better tech like the new Ninja 650 or z650. Unfortunately, versys 650 is pretty dated here in my country.
Even CFMOTO 650 MT recently release with ABS and priced 1/3 cheaper than Versys 650.
The CFMOTO 650 MT is a Versys. The engine is the same, as is the performance.
Yes, but it is based on ER6N rather than Versys. It may be a copy of a bullet proof engine but I question the build quality. Only time will tell when it comes to Chinese bikes. Unlike Japanese that proven themselves.
The hard seat puts me off
what do you mean?
Outdoor stores in the U.K. are the same as in the U.S., basically outposts for China, Inc.
As for the bike, let's not have any illusions. A 650 would serve most adult male riders far better. 9000 rpm or more at 70 mph, right?
Slab Rankle you’re right, a larger bike would suit male and female riders looking to do more of this kind of thing, but there’s an A2 licence implication and some (usually older) bikers seem to be looking to downsize rather than go bigger. The little 300 was more than happy at 70 and 80 mph for prolonged periods.
Try riding a small bike, they are fun! Thrashing a 300cc keeps your license intact whereas doing the same on a larger bike can get you in trouble quite quickly.
@@alecjtaylor I have. My first bike was a Ducati Monster 620, which physically is no bigger or heavier than this Kawi, just a bigger engine. This bike is no doubt just right for some, but I think for most it's simply not enough bike. Just my opinion.
A 620cc bike isn't small ;-)
From my experience (125cc to 1000cc) small bikes are 'fun' and can be more fun due to their reduced power. You can have more adventure on smaller bikes, their lack of power adds to the challenge. It's not achievement to ride 400 miles in a day on a BWM 1200GS, but it certainly is on a 125cc!
Another way to look at it would be you get to experience all of a small bikes ability. A 1000cc sports bike can't be used properly on the open road, but I can thrash my 200cc KTM Duke on back roads and push it to the limit, rather than myself to the limit. Make sense?
Sure, I see what you're saying.
Hey! I am an American (horrors!) Thank you for reviewing this bike in the ridiculous English way that you do....This is a cool bike, but if one is careful, one can buy a bike like this (cb500x) and a ZZR1200 for the same money (in America). Getting close to nature has been proven to be a great way to clear your mind. Motorcycling helps a lot. We (Americans) wish you people from England would come to America -- there are so many advantages here ....
Like getting shot at☠️
I don´t think this is a proper dual purpose bike. The tires and the engine seem to be more suitable for pavement
Nothing about off road. No testing of the ABS (front not enough, rear too much). Not a single dirt track or even a semi-tarmac road tested. How about that high revving engine over a long distance - tiring? It's a tall bike for anyone under 5ft 8in or 5 ft 9 in. Rock hard seat will need after market solution. Panniers are outrageous at £400 extra, given that they are virtually tupperware boxes with as much charisma as - a tupperware box. The obsession with wringing horsepower at the expense of torque is silly. The gearing is already way too low for the sake of acceleration over comfort and practicality. In some ways it is a great bike, but it is over-priced for a sub 300cc and that seat is painful!
Don't stand on the pegs, it looks silly1