I test rode my buddies versys x300. Goes down the highway great. Rides on rough gravel roads good. Great fuel economy. And I can pick it up when I drop it. I'm 71 with a bad back. Going on a long tour with this bike
Good review, I commute on the Versys 300x almost everyday. It was my first large bike, moving from a Kawasaki Z125 pro and I do not regret it, especially for the price I paid for a used one, which was only 2,500.
At 5'3" and 60 years old, I ride mine everyday from grocery gettin to motorcycle camping. Replace the stock pegs with wider ones and go to a 15 t front sprocket asap.
I stopped riding after hitting a deer on I-70 at 0200 15 years ago. I test rode a 300x last year and fell in love with it, buying one a couple months later. it's a great bike for the praire.
Sticker price is not what I got mine for. I got mine because it’s beautiful, goes anywhere I would like to take it, I can pick it up on my own, reliable, and it’s a great adventure bike. I really like mine, it’s perfect for me, and all that I would need.
Bought my 2017 used in March with 400 miles on it. It's got almost 5000 now and has heen a pleasure to own. A Corbin seat and Madstad windshield, followed by a 15 tooth front sprocket. It's my go everywhere bike, and handles comparably to my Ninja when the road gets tight.
Jesus! Love that! nice!..... My first adv bike x300. found damn near brand new 2017 had 900 miles on it.. I love it.. got 2000 on it now, few mods, bash plate, ubc plug in, new airfilter dna, new footpegs, raised bars 1in... Love it.. an can dump it which i do alot lol an pick it up! Had on few single tracks.. Even with my motocamp gear it does me fine I think, but dont have anything to compare it to. IM 5.8 an 160 lbs.. Limited riding experience before this, mainly harley sportster.. really loving it.. Most of all I love the wieght, as im in mtns a shit ton. $4400 bucks..... if new or first buy id totally recomment
WIth 3m tape you can make the rim air tight and use tubeless tires. I know a guy who drove to asia and back that way. If you have a puncture it is much easier to repair with tubeless. And yes, I always pray before riding, absolutely an essential part of any trip, thanks for the video! I would recommend the new CF Moto 450. Sadly, it is sold out in a number of places.
@@themuz3 Yes, it is true. You can search his channel "Rolf Feldmann". He describes in German how it is done. He also mentions the exact name of the tape and proceedings. However, he did it on a BMW 800GS. So the rims are probably a bit bigger.
Versys is better. Unless you are doing smaller trips. I went through the same process debating which to get. What put me off the BMW in the end was reliability and service costs. Vibration at higher revs, almost not rideable for long distance. The seat on both aren’t great but the BMW locks you in more - it’s so soft you sink through it. Smash fuel tank. Smash screen. Not as comfortable. Twin cylinder gives the versys a smoother feel. BMW only has the badge IMO. I’d get the Honda CRF300L way before the BMW and KTM 390 Adventure. KTM before the BMW. I’ve owned all aside from the BMW as when I took it for a ride there was way too many compromises. Versys is what I still have. Honda I regret selling as it was a great little bike, but I don’t want 2 and it doesn’t have that versys range. KTM just felt cheap but fun. Versys just has that fun high rev factor to it. The only thing I would change is the seat for distance work, maybe screen.
I had one for a couple of years and loved it but seat was terrible and aftermarket seat not much better. You said it doesn’t have a power band but 3000-12000 is pretty amazing. Around town 3-4k all day but out on the road rev that thing up! It’s designed to run 8k all day and it will do it. It took me a few months to wrap my mind around high revs but once I got used to it I started pushing it and really loved it. Underpowered? Yes it is but so light and fun. I’ve owned over 20 bikes and this thing is not like anything else I’ve had. I have bigger bikes but I’ll probably get another one of these and experiment with seats.
You didn't once mention how smooth the engine is. Not once. Did I mention that you didn't mention the almost electric-smooth engine? It is probably the single most noteworthy characteristic of this motorcycle. And yes, you have to stretch it high into the rev range, where the giddyup is- and where no vibrations are. (to the extent a 300 has giddyup)
When the Ninja 300 was the beginner bike for so many people I totally understood this bike. But the green beginner bike is the 500 now. Why there isn''t a Versys 500 makes no sense to me. That solves the one problem I have with this bike... I live 3 miles from a 75 MPH speed limit. The 500 would do that just fine. This? Maybe with a strong tailwind going down hill.
I bought my 22 model to tow behind my Goldwing. It is a great little bike. It will cruise 75 mph all day. With power left for passing. Albeit not a lot. The bike will run 101 mph flat out, on flat ground. That is with a 200 lb rider. Or so I'm told. I would never do that. It is illegal.
Ya I had mine or umm a friend told me he had his up to 92mph an still had 800 to go before redline. So rumour has it will go.. a bit buzzey but I put monkey grips on it took some out. or umm my friends.
I realized the longer I rode it, it’s really not designed for speed of any kind. 0-60 in 7 plus seconds, so my take on it was more enjoying it for what it was meant for, efficient touring. Hitting the rev limiter on something that has 30 ish hp seems redundant.
I test rode my buddies versys x300. Goes down the highway great. Rides on rough gravel roads good. Great fuel economy. And I can pick it up when I drop it. I'm 71 with a bad back. Going on a long tour with this bike
Good review, I commute on the Versys 300x almost everyday. It was my first large bike, moving from a Kawasaki Z125 pro and I do not regret it, especially for the price I paid for a used one, which was only 2,500.
At 5'3" and 60 years old, I ride mine everyday from grocery gettin to motorcycle camping.
Replace the stock pegs with wider ones and go to a 15 t front sprocket asap.
I stopped riding after hitting a deer on I-70 at 0200 15 years ago. I test rode a 300x last year and fell in love with it, buying one a couple months later. it's a great bike for the praire.
Sticker price is not what I got mine for. I got mine because it’s beautiful, goes anywhere I would like to take it, I can pick it up on my own, reliable, and it’s a great adventure bike. I really like mine, it’s perfect for me, and all that I would need.
Good review,, I am thinking about this bike as my first touring bike....Safe travels and My
Yahshua keep you safe..
Bought my 2017 used in March with 400 miles on it. It's got almost 5000 now and has heen a pleasure to own. A Corbin seat and Madstad windshield, followed by a 15 tooth front sprocket. It's my go everywhere bike, and handles comparably to my Ninja when the road gets tight.
Test ride a month ago.. fell in love.. want one to go with my 2024 klx.
Hopefully soon i can afford a second purchase from Kawasaki.
Well done,thank you , and yes always before I go 🙏
Jesus! Love that! nice!..... My first adv bike x300. found damn near brand new 2017 had 900 miles on it.. I love it.. got 2000 on it now, few mods, bash plate, ubc plug in, new airfilter dna, new footpegs, raised bars 1in... Love it.. an can dump it which i do alot lol an pick it up! Had on few single tracks.. Even with my motocamp gear it does me fine I think, but dont have anything to compare it to. IM 5.8 an 160 lbs.. Limited riding experience before this, mainly harley sportster.. really loving it.. Most of all I love the wieght, as im in mtns a shit ton. $4400 bucks..... if new or first buy id totally recomment
Came for the bike review (I own one, but watch the reviews anyway), and stayed for the St. Charles County scenery. My old hometown. Good stuff.
Handles gravel amazingly!
WIth 3m tape you can make the rim air tight and use tubeless tires. I know a guy who drove to asia and back that way. If you have a puncture it is much easier to repair with tubeless. And yes, I always pray before riding, absolutely an essential part of any trip, thanks for the video! I would recommend the new CF Moto 450. Sadly, it is sold out in a number of places.
really? I have a ct125 and those tube tires are my only criticism. 4 punctures in 10k miles fml.
@@themuz3 Yes, it is true. You can search his channel "Rolf Feldmann". He describes in German how it is done. He also mentions the exact name of the tape and proceedings. However, he did it on a BMW 800GS. So the rims are probably a bit bigger.
@@themuz3 I asked Rolf about the precise part. It is 3m tape number 4411N.
Read where another guy just used shoo guuue to cell spokes off.. many hacks on youtube. or just carry slime an compressor.. what I do.. ez breasy..
would love to have you do a video like this with the BMW G310GS. I like small bikes and am debating between the BMW and this Kawasaki.
Versys is better. Unless you are doing smaller trips. I went through the same process debating which to get. What put me off the BMW in the end was reliability and service costs. Vibration at higher revs, almost not rideable for long distance. The seat on both aren’t great but the BMW locks you in more - it’s so soft you sink through it. Smash fuel tank. Smash screen. Not as comfortable. Twin cylinder gives the versys a smoother feel. BMW only has the badge IMO. I’d get the Honda CRF300L way before the BMW and KTM 390 Adventure. KTM before the BMW. I’ve owned all aside from the BMW as when I took it for a ride there was way too many compromises. Versys is what I still have. Honda I regret selling as it was a great little bike, but I don’t want 2 and it doesn’t have that versys range. KTM just felt cheap but fun. Versys just has that fun high rev factor to it. The only thing I would change is the seat for distance work, maybe screen.
I had one for a couple of years and loved it but seat was terrible and aftermarket seat not much better. You said it doesn’t have a power band but 3000-12000 is pretty amazing. Around town 3-4k all day but out on the road rev that thing up! It’s designed to run 8k all day and it will do it. It took me a few months to wrap my mind around high revs but once I got used to it I started pushing it and really loved it. Underpowered? Yes it is but so light and fun. I’ve owned over 20 bikes and this thing is not like anything else I’ve had. I have bigger bikes but I’ll probably get another one of these and experiment with seats.
You didn't once mention how smooth the engine is. Not once. Did I mention that you didn't mention the almost electric-smooth engine? It is probably the single most noteworthy characteristic of this motorcycle. And yes, you have to stretch it high into the rev range, where the giddyup is- and where no vibrations are. (to the extent a 300 has giddyup)
The powerband was just getting started, you gotta wind out those gears my guy!
Where did you find it.. i cant find any dealer that has one.
When the Ninja 300 was the beginner bike for so many people I totally understood this bike. But the green beginner bike is the 500 now. Why there isn''t a Versys 500 makes no sense to me. That solves the one problem I have with this bike... I live 3 miles from a 75 MPH speed limit. The 500 would do that just fine. This? Maybe with a strong tailwind going down hill.
Would that be a KLE500 at that point.
Had mine up 90 no prob, take awhile but im only 160 lbs an have bout 800 left before redline.. Way faster then I need to go.. 65 fine with me.
Needs the Kawie 451cc engine.
That actually would’ve been a brilliant move.
short answer yes
yo G, what are the maintenance intervals like ? just wondering. thanks broski.
3000-7000 miles on oil changes. A bit over 2 quarts. Nothing crazy.
@@tgmotorider.narratinglifeo3480 thank you for responding. by the way, great channel !
Your first five words got my sub! Jesus is king!
@@ComfyDadShoes thanks for the sub!
@@tgmotorider.narratinglifeo3480fantastic review btw!!!
I bought my 22 model to tow behind my Goldwing. It is a great little bike. It will cruise 75 mph all day. With power left for passing. Albeit not a lot. The bike will run 101 mph flat out, on flat ground. That is with a 200 lb rider. Or so I'm told. I would never do that. It is illegal.
Ya I had mine or umm a friend told me he had his up to 92mph an still had 800 to go before redline. So rumour has it will go.. a bit buzzey but I put monkey grips on it took some out. or umm my friends.
4:20 Not using the entire rev range on a bike that is intended to use the entire rev range... what did you get up to barely 8K??
I realized the longer I rode it, it’s really not designed for speed of any kind. 0-60 in 7 plus seconds, so my take on it was more enjoying it for what it was meant for, efficient touring. Hitting the rev limiter on something that has 30 ish hp seems redundant.
WTH you talking about @ 1:40?
Needs another 100cc to compete with the competition, just like it's big brother (Versys 650) needs another 100cc to compete with the competition.
You are not wrong. One of my bikes is a versys 650 and it could use a little more zip
@@tgmotorider.narratinglifeo3480 should have been a verseys 800 from the start.
you should shift later on this bike. i get to 60 in 3rd pretty quickly