Solved the light problem by getting new led bulbs and the addition set of light on the crash bar bash plate. Sprocket set fixed the low gearing very quickly, complete acro exhaust system fitted, better tyres 50/50 still have the standard seat.
Very informative video. Thank you. Advice: Don't go "ahhhh" so much. Sounds like you keep beeping the malfunctioning horn. If you are indeed honking the horn to warn pedestrians or small animals, that we can't see, I apologize.
Nice review! I rode the 650 and 400 back to back and was surprised that i found the 400 much more fun. I particularly liked the chassis, it corners as if on rails, and the willing engine that is surprisingly gutsy for a 400 twin. Like you i didn't like the clocks, i notice the new Z500 clocks are much improved. The one thing you didn't mention was the exhaust, I'm a tall guy with big feet and found my heel on my right foot constantly hitting the exhaust, if it was me I'd simply have to have a different can to make it rideable. If the price hasn't gone crazy on the z500 and the chassis is still as good, it's going to be a gem.
Nice test but I'm waiting on Triumph to produce my perfect bike. It'll have the dimensions of the XC, the engine of the Speed Twin and the looks of the T120. I live in hope.
The performance package seems silly to me but to each of it's own. I'd prefer to install a windscreen, crash Guard/bar, a frame slider crash protector and bags for groceries, huehue. But first I must take the license and I've heard that here in Netherlands it's pretty hard. Well, I'll do my best.
@@KF1 now 8 months with the Versys 300. I’m happy with it, it’s a great platform for me into motorcycling and adventure riding. Done about 7000km on it already. I’ve also tried a few CB500Xs, if the budget reaches, I would get that though honestly. The torque difference alone would be worth it. Having said that, end of the day both are good bikes for what they’re designed to do and it just comes down to preference and adapting a bit to the bikes strengths and weaknesses. Happy anyway and enjoyed many Alpine passes on it and will keep it for at least another 12-18 months before I will likely move on to something a little bigger. Doing an Offroad course on it next week 👍🏻
I like the styling of the guage cluster but don't like the styling of the bike lol. I wish the CB300R and Svartpilen 401 had a guage cluster like the Z400. I also prefer the Twin over the single. I just wish the Z400 had a more classic/retro look.
Having a hard time choosing between the Duke390 and Z400. I live in the Philippines and it gets really hot in here and I do not know which one should I get between these two. I will be using the bike mainly for commuting and once in a while will be using it in the twisties. Which would u recommend for me?
I don't have a lot of experience with the Duke. The z400 will not disappoint. The Duke has more low grunt / fun at low speeds and hills. The z will offer a bit smoother ride. Both are excellent motorcycles.
Many Thanks! At 75 years young, I'm already looking for my next & probably last bike. I'm riding everyday (Thanks to the Tropics where I live) a 192 Kg* 660 cc 2010 Yamaha & I thing that if I'm still in shape to ride at 80, I'll switch to a lighter bike with a lower seat. Beside the BMW G 310 R (164 kg* i.e. 28 Kg lighter & 2 cm lower seat), I like the Kawa 400 & the Kawa Versys 300. By the way, two 300 went around the world with two Frenchman/woman with no major problem: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AOIbCEaM3lY.html *All fueled up
I just got the 2022 ABS version of it. Happy with it so far. Is it easy to change out the grips for heated ones? And the cost to purchase the heated grips? Did you have the dealership install the grips?
The first gear is a grainy year like you would find in any bigger truck tow truck 3-ton trucks 2 ton trucks Jeeps what it's for is if you ever get it stuck get off your bike put it in first gear and gauge it and walk beside it therefore your bike and you will become unstuck in that situation in any other situation you will start off in second gear all the time like on the street at a stoplight you're going to be in second gear if you're going down a hill at the downslope you'll be in third gear this bike is actually one of the best adventure bikes I've ever owned
I really enjoy your reviews! No wasting time with cut scenes, you get straight to the point, you’re unbiased and easy to hear. The scenery is amazing and you keep the format the same for all your videos. I really hope one day you start uploading again soon. Thanks and take care!
Well I finally got to test drive a 2019 on of these , omg how lame - no power , the clutch , clutch assist and slipper clutch combined make downshifting gaf , then there's the screaming engine and your barely moving..I wanted to like it bad but no way.
My wife is enjoying her Versys 300. We have pretty much done all the “needed” mods, sprocket, lights, grips etc. it’s a great big little bike. I occasionally sneak it to commute to work on now and then. ;-)
@@Vested_Investor No the sprocket is a direct swap not other changes needed other than adjust the chain. It seems to have dropped about 400 rpm at 65 mph if I remember correctly.
Great review. I've downsized myself and mostly ride smaller dual sports. I like the low-end grunt of a single. Is that missing in this small engine? And do you get tired of the high revving nature of it?
thx for the vid.. when I get my x300, the first two items that will be ordered ahead of time are a bash plate and a set of mitas mc24 invader tires.... i think those will be perfect for the x300.
Relatively well but I do think you'll need to tiptoe slightly. As far as adventure bikes go this one has a low seat. There are low and higher seat options available so be sure to get a good test ride before you buy one.
Looking at English streets gives me anxiety, I like the tiled brick look but there are no side barriers and houses are right on the street. I wouldn’t like riding there haha
Looking for my first bike and have been drawn to the Z400 for price and looks. This might be the 4th review I’ve watched on RU-vid and each one was very positive for overall riding experience. Wingless - really excellent review! Your tone, pace of speaking and commentary were spot on for me. The views of the town & countryside were beautiful - luck you for such a pretty area to ride. New subscriber.
I just purchased my almost new 2017 Kawasaki X300 Versys on Monday of this week. It had 1540 miles on the odometer and looks absolutely brand new! It was delivered to me by the original owner on Tuesday April 13, 2022 which is the first day that I rode my new motorcycle. The previous owner rode it to my state so that he could rest assured that I would register and title his motorcycle before he turned it over to me. First let me say that I am 68 years old. I am 5-10" tall, weigh 269 pounds and I have a 29/30" pants inseam. I looked all over for specifics on whether this motorcycle would be a good fit for me. I knew it was tall with the seat height at 30.9". But would I fit this motorcycle well. I already had a bad experience owning a 2002 BMW R1150GS that was a huge machine, a real monster. That BMW proved much too tall and heavy for me to safely handle so I sold it right away. I replaced that BMW with a 2001 R1200C Pheonix which proved much more manageable with it's seat height of a mere 29.9". But it is a 1200cc machine which means it is VERY heavy! So I bought a little Honda Grom which proved to be so much fun that I thought to myself, "wow, look at what I have been missing." Then I discovered a Blog online where a girl named Noraly is riding her 2022 Honda CRF300L from South America to Alaska. She calls her site "Itchy Boots" where she posts 3 videos per week on average. After watching her great adventures for a couple of months I decided that I must have a motorcycle just like hers. But then I discovered that the Honda CRF300L is nearly impossible to acquire right now unless you are willing to pay $2,000 over MSRP. Yikes. That is when I discovered the 310 BMW and the X300 Kawasaki Versys. I went with the Versys for several reasons. First, it was availability. Next was value and finally after watching many reviews on RU-vid I liked the twin cylinder water cooled engine making 40hp. So I bought one! I have ridden it 60 miles so far. This is what I can report. First, it IS TALL. We lowered the rear shocks to the lowest factory settings and now I can almost flat foot the motorcycle. It actually seems manageable although I almost dropped it going up the ramp into my shop today. Scared me a bit. The motorcycle is whisper quiet. I like this because my Honda Grom snarls like a mad dog with it's aftermarket Vance & Hines pipe. Really it is too loud. But the X300 has a very nice exhaust note. I do not plan to change this. Next, This motorcycle handles beautifully. The ride height seems tall but the bike is so friendly in every situation. I just love my new X300. Finally, this motorcycle is geared very low. Extremely low. But I guess Kawasaki wanted it this way. I go through the gears to find that I am in 5th at 37mph lol. I hit 6th at about 43 mph and that is the last gear. It seems like it should have a 7th & 8th gear lol. The bike redlines at 12,000 rpm. Whoa, that makes it a screaming machine. When you ride 65mph the engine turns 7,500 rpm. This is very alien to me and seems insane. But there is tons more throttle left after that, all the way to 12,000rpm. Amazing! This bike gets 51mpg so the high rpm must be efficient. I researched re-gearing the bike but you cannot alter it very much without disturbing the engine's code(s). For this reason I plan to leave mine all stock. Finally, the seat is very hard, most uncomfortable. I rode 40 miles today and my Fanny wanted off of this torture device. I guess I am spoiled by the Corbin Seat on my BMW R1200C. Finally, my biggest concern was, "will this motorcycle have enough power to haul my fat butt around lol". Yes it does! The low gearing is so powerful that this little Kawasaki doesn't even know that I am onboard. I get the impression that the X300 could carry a circus elephant if one was so inclined. I hope this little report will help others decide to buy a X300 Versys. I sure am happy with mine. So lite and easy to handle. That is where the fun is!!!
Thanks for the amazing report. As for gearing, I considered adding a tooth to the front sprocket (15 in stread of 14) but everyone I spoke to about this modification said it wasn't worth it and some even changed back to the 14 as they missed the low gearing so I kept it stock.
The sound of that little Ninja engine at 9,000 rpm is sooo intoxicating. Even with stock exhaust. Like that Formula 1 sound. She's definately a keeper !! 🤩
Agree across the board. That terrible, terrible dash is very off-putting. I'm shopping now and I'd probably have bought one weeks ago if the dash weren't so atrocious. Also the mirrors are perfect for looking at your elbows, not much else. I'm almost certainly going to buy one anyway, I'll just live with the dash and I'll replace the mirrors ASAP.
Small adventure bikes and dual sports make no sense anywhere you can’t ride them. You being in England makes this a horrible decision. You have to live where you can use it.
Is the use of the word “street fighter” a specific reference, or does this bike just somehow remind some people of skinned joints, broken glass and busted hands? I don’t really get it.
Great review + appreciate the detailed breakdown on XC vs XE! Agree with the safety features being gated behind the XE: irresponsible of Triumph here and they need to do better.
Great review! I own a Versys x300 & I too am very surprised with it performance for the price. I use it to commute & on weekends it’s my Adventure Touring bike. It’s a great bike for what it is, lite weight, easy to ride, fun bike. 👍
Found your channel as I have a Versys 300 but would love an XE. Your reviews are fantastic and it’s a shame you don’t have the time to make more. Maybe in the future........
You are correct as a 5ft 3 woman I love this bike, I have a full license but it has every thing I want. I not sure I would ever sell it, I would just get another bike. It is stable, smooth, and light.
Update! I have now had this bike for 3 years and still love it. I have since bought two more bikes 😅 so I was correct, what ever happens this bike is a keeper. I have updated the rear suspension with an Ohlins to suit my weight, I am very light and the standard shock could not be adjusted. Replaced the tyres with Michelin Road 6 which made the biggest difference to how the bike handles. Had a custom seat made and added ASV leavers. I have done over 7000 miles on it and it has never let me down.
