I just bought a 2700 mile 2018 model from the orginal owner. He added the 15t sprocket, larger windshield, top cargo box, Barkbusters, heated grips, charge ports, and phone holder. It's set up pretty much how I'd have done it. I may add engine guards, a bash plate, and dual sport tires. I thought I wanted a dual sport. I also considered a Himalayan, BMW G310GS, KTM 90 ADV, Kawasaki KLR650, and a Honda CB00X. I didn't even know the V-x 300 existed until I saw it in a comparison video. The more I looked into it, the more I realized the V-x 300 was the bike for me. The initial cost, seating position, fuel mileage/range, and weight sold me. I also like the looks of the bike. I feel like it is a lot of motorcycle for the money. The more I ride it, the more I like it.
I love the look, the comfort, and it just made me feel tough when I rode it. Somehow my rear sprocket got bent and I couldn’t figure out the problem. So I traded it in on a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, which I also love. Now I have a Pan America, or rather, the bank owns it. But the Pan America is just a whole different story. Anyway, enjoy that Kawasaki. I did love it.
I traded a Versys 650 for a VersysX300. I think the engineering is brilliant and many motorcyclist are misunderstanding that a 300 cc motorcycle can be such a competent bike. I think the motor is amazing and I think it is engineered to be ridden at 10,000-11,500 RPM's all day long. I have covered some pretty long highway sessions, 140 miles of all highway with the bike at that high rev, going 80-95MPH, and the engine temp never went above 3 bars. I ride it revved up high all the time since I obtained it. I checked the valves and they are right in spec at first service interval. The oil level never moves. I am kind of amazed by the VX3. Maybe i will blow it up, but I'm sure enjoying wringing the heck out of it and it seems to like it.
That's good to hear. My engine sounds sweet when I rev it up; smooth as can be. I have two problems: 1) I'm addicted to motorcycles and 2) I'm addicted to NEW motorcycles! But the Versys X300 is great. Thanks!
Let's face it the Versys X300 is a great all arounder !! I must have had over 20 motorcycles ( some very badass and fast ones too I might add ) throughout my riding days. I'm 59 now and the Versys X 300 is the most fun I ever had on any bike in my life and it puts a smile on my face everytime. It's going to the grave with me !!!!! 👍🤩
Yeah, it's a great bike. Enjoy! I started having problems with mine and I was ready to try something else so I pulled the trigger and bought a Royal Enfield INT650. Great bike. If my wife would let me keep bikes I'd still have the Kawi.
How nice - good vid and posted on my birthday (I'm 73). I've had my 2018 X300 for almost 3 years and still love it. I'm tall and made a few mods - lowered foot pegs, extra seat padding, 2 inch Rox Pivoting bar risers. Not it fits me perfectly (6'3" and 210 lbs) I added luggage, wider metal foot pegs, T-Rex brand skid plate and crash bars. I was quite surprised at how good this bike is on paved twists as well as gravel and Jeep roads. Handling is really good for a bike in this price range. I have to ride 5 miles to get pavement and I get a lot of gravel time. I made one 5 day trip on this bike - off road & back roads going, state highways coming home - bike did great both ways (I have added Mitas E07 tires). I get 70 mpg at 45-50 mph. GREAT commuter also. Kawasaki hit a home rn with this one (once you add more padding to the seat).
Yeah, it's a great bike. So comfortable, and yes, like the name, versatile. Too bad mine started having issues. I just didn't want to invest the time and money sorting them out when I was in a position to try something new. It turned out my rear sprocket was bent--somehow. When the dealer I traded it into took the bike out to test it, four teeth broke off!
Agreed! The mid-range ATV's, mentioned, weigh well in excess of 400 pounds. With any luggage for exploring/sight-seeing, I ask myself, "Do I REALLY want to pick up a 1/4 ton dropped bike in a 'space suit' when I'm tired, dusty and thirsty?" How many cc's do I need for sight-seeing/exploring? I think my 'unicorn' is about 350 pounds with about 350 cc's ... and that KLE300 is pretty close to that. Sprocket changes can adjust gearing to suit. Now, about that seat ...
I had the new CB500X as well as my Versys. The CB is a much better road bike in that it is more relaxed and unbelievably economical BUT overall I think the Versys is better because it is so much lighter and the motor is as you say a lot of fun. I am also happy off road on the Versys, much less so on the Honda. The build quality of the Honda seems better - the swing arm on the Versys is a plain bearing and the pillion footrest guards are pressed steel as against cast alloy on the Honda. You also need to give the Versys a regular check over for loose bolts - there is a lot of high frequency vibration going on - that is why the bar end weights are so huge. I keep thinking maybe I will get my spokes sealed so I can run tubeless but apparently it would need a complete front wheel rebuild which is expensive. Final point about the Versys is the clutch which is by far the lightest I have ever used on any bike. I have a bad clutch hand so this is important. End of the day - I sold the Honda and kept the Versys!
I completely agree with you. I think the "perfect" motorcycle might be the Versys X300 with the motor from the CB500X transplanted into it. I'll keep an eye on my bolts. Thanks!
Thanks for a great Video. I had been tossing up between this and a Hondas CRF300L Rally. I have decided to go with this bike as a new rider only doing a little offroading and mainly commuting and want to get into some adventure touring. Sounds like its going to be a lot of fun. Arrives new in a few weeks!
Congrats! I think you're going to love the Kawi. It's a great bike to start on. And, in my case, after dozens of motorcycles across multiple decades of riding, it's a great bike to end up with!
I see you have same model and year as mine ... love it. I have over 6000 miles on it and get a consistent 70 mpg. Stock tires show little wear and chains only had one small adjustment. It gets a lot of good comments on the looks too. looking forward to more videos.
That’s the 2nd time I watched your video and now you really have me thinking. How is it (towards the end) on those gravel roads with dual sport tires? Does it wander a lot? Or track pretty straight? Thanks again. Also, my comment above had a typo, ‘heavier’* fork oil.
I bought mine used with a 15 tooth front sprocket, but didn't know. I then installed a 48 tooth rear,up two teeth, and a 14 front. What a blast. I have total control on dirt roads around curves while using my throttle only. I use the engine break on very rough terrain going downhill and don't even touch the brake. My favourite tires are the E-804 front and the Motoz Tractionator GPS rear for street and dirt roads but now I ride mostly off pavement so went for the Motoz Tractionator Rallz rear.
@@QuentinsMotoVlog As the gearing changes, the speedo changes. So it's showing faster than it's actually going. In my calculations for 70mph, 14/48 revs at 8700 rpm, 14/46(stock) at 8400 and 15/46(one up from stock) at 7950. My roads are 55 mph so I keep it at about 65. This is accurate with a gps, not the speedo. The engine is revvy but smooth and has great power at that speed. Max torque is at 10,000, max hp is at 11,500, redline is 12,000 and rev cutoff is at 12,750 rpm. So still lots of breathing room.
I have the same bike, had it for almost 3 years. Very good bike, cheap to buy, to maintain, does not weigh heavily. For a 300 cc it still pulls well. The only bad thing is the hard saddle, but you can fix that.
Great little bike. Eventually, after a couple of pretty hard falls, I decided that my trail riding days are over. So I traded it in on a 2022 Royal Enfield Int650 with its meatier engine. The RE is happy to bomb its way down a dirt road. I’ll always be a fan of the X300 but the RE is a better fit for me now. Thanks!
Less is more, BUT it's a shame Kawi hasn't build a Versys 400x yet. I' m torn between the new CB 500X and the (now discontinued in my country) Versys-x. I' d love a lighter/more sporty CB500X or a more highway capable 300 x. That Ninja 400 motor is awesome, come on Kawasaki!
Since I made this video I started having problems with the Kawi so I traded it in on a Ryal Enfield INT650. Somehow--I don't know how--the RE is better on a dirt road than the Versys X300. More stable, more confidence inspiring.
Upgrade the front sprocket to 15t. You'll love it - makes a world of difference in starting shift ratios and top end rev. Did mine shortly after buying it in 2017 and never looked back. :)
I was ready to do that, in fact I bought the 15. But then I decided after a couple of crashes that trail riding isn’t for me. Bought a 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 for the meatier engine and I’m very happy with it.
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!!!
Congratulations on the X300! I enjoyed reading your story. The big BMW GS is enormous; not recommended for a beginner. The X300 is a cool bike. It does a bit of everything and it really doesn't mind the high RPM. Takes getting used to but go for it! I had an Airhawk on my Versys and it had a Seat Concepts aftermarket saddle. The other thing is that over time I became confident enough that I'm ok with a tall bike as long as I can get my toes down. You do have to pay attention to the terrain though! Good luck with it!
If I could find a black or grey 2017 versys 300, I might have purchased this bike. Great mileage, fun engine, a 300 that can handle highway speeds & with wind protection, lightweight & super easy to handle, and so affordable. But… A) the seat is hard. It’s rock-like nature was depressing. Still - nothing a new seat doesn’t fix. A couple hundred dollars, no big deal. B) I couldn’t quite get over how unattractive the Versys 300 is. The 2017 line is the best looking iteration of the bike, but in general I thought it was a bit ugly. It would have been the 3rd bike that I’ve owned, but I decided on something else. It’s interesting that so many senior citizens seem to like this motorcycle, though. Maybe one day in the future I will get one. Nice video!.
Thanks! I bought the bike from a Virginia motorcycle dealer--they sold it on consignment. $5,400 with 5,400 miles on it. Fair enough. I've already put 2,000 more miles on it. It came with a Seat Concepts seat, but that still felt hard to me, so I added an AirHawk seat cushion for softness and then a fleece from Amazon for additional comfort. Makes for a tall ride but that doesn't bother me.
I want this bike, and want it to work for me, but I do a lot of off road, still ‘roads’, but gravel and/or dirt. So, has anyone on here put a set of duel sport type tires on one? Maybe heat fork oil? If so, how did it work off road? My black top road riding is either a 45 or 55 mph speed zones with short trips, and a couple 150 mile trips a year. Thanks for the video, and any comments.
Nice day to ride, I am looking at light adventure bike as second bike, this a good option and I am looking at Honda Cb500X , both are very good bikes , one is heavier, more power.
Thanks! I had the previous generation Honda CB500X with the 17" front wheel and I found it useless in the dirt and way too top heavy when I tried to lift it after a drop. Maybe the current gen CB500X is better? It does have the 19" front wheel. The Versys X300 does everything except take off from stop lights like a rocket ship.
@@QuentinsMotoVlog Thank you, very good point, CB500x is 22Kg heavier than Versys X300, I guess for off road riding it makes a big difference, I have seen a few videos that rider had to pick up the CB500X in a muddy slippery condition and he couldn't do it on his own. I have a faster bike GSX S750 2020, I am just looking for a less expensive adventure bike that can do some off roads,
@@HS99876 I hear ya. Fast bikes just get me into trouble these days. I lived in CT for 26 years and only got three tickets in that time. Since moving to the Myrtle Beach area three years ago I've been stopped six times and amassed five tickets! Slow, comfortable, light-weight, do-it-all bike for me please!
Great video. Is that a clip on thermometer next to your phone? Would you mind sharing what kind it is and where you got it? Also your seat pad. What brand and where you got it? Thanks a million!
Thanks! Both of those items came from Amazon. The thermometer is the "JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer" $9.97. The seat pad is the "Medium Sheepskin Buttpad" from Alaska Leather. I have the sheepskin placed over an AirHawk air pad--I find the combo works well.
Hi Q, I've been seriously considering selling one of my 50-year-old Triumphs and buying this bike. The Triumphs weigh the same and can go on dirt and as fast and look awesome... but the vibration is tough on the old bones and there is a LOT to be said about 50 years of product development. I appreciate you using your helmet cam to take me along for the ride. Could you let me know what is the make of your windshield extension?
Yeah, I haven't strayed very far from civilization on mine yet so it hasn't been a big concern. Plus, I just had Mitas E07 tires fitted front and rear with new tubes. The new tires introduce a bit of buzz on the road but give much more confidence in the dirt. Thanks!
Hi Bro, I have a 2017 model, so I know what you are talking about, I love it too. As I see you put some aftermarket extra on the bike, looks pretty good! Just two questions: - Is this a Madstad windshield? Are you satisfied? - Ops that temp sensor is great, I have been looking for something like this. Again: are you satisfied? If yes, please give us a link to that. Thanks!
Thanks. Yes, I bought the Madstad. I believe I bought the 18inch based on Madstad recommendations. It could be taller but adding a cheap Amazon deflector on top gives me good adjustability. Also, because I have an accessory bar above my dash I can’t adjust the angle of the Madstad, just the height. It either has to be in its furthest position upright or furthest slanted down. I have it upright. What I really like about it is the windshield is really sturdy; completely different from the flimsy windshield that comes with the bike. The Madstad is pricey too, but I’m happy with it.
Also, the thermometer came from Amazon. I can’t copy the link on my phone for some reason but here is the description: “JEDEW 2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer Digital LCD Monitor Indoor/Outdoor Humidity Meter Gauge”.
I didn’t switch the brake pedal or shifter. Here are the brake and clutch levers description on Amazon: FTRT Brake Clutch Lever Compatible with EX250F Ninja 250R 08-12/ EX300 Ninja 300 13-17/ EX400 Ninja 400 18-19/ BR125 Z125 PRO 17-19/ KLE300 Versys-X 300 17-19/ KLX125 10-16/ KLX150S /KLX250: Green
At 02:45 what you say isn't true of my 2008 V-Strom, it has a 19" front + 17" rear wheel. It's new to me my knowledge of this model is minuscule so far, maybe earlier ones did ? I'm not a fanboy, but am here watching your video cause the idea of a lightweight ADV sounds fascinating, especially an efficient parallel twin. My least fav aspect of this otherwise excellent V-Strom 650 is it's top heavy bulk. I'm 5'9" and 210# and I almost dropped it the other day in an off angle paved parking lot. I can't get near flatfoot on both sides. Can't imagine how unwieldy this would be on steep off-road setting. I bought it for Interstate touring, I have 0 intention off-roading it. Can't imagine
Sorry it took me so long to reply. The Kawasaki is much easier bike to handle off road. It can be a handful to pick up if it falls at the right angle, but much easier than the V-Strom. Thanks!
@@QuentinsMotoVlog Cool sounds like a superb choice in a lightweight ADV. How do you think it compares to the KTM 390 ? Also do you think it's closer to "Dual Sport" status measurably vs V-Strom. For example I'd rate the V-Strom 70/30 Road / Trail (with dirt tires I don't have lol) What % do you rate your Versys 300 ? TY so much !
@@psalm2forliberty577 right now I own a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401, which is essentially a scrambler version of the Duke 390. These bikes are powerful and tremendous fun but neither is made for long journeys in my opinion.
Yeah, it's so tough to beat. But, as a human being, I am never satisfied--always want more. Just wish it had a few more ponies. Stick the Honda CB500X motor in the Versys X300 and maybe I could die a happy man! ;)
I don't know, NC750 x from Honda is 480lbs. Used one is $5k, think I'd rather have that to ride as I'm doing a lot more tar/cement road riding than dirt/gravel roads. Gas mileage is the same.
I’ve moved on to a Harley Pan America that I love. Heavier and pricier but so much more confidence inspiring than X300. And I’m too old to go back to dirt bikes. Young guys bounce, old guys like me break! Thanks!
