Excellent choice in accessories and gear, thank you for the bike details. I’m picking up a 2018 Versys x this weekend. Always wanted an adventure bike.
Anthony I have the same exact bike. I bought the MadSatad windshield, it completely eliminated the buffeting and reduced the wind noise by 80%. I also purchased the "Airhawk R-REVB Cruiser R Seat, Large" it does wonders with the ride quality.
Man you are using yours to it's full potential, maybe this riding season I'll get a little more adventurous on my versys x 300 I just ticked over 500 miles and probably had mine just as long.
I bought a 2017 Versys 300X Dec. 31st. Looking forward to spring. Planning to visit a friend I used to ride a Harley with that moved to Georgia from Texas to escape the heat. Hope to ride the Tail of the Dragon on that trip. Thanks for the info.
I'm close to the 1 year of owning my Versys 300 now, i could recommend you a screen i bought recently, the PUIG touring windscreen, it works very well and it's taller than the OEM.
Nice review. Glad to see the bike's working out for you. One thing I noticed is that it looks like your "cat's whiskers" mic cover is dangling into the shot a bit. Might need a shave, LOL.
I took my seat to a upholstery shop , and they did a great job on it. I showed them what I wanted, where to cut & left the rest up to them . Cost - about 80 dollars.
I got the 2018 Versys x 300 put Trekker 33 side bags on, as well as engine guards, extra lights, center stand , Elect. outlet , heated grips, waiting for a taller windscreen. Only have 7,000 km on so far but an loving it. With the money I saved getting this instead of the BMW or Africa twin, or other larger bikes, I got a Suzuki S 40 also a great fun bike, but will keep it stock, 2 different bikes but love them bough, The S 40 is great as you can feel the full affect of the wind on your chest , nothing like doing 90 km into a 80 Km wind, builds them gluts up. The Versys X for shopping and long day or week touring, and some back dirt roads. As the saying goes, It is much more fun riding a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and I have had them bough on the highway and they do just fine.
I'm looking forward to getting out in 2020. The VX3 is perfect for running the FS roads in my county and zipping over to Montana and Washington once in a while for a change of scenery. Given the light snow fall this year maybe I'll get out early.
I've watched a lot of Versys-X reviews and find most guys spend way too much time on options and too little time on the details of the bike we want to know like comfort, smoothness, power, vibration, handling. performance, fuel economy.
I took my Versys 300 down the baja of Mexico, over to the mainland and up through Copper Canyon. 4000mile loop. Bike was for the most part awesome. I was LOADED with gear. Only issue was with the ABS not being able to be turned off. Caused a lot of problems in steep, downhill, switchback gravel. Oh, and gas mileage.... at 60mph it gets wonderful mileage. Try keeping up with friends at just 70pmh and the mileage plummets more than half.
just did the front sprocket change to 15 tooth front. WOW.... what a better gearing. Also, seems to have changed the bad mileage drop to a slightly higher speed so it might solve most of the problems. Now to figure out how to switch off the ABS when in tough dirt!
@@jozosaravanja1626 No, I never did. Just returned to Baja on it again this year, and tool all the downhills much slower and with engine braking to make up for it.
Anthony, I have watched all your videos concerning the Versys X and I thank you for doing this. I purchased a 2018 Versys X ABS and it is still in the crate at a dealership in Virginia. I am moving to Oman this summer (currently in Jordan) and will have the bike shipped when I move. Very excited about the bike although I have seen or ridden it yet. With all the research I have done including you informative videos. I am positive that I have made a great choice. The T-Rex skid plate is on my list of accessories and I am in looking to replacing the headlamp with a LED. Can you please post info on it? Could not catch it all in your video. Keep up the good work, I'll be watching.
Thanks for your update Anthony. The stock wind screen buffeted me so badly it would make me dizzy and give me a head ache (but, I am 6'3", so my issue may be different). I bought the MRA Variotouring Windscreen and that works much better. I was thinking about getting the Madstad screen, but I don't like how that looks. Anyway, maybe that would help you with the rotten wind noise.
I was thinking about getting a 2018 KLR. I was wondering what they were going to replace it with. It looks like your bike would be a great replacement.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Versys X 300. If you ever consider a different tail rack, I recommend checking out BRE (Back Road Equipment) Slider rack. It uses a neat 4-puck keyhole design for mounting. I have one on my KLR 650 and Vstrom 650. I can easily move my cases between the two bikes. You can put the pucks on pretty much anything you want to mount on the back.
Very nice review! I ended up going with the BMW G310GS, but am still convinced the 300-X is a definite equal to the baby beemer. They each have their pro's & cons. Either one is a win-win for the owner. :-D
Last year a friend with a KLR convinced me I needed to get a bike again and that I should get one I could ride in the dirt. I looked at the several bikes in the 650 range but they seemed to tall for me. I was interested in the 310 but it was not ready and I wanted a bike now and the VX300 seemed like the best fit. I would love to ride a 310GS but I have been very happy with my Versys-X. So far not one day of buyers remorse and I'm loving the ability to get off the pavement. There are days I wish I still had my Heritage Softail though. I'm watching some of you 310 videos now. Thanks!
While I give the edge to the Versys-X 300 I liked the 310 when I test rode it. All of the ones my dealer had, though, had a problem finding neutral gear. Did they fix that?
SECoda, on the G310GS, going into N coming up from 1st gear is dang near impossible. Go to 2nd, then half down and it will hit N every single time. Even when shut off in my garage, I have to go fully up to 2nd, then half down to N. Now that I know the trick, it's not an issue. Oddly enough though, I stated "dang near" because when the bike was out in 30 deg. temps, *THREE TIMES* I went to shift into 2nd and it hit neutral instead!!!! Only time it has ever done that. lol All on the same *coooooold* morning ride to work.
Nice review. I have the same bike and love it. I too don't understand the weight limitations Kawasaki puts on the top box/ side panniers. I mean it's ok to carry my wife back there at 120 lbs or my friend at 185 lbs but yet I can't carry 35 lbs of camping gear? I don't get it. I see people in SE Asia carrying entire families and a small refrigerator on 50 cc scooters. I'm not worried about loading my Versys for a camping trip. :) Just saying.
I am in Asia and bought a Chinese bike new at the dealer. It has a rack on it and I asked how much weight it could hold. I was told 45 kilos (99 pounds) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-U7tdrcEyG-4.html
I'm sure it's more of a liability issue than anything. If someone loaded the back up with 300lbs of stuff and the frame cracks then took it into Kawasaki, they'd pull out the book and point to the disclaimer and tell the rider the damage isn't covered.
Nice looking bike man. Looks sick in the black and with the TKC80s. It's actually available here in China! (very few decent forein bikes here and often inflated in price. I've ridden the 300x at a trade show here but they only let us ride 30m up and back. Hmmm A ride review would be great. Like what are your thoughts on the comfort etc? Maybe your other videos have this, but I'd love to know your reasons for buying this and experience etc. Maybe there will be a Kawwy 400 x coming eh...
Yea, I get variations of that comment a lot. I'm chalking it up as a learning experience. For this year I'm working on going through the footage I have since buying the bike in 2017. I'm hoping to show 1) how the bike as done in different condition and 2) how the must have upgrades (like the seat) have worked out for me. I was sick about the time I did this one and a bit unfocused. Thanks for watching and the feedback.
Anthony thanks for the update very helpful. Jjast about every review of these bikes talk about the seat bing pretty much uncomfortable how have you found it??. Cheers Tony
I recall when you bought your bike, you rode it home on the highway from a fair distance. Another Versys owner on RU-vid mentioned a break-in period. I think he said you're not supposed to exceed 4K rpm for the first 500 mi. Is that what they recommend? That would be something like 45mph. I'm not sure I could do that where I live, where the secondary road limit is often 60mph.
The manual (which I did not read until I got home) does say not exceed 4,000 RPM for the first 500 miles. The dealer had told me to keep it under 60 MPH which I did. I rode most of the first 1000 miles on back roads so keeping it around 4K (35 MPH) was not so hard there.
Another question. Mine needs 7000 rpm to do 65mph on the freeway, and around 8500 rpm to do 75 mph. Does yours do similar rpm at these speeds? The overheating light never comes on, but I am just a bit worried about such high rpm on the freeways, especially if I have to ride for some distance across town.
My revs are similar to yours. I feel the bike starts pulling well around 9k and keeps going. As for temps I’ve always had under 3/4 deflection at highway speeds, at speeds under 35 it will climb up to one square shy of full deflection and then the fan kick on and it drops back to 3/4 or less.
@@AnthonyCompton Same here, bike really pulls between 8k to 10k, but I wonder if that is safe for the engine? This is my first bike and I don't know much about motorcycles. I feel like the bike running at that rev range for a long time would be the same as a human trying to talk really loudly at the top of their lungs for hours. However, the red light never comes one and the bike never really overheats. Perhaps it was designed to work at that range. FYI, I rode it at the 9k to 10k range for roughly 2 hours non-stop on I10 as I was returning home from a longer trip, and it never overheated. In fact it stayed cool the whole time.
@@utoobia6872 I'm comfortable riding at 8 or 9 k for ling periods as the engine was designed to rev high. I guess time will tell if i'm justified in thinking that.
what about the hand guards??? Those should be a mayor upgrade! And on them you can strap a moose racing foam handguards for extra wind and rain protection. I use them and they're very useful.
partially....but when it rains I need to get water off and very cold winds affect my hands after a few hours of riding, specially if you make long trips under extreme wheather during 8 or 12 hours a day when you're on long trips. I've done two trips through the southamerican andes over 13.000 thousand feet and your hands tend to freeze and becomes intollerable. Grip heaters are also helpful. I've owned many bikes over the years but now I'm wanting a small manageable adventure bike which I can use to travel on my own with minor problems so I'm buying a 300 very soon. I'm 48 and already not liking big heavy bikes anymore.
@@AnthonyCompton if you do decide to get a set, and you may have by now as I'm watching these in order, take a look at the GIVI guards...had them on a Yamaha FZ07 and they looked nice and worked quite well against wind, rain and rocks from vehicles in front.
In my opinion it's a great do-it-all bike. No machine does everything well but the Versys-X has handled everything I have tossed at it well. I'd like a little more torque so it could be geared up a little but it's never stopped from going places. I think you should go ride one and then decide. Love mine!
hello, I just got a 2020 in white last week, but the coolant temperature goes up to 5/6 bars, never 6/6 and the red light never comes on. But 5/6 worries me. What is the highest you've seen on yours?
@@AnthonyCompton mine is also at the 5th bar at most, never the 6th. I was just worried if the 5th bar was too much, but since yours does the same, I guess it is OK. Not sure what temp each bar represents though.
I have seen comments from several who have done that, one stated his fuel economy dropped. I would guess if you do a lot of freeway miles it might be worth a try. I'm not planning on changing mine as I need the low end for some of my riding.
Antony, could you please give a link to the LED headlamp? I have the same bike and i am not satisfied with the stock bulb. Maybe others are also interested in. Thanks! Greetings from Hungary!
<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="860">14:20</a> was it my video? I had to build a couple of reinforcements to bolt them on the sides of the screen, to allow me to install the windscreen extension that i bought, because as you said, that very first angle from top to bottom, is very flexible, and with the pieces that i built, the flexing of the screen happens uniformly, it makes less now and it supports the windscreen extension better.
You got some awesome tires and the bars I hope those are Kawasaki bra1nd you shouldn't have never bought the Kawasaki brand bars cuz they're too expensive you could have got other brands that are better for cheaper, top case is ugly and if it's Kawasaki brand it was way too expensive I think you wasted your money you can buy several different brands that will fit on there that was half the price Plus when you're riding by yourself I would never use it because it blocks so much wind the bike is unstable at high speeds and it pretty much kills your gas mileage. Sector positions for the high beam on my bike is pretty much useless and I have to change it which taking off all of that plastic is a bitch because they use special types of clips that are crazy and hard to deal with from what I understand
I do like the TCK80s they wear a little quicker than I was hoping but they work well of payment. Not sure I see your points on the engine guards and luggage. If I had been willing to wait a year to buy and outfit my bike I am sure I could have saved some money but I was in the market to ride right away. Just curious, have you ridden a VX3?
What's the vibration like on this bike? I test rode one and started to feel a little tingle in the seat after 60 mph. But that was a "Non broken in bike."
There is some vibration on the highway but I don't find it objectionable. Some of the vibration is likely from the TKC80s. I would rather spend 4 hours on the Versys-X than the 2001 Sportster I owned. I have made a number of all day rides and my only limiting factor was the seat. Even with the Seat Concepts foam you will want a break every 2 - 3 hours.
The tires shown here are TKC-80s, I am currently running a set of Mitas E07+ tires. Both are great tires the E07 will get you longer life, work will on dirt and pavement. The 80s have an edge on gravel mud etc. I like both but I think I'll go back to the TKC-80 when I wear our the E07s.
@@AnthonyCompton probably best to use it when you can...I don't worry about it in my cars but I try to use the non-ethanol in my yard work tools and on/off-road machines.
I forgot to thank-you Anthony! I watched all your videos on before buying the 2018 model. I did a lot of upgrades and although I do wish it was a 400cc, it is a pretty capable little bike. If anyone wants to check out the upgrades I did, check out this video, "Is a change as good as a rest?" and skip ahead to the 8 minute mark for Adventure bike section.: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hm5PR8_r8ZY.html
@@bullsharkdb Just skip ahead to the 8 minute mark. It's a video on simple pleasures and Motorcycling makes the list!! Check out the upgrades, it's a neat little bike!
@@blkleblanc I have Mitas E07+ on now and they are a good tire the wear better than the TKC-80. That said, I'm going back the TKC-80 on my next change they do just a little better if you run into mud or snow. If you don't plan on those I'd go with the E07s.
@@AnthonyCompton Thanks that's good to know. I intend to ride it on side roads (off the main highways), mainly and when I see a fire road I want to go down it with confidence and I don't feel that the stock tires will do that.
Panti Moto My short answer is yes. I bought this bike over the KLR, DR, etc primarily because off pavement riding was new to me until last year and I wanted a bike that 1) allowed me to put my feet on the ground, 2) I could pick up and 3) was able to handle highway and back/logging road. I am 508, the KLR put me on my tip toes the Versys-X allows me to comfortably put my feet on the ground and it’s easy to pickup. I have the crash video to prove it. You should expect to replace the seat.
I hear you but my definition of a road touring bike is 1000cc or better with comfy seats. That's not the VX3. The slogan for the bike is "any road, any time". I might define "road" differently than the marketing dept. -- Add a skid plate and 80/20 tires and it will go any were a KLR will go. With the above said, it's not a trail bike.
Dont use side bags and a top bag?! What sense does that make? I've never heard any manufacturer say that before. In India, people load 100 chickens, an armoir, and their grandpa onto a 30 year old 50cc honda scooter but you cant have a normal touring setup on a new Kawasaki that was designed for adventure touring.
I have no idea why the day that, probably a lawyer thing. Many people run both and I’ve tossed a duffle and sleeping bag on in front of my top case without issue. I do think keeping the weight lower is better.
John Park - actually the video title is review “update”. It’s a supplement to all the other videos I have. There are a number of reviews that I did during the first year of ownership. I can post links this evening.
You might try looking at these videos. If you still have questions let me know and I'll work on answering ether here or with an updated video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-TaJQrKuTy6M.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-m-rQmBeKl7c.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S85wmmXQNtw.html
@@AnthonyComptonI agree the title is misleading. I just want to know how the bike is holding up after a year. We not really that interested in what you keep in your top box and the assessories you have. The title should be accessories for the versys and what I like to put in them.
@@johngreyvenstein5987 I hear what you're saying. When I say "update" I am using that word in place of supplement. In hind site I can see a few don't used the word that way. Not that riding season two is over I'll likely work on a two year review and I'll try to use an appropriate title. Thanks for your input. (I mean that, can't improve with out constructive input).
It's not a bike review, it's just talking about what aftermarket bits you've added. Really don't need to know what you keep in your top box. No mention of the actual bikes condition after 4,000 miles. Fail.
I"m really not sure what your point is. In the US the Versys-X comes in one engine displacement, 296cc. Stating it is a 300 would be (technically incorrect) and also have no value since that is the only displacement the bike come with. My last bike was a HD 95 cu but I still just call it a Softail though since it was a bored out 88 I guess it might make some sense to specify the displacement. But hey, I'm glad you have a 1000. Does it go to 11?
Abu Daoud Abdullah thanks. My great grandmother was French so learning some of the language is on my list. Clearly I have not gotten far yet but you just helped.
