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 RUclips 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!!!
very well and appreciated report, thanks. I am also considering buying this x300 or the BMW g310gs, and I am a bit not sure which one to pick tbh, both seem to me pretty fantastic motorcycles, where one lacks in some department the other one has it.
@@JoseAlvarez-dl3hm in my experience the BMW is underpowered and overpriced. For what they're asking for one you could get a very low mileage pre-owned Honda CB500X, which would be a better bike in every way. The Versys doesn't hold much value so I highly recommend anyone considering one to shop for a pre-owned bike, you'll save thousands and likely it will be like new. If you understand the Versys it's a great bike. The OP's comment about it being tall shows their level of experience with these types of bikes, a less than 31" seat is quite low for an ADV bike and it's not meant to be flat footed at a stop. It's light enough that on the balls of your feet is perfectly fine. I'm 5'9" with a 31" inseam and I'd probably put a taller seat on the bike. The OP complains about the stock seat and compares it to an aftermarket Corbin seat on another bike...well buy a Corbin for this and problem solved.
Great review of a great bike (not perfect, but great!) I have about 1200 miles (1900+ kilos) on my Versys X300. I ride about 50% pavement and 50% gravel and unimproved dirt. Once you accept the 7000+ rpm on the highway, the little Versys is, indeed, a highway capable machine (that's only a bit over half way to the 12000 rpm redline). 0-60 mph is similar to the KLR650 and the DR650. I am 70 years old and need a bike I can pick up alone, as well as one that is capable of on and off road. This bike fits the bill for me. I will replace the tires with more aggressive ones for riding more of the TransAmerica Trail (which we are doing in segments - rode Colorado last Sept). Thank again - your video/audio work is excellent! - Ray - in the wilderness near Durango, Colorado
@@markcollins5026 Congrats, Mark!!! I'm now at about 3,000 miles and have added luggage (adapted Pelican cases to Givi racks) and also Mitas E07 tires, front and rear (search RUclips for Mitas E07 - getting a great reputation). Leaving in Oct for a week on the TransAmerica Trail in Colorado and into Utah for rides in the Moab area. Still loving the X300 for trips and commuting (avg over 70 mph if I just commute at 40 - 45 mph.) Enjoy!!!
@GeezerWheels Can you tell what exactly is the problem with 7000RPM at 100kph? I understand it's liveable but why is it a problem in the first-place, if the engine doesn't sound stressed at that point?
@@sanketjain9320 I have zero problems with my x300 at any rpm. Over 7000 rpm is not problem either - some people coming from other bikes just aren't used to the sound of the high rpm. The bars feel a little buzzy at higher rpm, but that's normal. So... it's not problem at all, just that some aren't used to engines that turn this fast. (A lot bin V-twins redline at less that half that of the X300. Run the bike at any legal speed and it simple not a problem. At 80mph plus it's not problem either, just a bit more buzz in the bars. This engine is designed to run at hight rpm - same engine as the Ninja 300 race bike. The bike is FAR less buzzy (vibration) that my dirt bike - actually quite smooth for a 300cc bike. -Ray
Funny; these bikes are among the cheapest to repair in the states. Whats more, they are fairly easy to work on and do your own repairs. Ninja 300 is also considered to be 'the' most reliable bike in it's class here. Just goes to show how much difference location makes in these things. Great review overall.
Hey! In India most bikes fall under the 1500USD motorcycle. It is only recently that people have started spending on more expensive motorcycles. So a motorcycle that costs 7500USD looks pricey. Also, Kawasaki has a small footprint in India and hence after sales service become a bit tricky. Thanks for watching. Take care!
@@JCrozier1 the Sari guard? Women in India wear long saris and commonly ride pillion. Get a Sari sucked into the chain and you’ve probably lost your girlfriend/wife!!
@@SirKart Can you tell why exactly is 7000RPM at 100kph a stressful affair if the engine is refined at that point and has a rev-limiter of more than 12K RPM? I mean yes there is a certain Himalayan that can do 100 at 5K RPM but then it can only rev to a maximum of 7.5K. How is it better than Versys then?
7:15 i did a top speed test on my unit (Costa Rica) at stock, before changing the tyres, i got 160 km/h on the speedometer, 151 km/h on the GPS app that i always use, so i have to speak my voice and say that the Versys x300 is more than capable of surpassing real 140km/h without struggling at all, it's sad that your unit got up to 136 km/h, i know that the Vbox is more accurate. But from 136 to 151 km/h on the gps that i got... There's plenty of room Aaaand i agree with the rest of the video, you have to ride it to notice how amazing is the off road for the style of the bike.
When I go adventure touring I want to go on the back roads not the highway, and that is what the Versys -X 300 is made for. If you want to go racing down the highways, a adventure touring bike is not the best option there is always the gold wing or the HD for that type of riding, as well as many other cruisers. To me riding is enjoying the ride not seeing how fast you can get there.
Wow! That's the most unbiased review I have ever seen, and it's comprehensive to boot. Great production, clear viewpoints, average rider height and no ass kissing the manufacturer. Your review is so awesome that in spite of deciding not to get it (price and Highway performance + low top speed),I may still pop across to one of the dealerships for a test ride. Simply superb review! PS. I'm planning to get the Yamaha MT-03 but I will wait for your review.
Part of owning the bike is figuring out ways to improve its characteristics. - A mesh seat cover will provide more comfort for a low price. - A 15 tooth front sprocket will help with the highway a bit - Handlebar foam pads will relief the pain of the tiny vibrations caused by the high revs - A cheap windscreen extension (or a replacement of one) will help with the wind - I've done several other things to my bike, i didn't invest past 200$ to it to make it better for everything. It's an amazing bike, we just wish we could pay the 5700$ it costs in the USA.
Update A 15t front sprocket makes the bike waaaay better for the road, 100km/l came down from 7900 rpm down to 7.000, cruising at 112km/l is very easily sustainable, the bike feels smoother, and more chill, mean while, it still works well off road, and i started to use 1st gear a little more because it DOES move.
5 lakhs for a 300. That is maddeningly expensive irrespective of how well the bike has been made. Especially with comparatively poor highway performance where it would spend most of its time ideally. Disappointed.
,,, if you don't like the ABS pull the fuse or cut the wire,, you can even add your own switch,, change the sprocket four teeth more you've got to Willy machine,,. 4 teeth less you got a higher speed road bike. If you want firmer suspension in the front add 2 ounces of transmission fluid to each tube,,, a little more power use a uni air filter,, a little louder and more power drill a 2 in bore whole bottom dead center of Muffler,,, you can use a rubber plug for PVC pipe,, to make it quiet again,,,
I got Z250 a year before Versys 250x release in my country. I regretted but too bad. I tested ride this Baby versys off road and immediately understand, for a new off road rider and needing a bike that can commute to work. This is the perfect bike for me.
@@JCrozier1 Yes. Its to protect the dress of the passenger from getting into the rear wheel. Its required on all bikes in India. Cool, no? My KTM 390 Adventure has the mounts for it. Its made in India, but I am in Mexico.
asedon123 I don’t think so. I’m sure he’ll be back soon to give you what you want. I am grateful that I get to do this, and whatever lets me do so. And so, thank you for watching.
James Doolan hey James! Thanks for checking out work out. Glad to hear that! I think the Versys must be sitting in it’s sweet spot on the right of those strict speed limits you have! Wish you safe miles! Thanks again.
Great video. Very informative. Interestingly, Kawasaki reckon that the X300 is a road bike with off- road pretentiousness, whereas you say it’s better off- road than on it.
Kartikeya Singhee Was just about to book this and came across this review What would be recommended for touring then? I believe smaller capacity motorcycles are better suited for Indian conditions. This seemed like the best solution given the higher GC, relatively powerful engine, place for luggage, relatively light weight, lower seat height (5'7"), good tank range, etc. Reliability is a top concern! PS: I've been touring on R15 V1 for ages now.
2019 ... Make a Versys 400. Game Over. But shorter initial gears ... But 6th should be as tall as Ninja. Only then it makes sense. 7000 RPM at 100 kmph is total pain in ass. R15 does 100 in 6700RPM. What's a shame.
yep it is lighter than the versys 650 which makes it easier for short riders like me to handle the bike, though there are many short riders who ride taller bikes. But it's about ease and I prefer the versys 300.
@@mokujin29 That is because the 650 is more road oriented. The X300 has also a bigger wheel in the front and clearly is more dirt oriented. The 650 is perfect for europe roads.
Man, I'm in the USA, I recently got a new 2020 white X300, for 5200 us dollars, I also put on a set of Shinko 804/805 big block tire's, it's a great do all bike, l love it !
The versys is awesome on and offroad. Change the tires to be a bit more less street and add a skid plate. Its perfect for city traffic jams, jungle, mountains, etc. You cant drive here on the highway so doing 100kph comfortably is perfect even though it can bang out 130plus
Kawasaki needs to make this bike in the 400cc and hopefully improve torque and lower revs. Then it will be the perfect allround bike, disrupting a number of categories for Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki et al. I'd buy that!
Amazing review. Production is getting tighter day by day. Hats off to the production team for that. Sound mixing was definitely great. I don't follow television anymore, so if this show is RUclips exclusive then you guys have a high chance to be the most watched show on Indian RUclips scene. Singhee Sahab, tussi great ho! You're the star of the show and a lot of the success of this show relies on that butter smooth voice of yours. Kudos and take care. PS: As I've written before, to make this channel successful, number of videos should be more. Maybe vlogs of Kartikeya's rides to the office? General talks about the industry? Maybe the inclusion of a tech episode every month where you guys talk and explain about the different tech of the bikes present in the market. Plenty of things to be shown, with the help of that silky smooth voice. All the best for the future productions. Cheers!
Tanumay Naskar bro! Thank you for the time and the effort man! Thank you for your suggestions! That’s really a big help. Would love to do more. And we will. We’ll keep you posted here! And wish you much love too bro. 🙏🏽
Great review! The bad highway performance is a bummer! Anyways, It still makes some sense. And Karthikeya sir, I just love your work:) Keep it up 👍 Your fan from the Autocar days!
Hello team zigwheeels We would like to see comparison between versys x300 Vs BMW gs310 Vs royal Enfield Himalayan abs This will help many of us out there to get better idea what should we opt for?
Nicely put together. Although many international reviewers criticized the current ABS setup for off-road but you said otherwise. And many reviewers have said top speed to be 150+, are there any changes for Indian market in those terms??
r__i__shu hey! Thanks for watching. If you look at the ABS from an experts standpoint, yes this is too basic and limiting. But I feel for most people who are beginning to dabble with off-road this setup is adequate. I don’t think there are any changes for India. And yes top speed would be in that region. I’ll try to confirm that shortly.
r__i__shu it will be fine if you are stepping up from a bullet. The 390 cruises better. Thank you for watching! Do let me know if you have any other questions.
at 4.6 L I can probably buy alto 800 and still have enough money to fuel the car for all India tour sitting in A/C with no dirt on my face or rain on my body. Ok unfair to compare with car, I'd rather buy dominar, for sure bajaj will keep parts in stock for the future.
Yes, it is. It is called a saree guard. you can google saree to understand. It is meant to prevent it from getting entagled in the wheel. thank you for watching.
Sidhdharth , the people back from the 70's-90's , this stipulation to put a saree guard is Rule 123 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules which ofcourse is obsolete now
I'd imagine so. You see motos in India carrying a lot of people or a lot of stuff. Therefore things and passengers would get tangled up in the rear wheel.
The main reason for high prices compared to 310GS is its accessories. It's packed with atleast 90k rs of stuff. Still there is a gap of 40k which justify the dual cylinder engine. Just compare the engine sound between both bikes and you won't go for 310GS if you care about engine sound and reliability.
Kartikeya Singhee ur way good at your work and my suggestions wont live upto your standards i will just suggest keep on giving us some smashing reviews like this which will help laypersons lik us to gather more information 😀
The bike might not have a lot of suspension but, the right rear turn signal seems to have plenty of travel in the rough stuff. I like the built in ladder as well. It should make two up riding a breeze. Not as ugly as the KLR, but I will buy one nonetheless.
Nice that you people are doing awesome reviews of motorbike, touching every aspect of it coupled with excellent content supported by mesmerizing visuals and camera work with perfect input of acoustics. not only this review but the Apache RR 310 review was of similar quality. Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Please give and show credits to the production and support team at the end of the video. Initiate this new trend. Its a request from an honest fan.
Nilanjan Paladhi you know what, thank you. I am taking a screenshot of this and sharing it with them. It’s almost as though they don’t want the recognition for their hard work and they really put in a bucket load. I have been insisting on it. But, they just ... forget. And the They = Eshan Shetty & Arjun Dhavale (filming), Ajit Lohar & Amar Katkar(edit). Thank you for bringing this up. They are awesome.
Currently in Ranchi and missing Pune. 😄 watching u drive apache 310 in rasta peth and around brought good memories. Just one more suggestion. All two wheeler review/first ride should have 5-8 secs dedicated to exhaust note
I own this bike. Change the gearing so revs are reduced by 1000 rpm and you got THE perfect low cost adv bike, also capable of 600km/day highway rides. The offroad capabilities are still there, plus you don't shift yourself silly...
I changed both to match the ninja gearing which is just perfect. Don't remember the exact teeth number but I think its 3-4 down at the rear and one up at front. What you need to know is that most probably the gear indicator will stop working, but readjust and come back again after you are driving a bit on the highway. I knew that and would have stayed with the new gearing even without gear indicator. It transforms the bike totally, allows to cruise at low revs, use less gas, run cooler and still has that bite high up. It's a miracle to me why Kawa did not deliver like that...
nice review as always. pricing is the biggest downer followed by highway manners. hope BMW 310 GS gets the pricing right, atleast to start with. was watching a 310 GS with rally raid accessories on mad tv. looks to be a promising beginners adv. let's see when it arrives. cheers
You see, Happy Wife is Happy Life. We checked the V3 at a Yamaha Dealer and the decision has gone in favour of wife. No Yamaha!! this time. Will wait for your CBR250r review. Cheers buddy!!
I think what its good at is fast loose gravel riding with a bit of highway stuff to get to the off-road location nearby. Putting knobbies on would make wonders off-road. But sadly, spending that much money for a 300 is high.
Wouldn't a higher tooth sprocket fix the highway rattled? Plus with the short gearing (as you said start off in 2nd/3rd gear) maybe 1 tooth higher would balance much out. Just asking.
Nice review... though what is this obsession of being able to do x amount of speed in y gear. If gearing ratio is different then you would be in a different gear for the same speed ..big deal ...though torque figures and rpm capability give the dimension of versatility. That should be the comparison point.
Yes, we are obsessed with providing clarity, so that anyone watching can make a decision for themselves and dont have to depend on our word. Ground speed along with engine speed finally affects usability in different scenarios. So, somebody who cruises at 90 can understand that it is not a dealbreaker for him. Hence, gearing. Thanks for watching.
@kartikeya going forward all videos shot in #pune should have a exact location indicator for ppl like me who want to keep track of ever changing city even when away from it for few years.
Yeah, I though of that... which may also make it less dirt worthy. However, if a lot of highway miles were planned, it might be a worthwhile tradeoff. Thanks for the reply!!
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 RUclips 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!!!
What an extremely helpful comment!
Its the top of my list for my first bike when the funds allow me to get one :)
very well and appreciated report, thanks. I am also considering buying this x300 or the BMW g310gs, and I am a bit not sure which one to pick tbh, both seem to me pretty fantastic motorcycles, where one lacks in some department the other one has it.
@@JoseAlvarez-dl3hm in my experience the BMW is underpowered and overpriced. For what they're asking for one you could get a very low mileage pre-owned Honda CB500X, which would be a better bike in every way. The Versys doesn't hold much value so I highly recommend anyone considering one to shop for a pre-owned bike, you'll save thousands and likely it will be like new. If you understand the Versys it's a great bike. The OP's comment about it being tall shows their level of experience with these types of bikes, a less than 31" seat is quite low for an ADV bike and it's not meant to be flat footed at a stop. It's light enough that on the balls of your feet is perfectly fine. I'm 5'9" with a 31" inseam and I'd probably put a taller seat on the bike. The OP complains about the stock seat and compares it to an aftermarket Corbin seat on another bike...well buy a Corbin for this and problem solved.
Great review of a great bike (not perfect, but great!) I have about 1200 miles (1900+ kilos) on my Versys X300. I ride about 50% pavement and 50% gravel and unimproved dirt. Once you accept the 7000+ rpm on the highway, the little Versys is, indeed, a highway capable machine (that's only a bit over half way to the 12000 rpm redline). 0-60 mph is similar to the KLR650 and the DR650. I am 70 years old and need a bike I can pick up alone, as well as one that is capable of on and off road. This bike fits the bill for me. I will replace the tires with more aggressive ones for riding more of the TransAmerica Trail (which we are doing in segments - rode Colorado last Sept). Thank again - your video/audio work is excellent! - Ray - in the wilderness near
Durango, Colorado
Man, I'm 66 just got a 2020 versus x300 yesterday, what a blast !
@@markcollins5026 Congrats, Mark!!! I'm now at about 3,000 miles and have added luggage (adapted Pelican cases
to Givi racks) and also Mitas E07 tires, front and rear (search RUclips for Mitas E07 - getting a great reputation). Leaving in Oct for a week on the TransAmerica Trail in Colorado and into Utah for rides in the Moab area. Still loving the X300 for trips and commuting (avg over 70 mph if I just commute at 40 - 45 mph.) Enjoy!!!
@GeezerWheels Can you tell what exactly is the problem with 7000RPM at 100kph? I understand it's liveable but why is it a problem in the first-place, if the engine doesn't sound stressed at that point?
@@sanketjain9320 I have zero problems with my x300 at any rpm. Over 7000 rpm is not problem either - some people coming from other bikes just aren't used to the sound of the high rpm. The bars feel a little buzzy at higher rpm, but that's normal.
So... it's not problem at all, just that some aren't used to engines that turn this fast. (A lot bin V-twins redline at less that half that of the X300. Run the bike at any legal speed and it simple not a problem. At 80mph plus it's not problem either, just a bit more buzz in the bars. This engine is designed to run at hight rpm - same engine as the Ninja 300 race bike. The bike is FAR less buzzy (vibration) that my dirt bike - actually quite smooth for a 300cc bike.
-Ray
@@GeezerWheels Thanks for clarifying, in line with what I thought.
Funny; these bikes are among the cheapest to repair in the states. Whats more, they are fairly easy to work on and do your own repairs. Ninja 300 is also considered to be 'the' most reliable bike in it's class here. Just goes to show how much difference location makes in these things. Great review overall.
Hey! In India most bikes fall under the 1500USD motorcycle. It is only recently that people have started spending on more expensive motorcycles. So a motorcycle that costs 7500USD looks pricey. Also, Kawasaki has a small footprint in India and hence after sales service become a bit tricky. Thanks for watching. Take care!
Do you know what that thing is on the left where the box is supposed to be? I can't figure it out.
@@JCrozier1 the Sari guard? Women in India wear long saris and commonly ride pillion. Get a Sari sucked into the chain and you’ve probably lost your girlfriend/wife!!
@@SirKart Can you tell why exactly is 7000RPM at 100kph a stressful affair if the engine is refined at that point and has a rev-limiter of more than 12K RPM?
I mean yes there is a certain Himalayan that can do 100 at 5K RPM but then it can only rev to a maximum of 7.5K. How is it better than Versys then?
7:15 i did a top speed test on my unit (Costa Rica) at stock, before changing the tyres, i got 160 km/h on the speedometer, 151 km/h on the GPS app that i always use, so i have to speak my voice and say that the Versys x300 is more than capable of surpassing real 140km/h without struggling at all, it's sad that your unit got up to 136 km/h, i know that the Vbox is more accurate. But from 136 to 151 km/h on the gps that i got... There's plenty of room
Aaaand i agree with the rest of the video, you have to ride it to notice how amazing is the off road for the style of the bike.
They probably limit the speed in india
I have one and must say this is the best review yet. I love my x300. I also love your enthusiasm! Thanks for posting.
Hey Michael! Glad to have that vote! Thank you for watching!
I love mine as well.
My village in UP (Near Kanpur ) have dirt and mud !! Off roading is ours daily business in rainy season with Honda Unicorn 160 with comfort !!
Good. You should be awarded khel Ratna award
The unicorn is a great bike
When I go adventure touring I want to go on the back roads not the highway, and that is what the Versys -X 300 is made for. If you want to go racing down the highways, a adventure touring bike is not the best option there is always the gold wing or the HD for that type of riding, as well as many other cruisers. To me riding is enjoying the ride not seeing how fast you can get there.
I agree with you.
Wow! That's the most unbiased review I have ever seen, and it's comprehensive to boot. Great production, clear viewpoints, average rider height and no ass kissing the manufacturer.
Your review is so awesome that in spite of deciding not to get it (price and Highway performance + low top speed),I may still pop across to one of the dealerships for a test ride. Simply superb review!
PS. I'm planning to get the Yamaha MT-03 but I will wait for your review.
Part of owning the bike is figuring out ways to improve its characteristics.
- A mesh seat cover will provide more comfort for a low price.
- A 15 tooth front sprocket will help with the highway a bit
- Handlebar foam pads will relief the pain of the tiny vibrations caused by the high revs
- A cheap windscreen extension (or a replacement of one) will help with the wind
- I've done several other things to my bike, i didn't invest past 200$ to it to make it better for everything.
It's an amazing bike, we just wish we could pay the 5700$ it costs in the USA.
Update
A 15t front sprocket makes the bike waaaay better for the road, 100km/l came down from 7900 rpm down to 7.000, cruising at 112km/l is very easily sustainable, the bike feels smoother, and more chill, mean while, it still works well off road, and i started to use 1st gear a little more because it DOES move.
why you complain about the wind? you don't wear a helmet? and if you don't like the wind drive a car
5 lakhs for a 300. That is maddeningly expensive irrespective of how well the bike has been made. Especially with comparatively poor highway performance where it would spend most of its time ideally. Disappointed.
Rahber Ali I know. I get that. We were discussing in office. The x300 with the R3 engine would be properly mind blowing.
ya 5 lakh seems a bit too much bro. my p220 cruises on 100 kmph on highway under 7k rpm... wats da point shedding that extra money
Kawasaki bikes price so much high lol
,,, if you don't like the ABS pull the fuse or cut the wire,, you can even add your own switch,, change the sprocket four teeth more you've got to Willy machine,,. 4 teeth less you got a higher speed road bike. If you want firmer suspension in the front add 2 ounces of transmission fluid to each tube,,, a little more power use a uni air filter,, a little louder and more power drill a 2 in bore whole bottom dead center of Muffler,,, you can use a rubber plug for PVC pipe,, to make it quiet again,,,
In the US this is one of the cheapest ADV bikes on the market.
I got Z250 a year before Versys 250x release in my country. I regretted but too bad. I tested ride this Baby versys off road and immediately understand, for a new off road rider and needing a bike that can commute to work. This is the perfect bike for me.
"barbecue grill" was hilarious,,, i have been laughing for a minute!!!! LMAO
Your own bridge for crossing small streams!
I'm not familiar with whatever that thing is. Can one of you help me?
@@JCrozier1 Yes. Its to protect the dress of the passenger from getting into the rear wheel. Its required on all bikes in India. Cool, no? My KTM 390 Adventure has the mounts for it. Its made in India, but I am in Mexico.
@@ericlarson63 thanks. I figured it out the next day. Kind of wild.
With Sagar Sheldekar leaving powerdrift.. Mr Singhee, you sir are now the undisputed king of Indian RUclips Motocycle reviews !
asedon123 I don’t think so. I’m sure he’ll be back soon to give you what you want. I am grateful that I get to do this, and whatever lets me do so. And so, thank you for watching.
Faaaaaaaack dude you joined hands with powerdrift!!!!!!!!! Awesomeness .. really happy to hear this ALL THE VERY BEST
Just bought a 2024, I am so excited to pick it up.
I have a versys 300 x in new Zealand great off road and on road and very good two up a good all round bike
Cheers for the review
James Doolan hey James! Thanks for checking out work out. Glad to hear that! I think the Versys must be sitting in it’s sweet spot on the right of those strict speed limits you have! Wish you safe miles! Thanks again.
Great video. Very informative. Interestingly, Kawasaki reckon that the X300 is a road bike with off- road pretentiousness, whereas you say it’s better off- road than on it.
I have a BMW G310gs, Honda cb500x and Versys x300. All are awesome. The x300 is awesome of the freeway! He got this wrong for sure (in my opinion).
What a description. Karthik is always awsome.
Explorer AKIB thank you for watching again bro!
Kartikeya Singhee waiting for yr next video BRO. Upgrade your own channel too.
Explorer AKIB thanks for the vote man! It’s the team that makes these videos possible.
Well shot, well spoken, good detail, brilliant review.
Looking fwd to hear your take on BMW G310GS.
Thank you! We are looking forward to doing that review. Hopefully soon!
Kartikeya Singhee
Was just about to book this and came across this review What would be recommended for touring then? I believe smaller capacity motorcycles are better suited for Indian conditions. This seemed like the best solution given the higher GC, relatively powerful engine, place for luggage, relatively light weight, lower seat height (5'7"), good tank range, etc. Reliability is a top concern!
PS: I've been touring on R15 V1 for ages now.
This video appeals much more due to cinematography and beautifully anchored ....well done ...loved that...
Anchoring part is awesome 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Beingsolo Travel Thank you for the love! 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Grateful for it.
Great review. Beautifully filmed.
One of the best reviews for any bike ever
2019 ... Make a Versys 400. Game Over.
But shorter initial gears ... But 6th should be as tall as Ninja. Only then it makes sense.
7000 RPM at 100 kmph is total pain in ass. R15 does 100 in 6700RPM. What's a shame.
Mototech Wanderer It would be the perfect bike
Dealership near me has a 17' with abs for $4,000. Insane price.
4000? In my country in Europe it costs $6500. Also insane. 4000 seems like a fair price.
Put in 2 more lakhs you get a versys 650...
The versys 650 is to heavy.
Light is right !
yep it is lighter than the versys 650 which makes it easier for short riders like me to handle the bike, though there are many short riders who ride taller bikes.
But it's about ease and I prefer the versys 300.
Which has inferior tires and suspemsion.
@@mokujin29 That is because the 650 is more road oriented. The X300 has also a bigger wheel in the front and clearly is more dirt oriented. The 650 is perfect for europe roads.
@@djeffhawk7987 wil you pay 500 rupees for an apple
Man, I'm in the USA, I recently got a new 2020 white X300, for 5200 us dollars, I also put on a set of Shinko 804/805 big block tire's, it's a great do all bike, l love it !
I've had one for 3 months and 3500km. I live in Thailand so road varieties probably similar to India?? I'm getting 32.5 km/litre overall.
The versys is awesome on and offroad. Change the tires to be a bit more less street and add a skid plate. Its perfect for city traffic jams, jungle, mountains, etc. You cant drive here on the highway so doing 100kph comfortably is perfect even though it can bang out 130plus
Kawasaki needs to make this bike in the 400cc and hopefully improve torque and lower revs. Then it will be the perfect allround bike, disrupting a number of categories for Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki et al. I'd buy that!
Amazing review.
Production is getting tighter day by day. Hats off to the production team for that. Sound mixing was definitely great.
I don't follow television anymore, so if this show is RUclips exclusive then you guys have a high chance to be the most watched show on Indian RUclips scene.
Singhee Sahab, tussi great ho!
You're the star of the show and a lot of the success of this show relies on that butter smooth voice of yours. Kudos and take care.
PS: As I've written before, to make this channel successful, number of videos should be more. Maybe vlogs of Kartikeya's rides to the office? General talks about the industry? Maybe the inclusion of a tech episode every month where you guys talk and explain about the different tech of the bikes present in the market. Plenty of things to be shown, with the help of that silky smooth voice.
All the best for the future productions. Cheers!
Tanumay Naskar bro! Thank you for the time and the effort man! Thank you for your suggestions! That’s really a big help. Would love to do more. And we will. We’ll keep you posted here! And wish you much love too bro. 🙏🏽
Change the gearing, I went with up a tooth on front, down 3 on the rear. Huge difference.
Great review as usual from Karthikeya 👍
Great review!
The bad highway performance is a bummer!
Anyways, It still makes some sense.
And Karthikeya sir, I just love your work:)
Keep it up 👍
Your fan from the Autocar days!
Nazaar Mohamed hey bro!! Good to see you here too. Thank you for the love man. Very grateful for it!
Kartikeya Singhee Thank you for replying!
It means a lot:)
BTW Which car/bike do you own?
Nazaar Mohamed heya! I have a 2017 390 Duke and an Impulse. And car.. FDDI NR have one .. but a W124 is making my drives surreal these days.
Kartikeya Singhee Great!
W124❤
Man that's good man the suspension is the most beautiful thing and it's given some beautiful features
Worth it man
fantastic review , but don't understand why the Kawasaki 300's are so expensive
Import duty...
wish hmsi could bring the crf 250 L for dirt lovers or even the crf 250 rally for tourers
Funny because in the US it's a great bargain
Honest review man...keep it up.
Mohamed Afzal thank you sir.
Hello team zigwheeels
We would like to see comparison between versys x300 Vs BMW gs310 Vs royal Enfield Himalayan abs
This will help many of us out there to get better idea what should we opt for?
Nicely put together. Although many international reviewers criticized the current ABS setup for off-road but you said otherwise. And many reviewers have said top speed to be 150+, are there any changes for Indian market in those terms??
r__i__shu hey! Thanks for watching. If you look at the ABS from an experts standpoint, yes this is too basic and limiting. But I feel for most people who are beginning to dabble with off-road this setup is adequate. I don’t think there are any changes for India. And yes top speed would be in that region. I’ll try to confirm that shortly.
Kartikeya Singhee coming from bullet500, will the highway cruising that bad...? Is it better than the Duke 390 on 100+ speed on highway?
r__i__shu it will be fine if you are stepping up from a bullet. The 390 cruises better. Thank you for watching! Do let me know if you have any other questions.
Very well and thorough review! You got my thumb
Just change up one tooth on the counter sprocket I did helps phenomenally on the road Highway and you can't tell off road that much
Thanks fo that tip! What speeds can you cruise at now? ANd, thanks for watching.
I liked the high production values. A real Bollywood production! The host is quite professional and likeable as well.
at 4.6 L I can probably buy alto 800 and still have enough money to fuel the car for all India tour sitting in A/C with no dirt on my face or rain on my body. Ok unfair to compare with car, I'd rather buy dominar, for sure bajaj will keep parts in stock for the future.
Stupidest comment in this century
Can’t you put on a different front sprocket to lower highway rpm’s?
Is that BBQ grill a legal requirement in India? I've seen that on almost all India motorcycle reviews, even sport type bikes.
Yes, it is. It is called a saree guard. you can google saree to understand. It is meant to prevent it from getting entagled in the wheel. thank you for watching.
who the fuck will take there mother or girlfriend in saree for an adventure... who doeees thattt..
Sidhdharth , the people back from the 70's-90's , this stipulation to put a saree guard is Rule 123 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules which ofcourse is obsolete now
I legit thought ya'll are messing around with each other with the word 'saree guard' until i actually googled it. Can't stop laughing.
I'd imagine so. You see motos in India carrying a lot of people or a lot of stuff. Therefore things and passengers would get tangled up in the rear wheel.
Solid review, enjoyed the real world testing with all aspect s covered. Cheer s!
Top speed just 132 kmph........that's a big bummer for highway touring
+1 on the front sprocket should fix your highway issue
This is such a great and honest review. Going to pick mine up tomorrow...
You bought??
The main reason for high prices compared to 310GS is its accessories. It's packed with atleast 90k rs of stuff. Still there is a gap of 40k which justify the dual cylinder engine. Just compare the engine sound between both bikes and you won't go for 310GS if you care about engine sound and reliability.
Fantabulous review kartikeya singhee lovd it hope all of ur reviews cover up all d thingd as dis did 😀
Onkar Purandare thanks Onkar. We’ll try to keep it that way. If any other suggestions, please do let me know. Thanks again.
Kartikeya Singhee ur way good at your work and my suggestions wont live upto your standards i will just suggest keep on giving us some smashing reviews like this which will help laypersons lik us to gather more information 😀
Kartikeya Singhee sir is it possible for a comparison between the tiger 800 and the versys 650
GOSTEI DA AVALIAÇÃO! TESTOU A MOTO EM TODAS AS CONDIÇÕES! VERY GOOD!
The bike might not have a lot of suspension but, the right rear turn signal seems to have plenty of travel in the rough stuff. I like the built in ladder as well. It should make two up riding a breeze. Not as ugly as the KLR, but I will buy one nonetheless.
Really great review. Thank you. Subbed & Liked.
I enjoyed your review sir, really well filmed.
Will pass on the message to the team. They did a fab job with this. Thank you for watching.
Very nice review covered all the points and gave honest opinion. Loved it
Nice that you people are doing awesome reviews of motorbike, touching every aspect of it coupled with excellent content supported by mesmerizing visuals and camera work with perfect input of acoustics. not only this review but the Apache RR 310 review was of similar quality. Excellent. Excellent. Excellent. Please give and show credits to the production and support team at the end of the video. Initiate this new trend. Its a request from an honest fan.
Nilanjan Paladhi you know what, thank you. I am taking a screenshot of this and sharing it with them. It’s almost as though they don’t want the recognition for their hard work and they really put in a bucket load. I have been insisting on it. But, they just ... forget. And the They = Eshan Shetty & Arjun Dhavale (filming), Ajit Lohar & Amar Katkar(edit). Thank you for bringing this up. They are awesome.
Great Review!! Really love Kartik for his riding style and passion for automobiles.
Thank you Kaushal! Your time means a lot to us.
Brutally honest review sir
Currently in Ranchi and missing Pune. 😄 watching u drive apache 310 in rasta peth and around brought good memories. Just one more suggestion. All two wheeler review/first ride should have 5-8 secs dedicated to exhaust note
you still have 5 thousand rpm to use cruising at 100 on the highway. Seems to be no problem
Well done
BIKEMANIAC PK bro plz make a video of Kawasaki motorcycle...
Awesome review, informative and interesting. Thanks!!
I own this bike. Change the gearing so revs are reduced by 1000 rpm and you got THE perfect low cost adv bike, also capable of 600km/day highway rides. The offroad capabilities are still there, plus you don't shift yourself silly...
G SAmui that’s a super suggestion. Have fun! Thank you for watching.
And by the way: you absolutely nailed it with this review! very very well done, with a more than decent offroad test thrown in as well.
G SAmui Change the gearing to 1000 rpm less? So you sould need to go up two teeth front or down 5-6 teeth rear?
I changed both to match the ninja gearing which is just perfect. Don't remember the exact teeth number but I think its 3-4 down at the rear and one up at front. What you need to know is that most probably the gear indicator will stop working, but readjust and come back again after you are driving a bit on the highway. I knew that and would have stayed with the new gearing even without gear indicator. It transforms the bike totally, allows to cruise at low revs, use less gas, run cooler and still has that bite high up. It's a miracle to me why Kawa did not deliver like that...
Can I Expect a duo (side by side) comparo with the actual opponent from the class, the Royal Enfield's Himalayan.
Always enjoy the narration of the host... Very good presenter
What is the cost? I hear a lot of talk about it being expensive. In the US they are very affordable relative to other similar bikes.
The India price in USD is about 7500... :-]
ouch. that is about 2300 more than US. Thanks for response. What is that metal grate in place of the clutch side luggage
here in canada they are not affordable too
Yeah that sucks! Same for us with things like Land cruiser though. In other parts of the world everyone has them. Here it's just the rich people lol
I really enjoyed your video. Inspiring!!!
At 60+ mph you cant hear the engine unless you have a very expensive helmet. Or modified exhaust. Or really good ears.
OMG..realistic review..
I'm subscribed..
Best reviews til now
Wow... great review. Well done!
nice review as always. pricing is the biggest downer followed by highway manners. hope BMW 310 GS gets the pricing right, atleast to start with. was watching a 310 GS with rally raid accessories on mad tv. looks to be a promising beginners adv. let's see when it arrives. cheers
nischal4444 I know right! I think the g310gs is a compete dark horse.
Kartikeya Singhee absolutely..
Is it a good upgrade option for Himalayan user
Karthik......ma man!!!👏🔥
Harsha Sai 🙏🏽 😘
I love the spoked wheels. I hate the 300 cc. It needs 400 cc minimum in America. It is ok with ABS in the front but not in the back.
whooo... i did'nt see that coming!!! nice job
Yogesh Pilankar Mr Pilankar! Good to see you again. Which way did the decision go?
You see, Happy Wife is Happy Life. We checked the V3 at a Yamaha Dealer and the decision has gone in favour of wife. No Yamaha!! this time. Will wait for your CBR250r review. Cheers buddy!!
Great video but dust is more spreading while driving in mudd roads it feels discomfort to others
So, the Himalayan is better than the Versys X300 on the highway? thanks
I think what its good at is fast loose gravel riding with a bit of highway stuff to get to the off-road location nearby. Putting knobbies on would make wonders off-road. But sadly, spending that much money for a 300 is high.
Great review, then what will be the competition against re Himalayan ?
Totally dig the hobo look man! Cheers
Omesh Jain bwahahahahaha... yeah I do look homeless.
I like your speech how to explain the product in style
Thanks Ashraf! Do let us know if you have any suggestions for us.
And, Mr. Kartikeya Singhee, you're a delightful person to watch. You are like the Morgan Freeman of RUclips. ✌️
Excellent review..I love the bike but the engine is a deal breaker here in the US, I wish the Versys 1000 looked and was sized like the 300.
Hi Kartikeya Sir, I really loved your reviews. Please do review of KTM DUKE 390 with panniers and other accessories
Sanjay Gupta hello sir. We’ll definitely work on it. Thank you for your suggestion. 🙏🏽
Compare versys x-300 with Himalayan please
great review but for highways is R3 better than ninja?
Samridh Shamkamboj absolutely.
Samridh Shamkamboj absolutely.
Kartikeya Singhee
review of r3 pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese
Wouldn't a higher tooth sprocket fix the highway rattled? Plus with the short gearing (as you said start off in 2nd/3rd gear) maybe 1 tooth higher would balance much out. Just asking.
Wait till Versys 400 comes out😎 All these shortcomings will be ironed out(I hope)
Why do you stand and ride? Is it too avoid the bumps?
What's the best replacement for this bike?
Add 150cc to same platform and an extra couple inches of travel ....maybe a 21" front? Add some knobbies? Might really be something then!
kartik when can we expect ninja 1000 review ? nice review as usual😀
You not tell about new speedometer and digital consoul
Sorry about that! it was a miss on my part. since it isnt same as the N300. apologies!
You could experiment a little with the sprockets and make it more suitable as a distance cruiser if you wanted for very little money
(Waiting) hoping ktm 390 Adventure...
Keep on then.
Generic Girl hy, do u think it's only a far dream?
They are not going to launch any such product is what I am saying.
Generic Girl uh... www.autocarindia.com/bike-news/ktm-390-adventure-to-be-launched-in-2019-408692
Prism you are a rookie , I can quote the same news for the year 2014-15-16. This does not mean anything.
Nice review... though what is this obsession of being able to do x amount of speed in y gear. If gearing ratio is different then you would be in a different gear for the same speed ..big deal ...though torque figures and rpm capability give the dimension of versatility. That should be the comparison point.
Yes, we are obsessed with providing clarity, so that anyone watching can make a decision for themselves and dont have to depend on our word. Ground speed along with engine speed finally affects usability in different scenarios. So, somebody who cruises at 90 can understand that it is not a dealbreaker for him. Hence, gearing. Thanks for watching.
@kartikeya going forward all videos shot in #pune should have a exact location indicator for ppl like me who want to keep track of ever changing city even when away from it for few years.
Saurabh Jaiswal 😳 will have to think this through. Thanks for the suggestion though! Where are you now?
Kartikeya Singhee where do you shoot that off roading patch ?
Excellent review!
Do you think that reducing the rear sprocket by a couple of teeth would help give it an acceptable highway ride?
Yes it well, but it will lose out on the acceleration and bottom end response which anyway is less.
Yeah, I though of that... which may also make it less dirt worthy. However, if a lot of highway miles were planned, it might be a worthwhile tradeoff. Thanks for the reply!!
Superb All round review!!
Please compare this baby with BMW GS300