I did add some rubber knee pads because this dark blue really shows scratches easily. Of all my bikes this is my daily go-to bike. I'd rather ride this than my Moto Guzzi or Vespa. The Honda Monkey is a close second!!!
Hi Spydie, a 61-year old Michigander here, I have a 2020 Versys-X 300 which has some of the same accessories as you. (T-Rex crash bars, skid plate, etc.) The NMBDR sounds like fun and I'm a little jealous that so many BDR's are out West! I did do the last half of the NEBDR this year, plus a couple sections of the new PA Wilds BDR-X. I'm glad to see more Versys-X 300 content on RUclips, keep up the good work!
Hi Paul, nice to see you here. I sure wish you'd come down and do the NMBDR with me (or at least half of it) this coming June! I've got 10 years on you! lOL. We are from Wisconsin originally and I've got friends in East Jordan, MI. We've been in NM about 40 years now. It was in the 50s yesterday and I did a 135 mile ride. Gotta get some winter gloves, I about froze my fingers!
@@spydie boy that would be fun. My mom and step-dad always Winter near Phoenix, hey that's just a hop-skip away, right? ;) Yea I know East Jordan! My great uncle had a bunch of farm property and woods there, and his back property line was the Pigeon River Country forest. We used to drive the two-tracks when I was a kid and look for elk, did a lot of deer hunting in that area too. Ha ha, I'd be pretty happy with 50's right now, today I took a short ride and it was cloudy, 30 degrees and gusting winds here. Heated grips and Warm & Safe electric jacket help out tremendously! My last comment is not Versys-related, but this past May I rode to the Black Hills on the V-Strom. I think that was the most challenging, yet rewarding trip I've made yet. The crosswinds on the plains were downright scary on a motorcycle, plus I rode through a pretty good snowstorm in Wyoming, and camped in a tent with night-time temps in the 20's. :O I'd imagine living in New Mexico, you've been to the Black Hills? That was a great trip and I'd like to try it again some day, on the Versys. (I sold the V-Strom in late July, so I'm down to just that now.) I keep thinking about retirement and all the trips I could take, not in the cards just yet though.
@@paulelden1051 We have been to the black hills many times, but mostly when we lived in WI, which is a LOT closer than NM. And we used to ride our Harleys to Sturgis every year (800 miles) when we lived in WI. We had Goldwings 1800s the first year they came out 2001 (we had moved to NM by then) and rode all over the US. My wife had her own. The bright yellow ones. She rides a Can-Am Ryker trike now at her age (78). The NMBDR will be my swan song. I only want to do the first 2 or 3 sections. If I ever do that last four it will be another year, but I might be satisfied with my accomplishment (riding solo) for the first half of the trip (the last four sections are shorter than the first 2.). It will probably be my last big motorcycle adventure.
@@spydie ah yes, Goldwings! My step-dad owned several throughout his riding career; the last one, I bought for him and rode it up to northern Michigan where they were living. It was a 1976 (?) GL1000, no fairing, just a big, beefy UJM basically. He can never keep any given bike very long though, always buying/selling/trading. Now he's got a lot of medical issues and he doesn't ride much anymore. :( Well as far as the BDR's, and other trips (rode to Maine in 2019, another great trip!), I have always gone solo, except for a few years that I did a lot of two-up on the V-Strom with my now ex-wife. Not sure how to take your swan song comment, but that's because I work in a hospital as an RN, and I do see a lot of people whose health issues have changed their lives and made certain things no longer possible. Well judging by your videos, you're far from done my friend!
@@paulelden1051 all my riding buddies have given up riding or died. I hope to still be riding when I’m 100. But I don’t enjoy long rides like I used to. That’s why this multi day off road adventure will probably be my last. I don’t enjoy tenting it at my age. I like a nice comfortable RV or motel room. Haha
Love the bike and the shared trip planning. I'm looking at buying a lightly used 2018 this week and setting it up similarly. I'm not all that old yet, but I'm already starting to realize that it's worth trading a little horsepower for a much lighter bike. Can't wait to see how the rest of your trip planning goes.
Here's how the trip planning is adding up to date. Two guys (brothers) in Ohio (one is older than me at 76) both have Versys X 300 and contacted me about riding the NMBDR with me. Then the younger brother backed out and said he might like to do it in 2024 but this coming year they want to ride trails around Wisconsin to get more used to their new bikes. So then a girl and guy in Albuquerque (age 38 and 47) contacted me and they just got her a new Versys and him a new KLR 650 . She's 6' 2" and he's 6' 7". So we are staying in touch as she is learning to ride (and he has only ridden about a month more than her) and hopefully will feel confident to ride the BDR next June. I've had several adventure bikes, KLR 650 (too heavy but lots of power), Himalayan (way under-powered and as heavy as the KLR), Yamaha XT 250 (not really an adventure bike but I did add saddle and tail bags and set up as an adventure bike. It was too slow and not a good highway bike) and a trail bike (Honda CT 125, too slow and very poor off-road characteristics). The Versys has more HP than the KLR 650 but no torque down low for putt-putting on the trails. And it gets about 10 mpg better mileage than the KLR. The Himalayan could only do about 70 on the highway and into a headwind it couldn't even do 60. The Versys could use the Ninja 400 engine because if you put saddlebags on it and get into a headwind and get into hilly roads on the interstate, your top speed will drop to 63 mph and mpg drops to about 40. today I was riding on flat interstate going into a 20 mph wind and it topped out at 78 mph. Without the saddlebags I can 97 mph without a headwind. If I ride mostly at 50-55 I get about 60 mpg. I've had guys tell me they get 70 mpg, but they are probably reading the gauge on the dash which reads 6 mpg higher than it's actually getting. High RPMs (and that's what you have to be at to get any speed on the highway) really sucks the fuel. High revving engines are gas hungry. (my Honda Monkey gets 150 mpg) The thing I like about it is that it feels and looks like a full-size KLR when you are riding it, but that cool Ninja engine sound is what makes this bike. It's like you are riding a Ninja that is comfortable! LOL. All in all, after about 3000 miles on my new bike I think I'm in love. I've got a lot of bikes in the garage, bigger and smaller than the Versys, and I like this one the best. Where do you live?
You love me, but you are subscribed to 265 other channels and not to mine???? LOL. I did find a couple people to make the trip with me so I won't be doing it alone as originally planned.
Love the colors as well... I think I'm going with this for solo female baja to Argentina.. you are a great vlogger, and age is just a number.,, much love !
Hi and thanks for your kind words. I have to tell you I have met several very nice people through my channel and have become very good friends with some. One is a friend in Romania and the other is a 38 year old girl I met in Albuquerque that has a bike just like mine (2022 model) and she and her husband want to do the NMBDR with me this coming summer, so we are outfitting out bikes for the trip. They are both new riders, so we'll have a group of two rookies with no experience and one old man with 55 years of experience! LOL. We should be quite the motley crew! I wish you luck on your Baja to Argentina trip and I do hope you'll keep me in the loop for your trip. Maybe make a nice travel video for RUclips of the trip and let me know when you have posted it, or if you are a Blogger or Vlogger, send me your site so I can follow you. I will live vicariously through your adventures. Lon
Thanks for the great video! I live in Albuquerque and I just got a Versys x300. I have some of the same accessories as you but you've given me ideas for more. I can't wait to see your BDR videos because I want to do that eventually too. Take care!! 💕
I have talked to several of the commenters here and several would like to run the NMBDR with me, but it doesn't look like it's going to work out for anyone this year. A couple old brothers in Ohio (both with Versys X 300) were talking about it but decided to put it off until 2024. I told them I probably wouldn't do it a second time. If you're up for it, you are not very far away, you could come down and run it with me. Have you seen the RUclips video of the BDR club running the NMBDR? You should watch it. I've already got the Butler map and the files for my GPS. I'm planing the first of June~ depending on weather. I'm trying to wait until the spring winds subside and get it done before the monsoon season on June 15.
Hey great video getting a 2019 no abs one. Unfortunately will have to take to shop as the bike was dropped and it doesnt shift as smooth getting it at a great deal. Thanks for the video
Spydie, great video and I enjoy the close-ups of what you did to the bike, including the installation notations. Very thorough. I have a 2019 Versys in my stable of 6 bikes and of all the bikes, it is the only one I would never dream of selling. It is a Unicorn in many ways and can handle most any road/off-roda conditions. You would not believe the single track I have encountered while exploring my digs in the Idaho Panhandle. I may have to go slow on the rough/narrow stuff, but it's all worth it when the road opens up and the Versys begins to shine as an adventure bike. There is no way a big/heavy full size adventure bike could safely go on some of the single track I have taken this bike on. Well, actually there is, but you better have someone to help pick it up and have a healthy bank account for repairs. Great video.
Thanks for your kind words. Through my RUclips channel I met a girl and guy in Albuquerque that want to do the BDR with me this June. She is 38 and just got a Versys like mine and he is 47 and bought a KLR 650. They are both newbies. But we'll probably have fun anyway... two newbies and one old man! LOL. I've still got to put the off-road tires on the bike but I'm waiting until it's closer to June. I did buy a motorcycle tire stand and a tool (called "NoPinch") that easily puts the tires on the rims. And I have a tire balancing tool coming in a few days. I agree, this is a great bike, but it could use a little larger engine. The 400cc ninja engine would be a great upgrade because that 300 runs out of power if you have saddlebags catching the wind and going into a strong headwind. I got down to 63 mph top speed. But the 400 is not a direct swap, it would require a completely new frame like they had to do on the Ninja 300, but I think it would really improve the bike. And the Ninja 400 weighs less than the 300!!! Win/Win. Have you don't the Idaho BDR yet?
Where do you live? Can you come along? I've got a man and a wife (KlR 650 and Versys X) going along and maybe a guy with a Yamaha WR-200. I'd sure like to get more VX's on the trip.
I was supposed to be in NM right now, but I'm in PA at home waiting for April's balm so I can ride my X300 around the endless mountains. I was to be vandwelling and using my X300 so as to leave van docked when needing supplies in town, etc. Then to AZ for a vandwelling thing(Feb-March), then back here to homebase come mid-April. What are the chances? Anyways, I will keep in my mind. My wife has inherited my old XT225, would be sweet for her to come along as well. Anyways, I highly doubt I'ma be coming along this time, but I will keep it in my mind since I'm very impulsive when it comes to suddenly, you know, driving across the USofA to something or other. We just bought a house and though in fine condition I don't want to leave me woman alone the first year, she works from home and has Crohn's, but anyways, she asked me to hold off this year, otherwise, I'd be your huckleberry. (and already in your neck of the woods) BUT, who knows I mean, what are the chances, and NM.... Stay safe, and I ponder the idea.., kk...
@@errata101 you’ve got a lot on your plate right now so I won’t hold my breath. Haha. We’d love to have you both along. Take care and keep in touch if your plans change.
I'm 74 and ride a Versys X300 (and also a Vstrom 650XT for longer road trips). The X300 I(2018 (is light and quite enjoyable, so I decided to keep both bikes. I also got T-Rex crash bars and skid plate. I'm 6'3" so I added 2" Rox Pivoting bar risers and lowered the pegs one inch. I got Givi luggage racks then DIY adapted Pelican cases to both sides and a small one for the top rack. I got Mitas E07 tires & love them. I rode the X300 on the TAT from Silverton, CO to Moab, then road milder trails there, then on to Cortez, CO. I was very happy with every aspect of the bike. Once you accept the power limit of a 300 cc bike (40 hp on the X300) you really appreciate a solid, reliable platform - a true ADV bike, just a smaller one. Handling is excellent on and off pavement. Thanks for a great vid - hope your BDR trip went well... and thanks for your service to the USA (saw your Vet plate) -GeezerWheels, near Durango, CO.
I agree with your assessment of the 300X. If you saw my other video where I compare it to my new Honda CB500X you'll see that the 500 is a much bette bike in every respect (better mpg, a lot more power, a lot more comfortable ride in seat and suspension) for a 44 lbs penalty in the weight. And I was planning on selling the 300. Since then I have been reluctant to sell it so decided to keep it for now. It's just a lot of fun to ride, but only on short rides. The 500 is my longer-distance bike for the three reasons mentioned. The 300 just plain ran out of power going into a headwind with saddlebags (lots of drag) and a hilly portion of I-25 with a top speed of about 54 mph WOT and that was when I decided a needed a little bigger engine. The BDR trip did not happen. The couple that were going to accompany me had marital problems and split up for awhile and I cancelled the trip. And of course this spring and summer has been way too hot to do much riding except a couple hours in the morning. She is also 6' 2" and rides a 300 with the modifications (lower pegs and handlebar risers) to help with her size. I added risers for comfort but I'm 5' 10" and find it fits my size well.
@@spydie Thanks for such a quick reply. HOT in Durango also - lot of days in the 90s (hot for us), and we're not used to it. We live at 7500 ft elevation and enjoy mostly cool days. Stay safe and have fun... when it cools off!
@@GeezerWheels We have have been at triple digits longer than any year I can remember clearly. Last year we had our wettest year on record during our monsoon season, which just never quit from June through the next February. And that spoiled a lot of riding. This year it's been too hot to ride. I think I picked the wrong hobby (about 55 years ago and 65 motorcycles later I'm starting to see a trend here! LOL). We are at 4200 feet and down near the Mexico border. Right now I'm assembling my gear to learn Tenkara fly fishing, the Japanese method of fly fishing. Today I got all the parts I needed and went outside to see if I could learn to cast, but the wind was blowing so hard the fly just floated on the wind and wouldn't lie on the ground!!! maybe another day. I'm waiting for it to cool off so I can ride my bike(s) to the mountain streams to see if I can learn how to catch trout. We should always keep learning something new all of our lives. I spent about 5 hours yesterday in 100 degree heat (but no wind) sighting in some new air rifles. I've also got a new ham radio that I need to learn how to run when and if I ever get enough time! I've got pannier mounts coming for the CBX but they won't be here until the end of September. I built the racks on the 300. I ordered metal parts from dirtracks.com in Canada and designed my own for $80. I would have done that for the CBX but I've never seen any for the CBX so I couldn't figure out a good way to attach them, so I ordered them from happytrails.com but they are three months behind. I've got nice Rhode Gear soft saddlebags for it (that I used to have on the 300) when it comes. The 500 will be able to handle the drag of saddle bags in the wind that the 300 couldn't do. Keep busy, @GeezerWheels, it's what keeps we old men young. Lon
@@spydie Well, this is getting interesting. 1. You mentioned your squad car - my dad, brother-in-law and uncle were all in LE (Dallas, Ft Worth and NE Texas). 2. I shoot air rifles (and various firearms, hunting, pistol competition, trap, self-defense practice & reload. 3. I have a Versys X300 kitted out for ADV. and a larger bike also (the Vstrom 650XT) 4. I am a ham radio operator - Extra Class (2m; 6m; 20m; 40m; 80m;160m). I run mobile for most freqs. and an iCom 7100 for 20-160m in the home shack. I've made contacts in Tierra del Fuego, several in S. America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Central America, Canada, Alaska, and all over the Pacific. I fish (bass, crappie, trout - fly fish for trout). We should talk. (See Pine Valley Church of Christ in Bayfield, CO on the internet for my phone #). I am the minister there. - Ray
@@GeezerWheels Well, Golly be! Call me N5LON (name is Lon). I just got a new Icom 7300 which I haven't had time to learn to run yet. Sold my Kenwood TS-590. I'm an Advanced Class. I got my license when you had to do morse code and I passed the 20wpm but only went as far as Advanced. I could get an Extra but since they don't have Advanced anymore, it's kind of a badge of accomplishment because it shows I had to do CW to get a license. Today with the new no-code license, unless you have an Advanced, nobody knows if you know code or not. I like to run 5 watts on PSK digital mode and I've had contacts all over the world (Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Australia, etc). My air rifles consist of half a dozen PCP, four or five break barrel, several BB guns, half a dozen multi-pump pistols and rifles and a few CO2 pistols and rifles. You can see me testing some of them on my channel. I also have a very nice firearms collection which you can see some shooting on my channel. Besides LEO, I'm also a Vietnam Vet, USAF. I'm a private pilot now with a license for SEL (single engine land), rotorcraft rated, and ultra-light instructor in powered parachutes, but I haven't flown for several years now after 27 years of flying and writing for some of the flying magazines (Kitplanes and Sport Pilot). I'm a machinist by trade, mechanic by necessity, welder (I've got a great TIG welder and a MIG also) and a former school teacher before LEO. I'm also a licensed barber. My wife is also a ham (K5MMF... Mary Margaret Fox) and former school teacher. Lon
I bought a used 2017 Versys-X 300 and put 9000 miles on it in 2020 before re-selling it. After adjusting the valves and a few mods I did a loop of some of the NMBDR from Albuquerque. I rode the BDR from Truth or Consequences up to Cuba. I did ride Chloride Canyon and the bike did fine but I hear the Canyon has gotten much harder since then. I also rode an optional rocky section after that and I weaved around a lot to avoid rocks but had no problem. Later that summer I also did the entire Idaho BDR with that bike as a loop from Albuquerque, including some of the TAT and Ophir Pass in Colorado. I fell 5 times, a couple were even low and moderate speed crashes, the factory crash guards and a T-Rex cheap skid plate protected the bike fine. The only real issue I had, was I started the IDBDR with 6 or 7 other guys, and the pacing with larger bikes doesn't work well, they can just stay in 2nd or third on twisty dirt, and I was having to shift madly to try to keep up and that got tiring and frustrating. Once I split off from them and I could slow down it was fine. Good luck and enjoy!
I still have the Versys but it's up for sale and I moved up to the Honda CB500X for more power. However, my husband/wife riding partners for this adventure have kind of fallen apart so I've put it on hold. I don't know if I'm going to do it this summer or not. If I do it will back to my original solo plans.
Spydie...thank you, great video and I like your CB500X vs the Versys X 300 as well. I purchased a '22 model for the color as well. Plan to try it for a while and maybe get a CB500X as well if Honda ever offers it in a color I like.
I agree, the color is a very important part of a bike purchase. That's why I didn't get the 2023 Versys X. And since I really don't like green, the color on the CBX was pretty nice even though it is green and black. I would have preferred a Honda Red one from previous years. But I'm going to keep the 300X I've decided. Even though the 500 has more power and better ride and better mpg. The 300X is more fun to ride.
Just saw where the honda nx500 is replacing the cb500x in Europe and one of the colors will be red. Who knows what we will get, if anything in the usa. Have you considered a crf300l? I owned a 250l rally and sold it because the tank flared too wide too quickly and it made my hips hurt. The 300l non rally has a narrower tank and there are a couple bigger aftermarket tanks. Thanks for your great reviews.
@@SB-fe4gt Thanks for your support. The CRF300 bikes have too tall of a saddle for me. Anything taller than about 32.8 is too tall for my 32 inch inseam. I think the 500 engine is probably the best for useable power and good mpg. Anything bigger than that is overkill for highway use (what are you going to do with all that extra power) and the weight goes up a lot with each engine size increase. My 850 Moto Guzzi had more power than you could ever use. My XR150 could use a little more power, but the seat height is great as is the weight and price ($2971). I have found that for the most part a 300 is the minimum if you are going to do any highway riding, and a 500 is really all the power you can use.
Spydie, I own a 2022 Versys X 300. I too installed the Amazon wind screen. Definitely better wind protection but, After about 3000miles I noticed cracks in the plexiglass screen at all four attachment locations ( it wasn’t over tightened). I ride primarily secondary roads, with some gravel rarely exceeding 55mph. In reinstalled the original screen and have ridden 6000miles with less protection but importantly with no cracks! So keep an eye on that Amazon screen!
I have almost 3000 on it now and I’ll start watching for those cracks. I don’t want to go back to the stock windshield so I’ll look around for high quality brand.
The windshield is a V-stream and you can find them at nationalcycle.com or at any of the accessory sites like Revzilla. The center stand was right off Amazon and you can find a dozen of them on there or on Ebay. Just pick the cheapest one you can find because they are all built exactly the same. I might be selling my Versys because I picked up a Honda CB500X adventure bike and it's got a lot more power and is quieter and rides smoother (better suspension).
Well, if you want to follow in my footsteps, come to NM this May and ride the BDR with us. There's a girl with the same bike that's going with me and her husband on a KLR 650. the more the merrier! I'd love to have a bunch of guys on the Versys show up!
@spydie I wish. We are going to Virginia Beach the following month. My wife and I are looking to move to New Mexico once the kids move out. That should happen in the 4 years or so.
@@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537 Hey, look me up when you do. I've lived all over NM, north, southeast and southwest. I can give you some ideas for climate and population and amenities. Where do you live now?
Good luck with the NMBDR ! I have a 2017 Versys-x 300 (bought used in 2021) and really like it. I do mostly local riding with my wife 2up ... and some forest road trails and other exploring (with some of my dual sport buddies). I'm over here on the other side of the country in Georgia. I did find a good deal on a used Corbin seat ... it's pretty nice. EDIT: Can you give some details on that Thermometer/temp gauge by Taylor? I'd like to have that on mine, and it looks like an easy mount right there on the handlebars ! (is that model 9940? ... where did you mount the temp probe to get a fairly accurate reading, etc). Thanks 😉
Yes, it's the 9940N, $28 on Amazon. I put the probe down behind the headlight where it can get air. There's a hole in a bracket down there so the tip of the probe catches the air and not the sun. It's not as easy to mount as it looks on my bike. I designed a mount out of an aluminum plate that would bolt to the handlebar bolts and the thermometer mounts to that. enjoy your bike. If you're ever in NM, look me up and we'll go for a ride.
Almost everything was Amazon. Tell me what you want if you can't find it on Amazon and I'll try to remember where I got it. Some of the stuff, like the T-rex crash bar and skid plate I told you the name (T-rex) so just do a search for their site. The seat cover and center stand came from Amazon and of course most of the stuff I even told you I got it on Amazon. Of course I built the saddlebag racks and the large foot for the kickstand.
@@toddsflorida I have since installed a TPS (tire pressure sensor) and gps mount/windshield adjustable mount and Barkbuster hand guards replacing the factory hand guards. This are two-point mounted
Curious your thoughts on this bike compared to the KLR 650. I just came across your site and am now contemplating buying this version of the Versys instead of the KLR 650. I’m 5’8” so was looking at the S version of KLR.
I had a KLR 650 and I liked it a lot for several years, but was too heavy to take off-road for me. I'm 5' 10" and 130 pounds. It was a good road bike, but it was a 2013 (last year of the soft suspension) and the seat was not comfortable for long distances. A lot of guys put custom seats on them. I understand the newer ones have better seats but they also have too stiff of suspension so that negates a better seat in my opinion. I also have a Honda CB500X (see my comparison video). I have decided to keep the Versys because it fits me better than the CB500X, and it's lighter and more fun to ride even though the CB500X has a better seat, better suspension, better mpg and a lot more power, and it's quieter. If I sell one, I'll probably sell the Honda just because I like riding the under-powered, stiff riding, hard seat Versys more.
Hey man thanks for the video it's been very useful to what brand accessories to put on this bike. Hey If you could share where you bought your windshield? And with that windshield you installed, has there been any glare? I've seen other people's videos about windshields having glare that reflects back the gas tank and bolts when the sun is out and shines on the aftermarket windshields, that for some people can be distracting on ones vision...any comments on that? Thanks again!
The windshield I bought on Amazon but you can get it at any motorcycle accessory online store. It's the National Cycle N20125 VStream Windshield - 17.00in. - Light Tinted. They make three heights. This is the middle one. But you'll like it more if you mount it to this www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JJ64JBP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I've not noticed any glare or reflections but it's at a different angle when you use this special adjustable mount.
@@spydie That's too bad, but it looks like you are enjoying the bike. I just purchased a VX300 and am hoping to get into some not too aggressive off road riding. FSR and gravel roads only.
I have the very same X300 put about 2000 mi this year, really love it. One Question, where can you get the Trex crash plate? Love your accessory improvements.
Im installing the trex engine guards this weekend. Do you remove the fairing? It apepars i dont need to... but the bolt in the middle of the fairing has a bolt- do you recall if it was a trex vs hex?
No, I don't think I removed any fairing to get at those bolts. They appear to be right out in the open. The bolt at the top, as I said in the video, uses existing threaded mounts on the frame with the supplied T-rex bolts is I remember correctly. The bottom bolts are longer bolts from T-rex and you replace the factory engine mount bolt by driving it through and pushing out the factory bolt, but be prepared for the engine to drop a little and making it impossible to finish driving the bolt through until you take a crow bar and lift the engine a little to line it up.
Hi Mitch, yes I'm going solo as I don't have any friends that can usually get time off from work to go along and all my retired riding friends have either given up riding or have died. If you're looking for an adventure you can come to NM and go with me! LOL. It would be fun for the two of us to ride it on Versys X 300s (I don't think it's ever been done yet).
Hi Mitch! This is the tuffest man on the Planet. Nothing scares him and nothing's able to defeat him! I He's gonna overcome any obstacle is and we're gonna see him finish this trip with a big smile on his face.
@@spydie I might bite on this one. My brother and I both have X300s. We did a small part of the Trans Wisconsin Trail. I looked at a video on the New Mexico BDR ... it looks doable. How rough is it? Some parts of looks awesome. If I came it would be 3 X300s going.
@@mitchappleby9166 Yahoo, that would be great. If you watched the NMBDR video put on by the national BDR group, then you know as much about the trail as I do. It actually looks like most of it is two lane and could be done in a jeep! The soft sand I don't like but I think a guy could ride off the road alongside of the sandy spots and avoid the worst sand. If you watched the NMBDR then you saw there were a couple spots that were pretty bad and like I said in the video, that group backtracked over by Chloride, NM and took the highway around that section, but they had had some hard rains that made that section bad. They did it in the fall after the monsoon season and I plan to do it the first part of June to get ahead of the monsoons which officially start the 15th of June. The first two sections look very easy and maybe even the third one. The next four are shorter and I guess that's because they are harder, but my goal is to only do the first two or three this coming year and see how I feel about doing the rest, but I'm not making any commitments to do all severn over the 10 days it took that crew to do it. Camping out is not very comfortable at our age and I'd like to stay in motels as much as I can but will carry camping gear in case that is not convenient. I haven't camped out for 50 years, having owned RVs most of my life. I think the last time I camped out in a tent was in the Boy Scouts about 60 years ago. That would be great to have two more 300s on the trip and a lot safer for me (and all of us) to have others along. You can send me an email at oneranger007 at gmail dot com and we can exchange phone numbers and do some planning together. We have lots of time to get ready. I'd really like to talk to you. Where do you live? I live in Deming NM, about 150 miles from the starting point in Del City, TX.
Good question, Andy. I've run (as have most people with off-road and enduro bikes) tubed tires for 55 years. In some ways they are easier to repair than tubeless. First of all you really shouldn't put "Slime" into tubeless tires because it makes it impossible to later patch the tire from the inside. And plugs are considered "temporary". But a tubed tire, if it's a slow leak can be fixed with "slime" until you get home. If it's a bad hole, it's not too big of job to removed the tire along the trail and pull out the tube and patch it or put in the spare tube you are carrying. Yes it's more work than plugging a tire, but tubes are cheaper than a tire and you can do a permanent repair on a tube rather than buying a new tubeless tire. Tube tires have been the mainstay of off-road vehicles since the beginning of time and all us old guys know how to repair them. A bad puncture on a tubeless can leave you stranded if it's a bad cut that a plug won't plug (and yes that happens). A tube tire can always be repaired. I carry slime with me, and patches, and sometimes extra tubes, and I always carry an air pump on all my bikes and tire irons and wrenches for removing the wheels. It's all about being prepared. On my tubeless bikes I carry plugs and an air pump and just hope the damage isn't too bad to put a plug in it. The problem with a small leak on a tubeless is that you have to make a big hole in the tire to apply a plug. On a tube you can add some slime every couple years and keep that small leak from leaking without ever actually fixing it.
@@spydie You make some good points there. I suppose practising wheel and tire removal before hand would be the way to go. I liked your DIY pannier set up by the way. Good luck with your trip.
@@andymcm6902 Hi Andy, yes, the Dirtracks dot com metal pieces they send ($80) from Canada really do the trick. When I had the KLR650 I bought their racks for that, but they don't make racks for very many bikes, but they will send you the parts to design your own and it's kinda fun. I've done three sets of DIY pannier mounts now but only two with the Dirtracks pieces. And they look just as good as the professionally made sets. I think at my age after I get this NMBDR over with, it will probably be my last real adventure on a motorcycle. I still plan on riding for many years but the more exciting off-road adventures are probably just about gone. At my age we worry more about falling and getting hurt, and since I ride solo that can be worse for an old man than for a young man. Most of the trail has no cell phone coverage so there will be no help if anything bad happens. Of course you could come to NM and ride with me! LOL
Very easy. Get it from Kisan Technologies. It's impossible to add one to the Honda Monkey or the Honda CB500X (I have both) but this bike has the old halogen headlight so it's super easy, plug and play. Also the Honda XR150 is super easy.
@@spydie i wonder if kawsaki has the bike setup so there's already a factory harness behind the fairing to make it plug and play. i assume that's how you install the OEM factory fog lights from kawasaki
@@ropeysubstance1719 Yes, there is a plug behind the left side of the headlight. I used it to mount a a power plug. I think there's also one on the right side for fog lights if I remember correctly.
How does the 300x compare to the Himalayan as far as comfort and smooth on the highway? I'm looking at both bike trying to decide. Along with the KTM 390 adventure. Would love to hear your opinion.
There is no comparison between the two. The Himalayan is an overweight, underpowered, poor handling bike that has a cult following for the only reason that it's inexpensive. It's built terrible. the welds are awful and like all bikes made in India, the workmanship is sub-standard. The Himalayan is famous for coming to you without grease in the head bearings, or maybe the swing-arm. The fuel injected is substandard. It won't idle at all from a cold start until you hold the throttle at 2000 rpm for 45 seconds. It's got all the build quality of a 1950s bike. And of course if you know anything at all about bikes, the Japanese bikes are the best you can buy for build quality and reliability. The only thing I have against the KTM is that it's built in India and like the BMW 310GS it has some build quality issues. The BMW has the lowest HP output of the bunch. The Himalayan with its 411cc (24 hp) engine won't even do 60 mph into a 30 mph headwind on a flat road. If you could put a 400cc engine in the Versys you'd have the biggest powerhouse in a small adventure bike in the world, but alas that 300 (296)cc engine (39 or 40 hp) does lack power. Yes, it will run 80+ mph all day on a flat road with no wind and they tell me it tops out at 103 mph but I could only get 97 out of mine. But if you put some weight on it and some saddle bags to catch the wind, then get into a headwind and on a hilly road, it will only do about 63 mph and the mpg drops to about 41. Good gas mileage depends a lot on your speed because at high rpms that Ninja engine is very thirsty. If you ride at 50 mph you can get close to 70 mpg, but expect to get low to mid 60's most of the time. But most of the time under ideal conditions it's fast enough to run the interstate all day, but if the conditions deteriorate a little and you are running large saddlebags, you'd better stay on secondary roads. As far as comfort goes, everyone complains about the hard seat on the Versys, and yes it's a little harder than the Himalayan. But I can stay in the saddle for a 400 mile ride without any major discomfort and there are optional saddles out there, including one from Kawasaki. Ergonomically the Versys is more comfortable for me at 5' 10" and 130 lbs. I've owned a KLR650 (which was too heavy for me) and riding the Versys feels and looks just like the KLR. You feel like you are riding a much larger bike than it is. But that engine sound is pure Ninja (I've owned quite a few of those) and that's what makes this bike so much more fun than a KLR. It sounds like it's really going fast when it isn't.
@@spydie Howdy Sir! Great video by the way, and I agree with your opinion on the build quality of the above mention bikes, as I came to the same conclusion after test riding both. So I went with the 300x myself. However, I don't or have not experienced you mpg statements with my x300. I am 5'10" at 180 lbs and ride fully loaded at speeds of 65 to 70 mph and continually get 60 to 70 mpg while running Shinko 804/805 tires. I share this with you, as I have 10,000 mi on my bike. I wish you all the best!
@@spinwater66 hi buddy. Are you talking mpg on your bike’s computer or actually measured? The one on your bike reads 6 mpg higher than you are actually getting. Right now after putting around at 35-45 mph for 150 miles I’m actually getting 72 mpg. But that’s not realistic if you are actually going anywhere. Higher speeds will suck it down and if you put saddle bags on it and go into a headwind on a hilly road and try to run 75 mph it will drop into the low 40s (46-50 showing on the dash gauge) and your top speed going up hills will be 63 mph. Also I’m at over 4000 ft elevation so that is going to lessen my mpg. Fuel injection is great but it automatically leans your bike out at elevation so you have less power and open the throttle farther to get more speed.
@Spydie great break down of the bikes. I'm a brand new older rider age 60. I think I'm gonna buy the Versys this spring. I really like the ergo of the KLR but I fear it's size and weight. I'm 5-11 195 but I have a few back issues and knees bother me from time to time. I was worried the versys 300 would be under powered but I'm convinced it's got enough for me. I starting thinking im not getting a bike to go fast, im getting abike to enjoy the ride. Love that flashing brake light set up on back of bike.
@@jimh2061 Hi Jim, Glad to hear you are getting into biking. I've been riding for over 55 years but I'll be 72 when I hit the BDR this coming summer (Lord willing and nothing goes wrong between now and then). I did find a "young" couple in Albuquerque (I live in Deming, NM) (she's 6' 2" and 38 years old and he's 6' 7" and 47 years old) that are planning on going with me on the BDR. They are both "newbies" also and he just got a KLR and she just got the same (2022) bike that I have. I really liked my KLR and only got rid of it because of the weight. However, I have to use a "DirtNapper" to raise my Versys also now that I've added the weight of the crash bars and other goodies. I also have a bad back (had surgery) and at this age you lose a lot of muscle mass so I'm not as strong as I used to be. But if we pull this off it should be an interesting ride this summer. I was planning on going the first week in June, but the third week in May works better for her so we will have to watch the weather closely as it's still pretty darned windy in May. Wish you could join us. Where do you live?
I had a 2000 model W650 and couldn't remember why I got rid of it until I owned the W800. It's one of the most beautiful bikes on the planet, but it's not very comfortable to ride long distances. It's very heavy in the steering (steers itself as the forks heavily drop to the inside of a corner at slow speeds especially) and lots of vibration. I had a KLR650 and wish I'd kept it. Too bad we didn't meet sooner and we could have worked out a deal to trade your KLR for my W800! LOL. I have a Versys X 300 now and I like it better than all three of those bikes. Good luck with your decision. Let me know what you do.
@@constpegasus not weird. It’s a 360 degree twin. Both pistons travel up and down at the same time. One is firing and one is exhausting. It’s a formula designed for vibration.
Man this bike looks absolutely sick with all the accessories! I’m 23 and this would be all the bike I need to get as wild as I want!
I did add some rubber knee pads because this dark blue really shows scratches easily. Of all my bikes this is my daily go-to bike. I'd rather ride this than my Moto Guzzi or Vespa. The Honda Monkey is a close second!!!
Dude I'm 23 and I just bought this bike. It's beautiful
@@PapaBoat777 You're a good man... I don't care what your mom says about you! LOL
You have made some great mods to the bike. I'm adding a few things to my Versys 300. Thanks and great video.
Your support is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Spydie, a 61-year old Michigander here, I have a 2020 Versys-X 300 which has some of the same accessories as you. (T-Rex crash bars, skid plate, etc.) The NMBDR sounds like fun and I'm a little jealous that so many BDR's are out West! I did do the last half of the NEBDR this year, plus a couple sections of the new PA Wilds BDR-X. I'm glad to see more Versys-X 300 content on RUclips, keep up the good work!
Hi Paul, nice to see you here. I sure wish you'd come down and do the NMBDR with me (or at least half of it) this coming June! I've got 10 years on you! lOL. We are from Wisconsin originally and I've got friends in East Jordan, MI. We've been in NM about 40 years now. It was in the 50s yesterday and I did a 135 mile ride. Gotta get some winter gloves, I about froze my fingers!
@@spydie boy that would be fun. My mom and step-dad always Winter near Phoenix, hey that's just a hop-skip away, right? ;) Yea I know East Jordan! My great uncle had a bunch of farm property and woods there, and his back property line was the Pigeon River Country forest. We used to drive the two-tracks when I was a kid and look for elk, did a lot of deer hunting in that area too. Ha ha, I'd be pretty happy with 50's right now, today I took a short ride and it was cloudy, 30 degrees and gusting winds here. Heated grips and Warm & Safe electric jacket help out tremendously! My last comment is not Versys-related, but this past May I rode to the Black Hills on the V-Strom. I think that was the most challenging, yet rewarding trip I've made yet. The crosswinds on the plains were downright scary on a motorcycle, plus I rode through a pretty good snowstorm in Wyoming, and camped in a tent with night-time temps in the 20's. :O I'd imagine living in New Mexico, you've been to the Black Hills? That was a great trip and I'd like to try it again some day, on the Versys. (I sold the V-Strom in late July, so I'm down to just that now.) I keep thinking about retirement and all the trips I could take, not in the cards just yet though.
@@paulelden1051 We have been to the black hills many times, but mostly when we lived in WI, which is a LOT closer than NM. And we used to ride our Harleys to Sturgis every year (800 miles) when we lived in WI. We had Goldwings 1800s the first year they came out 2001 (we had moved to NM by then) and rode all over the US. My wife had her own. The bright yellow ones. She rides a Can-Am Ryker trike now at her age (78). The NMBDR will be my swan song. I only want to do the first 2 or 3 sections. If I ever do that last four it will be another year, but I might be satisfied with my accomplishment (riding solo) for the first half of the trip (the last four sections are shorter than the first 2.). It will probably be my last big motorcycle adventure.
@@spydie ah yes, Goldwings! My step-dad owned several throughout his riding career; the last one, I bought for him and rode it up to northern Michigan where they were living. It was a 1976 (?) GL1000, no fairing, just a big, beefy UJM basically. He can never keep any given bike very long though, always buying/selling/trading. Now he's got a lot of medical issues and he doesn't ride much anymore. :( Well as far as the BDR's, and other trips (rode to Maine in 2019, another great trip!), I have always gone solo, except for a few years that I did a lot of two-up on the V-Strom with my now ex-wife. Not sure how to take your swan song comment, but that's because I work in a hospital as an RN, and I do see a lot of people whose health issues have changed their lives and made certain things no longer possible. Well judging by your videos, you're far from done my friend!
@@paulelden1051 all my riding buddies have given up riding or died. I hope to still be riding when I’m 100. But I don’t enjoy long rides like I used to. That’s why this multi day off road adventure will probably be my last. I don’t enjoy tenting it at my age. I like a nice comfortable RV or motel room. Haha
Wow, great video, thanks for sharing! Good luck on your trip that is quite the adventure!
Thanks for your kind words.
Love the bike and the shared trip planning. I'm looking at buying a lightly used 2018 this week and setting it up similarly. I'm not all that old yet, but I'm already starting to realize that it's worth trading a little horsepower for a much lighter bike. Can't wait to see how the rest of your trip planning goes.
Here's how the trip planning is adding up to date. Two guys (brothers) in Ohio (one is older than me at 76) both have Versys X 300 and contacted me about riding the NMBDR with me. Then the younger brother backed out and said he might like to do it in 2024 but this coming year they want to ride trails around Wisconsin to get more used to their new bikes. So then a girl and guy in Albuquerque (age 38 and 47) contacted me and they just got her a new Versys and him a new KLR 650 . She's 6' 2" and he's 6' 7". So we are staying in touch as she is learning to ride (and he has only ridden about a month more than her) and hopefully will feel confident to ride the BDR next June. I've had several adventure bikes, KLR 650 (too heavy but lots of power), Himalayan (way under-powered and as heavy as the KLR), Yamaha XT 250 (not really an adventure bike but I did add saddle and tail bags and set up as an adventure bike. It was too slow and not a good highway bike) and a trail bike (Honda CT 125, too slow and very poor off-road characteristics). The Versys has more HP than the KLR 650 but no torque down low for putt-putting on the trails. And it gets about 10 mpg better mileage than the KLR. The Himalayan could only do about 70 on the highway and into a headwind it couldn't even do 60. The Versys could use the Ninja 400 engine because if you put saddlebags on it and get into a headwind and get into hilly roads on the interstate, your top speed will drop to 63 mph and mpg drops to about 40. today I was riding on flat interstate going into a 20 mph wind and it topped out at 78 mph. Without the saddlebags I can 97 mph without a headwind. If I ride mostly at 50-55 I get about 60 mpg. I've had guys tell me they get 70 mpg, but they are probably reading the gauge on the dash which reads 6 mpg higher than it's actually getting. High RPMs (and that's what you have to be at to get any speed on the highway) really sucks the fuel. High revving engines are gas hungry. (my Honda Monkey gets 150 mpg) The thing I like about it is that it feels and looks like a full-size KLR when you are riding it, but that cool Ninja engine sound is what makes this bike. It's like you are riding a Ninja that is comfortable! LOL. All in all, after about 3000 miles on my new bike I think I'm in love. I've got a lot of bikes in the garage, bigger and smaller than the Versys, and I like this one the best. Where do you live?
I love this guy!!! Best of luck to you and yours on your big trip sir. Have fun & ride safe 😉
You love me, but you are subscribed to 265 other channels and not to mine???? LOL. I did find a couple people to make the trip with me so I won't be doing it alone as originally planned.
@@spydie “strength in numbers” is usually better, especially when on 2 wheels. Carpe Diem!!!
75 in June live SW Colorado. Just bought same machine. Lookin to do same. Very helpful and detailed video thx.
Come on down and ride the BDR with us. I got a middle aged couple from Albuquerque to join me. She has a bike like ours and he has KLR 650.
God bless your ride my friend! I know everthing's gonna be fine and you will have a lot of stories to tell about this great trip.
I subbed so I can go on this ride with you. Good luck and stay safe.
Where do you live? You don't have to subscribe to go on the ride! LOL
72 wow that’s awesome that you still have the adventure spirit keeping you young 👍 where did you get that map?
Directly from Butler Maps (butlermaps.com)
Love the colors as well... I think I'm going with this for solo female baja to Argentina.. you are a great vlogger, and age is just a number.,, much love !
Hi and thanks for your kind words. I have to tell you I have met several very nice people through my channel and have become very good friends with some. One is a friend in Romania and the other is a 38 year old girl I met in Albuquerque that has a bike just like mine (2022 model) and she and her husband want to do the NMBDR with me this coming summer, so we are outfitting out bikes for the trip. They are both new riders, so we'll have a group of two rookies with no experience and one old man with 55 years of experience! LOL. We should be quite the motley crew! I wish you luck on your Baja to Argentina trip and I do hope you'll keep me in the loop for your trip. Maybe make a nice travel video for RUclips of the trip and let me know when you have posted it, or if you are a Blogger or Vlogger, send me your site so I can follow you. I will live vicariously through your adventures.
Lon
Thanks for the great video! I live in Albuquerque and I just got a Versys x300. I have some of the same accessories as you but you've given me ideas for more. I can't wait to see your BDR videos because I want to do that eventually too. Take care!! 💕
I have talked to several of the commenters here and several would like to run the NMBDR with me, but it doesn't look like it's going to work out for anyone this year. A couple old brothers in Ohio (both with Versys X 300) were talking about it but decided to put it off until 2024. I told them I probably wouldn't do it a second time. If you're up for it, you are not very far away, you could come down and run it with me. Have you seen the RUclips video of the BDR club running the NMBDR? You should watch it. I've already got the Butler map and the files for my GPS. I'm planing the first of June~ depending on weather. I'm trying to wait until the spring winds subside and get it done before the monsoon season on June 15.
Hey great video getting a 2019 no abs one. Unfortunately will have to take to shop as the bike was dropped and it doesnt shift as smooth getting it at a great deal. Thanks for the video
they are a great bike. I actually like riding it more than my 2022 Honda CB500X, but my new favorite is my Honda XR150!
Spydie, great video and I enjoy the close-ups of what you did to the bike, including the installation notations. Very thorough. I have a 2019 Versys in my stable of 6 bikes and of all the bikes, it is the only one I would never dream of selling. It is a Unicorn in many ways and can handle most any road/off-roda conditions. You would not believe the single track I have encountered while exploring my digs in the Idaho Panhandle. I may have to go slow on the rough/narrow stuff, but it's all worth it when the road opens up and the Versys begins to shine as an adventure bike. There is no way a big/heavy full size adventure bike could safely go on some of the single track I have taken this bike on. Well, actually there is, but you better have someone to help pick it up and have a healthy bank account for repairs. Great video.
Thanks for your kind words. Through my RUclips channel I met a girl and guy in Albuquerque that want to do the BDR with me this June. She is 38 and just got a Versys like mine and he is 47 and bought a KLR 650. They are both newbies. But we'll probably have fun anyway... two newbies and one old man! LOL. I've still got to put the off-road tires on the bike but I'm waiting until it's closer to June. I did buy a motorcycle tire stand and a tool (called "NoPinch") that easily puts the tires on the rims. And I have a tire balancing tool coming in a few days. I agree, this is a great bike, but it could use a little larger engine. The 400cc ninja engine would be a great upgrade because that 300 runs out of power if you have saddlebags catching the wind and going into a strong headwind. I got down to 63 mph top speed. But the 400 is not a direct swap, it would require a completely new frame like they had to do on the Ninja 300, but I think it would really improve the bike. And the Ninja 400 weighs less than the 300!!! Win/Win. Have you don't the Idaho BDR yet?
Wow, I hope you motovlog the NMBDR, epic!
I plan on videoing the trip and making another RUclips video. I have never motovlogged anything and wouldn't know how.
Great review....../update-sounds like a ride/adv for my list to do on my 2021 X300.........
Where do you live? Can you come along? I've got a man and a wife (KlR 650 and Versys X) going along and maybe a guy with a Yamaha WR-200. I'd sure like to get more VX's on the trip.
I was supposed to be in NM right now, but I'm in PA at home waiting for April's balm so I can ride my X300 around the endless mountains. I was to be vandwelling and using my X300 so as to leave van docked when needing supplies in town, etc.
Then to AZ for a vandwelling thing(Feb-March), then back here to homebase come mid-April. What are the chances? Anyways, I will keep in my mind. My wife has inherited my old XT225, would be sweet for her to come along as well.
Anyways, I highly doubt I'ma be coming along this time, but I will keep it in my mind since I'm very impulsive when it comes to suddenly, you know, driving across the USofA to something or other.
We just bought a house and though in fine condition I don't want to leave me woman alone the first year, she works from home and has Crohn's, but anyways, she asked me to hold off this year, otherwise, I'd be your huckleberry. (and already in your neck of the woods)
BUT, who knows I mean, what are the chances, and NM....
Stay safe, and I ponder the idea.., kk...
@@errata101 you’ve got a lot on your plate right now so I won’t hold my breath. Haha. We’d love to have you both along. Take care and keep in touch if your plans change.
I'm 74 and ride a Versys X300 (and also a Vstrom 650XT for longer road trips). The X300 I(2018 (is light and quite enjoyable, so I decided to keep both bikes. I also got T-Rex crash bars and skid plate. I'm 6'3" so I added 2" Rox Pivoting bar risers and lowered the pegs one inch. I got Givi luggage racks then DIY adapted Pelican cases to both sides and a small one for the top rack. I got Mitas E07 tires & love them. I rode the X300 on the TAT from Silverton, CO to Moab, then road milder trails there, then on to Cortez, CO. I was very happy with every aspect of the bike. Once you accept the power limit of a 300 cc bike (40 hp on the X300) you really appreciate a solid, reliable platform - a true ADV bike, just a smaller one. Handling is excellent on and off pavement. Thanks for a great vid - hope your BDR trip went well... and thanks for your service to the USA (saw your Vet plate)
-GeezerWheels, near Durango, CO.
I agree with your assessment of the 300X. If you saw my other video where I compare it to my new Honda CB500X you'll see that the 500 is a much bette bike in every respect (better mpg, a lot more power, a lot more comfortable ride in seat and suspension) for a 44 lbs penalty in the weight. And I was planning on selling the 300. Since then I have been reluctant to sell it so decided to keep it for now. It's just a lot of fun to ride, but only on short rides. The 500 is my longer-distance bike for the three reasons mentioned. The 300 just plain ran out of power going into a headwind with saddlebags (lots of drag) and a hilly portion of I-25 with a top speed of about 54 mph WOT and that was when I decided a needed a little bigger engine. The BDR trip did not happen. The couple that were going to accompany me had marital problems and split up for awhile and I cancelled the trip. And of course this spring and summer has been way too hot to do much riding except a couple hours in the morning. She is also 6' 2" and rides a 300 with the modifications (lower pegs and handlebar risers) to help with her size. I added risers for comfort but I'm 5' 10" and find it fits my size well.
@@spydie Thanks for such a quick reply. HOT in Durango also - lot of days in the 90s (hot for us), and we're not used to it. We live at 7500 ft elevation and enjoy mostly cool days. Stay safe and have fun... when it cools off!
@@GeezerWheels We have have been at triple digits longer than any year I can remember clearly. Last year we had our wettest year on record during our monsoon season, which just never quit from June through the next February. And that spoiled a lot of riding. This year it's been too hot to ride. I think I picked the wrong hobby (about 55 years ago and 65 motorcycles later I'm starting to see a trend here! LOL). We are at 4200 feet and down near the Mexico border. Right now I'm assembling my gear to learn Tenkara fly fishing, the Japanese method of fly fishing. Today I got all the parts I needed and went outside to see if I could learn to cast, but the wind was blowing so hard the fly just floated on the wind and wouldn't lie on the ground!!! maybe another day. I'm waiting for it to cool off so I can ride my bike(s) to the mountain streams to see if I can learn how to catch trout. We should always keep learning something new all of our lives. I spent about 5 hours yesterday in 100 degree heat (but no wind) sighting in some new air rifles. I've also got a new ham radio that I need to learn how to run when and if I ever get enough time! I've got pannier mounts coming for the CBX but they won't be here until the end of September. I built the racks on the 300. I ordered metal parts from dirtracks.com in Canada and designed my own for $80. I would have done that for the CBX but I've never seen any for the CBX so I couldn't figure out a good way to attach them, so I ordered them from happytrails.com but they are three months behind. I've got nice Rhode Gear soft saddlebags for it (that I used to have on the 300) when it comes. The 500 will be able to handle the drag of saddle bags in the wind that the 300 couldn't do. Keep busy, @GeezerWheels, it's what keeps we old men young. Lon
@@spydie Well, this is getting interesting. 1. You mentioned your squad car - my dad, brother-in-law and uncle were all in LE (Dallas, Ft Worth and NE Texas). 2. I shoot air rifles (and various firearms, hunting, pistol competition, trap, self-defense practice & reload. 3. I have a Versys X300 kitted out for ADV. and a larger bike also (the Vstrom 650XT) 4. I am a ham radio operator - Extra Class (2m; 6m; 20m; 40m; 80m;160m). I run mobile for most freqs. and an iCom 7100 for 20-160m in the home shack. I've made contacts in Tierra del Fuego, several in S. America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Central America, Canada, Alaska, and all over the Pacific. I fish (bass, crappie, trout - fly fish for trout). We should talk. (See Pine Valley Church of Christ in Bayfield, CO on the internet for my phone #). I am the minister there. - Ray
@@GeezerWheels Well, Golly be! Call me N5LON (name is Lon). I just got a new Icom 7300 which I haven't had time to learn to run yet. Sold my Kenwood TS-590. I'm an Advanced Class. I got my license when you had to do morse code and I passed the 20wpm but only went as far as Advanced. I could get an Extra but since they don't have Advanced anymore, it's kind of a badge of accomplishment because it shows I had to do CW to get a license. Today with the new no-code license, unless you have an Advanced, nobody knows if you know code or not. I like to run 5 watts on PSK digital mode and I've had contacts all over the world (Russia, Venezuela, Brazil, Australia, etc). My air rifles consist of half a dozen PCP, four or five break barrel, several BB guns, half a dozen multi-pump pistols and rifles and a few CO2 pistols and rifles. You can see me testing some of them on my channel. I also have a very nice firearms collection which you can see some shooting on my channel. Besides LEO, I'm also a Vietnam Vet, USAF. I'm a private pilot now with a license for SEL (single engine land), rotorcraft rated, and ultra-light instructor in powered parachutes, but I haven't flown for several years now after 27 years of flying and writing for some of the flying magazines (Kitplanes and Sport Pilot). I'm a machinist by trade, mechanic by necessity, welder (I've got a great TIG welder and a MIG also) and a former school teacher before LEO. I'm also a licensed barber. My wife is also a ham (K5MMF... Mary Margaret Fox) and former school teacher.
Lon
I have the 2022 X300. I think you found the one!
I bought a used 2017 Versys-X 300 and put 9000 miles on it in 2020 before re-selling it. After adjusting the valves and a few mods I did a loop of some of the NMBDR from Albuquerque. I rode the BDR from Truth or Consequences up to Cuba. I did ride Chloride Canyon and the bike did fine but I hear the Canyon has gotten much harder since then. I also rode an optional rocky section after that and I weaved around a lot to avoid rocks but had no problem.
Later that summer I also did the entire Idaho BDR with that bike as a loop from Albuquerque, including some of the TAT and Ophir Pass in Colorado. I fell 5 times, a couple were even low and moderate speed crashes, the factory crash guards and a T-Rex cheap skid plate protected the bike fine.
The only real issue I had, was I started the IDBDR with 6 or 7 other guys, and the pacing with larger bikes doesn't work well, they can just stay in 2nd or third on twisty dirt, and I was having to shift madly to try to keep up and that got tiring and frustrating. Once I split off from them and I could slow down it was fine.
Good luck and enjoy!
I still have the Versys but it's up for sale and I moved up to the Honda CB500X for more power. However, my husband/wife riding partners for this adventure have kind of fallen apart so I've put it on hold. I don't know if I'm going to do it this summer or not. If I do it will back to my original solo plans.
Spydie...thank you, great video and I like your CB500X vs the Versys X 300 as well. I purchased a '22 model for the color as well. Plan to try it for a while and maybe get a CB500X as well if Honda ever offers it in a color I like.
I agree, the color is a very important part of a bike purchase. That's why I didn't get the 2023 Versys X. And since I really don't like green, the color on the CBX was pretty nice even though it is green and black. I would have preferred a Honda Red one from previous years. But I'm going to keep the 300X I've decided. Even though the 500 has more power and better ride and better mpg. The 300X is more fun to ride.
Just saw where the honda nx500 is replacing the cb500x in Europe and one of the colors will be red. Who knows what we will get, if anything in the usa. Have you considered a crf300l? I owned a 250l rally and sold it because the tank flared too wide too quickly and it made my hips hurt. The 300l non rally has a narrower tank and there are a couple bigger aftermarket tanks. Thanks for your great reviews.
@@SB-fe4gt Thanks for your support. The CRF300 bikes have too tall of a saddle for me. Anything taller than about 32.8 is too tall for my 32 inch inseam. I think the 500 engine is probably the best for useable power and good mpg. Anything bigger than that is overkill for highway use (what are you going to do with all that extra power) and the weight goes up a lot with each engine size increase. My 850 Moto Guzzi had more power than you could ever use. My XR150 could use a little more power, but the seat height is great as is the weight and price ($2971). I have found that for the most part a 300 is the minimum if you are going to do any highway riding, and a 500 is really all the power you can use.
Spydie, I own a 2022 Versys X 300.
I too installed the Amazon wind screen. Definitely better wind protection but, After about 3000miles I noticed cracks in the plexiglass screen at all four attachment locations ( it wasn’t over tightened). I ride primarily secondary roads, with some gravel rarely exceeding 55mph.
In reinstalled the original screen and have ridden 6000miles with less protection but importantly with no cracks!
So keep an eye on that Amazon screen!
I have almost 3000 on it now and I’ll start watching for those cracks. I don’t want to go back to the stock windshield so I’ll look around for high quality brand.
Great job! Would love to see what tires you went with.
Shinko 804/805
Great Video, just got a 22 Versys 300. I’m tall and like the windshield you installed. Can you provide a link to it and the center stand?
The windshield is a V-stream and you can find them at nationalcycle.com or at any of the accessory sites like Revzilla. The center stand was right off Amazon and you can find a dozen of them on there or on Ebay. Just pick the cheapest one you can find because they are all built exactly the same. I might be selling my Versys because I picked up a Honda CB500X adventure bike and it's got a lot more power and is quieter and rides smoother (better suspension).
Great video, good luck.
Thank you.
Great video.
Thanks
I hope to follow in your footsteps. I'm 41 and have the same bike, it's awesome.
Well, if you want to follow in my footsteps, come to NM this May and ride the BDR with us. There's a girl with the same bike that's going with me and her husband on a KLR 650. the more the merrier! I'd love to have a bunch of guys on the Versys show up!
@spydie I wish. We are going to Virginia Beach the following month. My wife and I are looking to move to New Mexico once the kids move out. That should happen in the 4 years or so.
@@spydie what is the thermometer for?
@@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537 outside air temp. My Moto Guzzi has one built in, as did the Himalayan, but the Versys doesn't have one.
@@jeffbanfieldsflwr3537 Hey, look me up when you do. I've lived all over NM, north, southeast and southwest. I can give you some ideas for climate and population and amenities. Where do you live now?
Good luck with the NMBDR ! I have a 2017 Versys-x 300 (bought used in 2021) and really like it. I do mostly local riding with my wife 2up ... and some forest road trails and other exploring (with some of my dual sport buddies). I'm over here on the other side of the country in Georgia. I did find a good deal on a used Corbin seat ... it's pretty nice.
EDIT: Can you give some details on that Thermometer/temp gauge by Taylor? I'd like to have that on mine, and it looks like an easy mount right there on the handlebars ! (is that model 9940? ... where did you mount the temp probe to get a fairly accurate reading, etc). Thanks 😉
Yes, it's the 9940N, $28 on Amazon. I put the probe down behind the headlight where it can get air. There's a hole in a bracket down there so the tip of the probe catches the air and not the sun. It's not as easy to mount as it looks on my bike. I designed a mount out of an aluminum plate that would bolt to the handlebar bolts and the thermometer mounts to that. enjoy your bike. If you're ever in NM, look me up and we'll go for a ride.
Really nice upgrades. Could you post links to where you got all your items?
Almost everything was Amazon. Tell me what you want if you can't find it on Amazon and I'll try to remember where I got it. Some of the stuff, like the T-rex crash bar and skid plate I told you the name (T-rex) so just do a search for their site. The seat cover and center stand came from Amazon and of course most of the stuff I even told you I got it on Amazon. Of course I built the saddlebag racks and the large foot for the kickstand.
@@spydie Wow, that was the quickest reply ever. Thanks for the information
@@toddsflorida we aim to please
@@toddsflorida I have since installed a TPS (tire pressure sensor) and gps mount/windshield adjustable mount and Barkbuster hand guards replacing the factory hand guards. This are two-point mounted
Curious your thoughts on this bike compared to the KLR 650. I just came across your site and am now contemplating buying this version of the Versys instead of the KLR 650. I’m 5’8” so was looking at the S version of KLR.
I had a KLR 650 and I liked it a lot for several years, but was too heavy to take off-road for me. I'm 5' 10" and 130 pounds. It was a good road bike, but it was a 2013 (last year of the soft suspension) and the seat was not comfortable for long distances. A lot of guys put custom seats on them. I understand the newer ones have better seats but they also have too stiff of suspension so that negates a better seat in my opinion. I also have a Honda CB500X (see my comparison video). I have decided to keep the Versys because it fits me better than the CB500X, and it's lighter and more fun to ride even though the CB500X has a better seat, better suspension, better mpg and a lot more power, and it's quieter. If I sell one, I'll probably sell the Honda just because I like riding the under-powered, stiff riding, hard seat Versys more.
Hey man thanks for the video it's been very useful to what brand accessories to put on this bike. Hey If you could share where you bought your windshield? And with that windshield you installed, has there been any glare? I've seen other people's videos about windshields having glare that reflects back the gas tank and bolts when the sun is out and shines on the aftermarket windshields, that for some people can be distracting on ones vision...any comments on that? Thanks again!
The windshield I bought on Amazon but you can get it at any motorcycle accessory online store. It's the National Cycle N20125 VStream Windshield - 17.00in. - Light Tinted. They make three heights. This is the middle one. But you'll like it more if you mount it to this www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JJ64JBP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I've not noticed any glare or reflections but it's at a different angle when you use this special adjustable mount.
@@spydie thank you for the info I'll check it out!
Nice variety of mods! Did you have a chance to do the NMBDR? You mentioned Big Block 50/50 tires, how did the tires worked out?
No, sorry. Didn't get to do the NMBDR. My riding partners were having marital problems so I cancelled it. I haven't changed the tires yet.
@@spydie That's too bad, but it looks like you are enjoying the bike. I just purchased a VX300 and am hoping to get into some not too aggressive off road riding. FSR and gravel roads only.
I have the very same X300 put about 2000 mi this year, really love it. One Question, where can you get the Trex crash plate? Love your accessory improvements.
www.t-rex-racing.com.
@@spydie Thanks much.
Im installing the trex engine guards this weekend. Do you remove the fairing? It apepars i dont need to... but the bolt in the middle of the fairing has a bolt- do you recall if it was a trex vs hex?
No, I don't think I removed any fairing to get at those bolts. They appear to be right out in the open. The bolt at the top, as I said in the video, uses existing threaded mounts on the frame with the supplied T-rex bolts is I remember correctly. The bottom bolts are longer bolts from T-rex and you replace the factory engine mount bolt by driving it through and pushing out the factory bolt, but be prepared for the engine to drop a little and making it impossible to finish driving the bolt through until you take a crow bar and lift the engine a little to line it up.
@@spydie thank you! I solved the stuck bolt! This was super helpful!
Are you going solo? Looking forward to seeing your video. (76 year old on a 2019 X300)
Hi Mitch, yes I'm going solo as I don't have any friends that can usually get time off from work to go along and all my retired riding friends have either given up riding or have died. If you're looking for an adventure you can come to NM and go with me! LOL. It would be fun for the two of us to ride it on Versys X 300s (I don't think it's ever been done yet).
Hi Mitch! This is the tuffest man on the Planet. Nothing scares him and nothing's able to defeat him! I He's gonna overcome any obstacle is and we're gonna see him finish this trip with a big smile on his face.
@@spydie I might bite on this one. My brother and I both have X300s. We did a small part of the Trans Wisconsin Trail. I looked at a video on the New Mexico BDR ... it looks doable. How rough is it? Some parts of looks awesome. If I came it would be 3 X300s going.
@@mitchappleby9166 Yahoo, that would be great. If you watched the NMBDR video put on by the national BDR group, then you know as much about the trail as I do. It actually looks like most of it is two lane and could be done in a jeep! The soft sand I don't like but I think a guy could ride off the road alongside of the sandy spots and avoid the worst sand. If you watched the NMBDR then you saw there were a couple spots that were pretty bad and like I said in the video, that group backtracked over by Chloride, NM and took the highway around that section, but they had had some hard rains that made that section bad. They did it in the fall after the monsoon season and I plan to do it the first part of June to get ahead of the monsoons which officially start the 15th of June. The first two sections look very easy and maybe even the third one. The next four are shorter and I guess that's because they are harder, but my goal is to only do the first two or three this coming year and see how I feel about doing the rest, but I'm not making any commitments to do all severn over the 10 days it took that crew to do it. Camping out is not very comfortable at our age and I'd like to stay in motels as much as I can but will carry camping gear in case that is not convenient. I haven't camped out for 50 years, having owned RVs most of my life. I think the last time I camped out in a tent was in the Boy Scouts about 60 years ago. That would be great to have two more 300s on the trip and a lot safer for me (and all of us) to have others along. You can send me an email at oneranger007 at gmail dot com and we can exchange phone numbers and do some planning together. We have lots of time to get ready. I'd really like to talk to you. Where do you live? I live in Deming NM, about 150 miles from the starting point in Del City, TX.
Where did you get your seat pad? Thks
Amazon
Sir can u tell me what seat cover u used? Thanks !!
amzn.to/3nqqQpY
Swap out the foot pegs with wider ones,your feet will thank you.
Nice upgrades. Well done. Have you any concerns with dealing with punctures on the tubed tires?
Good question, Andy. I've run (as have most people with off-road and enduro bikes) tubed tires for 55 years. In some ways they are easier to repair than tubeless. First of all you really shouldn't put "Slime" into tubeless tires because it makes it impossible to later patch the tire from the inside. And plugs are considered "temporary". But a tubed tire, if it's a slow leak can be fixed with "slime" until you get home. If it's a bad hole, it's not too big of job to removed the tire along the trail and pull out the tube and patch it or put in the spare tube you are carrying. Yes it's more work than plugging a tire, but tubes are cheaper than a tire and you can do a permanent repair on a tube rather than buying a new tubeless tire. Tube tires have been the mainstay of off-road vehicles since the beginning of time and all us old guys know how to repair them. A bad puncture on a tubeless can leave you stranded if it's a bad cut that a plug won't plug (and yes that happens). A tube tire can always be repaired. I carry slime with me, and patches, and sometimes extra tubes, and I always carry an air pump on all my bikes and tire irons and wrenches for removing the wheels. It's all about being prepared. On my tubeless bikes I carry plugs and an air pump and just hope the damage isn't too bad to put a plug in it. The problem with a small leak on a tubeless is that you have to make a big hole in the tire to apply a plug. On a tube you can add some slime every couple years and keep that small leak from leaking without ever actually fixing it.
@@spydie You make some good points there. I suppose practising wheel and tire removal before hand would be the way to go. I liked your DIY pannier set up by the way. Good luck with your trip.
@@andymcm6902 Hi Andy, yes, the Dirtracks dot com metal pieces they send ($80) from Canada really do the trick. When I had the KLR650 I bought their racks for that, but they don't make racks for very many bikes, but they will send you the parts to design your own and it's kinda fun. I've done three sets of DIY pannier mounts now but only two with the Dirtracks pieces. And they look just as good as the professionally made sets. I think at my age after I get this NMBDR over with, it will probably be my last real adventure on a motorcycle. I still plan on riding for many years but the more exciting off-road adventures are probably just about gone. At my age we worry more about falling and getting hurt, and since I ride solo that can be worse for an old man than for a young man. Most of the trail has no cell phone coverage so there will be no help if anything bad happens. Of course you could come to NM and ride with me! LOL
Does anybody have a link for the Center Stand via Amazon? Thanks
There's a lot of them on Amazon. Just pick one that matches your budged.
how hard is it to add in a modulating headlight on this bike? i want to do it on mine
Very easy. Get it from Kisan Technologies. It's impossible to add one to the Honda Monkey or the Honda CB500X (I have both) but this bike has the old halogen headlight so it's super easy, plug and play. Also the Honda XR150 is super easy.
@@spydie thanks. and what about adding DRL's or fog lights to the front of the versys 300. is it an easy job on this bike as far as wiring goes?
@@ropeysubstance1719 I haven't added any, but it shouldn't be a problem if you are experienced with that sort of thing.
@@spydie i wonder if kawsaki has the bike setup so there's already a factory harness behind the fairing to make it plug and play. i assume that's how you install the OEM factory fog lights from kawasaki
@@ropeysubstance1719 Yes, there is a plug behind the left side of the headlight. I used it to mount a a power plug. I think there's also one on the right side for fog lights if I remember correctly.
How does the 300x compare to the Himalayan as far as comfort and smooth on the highway? I'm looking at both bike trying to decide. Along with the KTM 390 adventure. Would love to hear your opinion.
There is no comparison between the two. The Himalayan is an overweight, underpowered, poor handling bike that has a cult following for the only reason that it's inexpensive. It's built terrible. the welds are awful and like all bikes made in India, the workmanship is sub-standard. The Himalayan is famous for coming to you without grease in the head bearings, or maybe the swing-arm. The fuel injected is substandard. It won't idle at all from a cold start until you hold the throttle at 2000 rpm for 45 seconds. It's got all the build quality of a 1950s bike. And of course if you know anything at all about bikes, the Japanese bikes are the best you can buy for build quality and reliability. The only thing I have against the KTM is that it's built in India and like the BMW 310GS it has some build quality issues. The BMW has the lowest HP output of the bunch. The Himalayan with its 411cc (24 hp) engine won't even do 60 mph into a 30 mph headwind on a flat road. If you could put a 400cc engine in the Versys you'd have the biggest powerhouse in a small adventure bike in the world, but alas that 300 (296)cc engine (39 or 40 hp) does lack power. Yes, it will run 80+ mph all day on a flat road with no wind and they tell me it tops out at 103 mph but I could only get 97 out of mine. But if you put some weight on it and some saddle bags to catch the wind, then get into a headwind and on a hilly road, it will only do about 63 mph and the mpg drops to about 41. Good gas mileage depends a lot on your speed because at high rpms that Ninja engine is very thirsty. If you ride at 50 mph you can get close to 70 mpg, but expect to get low to mid 60's most of the time. But most of the time under ideal conditions it's fast enough to run the interstate all day, but if the conditions deteriorate a little and you are running large saddlebags, you'd better stay on secondary roads. As far as comfort goes, everyone complains about the hard seat on the Versys, and yes it's a little harder than the Himalayan. But I can stay in the saddle for a 400 mile ride without any major discomfort and there are optional saddles out there, including one from Kawasaki. Ergonomically the Versys is more comfortable for me at 5' 10" and 130 lbs. I've owned a KLR650 (which was too heavy for me) and riding the Versys feels and looks just like the KLR. You feel like you are riding a much larger bike than it is. But that engine sound is pure Ninja (I've owned quite a few of those) and that's what makes this bike so much more fun than a KLR. It sounds like it's really going fast when it isn't.
@@spydie Howdy Sir! Great video by the way, and I agree with your opinion on the build quality of the above mention bikes, as I came to the same conclusion after test riding both. So I went with the 300x myself. However, I don't or have not experienced you mpg statements with my x300. I am 5'10" at 180 lbs and ride fully loaded at speeds of 65 to 70 mph and continually get 60 to 70 mpg while running Shinko 804/805 tires. I share this with you, as I have 10,000 mi on my bike. I wish you all the best!
@@spinwater66 hi buddy. Are you talking mpg on your bike’s computer or actually measured? The one on your bike reads 6 mpg higher than you are actually getting. Right now after putting around at 35-45 mph for 150 miles I’m actually getting 72 mpg. But that’s not realistic if you are actually going anywhere. Higher speeds will suck it down and if you put saddle bags on it and go into a headwind on a hilly road and try to run 75 mph it will drop into the low 40s (46-50 showing on the dash gauge) and your top speed going up hills will be 63 mph. Also I’m at over 4000 ft elevation so that is going to lessen my mpg. Fuel injection is great but it automatically leans your bike out at elevation so you have less power and open the throttle farther to get more speed.
@Spydie great break down of the bikes. I'm a brand new older rider age 60. I think I'm gonna buy the Versys this spring. I really like the ergo of the KLR but I fear it's size and weight. I'm 5-11 195 but I have a few back issues and knees bother me from time to time. I was worried the versys 300 would be under powered but I'm convinced it's got enough for me. I starting thinking im not getting a bike to go fast, im getting abike to enjoy the ride. Love that flashing brake light set up on back of bike.
@@jimh2061 Hi Jim, Glad to hear you are getting into biking. I've been riding for over 55 years but I'll be 72 when I hit the BDR this coming summer (Lord willing and nothing goes wrong between now and then). I did find a "young" couple in Albuquerque (I live in Deming, NM) (she's 6' 2" and 38 years old and he's 6' 7" and 47 years old) that are planning on going with me on the BDR. They are both "newbies" also and he just got a KLR and she just got the same (2022) bike that I have. I really liked my KLR and only got rid of it because of the weight. However, I have to use a "DirtNapper" to raise my Versys also now that I've added the weight of the crash bars and other goodies. I also have a bad back (had surgery) and at this age you lose a lot of muscle mass so I'm not as strong as I used to be. But if we pull this off it should be an interesting ride this summer. I was planning on going the first week in June, but the third week in May works better for her so we will have to watch the weather closely as it's still pretty darned windy in May. Wish you could join us. Where do you live?
What was wrong with the w800? Too much vibration issues? I’m thinking about trading in my new 2022 klr for a w800.
I had a 2000 model W650 and couldn't remember why I got rid of it until I owned the W800. It's one of the most beautiful bikes on the planet, but it's not very comfortable to ride long distances. It's very heavy in the steering (steers itself as the forks heavily drop to the inside of a corner at slow speeds especially) and lots of vibration. I had a KLR650 and wish I'd kept it. Too bad we didn't meet sooner and we could have worked out a deal to trade your KLR for my W800! LOL. I have a Versys X 300 now and I like it better than all three of those bikes. Good luck with your decision. Let me know what you do.
@@spydie seems the w800 suffers vibration issues. Weird for a parallel twin. I’ll let you know if I trade in the klr.
@@constpegasus not weird. It’s a 360 degree twin. Both pistons travel up and down at the same time. One is firing and one is exhausting. It’s a formula designed for vibration.
Ow, repeat after me…GooZee🤪
NO, it's "goot zee", like "Peet su" (pizza). two "z"s in Italian is the "tz" sound.