VERSYS-X 300 FIRST IMPRESSIONS OFF ROAD ON SAND AND DIRT
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- The Versys-X 300 has taken me on a few off-road excursions, so I thought I'd share my first throughts on what it's like. Remebering that this was my first few outings off the tarmac, I've had a great time exploring what idrt riding / off-road riding / adventure riding is all about.
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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 CZcams 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!!!
I've ridden off-road with stock tires, but in Brazil the Versys-X 300 comes with Pirelli MT-60 tires. Lots of people complain because they prefer road tires, but I loved it.
Thank you for your video.
I also started off-road on the versys 300 on stock tyres in the sand. Let’s just say it wasn’t a fun experience. But it’s probably the fastest way to learn riding with limited traction. Great bike though, just wished it had more torque down low.
Thanks for sharing!
I hated sand on my x300. But then learned a few Technics that made it alot better. Now i fear no sand. Except that super fine powder that has no bottom.
Stucking in sand always overheat a motorcycle. Fortunately the little Versys has oversized radiator compared to the size of the engine. Couldn't the fan cool down the engine? My DR650 was worse: it was aircooled and overheating even at the red light, so I installed fan to prevent overheating. The engine temperature became much better.
That was a great experience for you, keep going! 👍
The fan tried its best 😂
I don't have a Versys, but IIRC FortNine recommended going up 2 teeth on the rear sprocket to help with low-end power. Might be worth looking into.
Definitely considering down the track.
I've had my X300 for just over 2 years and several thousand miles. I've made mods for travel and off-roading in SW Colorado. Kawasaki hit a home run with this mini-adventure bike. With my new tires (Mitas E07+) I've been surprised at the off-road ability in the mountains and some loose, steep hills. Thanks for a great vid! -Ray
That’s awesome Ray! She’s such a great little bike 😊
Hey just curious.. have you reached 7500 miles for the valve clearance check yet?
@@tylernelson7995 No - I'm just under 5,000 miles. I have two other bikes I ride (a Husaberg FE390, now street legal, and a 2017 Suzuki Vstrom 650XT. I like all three and ride all three, just depends on my destination and my mood. So I'll likely not hit 7500 miles for another years or so. BTW, I hit some DEEP sand on "Fins and Things" trail in Moab - sand about knee deep - and I didn't go down, but I had to be pushed out by friends. I did not complete that trail, but Moab has many other milder trails. I should have been on the Husaberg! Other than that, the X300 was great on the trip - we road the TransAmerica Trail from Colorado to Moab, then back on pavement. I DO have some extra padding on the rock-hard seat, needed for anything over 2 hours. Love this small adventure bike / commuter (over 70 mpg on our 40 mph county roads in the country).
BTW, I've added crash bars and a skid plate - AND Mitas E-07 tires (50/50) and I'm really happy with them.
@@GeezerWheels HI Ray how much do you weigh? I'm looking at one of these as a second bike down here in the New Mexico mountains.
motorcycles don't go vroom, they go braaap! 😁🏍🦑
😂😂😂
i used a "booster plug" to add a bit more fuel and drop the temps, used pro-taper atv high bars after a fall from finding the limit of the stock tires before going to shinko 804/805s, drilling and wiring the rear brake and shifter levers to the frame give peace of mind if you get the bike a bit rowdy.
Serious mods right there....will have to investigate the likelihood of me doing similar.
Yeah completely agree - not sure if sand riding is my favourite either. Also, comment for the algorithm 😂😂
lol
😮🇧🇷 I'm from Brazil and CZcams just recomended your video. I have the same motorcicle 2018. So many views but so few likes in this video.
Story of my life 😝 lol, it’s how it is for my channel. 👍
it just got a bit hot, it did not overheat , otherwise the engine would have siezed, all bikes will run hotter when being worked hard in sand.
Yes, but the needle was at the top and I was getting very worried 😂
This is the bike Honda should've made, already having the 125 Varadero as a base.
……maybe
Kind of seems like the CRF300L Rally fills the same role though more off road oriented whereas this is more road oriented
Would you say you fell because of the traction control kicking in?
I've heard about disabling it by installing a button to cut off the switch, but just trying to figure out if it's worth it. I've heard people saying traction control is great, some say is a little intrusive offroad. I'll do a lot of sand and really bad roads with it. I'd be just fine without ABS if that's an issue.
Yeah nah, my skillset off-road is, shall we say, limited. 😂
Mine is set up for off roading!! I absolutely love it!!
What good advice can you give us. Picking up mine in a few days and also setting it up for off road. Tires, bash plate and side guards are a must of course.
@@mimi1girl2dempsey3 be careful on gravel, pull abs fuse before you go off-road, but put it back before you go get it serviced. And move at your own pace, slow is smooth and smooth is fast!
And avoid interstates, it will go 101 with shinko 804/805s but ur in high rpms! The bike will take it but I don’t wanna stress it to much!
What Joshua said... :)
Change your sprockets, I'm sure it'll help.
Apparently it does, but only slightly and then you can’t go too far because it messes with a gear positioning sensor or something.
Where did you get the front light guard?
Link in description in this video: czcams.com/video/CyeA3TQ28Fc/video.html
Man, nice I have a 2020 X300, I just put a deposit down on a new 2022 KLR 650, I will be trading in the X300, it's a great little bike !
The KLR650 seems like a logical progression 👌👌👌 Enjoy!
What size tyres mate, they look great
130/80/17 I think I can see in the video 👍
Versys has plenty of torque in 1st I'm confused
Only at high revs. This can’t chug if you know what I mean.
Qual a medida dos pneus ?
No sprecken doetch
Dude rinse off the salt water.
Versys 300 is probably more capable off road than the 650
Are yo7 speaking from experience? I’d say the KLR would have way more torque compared to this…which counts on sand 👌
@@VroomBroomZoom I'm only talking about the versus, since its not a real off roader, so the lighter the better
Riding in sand(beach); like pushing mud with a stick
😂😂😂
Did you lower your tire pressure for off road?
Sure did...I ran 20-odd front and rear.
@@VroomBroomZoomThat’s not low enough !
Wash your bike bro! lol
😂