I currently own a versys 300. I learned adventure/gravel/harder trails on my klx 250 before getting my 300. over the last 3 years ive added more mods to my versys to make it more BDR worthy; added T-rex racing skid plate (the beefier one), T-rex racing engine guards, hand guards, wider off road foot pegs, and pannier rack. Out of all the protective peices i recommend a skid plate, ive never bottomed out my suspension, but ive gone too slow down a "step" and bashed the plate pretty good several times. It held up great and has the scars to show it has been used lol Quality of riding and safety (i tend to stay out too late and catch myself riding home during sunset) was definitely improved after i added auxiliary lights, mounted to the front of the crash bars. I can point them far out for road riding, or aim them more down or a combo. I only last year changed my tires to a more off road oriented tire, and let me tell you- it made me realize how much grip off road the stock tires DONT have 😅 I have done even more difficult terrain than you showed in the vid on stock (aired down ~8psi) and its do-able.....but it is soooo much easier on a dedicated adventure tire! Will you be riding this bike for a while longer? Thanks for sharing!
What tires did you end up going with? Also, I had hoped to do a few more videos with this bike, but the owner seems set on selling it and I don't have the garage space to take up another bike, which is very unfortunate 😕.
I just bought one as my first bike. I'm picking it up on June 18th, with a 3.5hr trip home from the dealer... I'm so excited. I'll be doing mostly highway riding, but have tons of gravel logging roads to explore.
I think you found me a reasonable all around fun “ explorer “ MC that touches a lot bases & 1 that I can start on sane & slow and grow into over time carefully. UR review vids on the KV300X demoed all aspects of what I was looking for on this MC. Great job, - THANKS !!!
Riders that are new to the Versys-X 300 often complain about the bike "running hot." It doesn't. It just READS hot. This has been verified on the Versys-X 300 FB group, where people obtained specific temp readings for each bar on the display. Bottom line is that Kawasaki calibrated their display wrong. I'm on three different user groups, and this perception comes up fairly often from new owners. I've never seen any follow-up posts that it actually *was* running hot, it's just that the display can be worrying. I've got 30,000 miles on mine so far, including a 100+ degree Iron Butt ride across The Plains on the way to Colorado, and have never had the bike overheat.
That's wild! I was completely thrown the first time it happened while we were on a group ride. We were crawling down a slick gravely trail at maybe 10-15mph in 45°F weather, when the Versys went all the way up past 5 bars and the red overheating light came on. Just on casually riding it, the thing will go from 3 bars while riding to 5 when stopped at a long traffic light and then back down again. I would be really curious to see what those temp readings are. Unfortunately, I don't have a FB and probably never will again.
@@FreeTimeAdventures yea that FB info was from a couple of years ago, and at this point, like you I don't use FB. The problem with that group on basically a social media platform, rather than a dedicated motorcycle forum, is that the old, important info gets buried under all of the new fluff posts. I wish I could access the correlating display-to-actual-temp information, but I believe what they did was run an OBD scan-tool to provide the temperatures that read out relative to the number of bars on the display. However, I will say that I don't recall reading that the "check engine" light was coming on at the same time, so that's different. When I rode to Colorado and was doing part of the Alpine Loop, that was during a heat wave, and a lot of that climbing was done in first gear. The bike never overheated but I did take a couple of breaks to rest both the bike and my own middle-aged body. (LOL, first time riding at 10,000 - 12,000 feet elevation, coming from Michigan!) If I can find that temp-vs-display information, I'll post it here. For what it's worth, I've had many other bikes, all with bigger displacement and/or physically larger and heavier, but this little Versys is the most fun and overall capable bike I've owned yet. Thanks for the video!
I absolutely loved this video! You really showed off the capabilities of this bike even with the hindrances of hard panniers and street tires. Very impressive. Also phenomenal quality on the footage!
Great video bro. I have a 2022 model X-300 with about 14,000 miles on it. I love it. I ride the type of terrain you’re on frequently and I never have overheating issues. In the section where you’re running hot - the bike is mostly in 1st gear from what I can see. I run mine at that speed in 3rd gear. Not 1st. On this bike, 1st is extremely short. Hit it and quit it. Shift on up to 3rd in that situation and see how she responds. 90+ degree days are no problem. 3rd gear and up are very long on this bike. Makes the power delivery very smooth for this type of riding. No torque though, so if you need to clear an obstacle, downshift and bring the revs up a bit and you’re good. You have to ride it with its ninja 300 engine differently off road - anticipating the terrain ahead and shifting and controlling the rpm’s more - it’s an engine that was meant for a small sport bike but that’s also why it’s been for a long time the only 300cc lite adv that’s actually also capable and fun on the highway. What other 300cc adv cruises along at 85mph on the highway and can still accelerate to 100mph to move in and out of highway traffic? I absolutely love my X-300 because that engine is awesome and if you understand how to get the most out of it - it does everything well that you would want a small adv to handle and it’s so much fun.
Amazing off-roading trip! I liked this versys color, congrats. I have one, year 2022 green color with 10.000 km, my first bike 300 but I had had two versys 650, I'm Kawasaki fan. Other side, I'm loving how this bike is so fun in different roads. In Brazil, I've visite "Serra do Rio do Rastro" and "Serra do corno branco" two amazing places also look at the fotos if you have time. I haven't nothing about problem after 2.200 km roaded. Regards! Your new registered.
Just bought my 2nd versys. All extras 3 cases crasbars aux 12v aux lights wind deflector headlamp guard gps mount new tires mitas e7 serviced. Abd only 4500km on the clock. It is a great bike.
Camping at Olallie is superb, definitely recommend. They have nice camp spots with lake and Jefferson views, a cash only store that sells cold beer and snacks and clean vaulted toilets. I did the alternate route on section 6 as the main route around Olallie wasn’t open Summer 2023. Section 3 is my fav.
It's always harder to ride those rocky sections than the camera shows. Well done! I like the Gaia app. I've been using it for years for backcountry hiking, and I've never had a problem getting a signal. The only caveat is that you need to download maps of the area before you lose your cell signal. Otherwise, the base map lacks details.
Nice vid showing the potential of the Versys 300. You mentioned you were using GAIA. I do as well and have a Garmin Zumo XT for backup. I noticed you were manually advancing the map on your phone. You may know this but it does have a setting that advances the map automatically. It is a great app and has never failed me. Anyways, keep up the good work.👍
Gorgeous video and great ride. Hugely overlooked and underrated bike. I’ve wanted one for awhile and I might finally do it. I think the 296cc engine is actually very good even though everyone says they want the 399cc engine in this bike. Now with all the new models coming out of Kawasaki with the 451cc engine a new small Versys might actually happen.
Great video. I’m considering getting an X300 . I have lots of narrow back roads as well as non maintained roads which cane be more like ATV trails. Question: how did you find the ABS , especially when going down hill. I understand there’s no off button for it. Thanks
Honestly, the ABS didn't really create any scenarios where I was concerned. For the most part, it was perfectly fine, and as others have commented, it's easy enough to pull the fuse under the seat for it. It definitely is a fun backroad bike. You'll love it if you grab one, I'm sure. Heck, borrowing this one has had me thinking about one for myself!
Very good video. I wanted to comment that temperature is not a problem on this motorcycle. If the temperature rises too high, turn on the electric fan. I have driven it at low speed with 40ºC and there have been no problems. Greetings from Argentina
Was thinking of heading down for a spin on section 6 until you ran into the oh shit and dammit part. I’m a fair weather and fair road rider. Started riding off-road 50 years ago, but nothing rocky like that. I too have a X300. 2023 version. Gotta find better tires that will work on hard sand, but hold the blacktop on the way across the country from Washington to Milwaukee. And maybe to the Giant Loop Rally.
I think you would fine honestly, just don't take the Olallie Lake alternate route. I've been the told the main route that bypasses that is chill like the rest of it. You could also go to Ollalie the easy way and then double back...
@trd4d I run the Shenko 705s on mine. Inexpensive choice and better off road than the stock, with a slight decrease in top speed and how smooth the stock tires feel on the highway.
Honestly it kind of depends on the type of riding I want to do. But overall, I'm happy to own the 390 Adventure. That said, I prefer the 390 for offroading and Adventures that are more off the beaten path. As for the Versys, I think it's a much more practical ride for commuting, errands, etc... I also prefer it for long rides through the hills or on the highway as I like the way it handles and the wind protection. I don't think you can go wrong with either, they are both wonderful bikes, it really comes down to preference.
I bought one used and luckly the previous owner told me about the temp. display.Dont worry if it shows full bars.Still don't know why Kawaski dont fix.
The jacket is the Klim Dakar in Striking Petrol. It's in their offroad specific section and doesn't show up on the motorcycle gear. It is really affordable compared to other Klim gear. I have both of the pants as well, the in the boot and over the boot pants, and those are great as well. Two years of riding in this gear, and I still love it. Also, I will try, but the Versys's owner is going to be selling it soon, so I may not get to make more content on it, unfortunately :(
They're the OE IRC Trail Winner tires that come on the bike, and they had about 6k miles on them. Also, set to street pressure. I think this bike would be a riot with a set of Motox Tractionator Adventure's or something like that..
It does, it's a really small fan and only one right in the middle of the radiator with a small shroud. It's very quiet and we had to remove one of the fairing panels to even verify that it was going. The dealership also checked it out and gave it a clean bill of health. After researching on some forums it looks like others have had this issue as well, the fix seems to be switching to a better coolant and flushing the system from what it looks like, but we haven't tried that yet.
i think with a little bit more offroad focused tire, these would do much better. it wouldn't have to be extreme, just something like a Continental TKC 70 or a Dunlop Trailmax. You'd still have really good on road performance, but it'd be much safer off road.
It doesn't. It just READS hot. This has been verified on the Versys-X 300 FB group, where people obtained specific temp readings for each bar on the display. Bottom line is that Kawasaki calibrated their display wrong.
I currently own a versys 300. I learned adventure/gravel/harder trails on my klx 250 before getting my 300. over the last 3 years ive added more mods to my versys to make it more BDR worthy; added T-rex racing skid plate (the beefier one), T-rex racing engine guards, hand guards, wider off road foot pegs, and pannier rack. Out of all the protective peices i recommend a skid plate, ive never bottomed out my suspension, but ive gone too slow down a "step" and bashed the plate pretty good several times. It held up great and has the scars to show it has been used lol
Quality of riding and safety (i tend to stay out too late and catch myself riding home during sunset) was definitely improved after i added auxiliary lights, mounted to the front of the crash bars. I can point them far out for road riding, or aim them more down or a combo.
I only last year changed my tires to a more off road oriented tire, and let me tell you- it made me realize how much grip off road the stock tires DONT have 😅
I have done even more difficult terrain than you showed in the vid on stock (aired down ~8psi) and its do-able.....but it is soooo much easier on a dedicated adventure tire!
Will you be riding this bike for a while longer?
Thanks for sharing!
What tires did you end up going with?
Also, I had hoped to do a few more videos with this bike, but the owner seems set on selling it and I don't have the garage space to take up another bike, which is very unfortunate 😕.
I just bought one as my first bike. I'm picking it up on June 18th, with a 3.5hr trip home from the dealer... I'm so excited. I'll be doing mostly highway riding, but have tons of gravel logging roads to explore.
Congrats 🎊 that's going to be awesome!!!
I think you found me a reasonable all around fun “ explorer “ MC that touches a lot bases & 1 that I can start on sane & slow and grow into over time carefully. UR review vids on the KV300X demoed all aspects of what I was looking for on this MC. Great job, - THANKS !!!
I run my 2022 Versys for 4500 miles not a single hiccup. Just put a new rear tire on it. I love this bike the fuel range is amazing.
Riders that are new to the Versys-X 300 often complain about the bike "running hot." It doesn't. It just READS hot. This has been verified on the Versys-X 300 FB group, where people obtained specific temp readings for each bar on the display. Bottom line is that Kawasaki calibrated their display wrong. I'm on three different user groups, and this perception comes up fairly often from new owners. I've never seen any follow-up posts that it actually *was* running hot, it's just that the display can be worrying. I've got 30,000 miles on mine so far, including a 100+ degree Iron Butt ride across The Plains on the way to Colorado, and have never had the bike overheat.
That's wild! I was completely thrown the first time it happened while we were on a group ride. We were crawling down a slick gravely trail at maybe 10-15mph in 45°F weather, when the Versys went all the way up past 5 bars and the red overheating light came on. Just on casually riding it, the thing will go from 3 bars while riding to 5 when stopped at a long traffic light and then back down again.
I would be really curious to see what those temp readings are. Unfortunately, I don't have a FB and probably never will again.
@@FreeTimeAdventures yea that FB info was from a couple of years ago, and at this point, like you I don't use FB. The problem with that group on basically a social media platform, rather than a dedicated motorcycle forum, is that the old, important info gets buried under all of the new fluff posts. I wish I could access the correlating display-to-actual-temp information, but I believe what they did was run an OBD scan-tool to provide the temperatures that read out relative to the number of bars on the display. However, I will say that I don't recall reading that the "check engine" light was coming on at the same time, so that's different. When I rode to Colorado and was doing part of the Alpine Loop, that was during a heat wave, and a lot of that climbing was done in first gear. The bike never overheated but I did take a couple of breaks to rest both the bike and my own middle-aged body. (LOL, first time riding at 10,000 - 12,000 feet elevation, coming from Michigan!) If I can find that temp-vs-display information, I'll post it here. For what it's worth, I've had many other bikes, all with bigger displacement and/or physically larger and heavier, but this little Versys is the most fun and overall capable bike I've owned yet. Thanks for the video!
I absolutely loved this video! You really showed off the capabilities of this bike even with the hindrances of hard panniers and street tires. Very impressive. Also phenomenal quality on the footage!
Great video bro. I have a 2022 model X-300 with about 14,000 miles on it. I love it. I ride the type of terrain you’re on frequently and I never have overheating issues. In the section where you’re running hot - the bike is mostly in 1st gear from what I can see. I run mine at that speed in 3rd gear. Not 1st. On this bike, 1st is extremely short. Hit it and quit it. Shift on up to 3rd in that situation and see how she responds. 90+ degree days are no problem. 3rd gear and up are very long on this bike. Makes the power delivery very smooth for this type of riding. No torque though, so if you need to clear an obstacle, downshift and bring the revs up a bit and you’re good. You have to ride it with its ninja 300 engine differently off road - anticipating the terrain ahead and shifting and controlling the rpm’s more - it’s an engine that was meant for a small sport bike but that’s also why it’s been for a long time the only 300cc lite adv that’s actually also capable and fun on the highway. What other 300cc adv cruises along at 85mph on the highway and can still accelerate to 100mph to move in and out of highway traffic? I absolutely love my X-300 because that engine is awesome and if you understand how to get the most out of it - it does everything well that you would want a small adv to handle and it’s so much fun.
Hello, have you done the valves with 14k miles?
Amazing off-roading trip! I liked this versys color, congrats. I have one, year 2022 green color with 10.000 km, my first bike 300 but I had had two versys 650, I'm Kawasaki fan. Other side, I'm loving how this bike is so fun in different roads. In Brazil, I've visite "Serra do Rio do Rastro" and "Serra do corno branco" two amazing places also look at the fotos if you have time. I haven't nothing about problem after 2.200 km roaded. Regards! Your new registered.
Awesome music to go with such a great ride!
Thanks for posting the video with the versys, I'm strongly considering buying one. My last bike was a 96 voyager 1200 but I miss the dual sports.
Oh dual sport life is the best life!
Just bought a 2013 BMW F800GS. Cheers, thanks for responding!@@FreeTimeAdventures
@DRJordan64 🔥🔥 congratulations 👏 that's awesome! Ride safe and keep it shiny side up!
Just bought my 2nd versys. All extras 3 cases crasbars aux 12v aux lights wind deflector headlamp guard gps mount new tires mitas e7 serviced. Abd only 4500km on the clock.
It is a great bike.
Cool video! Keep it up! Brad Blackman Ichor - KLR 650 rider
Rad video, brutha!
Camping at Olallie is superb, definitely recommend. They have nice camp spots with lake and Jefferson views, a cash only store that sells cold beer and snacks and clean vaulted toilets. I did the alternate route on section 6 as the main route around Olallie wasn’t open Summer 2023. Section 3 is my fav.
That's awesome I am going to have to try and get up there this year!
It's always harder to ride those rocky sections than the camera shows. Well done! I like the Gaia app. I've been using it for years for backcountry hiking, and I've never had a problem getting a signal. The only caveat is that you need to download maps of the area before you lose your cell signal. Otherwise, the base map lacks details.
Nice vid showing the potential of the Versys 300. You mentioned you were using GAIA. I do as well and have a Garmin Zumo XT for backup. I noticed you were manually advancing the map on your phone. You may know this but it does have a setting that advances the map automatically. It is a great app and has never failed me. Anyways, keep up the good work.👍
I actually didn't know! I only used it the one time and haven't messed with it since. I will look for that next time I'm using it!
Gorgeous video and great ride. Hugely overlooked and underrated bike. I’ve wanted one for awhile and I might finally do it. I think the 296cc engine is actually very good even though everyone says they want the 399cc engine in this bike. Now with all the new models coming out of Kawasaki with the 451cc engine a new small Versys might actually happen.
That would be rad, I would love to see some choice upgrades for the Versys, it's a great bike as is, but it could still use some updates.
Great video. I’m considering getting an X300 . I have lots of narrow back roads as well as non maintained roads which cane be more like ATV trails.
Question: how did you find the ABS , especially when going down hill.
I understand there’s no off button for it.
Thanks
Honestly, the ABS didn't really create any scenarios where I was concerned. For the most part, it was perfectly fine, and as others have commented, it's easy enough to pull the fuse under the seat for it.
It definitely is a fun backroad bike. You'll love it if you grab one, I'm sure. Heck, borrowing this one has had me thinking about one for myself!
Must recreate this section ride in 2024!
@moistoregon Let's do it!
Very good video. I wanted to comment that temperature is not a problem on this motorcycle. If the temperature rises too high, turn on the electric fan. I have driven it at low speed with 40ºC and there have been no problems. Greetings from Argentina
Heck yeah!
Was thinking of heading down for a spin on section 6 until you ran into the oh shit and dammit part. I’m a fair weather and fair road rider. Started riding off-road 50 years ago, but nothing rocky like that. I too have a X300. 2023 version. Gotta find better tires that will work on hard sand, but hold the blacktop on the way across the country from Washington to Milwaukee. And maybe to the Giant Loop Rally.
I think you would fine honestly, just don't take the Olallie Lake alternate route. I've been the told the main route that bypasses that is chill like the rest of it. You could also go to Ollalie the easy way and then double back...
@trd4d I run the Shenko 705s on mine. Inexpensive choice and better off road than the stock, with a slight decrease in top speed and how smooth the stock tires feel on the highway.
Which do you like better, your KTM Adventure or the Versys-X 300?
Honestly it kind of depends on the type of riding I want to do. But overall, I'm happy to own the 390 Adventure.
That said, I prefer the 390 for offroading and Adventures that are more off the beaten path. As for the Versys, I think it's a much more practical ride for commuting, errands, etc... I also prefer it for long rides through the hills or on the highway as I like the way it handles and the wind protection.
I don't think you can go wrong with either, they are both wonderful bikes, it really comes down to preference.
I bought one used and luckly the previous owner told me about the temp. display.Dont worry if it shows full bars.Still don't know why Kawaski dont
fix.
What Klim jacket are you wearing? Klim Baja S4 ?
More of this content please! X300 please! The X300 can be made into just about anything you want.
The jacket is the Klim Dakar in Striking Petrol. It's in their offroad specific section and doesn't show up on the motorcycle gear. It is really affordable compared to other Klim gear. I have both of the pants as well, the in the boot and over the boot pants, and those are great as well. Two years of riding in this gear, and I still love it.
Also, I will try, but the Versys's owner is going to be selling it soon, so I may not get to make more content on it, unfortunately :(
What tires and tire pressures were you running?
They're the OE IRC Trail Winner tires that come on the bike, and they had about 6k miles on them. Also, set to street pressure.
I think this bike would be a riot with a set of Motox Tractionator Adventure's or something like that..
Doesn't the fan kick on when hot?
It does, it's a really small fan and only one right in the middle of the radiator with a small shroud. It's very quiet and we had to remove one of the fairing panels to even verify that it was going. The dealership also checked it out and gave it a clean bill of health.
After researching on some forums it looks like others have had this issue as well, the fix seems to be switching to a better coolant and flushing the system from what it looks like, but we haven't tried that yet.
Thanks for posting the video with the versys, I'm strongly considering buying one. My last bike was a 96 voyager 1200 but I miss the dual sports.
i think with a little bit more offroad focused tire, these would do much better. it wouldn't have to be extreme, just something like a Continental TKC 70 or a Dunlop Trailmax. You'd still have really good on road performance, but it'd be much safer off road.
Just do not understand why the bike gets hot.
It doesn't. It just READS hot. This has been verified on the Versys-X 300 FB group, where people obtained specific temp readings for each bar on the display. Bottom line is that Kawasaki calibrated their display wrong.
It does not get hot. Look in the manual and u will see it reads normal. I got.one.and it is.ok
You need better tires