Kawasaki Versys 300X on fleet. Intro vid.

A quick introductory video to the Versys 300X I've just added to the small capacity adventure bike fleet.

It's 7 years old, 40,000 miles, weighs 175 kilos and is a road more orientated bike than some of the other bikes in this class.

[SUVRVing]

I'm one of those American viewers who was hoping you'd get one of these, even though I've never commented before. You're doing a great job!

[g.cotter]

I had one for 4 years, brilliant bike, a real go anywhere and do most anything on. Super reliable and never had a puncture.

[lipsee]

regarding "second hand" well said Nathan, , yes there is lots of great old bikes out there, , , they might want for something but fixing up can be cheap if you do it yourself...

[brucecampbell]

I had a Versys 300 for 6 years. It replaced a DR650 as, unlike the DR, it did not encourage me to do dumb things like riding out into the desert by myself. If I kept doing that it was only a matter of time before I either hit something or threw it away big time. Once I got my head around the revs and very light clutch it was fine. The seat is absolutely the worst I've come across in over 55 years of riding. I did nearly 50, 000km on it. In that time it had regular services and thats all. It did quite a few long distance tours. Its physical size (big) meant that it could take a lot of luggage. I sold it 12 months ago because it just got too tall for my diminishing strength, balance and ability. I was losing my confidence. They are still available in Australia new. Only change over the years has been colours.

[jonathanmellish]

Looking forward to future videos on affordable bikes 😊

[andymcm]

Interesting bike to add to the fleet and an excellent idea to test some older bikes. Cheers

[mikehurley]

I live in the Balkans and ride a 2007 f650gs that i bought when back in the UK in 2019, factory low model, 13, 000 miles, immaculate. Over 10, 000 trouble free miles later this bike takes me around the Balkans just fine all for 2650 quid which i would get back tomorrow if i sold it. Nothing wrong with cheap old bikes. When i bought it i toured North Wales, Snowdonia, then over to France and spent a week in Normandy touring all the war sites camping all the way, down to Italy, ferry to Albania then to Kosovo where the bike now lives. Loved every minute. I took a month doing that, very understanding wife helps, haha, been retired for 8 years, 67 now.

[AS-zmvn]

Cannot wait to see you taking it out on the hills! Simonsbath / Landacre Bridge!! :)

[RikkyTang]

Great bike Nathan! I have one and all I've done to it is add a 15t front sprocket (+1), SW Motec pegs and a better 60/55w halogen bulb. The 15t sprocket makes the engine feel less frantic and does reveal a decent amount of low end torque, relatively speaking. The wider pegs have helped me at the ABR Festival and at your Sweetlamb Adventure Camp last year 😁. The stock halogen headlight is a joke, so a tenner spent on a better bulb helps the main beam massively on dark roads.

[aaronharris]

I test rode one of these bikes as I was looking for an economical commuter which soak up the pot holes! I was impressed by the little twin engine it screamed and was fun to ride with a very light clutch. I bought a forza 300 though simply for the weather protection and storage. Great bike for the green landing.

[randomtraveler]

Just picked up a 2020 Versys 300X in Canada, with just over 3000Km on it.
I've had a lot of small and mid sized bikes, done some great long rides on them. I think this may be my "unicorn". Good for everyday use and capable of the long back road touring I want to do. Not much in this market here in North America, sadly.

[williamlylecameron]

Nice one Nathan, I look forward to the new path you are going down considering older more affordable adventure bikes. I also look forward to hearing more about the Versys 300X.

[stevec-b]

This is a really great development in your channel. I was very tempted a few years back by this bike, Ryan F9 did an amazing video on this bike, a masterpiece imho.

[deanwood]

Hi Nathan I am far from a proficient off road rider but i did one of youre postie bike days and loved it. So following the light low and slow mantra and not being able to to afford any of the new bikes. I managed to pick up a 2018 6k mile 411 Himalayan for £2k. I love it and i cant imagine selling it but if i do its not going to lose that much on it. Looking forward to the series on old older bikes. Cheers Dean

[markdavidson]

Your plan to have a bit of focus on some older bikes is a very welcome addition to your usual good video content. Keep the videos coming Nathan👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[fabianobenedetti]

Had one for 4 years, toured Scandinavia and Ireland with it. Fantastic little bike, very underrated, nice revvy, smooth engine, low consumption, roomy. Upgrade the seat and you’ll tour for weeks with it…

[-tj]

I remember that KLE 500. Zoom Lolly meets Honda TransAlp said BIKE magazine. The KLE was a 400 in Japan. I saw quite a few of them when I lived there in the early '90s. Nice bikes. Nick

[andrewonmyway]

Great vid! It would be really perfect Nathan with looking out for bike bargains around the £2000 mark. Its more of a price many of us can afford! Cheers!!

[jonno]

My first bike was a Honda varadero xl 125. It was an absolutely great bike. Very comfortable on long distance and very economical. Even very comfortable riding 2 up. I always thought it was too underpowered for its weight. If you had a severe head wind it could barely reach 60mph. It could do 70mph in a tuck with a tail wind if you were lucky and I’m only 65kg. It was horrendous at over taking anything that was travelling faster than 28mph. You were taking your life into your own hands if you had to overtake a modern tractor even on the slightest on inclines. I always thought Honda did a disservice to themselves for not offering a 250 or a 300. I would have loved a bike like the vstrom 250 or the versys 300 if they existed back in 2010-2011.

[florme]

Love the x300. I’ve owned the KTM 390 Adventure and CRF Rally. Then got one of these and it’s an absolute keeper. The high revs are hilarious. Chassis is great fun for corners and surprise me on the trails. Really only for fire trails. You can really upgrade them to be whatever you want out of it… for cheap.