
Kawasaki Versys-X 300 – a strange touring enduro made according to the “Chinese scheme”
Chinese manufacturers motorcycle have long since begun to conquer the middle class and have even managed to penetrate the market of large-capacity vehicles. Only in the budget segment they continue their policy - to use one successful chassis in different classes.
On the one hand, this is good – a large number of new inexpensive motorcycles are available. And not only in Asian countries, but also in Russia. With the same engine, we can find an enduro, a cruiser, and even an almost sportbike.
But there are no problems with spare parts for the engine and gearbox - they are sold in almost every more or less large settlement. And you can order delivery to a village, almost abandoned - fortunately, the digital age is in the yard.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 looks more like a touring enduro. Photo: youtube.com
Only these Chinese motorcycles, despite their different classes and appearance, ride the same. It is strange when a beautiful sport bike accelerates on par with a cruiser or enduro, and after reaching a speed of 100 km/h "deflates".
But the Chinese don't care - they have a proven base, once successfully and, most likely, illegally copied from the Japanese. Despite the low quality of materials, these engines and gearboxes work properly. This can be confirmed by thousands of owners of motorcycles from the Celestial Empire in Russia.
As for Japanese bikes, this is not particularly popular there. Unless a road model is turned into a stylish street bike, or a sport bike is de-rated into a sport-tourism bike. But to assemble a cruiser and an enduro on the same base...
True, this does happen, take, for example, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300. This is a touring bike, created on the chassis of a road model. A simple small-capacity bike, which can be purchased even in Russia, parting with a sum from 365 to 550 thousand rubles. And the motorcycle is “fresh” - it has been produced since 2017 and is still being produced.
Kawasaki began selling the first Versys back in 2007. It was created on the chassis of the classic ER-6 road bike. Surprisingly, the model was well received by the public. As it turned out, the legendary status of the "Ruff" was enough for beginners in light enduro to choose the Versys 650.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 even has engine protection. Photo: youtube.com
The main differences of the off-road model:
✅ New design
✅ More comfortable fit
✅ Hand and engine protection
✅ Increased suspension travel
The result was an equivalent car crossover class - a simple and reliable motorcycle that is universal.
A little later, for lovers of long trips on the highways, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 was created. An excellent motorcycle, made according to a proven scheme. It had one serious problem - too expensive.
Most likely, for this reason, they decided to create a “younger brother” in the family – Kawasaki Versys-X 300. By the way, the manufacturer took into account its mistakes in previous models, making the new product the most off-road.
The first thing to notice is that the motorcycle seems to be of medium capacity. Nothing gives away the 300-ka in it, it is large. If you put a Honda Transalp next to the Versus, it will seem that both bikes are of the same class and capacity.
Despite the budget price, the fit of the plastic parts on the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is good. Photo: youtube.com
The design of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is quite controversial. Some kind of wild combination of off-road component and urban aggressiveness. The forms are chopped, no smooth lines. Some may even think that this is a typical "Chinese".
Yes, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is a budget motorcycle and there is no getting away from it. But by some details you can still recognize the "Japanese" without nameplates. For example, the texture of the plastic is different, and it is fitted better. Although, some carelessness in the appearance is still noticeable.
But in fact, the motorcycle is assembled in Thailand. Accordingly, it is sold primarily there. But this does not prevent the bike from being a universal means of transport for a person of almost any height, except perhaps the smallest and largest.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 dashboard is simple but informative. Photo: youtube.com
Summing up the appearance, it is worth noting that the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 will not be embarrassing in front of other motorcyclists. Some, unfortunately, are also worried about this nuance. They say that small-capacity bikes seem to be suitable in all respects, but not respectably.
Despite the fact that the bike is large for its volume, the Japanese engineers made the fit ideal for almost everyone. For example, the narrowing of the saddle closer to the tank is clearly to make short riders feel confident.
But the steering wheel is positioned in such a way that drivers who are almost two meters tall hardly reach for it. And long legs are not a hindrance, although they bend at the knees, but the position cannot be called uncomfortable.
Of course, there are some downsides. The seat is terribly hard for long trips. Often you get the feeling that this is a narrow bicycle saddle - like on "mountain" models. It's good that the cushion at least gradually widens towards the stern. But you still won't be able to move back fully - the step-transition to the passenger part gets in the way.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 saddle position is upright and comfortable. Photo: youtube.com
But the manufacturer has hit the mark with the tank – it is convenient to clasp it with your knees. The latter are protected from wind and rain. But this is not the most important thing. The fuel capacity in the tank is 17 liters. Considering that the average fuel consumption is 4 liters, the range on one tank is impressive.
The instrument panel contains an analog tachometer, a set of control lamps, and two small monochrome screens for the information the rider needs.
The bike's engine, if you look into its origins, is taken from the Kawasaki Ninja 250. By the way, with a volume of 300 cm3, a two-cylinder engine in this class is currently offered only by this Japanese brand.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 has a twin-cylinder engine. Photo: youtube.com
The power unit is liquid-cooled. Its sporty essence is given by the power of 40 hp. The fuel system is injection. And the engine itself is quite modern - it has 4 valves per cylinder.
Two cylinders give a number of advantages to the owner of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300. Firstly, the engine does not vibrate as much as a single-barrel. Due to this, it is more comfortable to move over long distances. The second advantage is the traction after 6 thousand revolutions. The Versys engine briskly spins up to 13 thousand.
The engine has its downsides. The main one is its high revs. It helps on the highway, but on dirt roads, especially in the presence of dirt, it has a negative effect. On the other hand, liquid cooling will save you from overheating in any case.
The motorcycle has a six-speed manual gearbox. The chassis does not shine with torsional rigidity, but the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 does not need this in principle - the motorcycle is light. In turns at speed, the bike behaves stably.
The front has a classic telescopic fork, the rear has a monoshock. The settings are just right for light enduro and hooligan riding around the city. The latter means that you can literally fly past "sleeping policemen" without fear of the suspension breaking through.
If you want to conquer off-road terrain on the Kawasaki Versys-X 300, it is better to install these tires. Photo: youtube.com
It is comfortable to ride in a standing position on the footrests, which again hints at the high level of refinement of the standard chassis from the Ninja.
The brakes are single-disc at the front and rear. The system is simple and does not provide any feedback. But if you are not shy and press hard on the levers, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 stops well. Moreover, the standard ABS does not allow the wheels to lock. The latter, by the way, are spoked, which once again hints at its off-road nature.
Who can I recommend the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 to? Most likely, beginners who don't understand the technical part well and haven't yet decided where they are more interested in riding. And this bike will rarely break down, since it is still quite "fresh", and its fuel consumption will not ruin you.
On the one hand, this is good – a large number of new inexpensive motorcycles are available. And not only in Asian countries, but also in Russia. With the same engine, we can find an enduro, a cruiser, and even an almost sportbike.
But there are no problems with spare parts for the engine and gearbox - they are sold in almost every more or less large settlement. And you can order delivery to a village, almost abandoned - fortunately, the digital age is in the yard.

Only these Chinese motorcycles, despite their different classes and appearance, ride the same. It is strange when a beautiful sport bike accelerates on par with a cruiser or enduro, and after reaching a speed of 100 km/h "deflates".
But the Chinese don't care - they have a proven base, once successfully and, most likely, illegally copied from the Japanese. Despite the low quality of materials, these engines and gearboxes work properly. This can be confirmed by thousands of owners of motorcycles from the Celestial Empire in Russia.
As for Japanese bikes, this is not particularly popular there. Unless a road model is turned into a stylish street bike, or a sport bike is de-rated into a sport-tourism bike. But to assemble a cruiser and an enduro on the same base...
True, this does happen, take, for example, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300. This is a touring bike, created on the chassis of a road model. A simple small-capacity bike, which can be purchased even in Russia, parting with a sum from 365 to 550 thousand rubles. And the motorcycle is “fresh” - it has been produced since 2017 and is still being produced.
Idea
Kawasaki began selling the first Versys back in 2007. It was created on the chassis of the classic ER-6 road bike. Surprisingly, the model was well received by the public. As it turned out, the legendary status of the "Ruff" was enough for beginners in light enduro to choose the Versys 650.

The main differences of the off-road model:
✅ New design
✅ More comfortable fit
✅ Hand and engine protection
✅ Increased suspension travel
The result was an equivalent car crossover class - a simple and reliable motorcycle that is universal.
A little later, for lovers of long trips on the highways, the Kawasaki Versys 1000 was created. An excellent motorcycle, made according to a proven scheme. It had one serious problem - too expensive.
Most likely, for this reason, they decided to create a “younger brother” in the family – Kawasaki Versys-X 300. By the way, the manufacturer took into account its mistakes in previous models, making the new product the most off-road.
Appearance
The first thing to notice is that the motorcycle seems to be of medium capacity. Nothing gives away the 300-ka in it, it is large. If you put a Honda Transalp next to the Versus, it will seem that both bikes are of the same class and capacity.

The design of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is quite controversial. Some kind of wild combination of off-road component and urban aggressiveness. The forms are chopped, no smooth lines. Some may even think that this is a typical "Chinese".
Yes, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is a budget motorcycle and there is no getting away from it. But by some details you can still recognize the "Japanese" without nameplates. For example, the texture of the plastic is different, and it is fitted better. Although, some carelessness in the appearance is still noticeable.
It immediately seems that the model was not developed for the Japanese or residents of the Asian region. This bike is primarily intended for the US market, then for the EU countries. This is the reason why it is large for its cubic capacity.
But in fact, the motorcycle is assembled in Thailand. Accordingly, it is sold primarily there. But this does not prevent the bike from being a universal means of transport for a person of almost any height, except perhaps the smallest and largest.

Summing up the appearance, it is worth noting that the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 will not be embarrassing in front of other motorcyclists. Some, unfortunately, are also worried about this nuance. They say that small-capacity bikes seem to be suitable in all respects, but not respectably.
Fit and ergonomics
Despite the fact that the bike is large for its volume, the Japanese engineers made the fit ideal for almost everyone. For example, the narrowing of the saddle closer to the tank is clearly to make short riders feel confident.
But the steering wheel is positioned in such a way that drivers who are almost two meters tall hardly reach for it. And long legs are not a hindrance, although they bend at the knees, but the position cannot be called uncomfortable.
Of course, there are some downsides. The seat is terribly hard for long trips. Often you get the feeling that this is a narrow bicycle saddle - like on "mountain" models. It's good that the cushion at least gradually widens towards the stern. But you still won't be able to move back fully - the step-transition to the passenger part gets in the way.

But the manufacturer has hit the mark with the tank – it is convenient to clasp it with your knees. The latter are protected from wind and rain. But this is not the most important thing. The fuel capacity in the tank is 17 liters. Considering that the average fuel consumption is 4 liters, the range on one tank is impressive.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 controls are simple but solid. The keys are bright and stand out. They don't wear out and are located in intuitive places.
The instrument panel contains an analog tachometer, a set of control lamps, and two small monochrome screens for the information the rider needs.
Мотор
The bike's engine, if you look into its origins, is taken from the Kawasaki Ninja 250. By the way, with a volume of 300 cm3, a two-cylinder engine in this class is currently offered only by this Japanese brand.

The power unit is liquid-cooled. Its sporty essence is given by the power of 40 hp. The fuel system is injection. And the engine itself is quite modern - it has 4 valves per cylinder.
The engine's relationship with the Ninja family is rather a plus. Fewer problems with consumables and spare parts are expected in the future.
Two cylinders give a number of advantages to the owner of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300. Firstly, the engine does not vibrate as much as a single-barrel. Due to this, it is more comfortable to move over long distances. The second advantage is the traction after 6 thousand revolutions. The Versys engine briskly spins up to 13 thousand.
The engine has its downsides. The main one is its high revs. It helps on the highway, but on dirt roads, especially in the presence of dirt, it has a negative effect. On the other hand, liquid cooling will save you from overheating in any case.
Other performance characteristics
The motorcycle has a six-speed manual gearbox. The chassis does not shine with torsional rigidity, but the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 does not need this in principle - the motorcycle is light. In turns at speed, the bike behaves stably.
The front has a classic telescopic fork, the rear has a monoshock. The settings are just right for light enduro and hooligan riding around the city. The latter means that you can literally fly past "sleeping policemen" without fear of the suspension breaking through.

It is comfortable to ride in a standing position on the footrests, which again hints at the high level of refinement of the standard chassis from the Ninja.
The brakes are single-disc at the front and rear. The system is simple and does not provide any feedback. But if you are not shy and press hard on the levers, the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 stops well. Moreover, the standard ABS does not allow the wheels to lock. The latter, by the way, are spoked, which once again hints at its off-road nature.
Who can I recommend the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 to? Most likely, beginners who don't understand the technical part well and haven't yet decided where they are more interested in riding. And this bike will rarely break down, since it is still quite "fresh", and its fuel consumption will not ruin you.
- Ulf
- youtube.com
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