• Published On: 23 January 2018
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The Versys-X 300 looks the small-sized adventure bike we have been waiting for. We find out if it really is worth the wait.

On the Outside

The Japanese manufacturer has done a great job at making the X 300 look like a big bike. This has resulted in it being a handsome machine that looks stylish yet simple. The X 300 is quite tall, and the large fixed screen only adds to its appeal. This Kawasaki uses regular mudguards, with the front only getting a small beak, which looks rather nice.

The X 300 has been designed proportionately, further adding to its correct nice stance are the wheels, a pair of lightweight aluminium wheels. ABS on the motorcycle comes as standard, however this is something you cannot switch off. Other modern tech on the bike includes an assist and slipper clutch. The slipper function needs no explanation and surely has its benefits under hard downshifting.

Equipment

In India, the bikemaker will only let you purchase the X 300 with a lot of accessories. These accessories include the crash guard, handlebar guards, fog lights and a single pannier. The left-sided pannier is missing because of the saree guard the manufacturer had to add because of the rules that apply for the Indian market.

The Versys-X 300 uses a 296cc, eight-valve, DOHC parallel-twin motor that makes 39.8hp and 25.7Nm of torque. It is paired to a six-speed transmission. Here comes the catch, the power figure is produced at 11,500rpm and peak torque at 10,000rpm.

How does it Perform?

These high-rpm output figures would be reasonable on a track-oriented machine but not an adventure motorcycle. This is extremely high for most bikes. The bike does 0-60kph in 3sec and 0-100kph in 7.6sec. The motorcycle also manages to reach a topspeed figure of more than 155kph. In real world scenarios, however, its high-rpm performance reflects negatively on its adventure nature. The engine can do 100kph without a fuss, but it does this at a high 7,500rpm and this is extremely uncharacteristic. Another problem is that the engine seems like it comes to life only past 6,000rpm, not very adventure-tourer like.

How does it Ride?

The X 300 is also plagued by vibrations; they begin at speeds onwards of 90kph. Not only can you feel the vibrations through the handlebar, you can feel them through the tank and footpegs as well. This high-rpm performance directly affects fuel-efficiency too, the bike manages 30.7kpl on the highway and 28.6kpl in the city.

On the flipside, the bike is great at low speeds. The bike is capable of going from 40kph to 150kph in top gear without the need for a downshift. Overall, the bike has character, with its high-revving engine, but it isn’t the character suited towards this bike.

Should I Buy One?

The Versys X 300 is a mix of good and bad, all for a hefty price of ₹4.60 lakh (ex-showroom) price tag. A non-kitted-out variant could lower the cost to around ₹4 lakh. This price would be acceptable for an extremely good 300, but this Versys isn’t one. You could buy the Z650, a much more superior bike for just ₹50,000 more. This makes the X 300 not feel like good value for money, especially with the uncharacteristic engine it comes fitted with.