RX3 Visits With the X-300

[jbfla]

I received a call from a nearby dealer to come take a look at the new Kawasaki Versys X-300....couldn't resist....





Took a 10 mile test ride:





First impressions:

Fit and finish is very good.

Body panels fastened with bolts, not sheet metal screws.

Engine is smooth, and exhaust is quiet, compared to my RX3.

Clutch lever pull is incredibly light, (1 finger if you like ). It has "clutch assist" and a slipper clutch.

The bike is well balanced and handles with a light touch on the handlebars.

High revving engine, like the RX3.

Power comes on around 5,000 rpm and higher. Red line ~11,000 rpm.

It will be difficult to keep it under the recommended 5,000 rpm for the first 500 miles.....don't tell anyone I had it up to 65+ mph with no effort.




Wheels have aluminum rims with heavy duty spokes.




Single radiator, as opposed to the RX3's two.




The exposed header pipes will limit its off-road worthiness.




Made in Thailand label on the headstock.

There are a couple of guys on ADVrider that have already purchased one.

A very nice bike and I would like to have one.

The only thing stopping me from buying it is the dealer price.

ABS model is $5,700 USD. Add sales tax and all the dealer BS fees and I was quoted an OTD price of $7,500 USD.

...and that is with no accessories. Similarly equipped, it will easily be the price of two RX3's.

.....hmmmmmmmm.


jb

[BlackBike]

You did the dealer a good service with this write up nice

It is really the best on going from spec comparison. The benelli adventure is up and coming. The proposed rx4 will have its hands full competiting . It will need to be farkled out or substantially less then the x300 . Too close and the win will go to Kawasaki

[pete]

Nice bike....
But I guess I will wait for Yamaha to put there R3 motor, 321cc twin
in a small tenere....



.

[TheycallmeD]

Does it use the Ninja motor?

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by TheycallmeD

Does it use the Ninja motor?

Yes, the motor is from the Ninja 300, retuned for more torque at a lower rpm.

Although rpm is a relative term.

The X-300 owner's manual shows peak hp (39) at 11,000 rpm and peak torque (25) at 10,000 rpm.

However,the Ninja 300's torque curve is pretty flat from 6,000 to 10,000 rpm. I expect the X-300's to be similar.

jb

[2LZ]

Nice, fair write-up. Thanks jb!

39hp....so about 15 more out of 50cc's (round numbers). Not bad.
It's interesting to hear that it's just as pipey, if not more so, than the RX3. Did you notice major acceleration difference for that extra 15 horse?

It's good to get your input as you are able to ride much more daily than many of us (between work and weather) and you truly "use" your bikes. If it was a 450-600cc, I may be able to see that price but that's an awful expensive 300cc bike, minus bling. I wonder how much the accessories would cost on top of that 7500.00 to get it as dressed as the RX3?
Did it ride as firm as the RX3? I know....only ten miles. Hard to check out everything.
Also, I see you're on your tip-toes. Is it taller than the RX3?

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Nice, fair write-up. Thanks jb!

39hp....so about 15 more out of 50cc's (round numbers). Not bad.
It's interesting to hear that it's just as pipey, if not more so, than the RX3. Did you notice major acceleration difference for that extra 15 horse?

The acceleration is faster, but was hard to give the engine a fair test in only ten miles and trying to keep the rpms within limits.

I did a few roll-ons from 40 to 60 mph that assured me the bike could keep up with traffic.

Originally Posted by 2LZ

....... I wonder how much the accessories would cost on top of that 7500.00 to get it as dressed as the RX3?

Prices are in USD:

Hard side cases...$430.
Top box............ $100.
Engine guards....$215.

$745 plus tax ~$800

There are other accessories but they are not stock on the RX3 either.

Now that I am looking at the cost of all the accessories I have added to the RX3, the total puts it in the price range of the stock X-300.

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Did it ride as firm as the RX3? I know....only ten miles. Hard to check out everything.

Another subjective opinion...IMO, the ride was better than the stock RX3. The ride on the stock RX3 really jolted my spine on any road irregularities.

With the Progressive rear shock ($500), the RX3's is about the same as the X-300.

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Also, I see you're on your tip-toes. Is it taller than the RX3?

In the photo my left foot is flat footed, and my right foot has a toe down. (30" inseam).

The seat height is a little taller than my stock RX3 with the lowering link ($100) and narrow seat ($250).

However, since I mounted the taller 80 series rear tire on my RX3, the seat height is about the same.

Oddly, I could not find the "seat height" in the specs listed in the X-300 Owner's Manual.



To reiterate, these are all "first impressions". It usually takes 500 to 1,000 miles to determine if a bike suits me.

At first look, the X-300 fits my road-oriented riding better than the RX3.

But I haven't given up on the RX3.

I'm still riding it....11,000+ miles.

Every time I get on the bike, it feels like I am at home.

The on-road balance and handling are better than most bikes I have ridden.

The main reason I am considering a bike in the same category as the RX3 is the possibility that I will need to put a lot of money into a pending engine repair.

If that is the case, I would rather put that $ towards a more suitable bike.

jb

[2LZ]

"Oddly, I could not find the "seat height" in the specs listed in the X-300 Owner's Manual."

Seat height according to the web pages.
X-300 - 32.1
RX3 - 31.3

Basically the same.
I love checking out new stuff. That had to be a ton of fun. Thanks jb!

[pyoungbl]

39 hp from a 300cc mill? I'd like to verify that on a dyno. Manufacturers are usually very optimistic when they list stuff like weight and hp, knowing that lots of people will take those numbers as gospel. I'm thinking about my Guzzi V7 (744cc) which dyno'd out at 39.57 hp stock and 41.86hp after flashing the ECU. That's about 10 hp less than advertised.

As for the cost...I got lots of options (skid plate, front and rear tire w/ 19" wheel trail package, tourer package...aluminum bags etc) and the bottom line was $5900 delivered to my door. I think it's easy to forget that the X-300 price is MSRP. Delivery, setup, documentation, etc are profit centers for the dealer and those numbers are unknown. I'm guessing a gap of $1.5 ~ $2K between the two bikes when all is said and done. That's not to say that the X-300 is not a good bike, possibly more capable than the Zong, just that CSC has less overhead to cover and thus can offer more for your money.

Peter Y.

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by pyoungbl

39 hp from a 300cc mill? I'd like to verify that on a dyno. Manufacturers are usually very optimistic when they list stuff like weight and hp, knowing that lots of people will take those numbers as gospel. I'm thinking about my Guzzi V7 (744cc) which dyno'd out at 39.57 hp stock and 41.86hp after flashing the ECU. That's about 10 hp less than advertised.

As for the cost...I got lots of options (skid plate, front and rear tire w/ 19" wheel trail package, tourer package...aluminum bags etc) and the bottom line was $5900 delivered to my door. I think it's easy to forget that the X-300 price is MSRP. Delivery, setup, documentation, etc are profit centers for the dealer and those numbers are unknown. I'm guessing a gap of $1.5 ~ $2K between the two bikes when all is said and done. That's not to say that the X-300 is not a good bike, possibly more capable than the Zong, just that CSC has less overhead to cover and thus can offer more for your money.

Peter Y.

Not that I'm going to run out and buy one but I do like the idea it comes with a 19" front rim. I think I need that upgrade on the RX.

[pete]

the 39hp is prob taken at the crank...
on a avarage they lose 20% in the drive train.
so yer looking at around 31 at the rear wheel...



..

[Juanro]

Hi,

It's a very, very nice bike. No doubt. If it were available here, I'd keep an eye on it as a replacement por my RX3. But: this just got my attention.
X300
Front Suspension: 41 mm telescopic fork, 5.1 in travel
Rear Suspension: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak, 5.8 in travel with adjustable preload
RX3
5.1/5.6 inches front/rear)
wich are very close, but then they got these reviews
Rider magazine, about Zongshen said "Though short on travel for an adventurer"
ADVPulse on the K "...a long-travel suspension offer better bump absorption on rough terrain as well".
Rounding up, I thought the Green machine would have a longer, more off road apt suspension.

http://ridermagazine.com/.../2016-cs...nture-road.../
http://www.advpulse.com/adv.../2017-...-versys-x-300/

[pete]

Originally Posted by Juanro

Rounding up, I thought the Green machine would have a longer, more off road apt suspension.

I think you would find the frame / suspension is a converted 300 ninja
so the geomitry of the rear would only let them increase the travel only so
much more over its intended design...



...

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by pyoungbl

39 hp from a 300cc mill? I'd like to verify that on a dyno. ...Peter Y.

I haven't seen a dyno chart for the X-300.

Though there is a dyno graph for the Nnja 300, same engine, that peaks out at 34.5 rear wheel hp at ~11,000 rpm.

jb

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

"Oddly, I could not find the "seat height" in the specs listed in the X-300 Owner's Manual."

Seat height according to the web pages.
X-300 - 32.1
RX3 - 31.3

Basically the same.
I love checking out new stuff. That had to be a ton of fun. Thanks jb!

2LZ, Thanks for the seat height info.

On a RX3 ride today I noticed I was tiptoeing on both sides, so my RX3 seat is a bit higher than the X-300.

Changing the rear shock preload changes the seat height.

I'm not really in the market for another small displacement bike.

Like you, I like checking out new bikes.

In the case of the X-300 and its price, it opens a lot of choices for other bikes.

jb