2017 Kawasaki Versys-X 300- I can't believe it!

• Nov 15, 2016
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TVS BMW came up with the BMW G310 GS and I was able to digest it. Suzuki shot out their adventure version- the V Strom 250 and that too was digest- able. But when I saw Kawasaki feature the so called Versys- X 300 at EICMA, all hell broke loose. I headed out to see if the sun had set in the east. The news was of such magnitude, something has changed or shifted lately else how would Kawasaki come up with something that smart and innovative, a motorcycle that was easily derived from another motorcycle and only had some of its parts and tyres changed so that it fell under the ‘Versys’ category. Before I forget about this, they've also been innovative with the name: Versys- X 300. So, this motorcycle must be a stealth bomber too. Frankly speaking, that is what is happening these days. Every motorcycle manufacturer has one engine that they shove into a frame and then use it on motorcycles that just has different body parts. So to the public, it is 3 motorcycles with 3 engines but in reality, it is the same engine, same frame on all the motorcycles, except that motorcycles wear different parts and are suited to behaving differently. So you get a track motorcycle, a street/ naked motorcycle and thirdly, an ‘adventure' motorcycle with the same, damn engine! If you assume that the gearing would’ve been altered too depending on the behavior of the motorcycle, then you are a person who can easily be brainwashed.

The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 may, or may not make it to India but even if it does, it would cost around 4.5-5.0 lakhs on road and that means I’m not going to buy it! Since the adventure tourer market is seen growing rapidly in this country with high demand for small and medium capacity tourers, I won’t be surprised if someone from India toured the world on this, considering Kawasaki’s reliability factor, even though people in the USA would consider this to be a comfortable street motorcycle. Speaking of the features that make it an adventure tourer, the X 300 offers 41mm long travel Telescopic forks, gas charged shock at the rear, spoke wheels, high windscreen, upright riding position and a 19 inch front wheel. Typical tourer stuff eh? It also comes with various accessories split into two packages- Urban and adventure and that means you’ll have to shell out another 50,000 INR or more for panniers, center stand, tail box and other stuff. That’s the thing with ‘packages’ these days, just be prepared to spend more money! The 296cc liquid cooled parallel twin engine borrowed from the Ninja 300 ensures an output of 38.5 BHP but I’m not sure how it would do, assuming that the X 300 has already put on more weight than the Ninja 300. The only point that impresses me though is that the engine is a parallel twin cylinder engine unlike most of its other competitors that may not be at par in terms of smoothness with their single cylinder engines.

Personally, I’d like to have an adventure tourer with an engine that’s got two or more cylinders, especially for long distance cruising and touring else I don’t see the point of having a single cylinder heavy weight slouch tourer, unless you’re wandering around your city or nearby villages! The existing slipper clutch on this motor would be a treat though. Apart from a highly informational instrument cluster, this baby Versys is claimed to have a 400 kilometers tank range, that’s another point which deserves a thumbs up. ABS too, comes as a standard feature which I think is a must for our riding and mental conditions. As of now, Kawasaki is yet to release more details of this highly anticipated Versys X-300 but until then, hold your horses! Below are some cliched details:
By: Ssaajan Manoj Jogia