Kawasaki Versys-X 300 [2025]

The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 has made a comeback in India after being discontinued for nearly five years. Traditionally, when a product comes back after such a long gap, it gets a host of updates to make it relevant with the times, but that’s not the case with the Versys-X 300. It is the same, simple motorcycle as before, except for the new colours and changes to comply with the latest emission norms and E20 petrol norms. In that case, we are curious to find out whether it still makes sense in 2025, when the Indian market is getting flooded with seemingly more modern and better-equipped adventure tourers such as the KTM 390 Adventure. Let’s find out.

For a 300cc motorcycle, the Versys-X 300 looks substantial. Its tall stance, large windscreen, muscular side panels, and a stubby tail with a standard luggage rack give it a strong road presence. It may not be classically handsome, but it certainly looks purposeful and commands attention on the road. It is available in two colour options and I personally like the blue and white combination you see in the pictures, as it looks more conspicuous than the signature green/black paint scheme.

The build quality of this Versys is typical Kawasaki — excellent. The paint finish is premium, plastics feel sturdy, and the overall fit and finish are top-notch. Nothing rattles or squeaks even after rough rides. Like all Kawasakis, it feels like a well-put-together motorcycle that will last.

The Versys-X 300 may look deceptively big, but the moment you hop on and take it off the stand, you’ll be surprised by how light it feels and how approachable the seat height, at 815mm, is for riders of almost all sizes. The riding triangle is equally comfortable and the seat is adequately cushioned and spacious, even for hefty individuals, making it suitable for long hauls. Moreover, the easy reach to the handlebars and the centre-set position of the footpegs offer an upright and neutral riding position. One can also opt for a 25mm taller accessory seat with more cushioning, but it costs an exorbitant Rs. 19,480.

Further enhancing comfort is the finely-tuned suspension setup. It absorbed Mumbai’s deep potholes, broken patches, and sharp speed breakers surprisingly well. In fact, some of the minor undulations are barely felt on the saddle. Similarly, on the highway, it feels composed and planted even on wavy concrete roads. Only when tackling taller undulations do you wish for a little more suspension travel. But overall, it delivers comfort that’s hard to fault.

Powering the Versys-X 300 is a 296cc, parallel-twin motor borrowed from the Ninja 300. This motor is largely smooth, tractable, and rev-happy but feels a bit out of place on an adventure tourer – a format of bikes which usually offer stronger low and mid-range punch. On the Versys, meanwhile, the low-end torque is quite muted, which takes some time to get used to.

However, it exhibits an interesting transformation once you start pushing. The mid-range is fairly strong, but the engine truly wakes up past 6,000rpm and pulls hard all the way to its 13,000rpm redline. Wringing the throttle while holding on to every gear for longer and watching the tacho needle sweep fast towards redline is an engaging affair. And the exciting top end is complemented by the exhaust note, which turns loud and raspy as you go past 8,000rpm.

Cruising at 100kmph feels almost effortless and overtaking is easily doable, though vibrations creep in on the seat and footpegs as early as 85-90kmph. The buzz isn’t outright bothersome but noticeable all the time. The six-speed gearbox, though, is slick and precise, and is supported by a superbly light clutch, making gearshifts seamless.

Another highlight is the handling dynamics of the motorcycle. The Versys X-300 changes direction effortlessly, be it while filtering your way through traffic or switching lanes on the highway. On winding roads, it feels stable and planted, holding its line well without the suspension feeling too soft or wallowy. It certainly strikes a good balance between comfort and control. What’s a bit of a letdown are the tyres, which deliver good grip on dry tarmac but lack feedback on wet roads, taking away confidence to some extent. Moreover, the presence of spoke wheels and tube-type tyres means puncture repairs will be more complicated than those of tubeless tyres.

Braking performance, meanwhile, could be better. The front brake offers good progression but lacks a strong initial bite. You need to pull the lever quite firmly during emergency stops. The rear brake, however, feels predictable and strong enough to back the front brake.

In case you’re wondering, you can take on mild trails on the Versys-X 300. It feels well-balanced and easily manoeuvrable through tighter as well as winding trails. The suspension can take on a lot of abuse while the 19-inch front wheel and decent 180mm ground clearance further inspire confidence. However, the absence of switchability for the rear ABS feels like a major letdown off-road, as it robs you of the ability to slide the rear to make it through tight turns or maintain control while slowing down. And the mellow bottom-end torque delivery means you have to continuously keep the engine on the boil to execute slides, punch your way out of tricky situations, and have some fun.

This is where the Versys-X 300 shows its age. The semi-digital instrument console provides all the crucial data like gear position, average fuel economy, and fuel range. However, it looks dated compared to the TFT displays present on most modern bikes. Moreover, it misses out on Bluetooth connectivity, which is a bit of a bummer in this day and age. Furthermore, there’s no traction control, no riding modes, and no option to switch off rear ABS — things that are becoming norms among adventure tourers these days.

While the Versys-X 300 is impressive in terms of fuel tank capacity, which stands at 17 litres, the fuel efficiency figure turned out to be a bit lower than our expectations. After testing the bike majorly on the highway, we obtained a mileage of around 25kmpl, which translates to a riding range of 425km on a full tank.

The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is not about features or outright value. Instead, it focuses on the fundamentals — quality, comfort, handling, reliability, and engine performance and character - and it truly nails them. What you get is a plush ride, excellent ergonomics, agile handling, and a rev-happy parallel-twin engine that’s fun to operate, especially when pushed hard.

However, it does have shortcomings. The lack of low-end grunt from the engine feels like a mismatch on an adventure tourer. And the tube-type tyres will take away from peace of mind, with puncture repairs being a much bigger hassle compared to tubeless tyres. Plus, the lack of modern, even necessary, features like switchability for the rear ABS further brings down the modernity quotient.

That said, if you’re looking for a no-nonsense, Japanese-built adventure tourer that prioritizes comfort, durability, and a pure riding experience, the Versys-X 300 makes a lot of sense. It may not be the most modern, but it’s a motorcycle that grows on you the more you ride it. And with the recent price reduction of Rs. 30,000, it has only gotten more desirable with a price tag of Rs. 3.49 lakh, ex-showroom.

Photography by Kaustubh Gandhi