Kawasaki Versys-X 300 specifications, dimensions and price
Kawasaki · Adventure touring
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is a 296cc adventure-touring bike rated at 39 hp and 19.2 lb-ft, with a wet multi-disc manual clutch, chain drive and ABS. It has 7.1 in of ground clearance, a 32.1 in seat, a 4.5 gal tank and a 385.9 lb curb weight, and starts at $5,799 before a $650 destination charge.
It is the small Versys for riders downsizing from 500 to 600 lb bikes or starting out, and owners describe a capable but basic machine.
Kawasaki Versys-X 300
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Adventure touring |
| Engine | 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 296cc |
| Bore x stroke | 62.0x49.0mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.6:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed, return shift with wet multi-disc manual clutch |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front suspension | 41mm telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 5.1 in |
| Rear suspension | Uni-Trak swingarm with 5-way spring preload adjustment |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.8 in |
| Front brake | Single 290mm disc, ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 220mm disc, ABS |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 130/80-17 |
| Seat height | 32.1 in |
| Wet weight (curb) | 385.9 lb |
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 24.3° |
| Trail | 4.3 in |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal |
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in |
| Maximum horsepower | 39.0 hp |
| Maximum horsepower (at rpm) | 11,500 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 19.2 lb-ft |
| Maximum torque (at rpm) | 10,000 rpm |
| Ignition | TCBI with Digital Advance |
| Frame | Tubular, diamond |
| Electronic rider aids | Economical Riding Indicator, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) |
| Special features | ERGO-FIT |
| Length x width x height | 85.4x33.9x54.7 in |
| Estimated dry weight (dry) | 350.6 lb |
| Starting MSRP | $5,799 |
| Destination charge | $650 |
Who buys a Versys-X 300
The Versys-X 300 attracts riders who want less bike. A ZRX owners forum thread on the Versys-X 300 says many aging riders are selling their 500 to 600 lb bikes and turning to smaller displacement because of physical limitations, and that the trouble with the Versys 650 is that it weighs over 500 lb. The Versys-X 300 weighs 385.9 lb, about 100 lb less than the Versys 650.
What owners say, and the light-bulb recall
Owners on the same forum thread are candid about the bike's limits. One poster who rode a Versys-X 300 found it nice but without enough power for them, and another who owns one describes it as fairly tall and plans to fit a taller aftermarket seat.
That fits Kawasaki's numbers: 39 hp and a 296cc twin make it a light-duty machine, and Motor & Wheels notes a recall on 2017 300cc models for a loosening socket on the tail and brake-light assembly that let the bulb fall out.
So a used bike that has lost a light bulb may simply have missed the fix.
This model is $800 above the Ninja 300 at $4,999 and $4,600 below the Versys 650 at $10,399. It has 7.1 in of ground clearance, the most of any Kawasaki road bike here, and a 4.5 gal tank, which suits a beginner who wants an upright adventure-style position. A shorter rider should check the 32.1 in seat.
Budget for luggage and a taller screen, which are common additions.
Against the other small adventure bikes
BMW's G 310 GS costs $5,895 and weighs 386 lb road ready, almost identical to the Versys-X 300's 385.9 lb curb weight, and the Kawasaki costs $96 less at $5,799. Honda's CRF300L Rally costs $6,499 and weighs 333 lb. But its 35.2 in seat is 3.1 in taller than the Kawasaki's 32.1 in.
The Versys-X 300 has the largest fuel tank of the group at 4.5 gal and 7.1 in of ground clearance. So it is the road-biased choice among them.
Versys-X 300 against the Versys 650, KLE500 and NX500
Kawasaki's KLE500 costs $6,599 and Honda's NX500 costs $6,899, each with a 451 or 471cc twin, and the Versys 650 LT costs $10,399. At $5,799 and 385.9 lb, the Versys-X 300 is the cheapest and lightest of the four.
Kawasaki Versys-X 300 — specification reference- Model-year range
- 2025–2026
- Compared editions
- 2
- Specification entries
- 28
- Entries that differ
- 0
Kawasaki rates the 296cc twin at 39 hp and 19.2 lb-ft. It is a small-displacement bike, so it suits a lighter load and lower speeds than the 650.
Motor & Wheels reports a recall on 2017 300cc Versys models for a loosening socket in the tail and brake-light assembly that could let the bulb fall out.