Kawasaki Versys-X 300 Vs Honda CRF250 Rally Motorbike Review | Visordown.com

[@visordown]

Correction: the CRF250 Rally costs £5,329, not £4,329 as stated at 7.08 in this video. Apologies for this error.

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

This is by far the less biased review of these bikes I've watched, besides the Fortnine's review. The bikes are very different, and you guys touched every aspect about their differences, because they are in different classes of adventure bikes, one is 100% capable of off-road and 50 to 60% on road confidence, while the other one.. With different tyres, it can become 100% capable of giving you confidence on the asphalt for aggresive riding, while being like 70% adequate for off road use.

[@rayb7414]

Where were these bikes 55 years ago when I started riding? these are fabulous.

[@Al.j.Vasquez]

3:28 that looks a bit too close man

[@MikeHcan2]

Great comparison, and I like that you talked about the pros and cons of each bike based on both on and off road riding. I think there's a CRF250 Rally in my future. One suggestion: A bit of a pause/breath between sentences would give the review a better flow. Each section kinda ran overtop of the next. Other than that, well done and thanks!

[@captainbarnicle8548]

I'm after a small adventure bike to start off with (getting a mid size in 2 years after my skill level develops on the small bike). I've sat on both. That Versys seat is pure concrete. I got a sore arse in 30 seconds. Also I was worried about the seat height of the Honda, at 890 it was 50mil higher than what I was after, but sitting on it, I could touch the ground with both feet. I'm getting the Honda this week.

[@RobGADV]

I've had the Versys-X 300 since mid-October. I LOVE this bike. Yes, the stock seat sucks. Get a Seat Concepts seat for $185 US and it fixes the problem. The suspension will also soften up after about 500-600 miles and is really, REALLY good for this price point. For once, it's not woefully undersprung like so many bikes.

[@wtfx5757]

Rob G still loving your bike? I'm considering both of these as my first bike. Have you taken the x300 on any trails yet? Anything you don't like about it? Thanks

[@jamesoren7238]

THanks for the aftermarket seat tip - I sat on a Versys a few weeks back with the kawasaki ergo seat... I mean if the standard seat didn't exist, I would have labelled that one of the hardest seats around.

[@jamesoren7238]

Nice review! My only concern was that whilst its important to talk about stock tyres, and that's what you had, it's really hard to accurately compare two different bikes with such vastly different tyres. I feel if you owned a CRF and spent most of your time on road, you'd probably change those tyres pretty fast, and similarly with the Versys. They're probably press bikes, so not much you could've done, but it does make it pretty hard to judge a Versys' off road abilities on road tyres and a CRF's road handling on off road tyres.

[@123edwardzpad]

And time has proved your assertion to be true.

[@1966johnnywayne]

Four years later, it's clearly the new CRF300 Rally...for less money, vastly better fuel economy and 51lbs less weight than the Versys. Also, the Rally has an improved wider and softer seat for commuting compared to the new 300L.

[@FearToNothing]

Nice comparison, they're both adventure bike, but have totally different approach. Lets say that versys is a road bike that have capability to go offroad, and the crf is an offroad bike that have capability to go on road. Versys is no match for crf offroad, and crf is no match for versys on road. Same class, different approaches. By the way, nice video you got there mate! Really enjoy watching it. Cheers!

[@zzxx33mh]

True said..👍..

[@BruceHoult]

With strictly enforced 100 km/h speed limit in NZ (or 110 in Aus) the Kawasaki won't get the chance to show off its superior power and speed, so might as well get the Honda. Different story in Europe with 130 km/h (and USA de facto the same, if not legally so).

[@BruceHoult]

@Calamity I'm not sure what logic you think you're seeing. We're not talking about bikes with 300 km/h top speeds, we're talking about one bike with an absolute top speed around 130 km/h (and comfortable up to around 110), and another which is a little bit faster but not as useful off road. I have the one which is more useful off road. My other bike is a BMW R1100RT, which I can assure you is capable of breaking the speed limit by quite a bit, though it does need second gear to go fast enough to get a ticket on the open road and 3rd to lose your license.

[@mattyoz0]

Evey review I've seen of x300 says the tyres a really good on the road. I own the bike and i could drag pegs all day in confidence.

[@ultrasardine]

3:29 Now that was a close call

[@123edwardzpad]

Spot on review. Thank you. And now available in red!

[@IstasPumaNevada]

"you have to kick the side stand up before getting on". This is something I learned first-hand as my Rally is my first bike, and I laid it down from that mistake, heh heh. Got quite muddy myself, too.

[@dave8204]

I saw the Versys 300 in the Philippines just before it was released here and thought it looked just the job for city commuting and riding around the Moors. Got back here and saw the U.K. price,over a grand more than in Asia,quite a lot more over as well.As usual we get fleeced.

[@kitsachie.]

American prices are worse, Himalayan costs around 4k new everywhere else but it's over 5k here.

[@basshead10k]

Love the look of the honda i hade an 09 versys 650 and the seat was awful after about 10 miles

[@S.E.2062]

@FN-2187: Sorry for you! I still ride my 2007 V, it´s past 108.000km now. Aafter 66.000km I just slapped an Airhawk on so now I can go +950km Highway/12h without too much trouble. That was Berlin to Trento/Trient, or 1800km/5d from the Montenegrin/Albanian Border to Berlin (those last 250-300km were the only km´s on Autobahn) = 8000km/3 weeks... Me likey! CU!

[@jamesoren7238]

It's something kawasaki like to do. Yahama crunch crotch chestnuts, kawasaki break arses

[@motoklx]

I'm sorry but I just can't get over that gas mask windscreen on the Honda it is hideous.

[@vick_farkas]

Duel-sport tyres or dual-sport? 😉

[@solstar4778]

Durability of the two ? What one is most likely to give up the ghost? Honda/Kawasaki????

[@pauls9440]

Thanks for the test a good comparison, however it's dual sport not duel sport and though I'm metric isn't it foot pounds not pounds foot?

[@sandrider1406]

Put the Versis engine into the CRF and then hey the perfect bike?

[@1966johnnywayne]

Or, buy the new CRF300 Rally...for less money and weight than the Versys.

[@sergioj.c.5632]

I read that two cylinder bikes last longer than one cylinder. That’s not always the case, has to be with the brand too, but is a good point why to prefere a twin cylinder

[@allans7281]

The Honda rally clearly with Excel on the road with all the wind protection. However do you find it’s easy to damage the plastic when you go off road?

[@sergioj.c.5632]

I rode the 300 Rally last Friday and that screen in High speed highway sucks. I would prefer nothing because the wind was hitting my Helmet. I have a Naked G310 without Wind protection and it hits almost all on my chest. So, I would need something higher but off Road that is not so good idea…

[@gedielwerliguareski7456]

A se a honda colocasse essa moto no Brasil com um tanque com Boa capacidade e banco para viagens seria show

[@stanleyknife1967]

Shame the Versys didn’t sell very well. My local dealer sold one in 2 years.

[@nidhinbenny7975]

Yeah I haven't seen many of the Versys around either. Its a real shame, looks like a good bike. Maybe with the z400 engine in it, it might sell more?

[@nidhinbenny7975]

@Calamity 100%. Never understood why people buy things that they can't use just to show off. I reckon I'd love a Versys x 400 - the little extra torque and lower rpms on the highway is about the only thing that I want more from a VX300.

[@davidantoniocr]

Great vs review Thanks! I Honda fan & like so much crf but Kawa wins

[@25gwolfable]

Couldn't help but notice last Clement and extra cylinder Director silver gain G more horsepower but makes you lose torque torque is what you need for off roading Worse pairs what you need to go real fast prefer bully on the pavement I just can't help but no said all these KZbin videos they never wanna talk about torque always horsepower horsepower is great for going fast no doubt about it But if you gonna do a bunch of work or go up hills doing off roading you need to talk about torque numbers your customers would appreciate it I'm just saying

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

So a 275cc twin cylinder duel sport is what I want NOW. 🙄 with 21" front. Just kidding. What I want is a 450cc twin that is less than 150kgs

[@googleuser2082]

With engines this small I'd always go for the extra 50cc

[@neilconfesor9845]

3:30 looks like he just cut through a traffic👎😬

[@anishhang7708]

I lov both, both r so beautiful n powerful bike👍👍👍👍👍🇳🇵🏍️

[@Mrfish2015]

£5329 for the Honda .. but great honest review

[@chrisredfield3240]

Thats a lot for a 250 single

[@Mrfish2015]

+Kurt C why ?

[@iniakpmarc28]

I'm only 5' 8", am I going to struggle with the seat height?

[@darkburn1000]

iniakpmarc28 how about Honda X-ADV

[@iniakpmarc28]

Sorry Rob, I don't think that's a very good comparison.

[@Kman6849]

In my country the average height is lower than your height and i seen a lot of ppl ride them no problem (I 'm 5'9 so its no difference ) if you into this kind of bike just go for it :D

[@nidhinbenny7975]

I am 5' 8" too, and I couldn't get both feet down. It may vary because of inseam measurements but yeah wish I was another couple of inches taller - the Versys would have been an awesome bike.

[@serdardemirci3996]

7:32 That's why Kawasaki!

[@herbwag6456]

The Versys needs to be 400cc at the same weight.

[@bultacowally]

If it was you would want a 500 CC engine so why would Kawi bother....

[@elijahbrooks8589]

250 rallies not adv it's Dakar

[@chengsgroup2518]

crf sucks for its price....all u need to say is this in the review... crf underperform the Honda Sahara, Honda Falcon, Tornado 250 from 10 years ago......

[@louvega8414]

Enough with the green already, Kawasaki!

[@westcountryhomesonline8934]

one is a 75% dirt bike and the other a 85% road bike- comparison over....

[@jamesoren7238]

more like one is 80% a dirt bike and the other 65% a road bike. That kawasaki's doing pretty good off road, especially for road tyres

[@fingerhorn4]

The 300x could have been a wonderful bike but Kawasaki have ruined it for two reasons. It has a rock hard seat worthy of a 3rd class wooden railway train bench from 1933. They've also ruined what should be a fantastic engine and made it into a low-geared, high revving screamer with top end speed and HP at the expense of low down torque. In other words they are giving you what looks like a beautiful bike posing as an adventure machine but is actually a street bike with a tiring-sounding motor that never feels relaxed. What a shame as it is a great looker and could have been a BMW 310 GS beater. What a waste of a great parallel twin. I predict these will pour onto the second hand market in the next couple of years as the initial enthusiasm wains.

[@williamrae9954]

For a brand new bike that can be bought new foe £3995, surely you can afford a rear Renthal sprocket(£30) with 3 less teeth and the seat redone to your liking...amazes me how many people don't want to do little tweeks

[@romans883]

WOULD YOU RIDE KAWASAKI ON TRAIL OFF ROAD ? NO ? THEN WHY COMPARE STREET LEGAL DIRT BIKE ( HONDA RALLY ) TO WANNABE ADVENTURE BIKE THAT SHOULD NOT LIVE GRAVEL ROADS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE DISSAPOINTED LOL WHEN PEOPLE REALIZE THAT HALF OF THE ADVENTURE BIKES OUT THERE AREN'T TRAIL RATED ! AND THEIR OWNERS ADVENTURE BEST REVOLVE TO WHERE THEIR BIKES CAN GO ...