Sounds great -- Look forward to seeing the rest of the story!
My 2022 X300 (a.k.a. "Akira") Build Thread
Brand new 2022 model now with ~400 miles and my thoughts thus far:
Having owned a Ninja 500 the past four years, the engine and its characteristics are quite familiar. While on paper it would seem the only place power can be had is >7000rpm, the engine will actually lug 6th gear @ 25mph and even accelerate, albeit not briskly.
Just installed a 43t rear sprocket today. Gotta say, best mod for anyone not looking to ride with a gang of CRF300Ls in an actual offroad situation.
Had a few "initial quality" issues JD Power & Associates might be interested in. Firstly, my clutch safety switch wasn't plugged in at the dealer. Haven't seen one of these crated so I've no idea if part of dealer prep but a full checklist sure oughtta be. Secondly, my left radiator hose sprung a leak thanks to a stay-open spring clamp left in the stay-open position, almost certainly at the factory. Lastly (for now anyway), my handlebars were crooked which required loosening the triple clamps to correct, which makes me wonder if these are crated with the bars off and forks slid up, making this another dealer prep failure.
Bike's height takes getting used to (from my fleet anyway) so when it feels I'm going slow I look down to see I'm actually 20mph over the limit...often. Anyone unhappy with this bike's performance should be reminded over and over again that it's a mere 296cc and, if they still don't get it, be given a VIP subscription to YammieNoob's YouTube channel where they can join others who think every bike should have a 'Busa motor.
Seat is hard and I'd planned on a Corbin but it's actually breaking in well and getting more comfortable with time. Will make my seat decision before Spring but for now I'm gonna say stock will probably be fine, or maybe a slightly modded stock one anyway.
Dyno'd the bike today. Same numbers all the major outlets got of course. The promising bit of news is a full 2HP increase when I removed the air filter and its cover! The airbox has historically been a bottleneck for the Ninja family and this is no exception. A full 2HP at the wheels is pretty huge for a bike only laying down 32 ponies to begin with. Once I get my Delkevic full system, a K&N filter and some airbox cutting will also be part of my power increase plan.
My buddy who owns the dyno just got the proper cable to flash the Versys X 300 and already knew from its literature that he now has the capability of correcting the issues with error codes thrown by the previous ECU part number because of sprocket changes. Anyone who wants more drastic sprocket changes than their ECU will tolerate should contact a tuner with this cable.
Accessories are expensive and quite scarce. I've ordered Shad luggage and supports, both of which won't be here for two months. I've also ordered a Puig windscreen that won't even be in stock again for a week. T-Rex is sold out of center stands and Mama Kaw can KMA for wanting $333 for theirs. Guess SW Motech is the only option.
I found the Sumitomo 2-pin connector (with pigtails) for the accessory light plug on Amazon here:
Have Kawi hand guards on order. Contemplating Koso heated grips. My LED conversion is about halfway done thus far.
Anyway...having had no test ride of this bike before shelling out six large, I'm pleasantly surprised by its performance and super stoked to add it to the stable. I wanted a commuter, errand runner, fuel sipper, corner carver, and light-trail capable bike and what a Swiss Army knife this thing turned out to be!
More to come...
![]()
Having owned a Ninja 500 the past four years, the engine and its characteristics are quite familiar. While on paper it would seem the only place power can be had is >7000rpm, the engine will actually lug 6th gear @ 25mph and even accelerate, albeit not briskly.
Just installed a 43t rear sprocket today. Gotta say, best mod for anyone not looking to ride with a gang of CRF300Ls in an actual offroad situation.
Had a few "initial quality" issues JD Power & Associates might be interested in. Firstly, my clutch safety switch wasn't plugged in at the dealer. Haven't seen one of these crated so I've no idea if part of dealer prep but a full checklist sure oughtta be. Secondly, my left radiator hose sprung a leak thanks to a stay-open spring clamp left in the stay-open position, almost certainly at the factory. Lastly (for now anyway), my handlebars were crooked which required loosening the triple clamps to correct, which makes me wonder if these are crated with the bars off and forks slid up, making this another dealer prep failure.
Bike's height takes getting used to (from my fleet anyway) so when it feels I'm going slow I look down to see I'm actually 20mph over the limit...often. Anyone unhappy with this bike's performance should be reminded over and over again that it's a mere 296cc and, if they still don't get it, be given a VIP subscription to YammieNoob's YouTube channel where they can join others who think every bike should have a 'Busa motor.
Seat is hard and I'd planned on a Corbin but it's actually breaking in well and getting more comfortable with time. Will make my seat decision before Spring but for now I'm gonna say stock will probably be fine, or maybe a slightly modded stock one anyway.
Dyno'd the bike today. Same numbers all the major outlets got of course. The promising bit of news is a full 2HP increase when I removed the air filter and its cover! The airbox has historically been a bottleneck for the Ninja family and this is no exception. A full 2HP at the wheels is pretty huge for a bike only laying down 32 ponies to begin with. Once I get my Delkevic full system, a K&N filter and some airbox cutting will also be part of my power increase plan.
My buddy who owns the dyno just got the proper cable to flash the Versys X 300 and already knew from its literature that he now has the capability of correcting the issues with error codes thrown by the previous ECU part number because of sprocket changes. Anyone who wants more drastic sprocket changes than their ECU will tolerate should contact a tuner with this cable.
Accessories are expensive and quite scarce. I've ordered Shad luggage and supports, both of which won't be here for two months. I've also ordered a Puig windscreen that won't even be in stock again for a week. T-Rex is sold out of center stands and Mama Kaw can KMA for wanting $333 for theirs. Guess SW Motech is the only option.
I found the Sumitomo 2-pin connector (with pigtails) for the accessory light plug on Amazon here:
Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural
Buy Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!
www.amazon.com
Have Kawi hand guards on order. Contemplating Koso heated grips. My LED conversion is about halfway done thus far.
Anyway...having had no test ride of this bike before shelling out six large, I'm pleasantly surprised by its performance and super stoked to add it to the stable. I wanted a commuter, errand runner, fuel sipper, corner carver, and light-trail capable bike and what a Swiss Army knife this thing turned out to be!
More to come...
1 - 20 of 73 Posts
Ha, I love your Yammie Noob reference! 😅 Regarding seats, I am one of the few that was able to tolerate the stock seat, but after a year and a half plus 17,000 miles of ownership, I went ahead and sprang for the Kawasaki "Ergo" seat. The dealership where I bought my bike is still offering me discounts on accessories, so it was a no-brainer. I think I paid about $250 for it, and although I didn't feel like I needed it, I do like it. PM me for details if you're interested.Brand new 2022 model now with ~400 miles and my thoughts thus far:
Having owned a Ninja 500 the past four years, the engine and its characteristics are quite familiar. While on paper it would seem the only place power can be had is >7000rpm, the engine will actually lug 6th gear @ 25mph and even accelerate, albeit not briskly.
Just installed a 43t rear sprocket today. Gotta say, best mod for anyone not looking to ride with a gang of CRF300Ls in an actual offroad situation.
Had a few "initial quality" issues JD Power & Associates might be interested in. Firstly, my clutch safety switch wasn't plugged in at the dealer. Haven't seen one of these crated so I've no idea if part of dealer prep but a full checklist sure oughtta be. Secondly, my left radiator hose sprung a leak thanks to a stay-open spring clamp left in the stay-open position, almost certainly at the factory. Lastly (for now anyway), my handlebars were crooked which required loosening the triple clamps to correct, which makes me wonder if these are crated with the bars off and forks slid up, making this another dealer prep failure.
Bike's height takes getting used to (from my fleet anyway) so when it feels I'm going slow I look down to see I'm actually 20mph over the limit...often. Anyone unhappy with this bike's performance should be reminded over and over again that it's a mere 296cc and, if they still don't get it, be given a VIP subscription to YammieNoob's YouTube channel where they can join others who think every bike should have a 'Busa motor.
Seat is hard and I'd planned on a Corbin but it's actually breaking in well and getting more comfortable with time. Will make my seat decision before Spring but for now I'm gonna say stock will probably be fine, or maybe a slightly modded stock one anyway.
Dyno'd the bike today. Same numbers all the major outlets got of course. The promising bit of news is a full 2HP increase when I removed the air filter and its cover! The airbox has historically been a bottleneck for the Ninja family and this is no exception. A full 2HP at the wheels is pretty huge for a bike only laying down 32 ponies to begin with. Once I get my Delkevic full system, a K&N filter and some airbox cutting will also be part of my power increase plan.
My buddy who owns the dyno just got the proper cable to flash the Versys X 300 and already knew from its literature that he now has the capability of correcting the issues with error codes thrown by the previous ECU part number because of sprocket changes. Anyone who wants more drastic sprocket changes than their ECU will tolerate should contact a tuner with this cable.
Accessories are expensive and quite scarce. I've ordered Shad luggage and supports, both of which won't be here for two months. I've also ordered a Puig windscreen that won't even be in stock again for a week. T-Rex is sold out of center stands and Mama Kaw can KMA for wanting $333 for theirs. Guess SW Motech is the only option.
I found the Sumitomo 2-pin connector (with pigtails) for the accessory light plug on Amazon here:
Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural
Buy Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!www.amazon.com
Have Kawi hand guards on order. Contemplating Koso heated grips. My LED conversion is about halfway done thus far.
Anyway...having had no test ride of this bike before shelling out six large, I'm pleasantly surprised by its performance and super stoked to add it to the stable. I wanted a commuter, errand runner, fuel sipper, corner carver, and light-trail capable bike and what a Swiss Army knife this thing turned out to be!
More to come...
![]()
Great post! Safe travels.
Well said! I'm on my 7th trip across the U.S., the first 6 were on a R1200GS, the Wee-X is even more fun, if that's possible. I am envious of your 2022 color, although my 2021 color is popular with everyone: everyone except me.Brand new 2022 model now with ~400 miles and my thoughts thus far:
Having owned a Ninja 500 the past four years, the engine and its characteristics are quite familiar. While on paper it would seem the only place power can be had is >7000rpm, the engine will actually lug 6th gear @ 25mph and even accelerate, albeit not briskly.
Just installed a 43t rear sprocket today. Gotta say, best mod for anyone not looking to ride with a gang of CRF300Ls in an actual offroad situation.
Had a few "initial quality" issues JD Power & Associates might be interested in. Firstly, my clutch safety switch wasn't plugged in at the dealer. Haven't seen one of these crated so I've no idea if part of dealer prep but a full checklist sure oughtta be. Secondly, my left radiator hose sprung a leak thanks to a stay-open spring clamp left in the stay-open position, almost certainly at the factory. Lastly (for now anyway), my handlebars were crooked which required loosening the triple clamps to correct, which makes me wonder if these are crated with the bars off and forks slid up, making this another dealer prep failure.
Bike's height takes getting used to (from my fleet anyway) so when it feels I'm going slow I look down to see I'm actually 20mph over the limit...often. Anyone unhappy with this bike's performance should be reminded over and over again that it's a mere 296cc and, if they still don't get it, be given a VIP subscription to YammieNoob's YouTube channel where they can join others who think every bike should have a 'Busa motor.
Seat is hard and I'd planned on a Corbin but it's actually breaking in well and getting more comfortable with time. Will make my seat decision before Spring but for now I'm gonna say stock will probably be fine, or maybe a slightly modded stock one anyway.
Dyno'd the bike today. Same numbers all the major outlets got of course. The promising bit of news is a full 2HP increase when I removed the air filter and its cover! The airbox has historically been a bottleneck for the Ninja family and this is no exception. A full 2HP at the wheels is pretty huge for a bike only laying down 32 ponies to begin with. Once I get my Delkevic full system, a K&N filter and some airbox cutting will also be part of my power increase plan.
My buddy who owns the dyno just got the proper cable to flash the Versys X 300 and already knew from its literature that he now has the capability of correcting the issues with error codes thrown by the previous ECU part number because of sprocket changes. Anyone who wants more drastic sprocket changes than their ECU will tolerate should contact a tuner with this cable.
Accessories are expensive and quite scarce. I've ordered Shad luggage and supports, both of which won't be here for two months. I've also ordered a Puig windscreen that won't even be in stock again for a week. T-Rex is sold out of center stands and Mama Kaw can KMA for wanting $333 for theirs. Guess SW Motech is the only option.
I found the Sumitomo 2-pin connector (with pigtails) for the accessory light plug on Amazon here:
Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural
Buy Ballenger Motorsports - 2 Way Sumitomo MT Receptacle Connector Assembly for Motorcycle Applications - Natural at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!www.amazon.com
Have Kawi hand guards on order. Contemplating Koso heated grips. My LED conversion is about halfway done thus far.
Anyway...having had no test ride of this bike before shelling out six large, I'm pleasantly surprised by its performance and super stoked to add it to the stable. I wanted a commuter, errand runner, fuel sipper, corner carver, and light-trail capable bike and what a Swiss Army knife this thing turned out to be!
More to come...
![]()
Would this not work? According to Kawasaki Ninja and Versys use same filter
Amazon.com: K&N Engine Air Filter: High Performance, Premium, Powersport Air Filter: Fits 2008-2017 KAWASAKI (EX250R Ninja, EX300 Ninja, EX300 Ninja ABS, EX300, Ninja 250R, Z300) KA-2508 : Automotive
Buy K&N Engine Air Filter: High Performance, Premium, Powersport Air Filter: Fits 2008-2017 KAWASAKI (EX250R Ninja, EX300 Ninja, EX300 Ninja ABS, EX300, Ninja 250R, Z300) KA-2508: Air Filters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
They don't though...
Kawasaki 11013-0762 - Air Filter | Partzilla.com
Buy Kawasaki 11013-0762 - Air Filter. This OEM part is guaranteed by Kawasaki's limited part warranty ✓ FREE Shipping on qualified orders - Partzilla.com
www.partzilla.com
Kawasaki 11013-0020 - Air Filter | Partzilla.com
Buy Kawasaki 11013-0020 - Air Filter. This OEM part is guaranteed by Kawasaki's limited part warranty ✓ FREE Shipping on qualified orders - Partzilla.com
www.partzilla.com
Although close enough that it may be a good jumping off point.
my bad, didn't catch the number after the 11013-They don't though...
Kawasaki 11013-0762 - Air Filter | Partzilla.com
Buy Kawasaki 11013-0762 - Air Filter. This OEM part is guaranteed by Kawasaki's limited part warranty ✓ FREE Shipping on qualified orders - Partzilla.com
Kawasaki 11013-0020 - Air Filter | Partzilla.com
Buy Kawasaki 11013-0020 - Air Filter. This OEM part is guaranteed by Kawasaki's limited part warranty ✓ FREE Shipping on qualified orders - Partzilla.com
Although close enough that it may be a good jumping off point.
1 - 20 of 73 Posts
