[nj-bill]

Hello,
I just picked-up a slightly used (1300 miles) Versys X300 ABS. As a lifelong enthusiast I hope to add as much as I take from this forum. I'm retiring early (59) in 7 months and have some big rides planned.

Take care,
Bill

 

[nj-bill]

Welcome to the forum. Bike is looking good. Good find on the low mileage makes me wonder on why previous owner let it go, could be the times

Thank you! There are lots of deals this time of year. Nobody normal is thinking about buying a bike here in November.

 

[nj-bill]

Welcome! Great looking low-mileage bike.

Sounds like you have fun times ahead-- and congratulations on the early retirement too 👍🏻

JT

Thanks!! I'll be in my 35th year with the same employer... I'm ready.

I see you live in NW GA. What a beautiful area. Last summer, a buddy of mine and I rode the Smokey Mountains 500. We started in Suches GA and rode it clockwise. It was amazing. Our plan is to move south when my wife is ready to retire. She is younger than me and has about 8 years left to go. NW GA is on my list but she has family in SC so who knows where we will go.

 

[nj-bill]

Bike looks good. Classic green too.

I like the green. It isn't my first green Kawasaki either. Here is my 2003 Kawasaki KLX 400SR... gone but not forgotten.

 

[nj-bill]

My channel is: trekOCLVone
The Versys X300 is an excellent choice for older riders, and you will find a lot of company here with the same goals.

Hi Dave,
I've seen your channel; nice work. I've owned close to 30 bikes dating back to the early 1970s. This is my first passion in life. As I get older I find myself gravitating towards lighter bikes. Here is a picture of my largest adv bike, a Yamaha Super Tenure 1200, in Moab UT. I rode that off-road but it was a real struggle to pick it up. The VX300 should be much easier.

 

[nj-bill]

Welcome aboard! Your VX3 is identical to the first one I owned - but foolishly sold about a year later. Fast forward another couple years and I got my second one - and couldn’t be happier!
BTW, I’m also an ex-Tenere owner. Two of them actually. Here’s a picture of my first one on a trip to Prudhoe Bay back in 2012. I’m on the left in the red Darien.

View attachment 191305

Prudhoe Bay sounds like an amazing trip. I really loved my S10 but at 5'9" and 180 pounds it was too big. I consistently rode it off road solo. Dropping it was never a problem. Picking it up was.

Do you ride long distance trips on the VX300? Obviously, it's not going to be as comfy as the S10 but I hope it can handle a couple hours of highway.

 

[nj-bill]

It's cold, but not too cold for the guy with a new bike. However, that prompted me to order heated grips for the new sleigh.

 

[nj-bill]

First farkle. Givi crash bars. These seem sturdy. Do I have the Givi badges in the right place?

 

[nj-bill]

Is that a WR25R I spy in the background? If so, you're obviously a man of impeccable taste and refinement, as that is the combo I currently own.

Not only is that a 2020 WR250R, it is my third WR250R. I owned a 2008, a 2013 and now the 2020. When they discontinued the WRR in 2020, I panicked and wanted to have a WRR for as long as possible. I purchased the last new one I could find and sold my 2013. I've owned 20+ motorcycles and never considered buying the same bike twice... until I owned a WR250R.

 

[nj-bill]

Took a solo ride in the state forest today. It was about 40F and 20 miles of asphalt to get there. Luckily, I was sporting heated everything. 😁


Here's the only dicey part of riding solo in the middle of a 1.2 million acre pinelands preserve.

 

[nj-bill]

Looks WET and... COLD!

I don't mind being wet OR cold, as long as I'm not wet AND cold. Winter riding is something I enjoy so I have good Goretex gear and heated everything. I walked both sides of that big puddle before deciding to ride along the right edge.

I'm really enjoying the Versys X 300. Why did I wait so long to get one?