Kawasaki Versys X 300 vs rivals: price and specification compared

The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is more expensive than its Indian competitors.

Published on May 23, 2025 07:00:00 AM

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With the 300-500cc adventure tourer segment gaining traction in India, Kawasaki has decided to reintroduce the Versys-X 300 to our market. For 2025, it receives updates to meet emission norms, along with a new colour scheme and refreshed graphics. Apart from the compliance and cosmetic updates, the bike remains largely unchanged. We pit it against its chief rivals on paper to see how it stacks up.

Kawasaki Versys X 300 vs rivals: engine and output

Engine and output
	Kawasaki Versys-X 300	KTM 390 Adventure	Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Engine	297cc, parallel-twin, liquid cooled	399cc, single cylinder, liquid-cooled	452cc, single cylinder, liquid-cooled
Power	40hp at 11,500rpm	46hp at 8,500rpm	40hp at 8,000rpm
Torque	26Nm at 10,000rpm	39Nm at 6,500rpm	40Nm at 5,500rpm
Gearbox	6-speed	6-speed	6-speed
Power-to-weight	223.46hp/tonne	252.74hp/tonne	204.08hp/tonne

The Versys is the only one to feature a parallel-twin engine

The Kawasaki is the only bike in this comparison to feature a twin-cylinder setup, but it also has the smallest engine. While it produces power comparable to that of the other two bikes, its torque rating is significantly lower. Another point to bear in mind is that, due to the nature of its twin-cylinder mill, its performance is also delivered much later in the rev band.

Kawasaki Versys X 300 vs rivals: weight and dimensions

Weight and dimensions
	Kawasaki Versys-X 300	KTM 390 Adventure	Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Seat height	815mm	830mm	825mm-845mm
Ground clearance	180mm	237mm	230mm
Wheelbase	1450mm	1470mm	1510mm
Fuel capacity	17 litres	14.5 litres	17 litres
Kerb weight	179kg	183kg	196kg

The Himalayan is the heaviest; the Versys has the most accessible seat height

The Himalayan is the heaviest of the three, whereas the other two are closely matched in terms of weight. The Versys-X 300 has the most accessible seat height but also offers the least ground clearance – relatively speaking, of course, the 180mm available is more than enough to tackle our roads.

The KTM 390 Adventure and Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 have only a marginal difference in seat height as standard. That said, the Himalayan can be had with an accessory low seat, which reduces seat height to between 805mm and 825mm. Despite being the lightest, the Kawasaki matches the Royal Enfield in fuel tank capacity, whereas the KTM carries 2.5 litres less.

Kawasaki Versys X 300 vs rivals: brakes and suspension

Brakes and suspension
	Kawasaki Versys-X 300	KTM 390 Adventure	Royal Enfield Himalayan 450
Brakes (F/R)	290mm disc/ 220mm disc	320mm disc/ 240mm disc	330mm disc/ 270mm disc
Suspension (F/R)	Telescopic fork / monoshock	USD fork / monoshock	USD fork / monoshock
Suspension travel (F/R)	130mm / 148mm	200mm / 205mm	200mm / 200mm
Tyre size (F/R)	100/90-19 / 130/80-17	90/90-21 / 130/80-17	90/90-21 / 140/80 R-17

The KTM 390 Adventure is the only one to offer adjustable suspension

The Kawasaki is the only one to use a conventional telescopic fork, and it also offers the least suspension travel, clearly showcasing its road-biased intention. In this regard, the Royal Enfield and KTM are closely matched, but the latter offers adjustable suspension.

The KTM is also the only bike to come with tubeless spoke wheels as standard. On the Himalayan, they are available as a Rs 12,000 accessory, while the Kawasaki doesn’t offer them at all.

Kawasaki Versys X 300 vs rivals: features

The KTM is the only one to get an IMU-assisted safety net

The Versys X 300 is the most sparsely equipped of the lot. It gets a digi-analogue instrument cluster with a gear-position indicator. Safety features include dual-channel ABS and a slipper clutch. The KTM 390 Adventure is the most generously equipped with features, including a 5.0-inch TFT display, IMU-assisted traction control, ABS, cruise control and multiple rider modes. The Himalayan 450 slots between the two, with features like a 4.0-inch TFT display with Google Maps integration, switchable ABS, and rider modes.