The Versys-X 300 is a capable touring ADV, and in terms of pricing, its immediate rival is the KTM 390 Adventure. We compare the two frame by frame
Kawasaki India had recently launched the 2025 Versys-X 300, a touring focused ADV. It goes up against the KTM 390 Adventure, which offers a mix of both on-road and off-road capabilities. Here’s a detailed image comparison of the two:
Design
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 goes for a typical road-biased ADV design and styling, with the tall windscreen, quarter fairing and chunky looking single-piece seat.
The bike has also sports a massive fuel tank, with a capacity of 17-liters.
The KTM 390 Adventure on the other hand has a dakar-inspired design and styling which makes it look and feel like a proper off-roader. The tall wind-screen and rally-tower makes it feel like it’s a Dakar bike. Add in the slim rear section and overall profile of the bike, it gives off a purposeful, sleek off-road ADV vibe.
Performance
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is powered by a 296cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine which outputs 40PS at 11,500rpm and 26Nm at 10,000rpm. The engine is based on the one in the Ninja 300. The KTM 390 Adventure on the other hand is powered by a 398.63cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which outputs 46PS at 8,500rpm and 39Nm at 6,500rpm.
In terms of outright power and performance,the KTM 390 Adventure has an advantage. The bike would feel a bit more exciting as it has a lot more torque that too produced at lower rpms.
Where the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 will shine is the refinement, thanks to being a parallel-twin. It could also hold higher speeds without feeling as stressed as the KTM 390 Adventure’s engine. This will be quite useful while touring on smooth highways.
Underpinnings
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 gets a telescopic fork and pre-load adjustable monoshock, whereas the KTM 390 Adventure gets an inverted fork and monoshock with full adjustability. Adjusting the rebound and compression on the fork is as simple as turning two switches located at the fork ends. This adds a lot more versatility to the bike as you can adjust the suspension settings based on your weight, as well as the terrain you’re tackling.
Another major difference between the two bikes is the wheel sizes. The Versys-X 300 rolls on a 19-inch front and a 17-inch rear spoke wheel setup. The 390 Adventure gets a 21-inch front and 17-inch rear spoke wheel setup with tubeless tyres. As the Versys-X 300 is geared towards touring, its slightly smaller front wheel should theoretically make it agile.
The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 gets a 290mm front and a 220mm rear disc setup. The 390 Adventure on the other hand features a 320mm front and 240mm rear disc setup.
Features
The Versys-X 300 doesn’t have much to offer in terms of features, it only gets a slip-and-assist clutch and ABS for added safety. The bike is a rather simple, touring focused ADV, with a semi-digital instrument console showing the basic information.
The 390 Adventure on the other hand is packed to the brim with features, it gets everything from cornering traction control, switchable ABS, cruise control and more. It also comes with a more premium looking TFT console with smartphone connectivity for turn-by-turn navigation, call/SMS alerts and music controls.
Verdict
Before we get into the verdict, we have to first address the prices of both the motorcycles. The Kawasaki Versys-X 300 is priced at Rs 3,79,900 and the KTM 390 Adventure is priced at Rs 3,67,699 (both ex-showroom Delhi).
When looking at it from an absolute value for money perspective, the KTM 390 Adventure has a lot more to offer in terms of performance and features. The KTM 390 Adventure is for those who want a one-bike garage – and an ADV which can perform well both on and off-road.
However, if you are someone with a big budget looking for a simple, refined parallel-twin ADV for highway touring, the Versys-X 300 makes sense. It is also the most affordable parallel-twin adventure bike in India.
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