Ricochet Off-Road Skid Plate for Kawasaki Versys-X 300

Kawasaki’s Versys-X 300 was one of our favorite bikes introduced in 2017. It brings new riders into the world of adventure motorcycling and offers enough performance to keep experienced riders entertained. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our full review of the Kawasaki Versys-X 300 by clicking here!

Since the bike is fairly new, it’s slim pickins’ for aftermarket goodies. Twisted Throttle (TwistedThrottle.com) let us borrow their Versys-X 300 project bike that came equipped with SW-Motech Crash Guards, Denali lighting, DrySpec luggage, and a few more upgrades. We searched the internet for a proper skid plate for the little Versys and one of the only results that came up was an offering from Ricochet Off-Road, a company formally known for creating crash protection for dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, and SUVs.

Ricochet Off-Road’s skid plate oozes with raw ingenuity. Cut-outs help shave weight, increase airflow, and give the bike a custom look. There’s even a cut-out for the drain bolt. The oil filter is now easily accessible without having to remove bodywork. Our version came anodized in black, but brushed aluminum is also available.

Since it doesn’t have a cradle type frame, the Versys-X 300 requires a bit of creativity to mount a skid plate. Front and rear steel brackets (included in the kit) use motor mount bolts to give the plate enough mounting points. While the installation is straight forward with basic tools, the job is easiest with a second set of hands, or an impact driver.

Many are wondering if this skid plate will work with SW-Motech center stand and crash guards. I’m happy to report that everything integrates well. The crash guards use the same front motor mount bolt as the skid plate, so I’d recommend installing these at the same time. The skid plate bracket takes up some real estate on the motor mount bolt, so to get through the nut on the other side of the frame you’ll need a slightly longer bolt. Or shave down the SW-Motech spacers by 3/16".

Engine noise does reflect back to the rider, but that’s to be expected with any skid plate. Ricochet thoughtfully included rubber dampers to reduce the chance of metal-on-metal rattling, and our bike doesn’t resonate any weird sounds at throughout the rev range. There’s a good amount of clearance between the plate and engine and clearing out mud and rocks is easy with a hose. The front side features a tall rise, deflecting rocks and offering protection for the headers.

To put the Ricochet Off-Road skid plate to the test, we rode the Versys-X 300 to a national park. The fire roads we rode snake up and down the mountains, and the Versys is perfectly capable of handling the terrain. A few downed trees and a rock staircase were enough to show how important a quality skid plate really is. Although the plate made contact with a few rocks the 3/16" 5052 H032 aluminum plate looks almost as good as new. A few scrapes indicate that the bike’s exhaust would’ve taken a direct hit if not for the skid plate. While coasting in gravel, you can hear pebbles “ricocheting” off the plate that would otherwise be hitting the headers and oil filter.

Installation does require the removal of the plastic engine shrouds which does expose a sensor (probably oil pressure) on the right side of the bike. The wire and sensor look inset enough to avoid snagging against brush, and so far I haven’t had any issues, but having the stock plastic work with the skid plate would have added some peace-of-mind (and aesthetics for those who care for it).

This armor does cost more than most other skid plates from Ricochet Off-Road, but that’s because of the bracketry required to mount it. However, it is an essential upgrade for anyone who plans to take their Versys-X 300 across anything more technical than groomed dirt roads. MSRP: $229 RicochetOffRoad.com