So a good upgrade I did on the 2017 Versys-X 300 was switch to a slightly bigger sprocket, a 15 tooth front sprocket. One of the things that Kawasaki did was make 1st gear basically a "granny gear" good for about 7mph. I could start the bike off in 2nd, no prob and sometimes I did. The Ninja engine, which is a parrallel twin red-lines at 12k and you are always running about 6k-8k most of the time.
So at first, I thought having a granny gear for 1st was cool feature for a small engine because I could power up hills in 1st and it was pretty cool but got really exhausting and cumbersome shifting to 2nd in a turn from a stopped position, and it was very "jerky", like a tractor. Thats the number one complaint. So if you are at a stop sign and are making a turn with the 14T sprocket, you will be shifting to 2nd in a turn, and its jittery. Its much smoother now and you get a little more top end, maxing at 110mph, whereas the 14T maxed at 103 mph. It was super easy to change it out.
So at first, I thought having a granny gear for 1st was cool feature for a small engine because I could power up hills in 1st and it was pretty cool but got really exhausting and cumbersome shifting to 2nd in a turn from a stopped position, and it was very "jerky", like a tractor. Thats the number one complaint. So if you are at a stop sign and are making a turn with the 14T sprocket, you will be shifting to 2nd in a turn, and its jittery. Its much smoother now and you get a little more top end, maxing at 110mph, whereas the 14T maxed at 103 mph. It was super easy to change it out.