Kawasaki ninja? 300

[pepperami]

I've just had a ninja 300 demonstrator out for a ride.
What can I say? It's small, if you are over 6' you're going to struggle if you travel long distances.
The seat is hard and will make your bum hurt.

On the plus side, it was easy to ride and slick as a slick thing.
The clutch is light and the gears were easy to engage.
It felt like a grown up 125, and I mean that as a compliment.
The brakes were more than able to pull the bike up, even with a fat bloke like me on it.
I was able to accelerate from low revs, even in sixth gear.
Not a bad little engine.
The fairing? Is not going to give you much protection from the weather or rain, but it does stop the filth from the road coming up to cover you.

Just my brief
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[redeem ouzzer]

Shite. ZZR250 in a posh frock.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[stevo as b4]

Put a that motor into a frame like an Aprilia RS125's, and tune it back to non emissions friendly spec, and I would start listening.

The 1984 GPZ250R was light and stylish and simple, not to mention it had 43bhp at 13000rpm. The 300 Ninja with EFI should be more.

[Matt B]

[pepperami]

[TheArchitect]

I would buy one for commuting in a flash if I didn't live in pikeyville central.

Probably the best looking city commuter bike out there imo.
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GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
GSXR 600 K6 - Stolen
MT09 - Almost stolen

[redeem ouzzer]

[P.addy]

Its probably a well bashed bike, along with the 250R, however I did enjoy giving it 100% all the time. It was like a 125 but faster. It is however very cheaply made.

[Hahadumball]

as above
why pay £4k+ for a ninja 300 at 30bhp when you can spend <£1000 for a zzr 250 and get 40+bhp
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Fin: no matter how much I look at It I can't understand what was going through my head, all I remember is going about 80 and redlining it to stop it seizing.
360 Deg... Five 1/4 turns. :- Teflon-Mike 18 Jan 2015

[Diggs]

If you buy one you will soon get fed up of the whole thing shaking like a sh*ting dog as you thrash it to bits try to keep up with bigger bikes. Fun in a world of small bikes but could do with another 20bhp to make it practical in company...

Like trying to ride a push-bike too fast downhill - feels ok on a smooth surface in a straight line, but deviate from that and its scary...
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[notbike]

I like the Ninja 300 otherwise I wouldn't have bought one. They're great. I can go on ride outs with bigger bikes and not get left behind, or ride with smaller bikes and not leave them behind. Also fuel economy for commuting.

Sure you can get 8bhp more (because why would you buy this if you're not on an A2 license) from older 2nd hand bikes for quarter the price but why do that if you're not on a budget. I'm by no means well off at all btw.

It's a good contender against what's on the current market for the A2 category vs R3/CBR300R/RC 390 and I think that point is often overlooked.

[Dave_R]

[1198]

[chickenstrip]

[notbike]

[redeem ouzzer]

[P.addy]

Truth dealt via hammer - best way tbh.

[wr6133]

I've said it before but I'll say it again.

I see no point in these commuter twins in plastic frocks. Old 400 grey IL4 400's are still commonly available (as are parts for them). They are a better bikes. Decent tidy ones will set you back considerably less than a shitja 300/Retard 3/etc

[redeem ouzzer]

[pepperami]

Well after spending the day on the baby Ninja 300, I can say that as a sporty little commuter bike, it's a hit .
I can directly compare it against my my Hyosung GT 250r.
It is not really that much faster than my Hyosung.
However it's not my bike, so I didn't cane it.
The riding position of the Kawasaki is more upright than the riding position of the Hyosung and so you get a bit more wind blast.
I found the ride to be a tab harsher on the Kawasaki, but never an issue.
The little Kawasaki did seem to be very economical on petrol.
The little Kawasaki feels lighter than the Hyosung.

Would I buy one?...... I don't think so....... not for me.
A great little bike, but at approx £4000, a tad to much for me.

Just a few of my thoughts
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[kawashima]

IL4 400 became too expensive for beginners. So Honda made 400 twin made in Thailand. It became cheaper but with poor quality. 250/300 twins are now made in Thailand or Indonesia cause if they are made here they'll be ridiculously expensive and make no sense.
Comparing these new oversea made small twins to used IL4 400 like CB400SF in quality/price is not a fair match imo. We can't buy used IL4 400s forever. I expect such small twins will be made with better quality soon.
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[grr666]

[P.addy]

[Hahadumball]

[Dave_R]