Will I regret this?

[notbike]

Ninja 300s are great. I loved mine for commuting back in the day. It was perfect for everything I needed at the time, fuel economy was ridiculously good, and it wasn't at all excessive but also not lacking in any way.

[woo]

small cc bikes are fun.
so long as you accept it for what its is and can do.

if the honda grom 250cc ever is made or even 200cc ill ditch my R1 and get one again!
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Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[Hong Kong Phooey]

I think for London streets, which are one of the most restricted these days for speed limit enforcement, the size and weight of the 300 makes perfect sense.

The size and manoeuvrability will be to your advantage, and when you learn to launch it properly you'll be up to speed pretty quickly.

Cheap consumables, long lasting tyres, cheap insurance and good mpg is the icing on the tiny cake.
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'81 CG125, '97 FZS600 : '99 CBR600F4, '09 KTM RC8

[Polarbear]

[jeffyjeff]

I'd love the 300. You can wring it out everywhere you go, bounce it off the rev limiter in every gear. The bike won't suffer, no. It will beg for more..
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History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men - BOC

[Musketeer]

For riding in town 300cc doesn't sound like bad idea. But personally I would go for a naked bike rather than sporty looking bike. Something that has power from the bottom of the rev range.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[redeem ouzzer]

[jeffyjeff]

[KingKong]

Thank you all.

As stated, here's the review of the Ninja 300. I rode 20 miles (roundtrip) including through London traffick.

I'm happy. The torque and power is more than enough for London, and hit an indicated 76mph with more revs left on the tacho, with a gear to go so I'm sure it will more than manage motorways. The riding position is ridiculously comfortable, which oviously it would be given it's not a sports 600. I'm more than happy with that.

Maybe this is the sum of my riding ability, in which case it's worked well for me. Maybe it will refine my riding abilities and in time I will revisit a sports 600. But for now, I have my answer to the original post (will I regret this): no.
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Kwak 636 (2005)

Past - 2016 Ninja 300 (dark grey); K4 GSXR 600 (sexy yellow); 2002 CBR600FS; 2004 GSXR 1000; 2006 Kwak 636; 2005 Yamaha XVS 1100 Dragstar (facepalm); 2005 Kwak 636; 2011 Yamaha R125.

[KingKong]

Ok.

I was dead wrong. You were right. I’m already frustrated. Putting it up for sale and hoping to afford any decent 600cc sports bike between 2004-8.
Motorways are seldom pleasant on motorbike but being shot past by a VW Polo whilst my engine is screaming at 90mph is just deplorable. Then there are the regular Kia. Cars that accelerate in time with the 300 that makes a bike useless in that regard - in my opinion a bike should always outperform most common cars on the road, if not all.

I shall cry myself to sleep lol
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Kwak 636 (2005)

Past - 2016 Ninja 300 (dark grey); K4 GSXR 600 (sexy yellow); 2002 CBR600FS; 2004 GSXR 1000; 2006 Kwak 636; 2005 Yamaha XVS 1100 Dragstar (facepalm); 2005 Kwak 636; 2011 Yamaha R125.

[chickenstrip]

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Remember when you said you weren't going on the motorway?

[jeffyjeff]

[pepperami]

[redeem ouzzer]

Not entirely surprised

As practical transport small bikes are a pain in the arse unless you ride either only in town or on B roads.

I occasionally do a 9-10 mile motorway stretch on my tiddlers and it's hell on earth.
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Be a REAL MAN!

[MarJay]

I find that on the occasions when I'm doing the speed limit, or even a little bit above I get overtaken. Even on a 1000cc sportsbike, even if I were driving a Bugatti Veyron, I'd probably get some wide boy in a LWB transit tailgating me, some company rep in a tiny engined Audi or some rude boy in a 900cc VW Up blasting past me as if I were standing still. It's nothing to do with what I'm riding or driving.

I think a bit of ego readjustment is probably in order here.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[MarJay]

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[MarJay]

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[Easy-X]

Triple cylinders is the way to go if you want the illusion of manageability but the end result of mostly unicycling everywhere
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Fat Angry Scotsman]

[wr6133]

I think if you can actually trust yourself to be sensible a new litre bike while not the sensible choice is probably a safer bet than the 600 and 750's with no rider aids/abs/traction control/etc that were the bog standard first big bikes for years.

Probably turn you in to a straight line hero that can't corner though.

[Evil Hans]