Comments on: MD First Ride: 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300, Part One (with video) (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Sat, 25 May 2013 00:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: BillyBob http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-74566 BillyBob Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:14:25 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-74566 The Ninja 400 is still sold in Canada, on the Ninja 650 platform... They never really went away, only away from the US market. The Ninja 400 is still sold in Canada, on the Ninja 650 platform… They never really went away, only away from the US market.

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]]> By: David Duarte http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-71273 David Duarte Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:52:40 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-71273 This bike is lighter and makes more power than my 1980 Suzuki GS450E. With such light weight and direct fuel injection, the gas mileage should be excellent. This bike is lighter and makes more power than my 1980 Suzuki GS450E. With such light weight and direct fuel injection, the gas mileage should be excellent.

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]]> By: goose http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-71252 goose Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:11:29 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-71252 Hefer, Can I assume you are kidding about the Windjammer? If not, try looking under the milage icon. The MotoGP fairing are exactly what we DO NOT need. They are the result of a very stupid rule made almost 50 years ago by the FIM. To put it bluntly, they suck in the wind tunnel. Any halfway decent car has a CD of well under 0.40, some under are near 0.30, I doubt the MotoGP bikes, even the Ducatis, are under 0.70. if we use 0.35 as a typical number that means, per square foot of frontal area, it takes very near to twice as much fuel and HP to push that Ducati you admire so much through the air. If you think the wind isn't a factor at 20 to 50 MPH you should take a look at bicycles. They shape the frame tubes on bikes that will never see 50 MPH unless they are on a down hill. At 20, air drag has an effect. At 50 it is, by a large margin, the single largest thing holding your bike back. Finally, you should read more from Craig's site. The old milage contest bikes were totally impractical. That is how they got over 470 MPG. The new contest requires the bikes be comfortable and have enough space to hold 4 standard grocery bags. Goose Hefer,

Can I assume you are kidding about the Windjammer? If not, try looking under the milage icon.

The MotoGP fairing are exactly what we DO NOT need. They are the result of a very stupid rule made almost 50 years ago by the FIM. To put it bluntly, they suck in the wind tunnel. Any halfway decent car has a CD of well under 0.40, some under are near 0.30, I doubt the MotoGP bikes, even the Ducatis, are under 0.70. if we use 0.35 as a typical number that means, per square foot of frontal area, it takes very near to twice as much fuel and HP to push that Ducati you admire so much through the air.

If you think the wind isn’t a factor at 20 to 50 MPH you should take a look at bicycles. They shape the frame tubes on bikes that will never see 50 MPH unless they are on a down hill. At 20, air drag has an effect. At 50 it is, by a large margin, the single largest thing holding your bike back.

Finally, you should read more from Craig’s site. The old milage contest bikes were totally impractical. That is how they got over 470 MPG. The new contest requires the bikes be comfortable and have enough space to hold 4 standard grocery bags.

Goose

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]]> By: David Duarte http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-71153 David Duarte Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:42:30 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-71153 I'm seriously thinking of buying one within the next year. I'd like to see what kind of gas mileage it gets. I’m seriously thinking of buying one within the next year. I’d like to see what kind of gas mileage it gets.

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]]> By: todd http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-69694 todd Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:41:41 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-69694 OOOh, SRX6, the bike that turned me into a motorcyclist all those years ago. Still very near the top of my list too. -todd OOOh, SRX6, the bike that turned me into a motorcyclist all those years ago. Still very near the top of my list too.

-todd

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]]> By: Hefner http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-69457 Hefner Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:55:33 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-69457 The windjammer? Really? I remember seeing those things around in the 80's and thinking they looked dated back then... Putting something like that on a modern bike is a sure-fire way to make sure it fails. Wasn't the point of the Vetter fairings wind protection anyway? That whole concept relies on deflecting air away from the rider, which in turn causes aerodynamic drag. Furthermore, fuel efficiency is likely not affected all that much by a fairing at the 20-50 MPH speeds that will be reached around town, where the extra weight of a fairing may actually hurt MPG. I agree that for higher speeds a fairing is a necessity for both rider comfort and fuel efficiency... But modern bikes with sport-bike fairings, like this one, are already doing a pretty good job of it. But if you want to see a "Real" fairing, go look at MotoGP, specifically Ducati. If there is speed to be had, those guys have found it in the wind tunnel... Not by using Cardboard Aided Design (I do think that was pretty funny though...) The windjammer? Really?

I remember seeing those things around in the 80′s and thinking they looked dated back then… Putting something like that on a modern bike is a sure-fire way to make sure it fails. Wasn’t the point of the Vetter fairings wind protection anyway? That whole concept relies on deflecting air away from the rider, which in turn causes aerodynamic drag. Furthermore, fuel efficiency is likely not affected all that much by a fairing at the 20-50 MPH speeds that will be reached around town, where the extra weight of a fairing may actually hurt MPG.

I agree that for higher speeds a fairing is a necessity for both rider comfort and fuel efficiency… But modern bikes with sport-bike fairings, like this one, are already doing a pretty good job of it.

But if you want to see a “Real” fairing, go look at MotoGP, specifically Ducati. If there is speed to be had, those guys have found it in the wind tunnel… Not by using Cardboard Aided Design (I do think that was pretty funny though…)

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]]> By: Jim C http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-69341 Jim C Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:25:29 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-69341 I wonder what Gary Jaehne would have done with the 300! RIP Gary J I wonder what Gary Jaehne would have done with the 300! RIP Gary J

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]]> By: andy1300 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-69094 andy1300 Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:23:52 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-69094 Yea, 39 horse was the same as as my old RD350 1974', heck I would take that little bike on 1200 mile road trips, thats all I needed back in those days. Yea, 39 horse was the same as as my old RD350 1974′, heck I would take that little bike
on 1200 mile road trips, thats all I needed back in those days.

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]]> By: bikerrandy http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-68980 bikerrandy Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:06:10 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-68980 Both my RD and this new 300 have the same 39hp. My RD350 was the first bike I had that actually handled and stopped good. 8^ ) Both my RD and this new 300 have the same 39hp. My RD350 was the first bike I had that actually handled and stopped good. 8^ )

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]]> By: goose http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/md-first-ride-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-part-one-with-video/comment-page-1/#comment-68942 goose Thu, 20 Sep 2012 23:35:23 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23996#comment-68942 I'm really pleased to see this bike and the strong response from the MD'ers. I hope it is a huge success and leads to the 400/ 500s a few have suggested. A sporting 300 isn't really my thing but similar technology in a 500 package would be great, a modern Ninja 500. One for me and one for the wife would make fun trips. I've gotten to the point where the newest high HP missile bike just makes me yawn. A really good 500, ideally with a belt or enclosed chain, a 5 gallon (or bigger) tank, comfortable riding position (even for a big guy) might just pry my wallet open. Good real world milage, over 50 at a minimum, would also help. Hint, nearly all bikes have ridiculously high aero drag, a real fairing instead of a copy of a 1958 "dolphin" fairing would be a good place to start looking for milage. You can see some real fairings here: http://craigvetter.com/ Goose I’m really pleased to see this bike and the strong response from the MD’ers. I hope it is a huge success and leads to the 400/ 500s a few have suggested. A sporting 300 isn’t really my thing but similar technology in a 500 package would be great, a modern Ninja 500. One for me and one for the wife would make fun trips.

I’ve gotten to the point where the newest high HP missile bike just makes me yawn. A really good 500, ideally with a belt or enclosed chain, a 5 gallon (or bigger) tank, comfortable riding position (even for a big guy) might just pry my wallet open. Good real world milage, over 50 at a minimum, would also help. Hint, nearly all bikes have ridiculously high aero drag, a real fairing instead of a copy of a 1958 “dolphin” fairing would be a good place to start looking for milage. You can see some real fairings here: http://craigvetter.com/

Goose

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