Comments on: U.S. Model Ninja 300 Revealed by Kawasaki in Times Square (Bike Reports) (News)

By: barney

barney — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 21:57:18 +0000

Hideous, garish, plastic covered ugliness: now go put your Stoner costume and Star Trek booties on and go do your boy racer stunting thing. I wouldn’t own or be caught dead on this bike even if they gave it to me for free.

By: SloJon

SloJon — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:35:46 +0000

re: POWER….I can always get on my BIGGER Bikes….fortunate to have a small fleet. I wanted last 250 Ninja but did not care for carbs. I can own any machine I desire(within reasonable limits). Am asked which Machine is my favorite. Answer is always same- the one I’m riding….wonderful LIFE

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By: Doc

Doc — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:05:53 +0000

Nick you are right. Back in the mid 70′s when I started riding, it was great time. Lot’s of different sizes in dual sport and street. Street bikes were a roll your own. You could make a cruiser, tourer, or a sport bike out of the same basic bike. Today it’s niche marketing and I think prices are elevated because of that. Personally I’d like to see the 400cc inline four Honda sells in Japan. That would be a cool bike. And the styling in general of sport bikes today leaves alot to be desired. I don’t believe they’re something that will age well.

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By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:22:01 +0000

“Heck, the new Ninja won’t even be allowed to race in the 250 class any more, now in the 450 class. Why did they do this? ”

The 250cc racing class is served by the 20 years of bikes they’ve already made. 300cc makes sense for the US market where one of the barriers to small bikes is highway capability.

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By: Nocklhiem Verstadt

Nocklhiem Verstadt — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:36:01 +0000

Have you seen the new CBR250R in Repsol colors? Very good looking bike…check it out here http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013-honda-cbr250r-preview

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By: todd

todd — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 16:43:13 +0000

Gabe, in your upcoming review be sure to find someone in the target market to test the bike. I doubt someone fresh into motorcycling will even care or notice more power over the other, nor will they care if it can top 100 again like the first-gen Ninjas. I imagine this person will feel like the bike is heavy and scary, though they may not wish to tell you this.

As someone who has a couple decades of riding experience (starting on a 90cc bike!) I couldn’t care either if it has more power or can top 100. If I wanted more power I’d just pick up a used liter bike for the same money or less. Heck, the new Ninja won’t even be allowed to race in the 250 class any more, now in the 450 class. Why did they do this?

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By: TomS

TomS — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:18:29 +0000

I see….. an engine tune, USD forks, an upgraded swingarm, a race pipe…. and a killer little motorcycle!

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By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 12:56:00 +0000

I think for a beginner with limited funds this will be a tough call. Do they save some bucks and stick with a 250 or do they skip a few more meals and go for a bike like this that offers higher top speed but costs more? I guess it’s all in how one intends to use it. But what’s next? What if the next bike out is a 350 which leaves this one behind and can touch 115 or 120 mph but costs just that much more? There has been for years a hole in the US market below 600cc. Seemed that few wanted them, they weren’t cool. When I first started riding there were 50, 65, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 125, 150, 160, 175, 200, 250, 300, 350, 450cc and up street bikes, some serving duty as dual sports. Like Baskin and Robbins, a different flavor for every day. Those days are long gone but it is nice to see some interest coming back into the smaller class bikes. I hope this trend continues and helps bring back some life into motorcycling.

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By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 16:41:01 +0000

Maybe some day Kawasaki will make a ZX-3R. Until then with all the steel parts at this price point…

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By: Nocklhiem Verstadt

Nocklhiem Verstadt — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 11:54:41 +0000

The price is not really out of line as some have posted here, not when a 600 goes for $11,000 and liter bikes going for over $13,000. You could buy a 300 for yourself and a 300 for your kid and still save money over buying that pricey 600 that is probably too much bike anyhow. You could really develop a great relationship with your kid by spending quality time together doing something you both enjoy, and probably remain closer for the rest of your lives. What price would you put on that?

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