My Kawasaki Ninja 300

Test Ride

  10th August 2013


Kawasaki Ninja 300 We took our 250's in for a service this weekend to our nearest Kawasaki dealer and was surprised to see that they had a green 300 in at last, as I'd mentioned that it just didn't look as good in black. I enquired if they now had a demo bike and although they didn't have a designated one, we could have a ride on this green one, which was a bike that the guys at the dealership had been using between themselves.

When we'd previously sat on one I'd been concerned about the seat as it felt squarer than the 250 and the edges of the seat stuck in to my thighs when I had my toes on the floor.

Anyway, we took it in turns to ride the 300 and were both very impressed, it's like a totally different bike! I know a lot of it is new - but neither of us expected to experience such a marked difference!

The Ninja 300 felt really 'positive' which I think was due to the reduced engine vibrations (softer engine mounts), power delivery was smooth and the moment I pulled away on the bike I could feel the difference from the 250. The bike was so planted that I blasted off down the road on it feeling more confident than I ever did with the 250. Cornering felt about the same, maybe slightly better. Seating position felt higher than the 250 but I believe they're about the same (actually it's 1cm taller). Brakes were a bit meh but the bike only had 300 miles on. We both loved the bike, I know I didn't want the test ride to end.

Needless to say we've ordered a pair of green ones - going to hang on for a couple of weeks so that they have new 63 plate registrations rather than the current 13 reg.

I'm hoping that there will be better wind protection on the 300, I seem to get a lot of turbulence on the 250 (I'm 5' 4") which means there's always a racket in my helmet, despite ear-plugs and more recently a new Shoei GT-Air, I may have to investigate aftermarket screens.

The Corbin seats look good, might be an option if the 300 seat is too hard.




First day

  1st September 2013


It's Sunday and the dealer is closed, which means an agonising week's wait until the following Saturday to collect our new 63-plate bikes... except a very kind chap from the Kawasaki dealer offered to pop-in Sunday afternoon so that we could have our bikes on the first of the month.

Seeing the 300's next to the 250's made me realise how 'skinny' looking the 250 is, the 300 is much broader and looks more like a 'big bike' - I don't like to say this as the 300 is a very good sportsbike in it's own right, without trying to pretend its a 600 or something.

I take a few photos of the bikes, including the odometer (showing 0 and 1 miles) then we set off. We can immediately feel how good the bikes are, very positive and more powerful than the 250s (obviously), they also seem to tip in to corners much easier than the 250 - can't wait to get 100 miles done to scrub the tyres in - then after this another 400 miles for the initial engine break-in.
Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300


First mod

  4th September 2013


Removal of information sticker

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Removal of storage tray

  7th September 2013


Tray in situ / under the tray

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Remove R-Clips with pliers

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Pull dowels out from each side of the tray / tray removed

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Room for more stuff!

Kawasaki Ninja 300

240 miles done

  4th September 2013


260 to go!


ECU Recall

  5th April 2014


Finally got the opportunity to go to the dealer to have the ECU recall done. We had not experienced any issues with the original one though. Apparently the old ECU would cut the fuelling then the bike was slowing down to stop which could sometimes cause the bike to cut-out. The new ECU does not cut the fuelling.


Removal of 'fins' from under pillion seat.

  5th April 2014


Using a Stanley knife I removed the dividers from under the passenger seat, so that I could fit more stuff in.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Nearly run in

  21st April 2014


85 mile ride around on Bank Holiday Monday, total mileage is now 560. The bikes are booked in for their first service next Saturday, after which we should be able to ride them a little harder.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the bike performs at higher revs. I'm also considering changing the windscreen for a higher one as the wind currently hits the top of my chest.


First service

  26th April 2014


In for the 600 mile service, unfortunately it was chucking it down with rain. We both thought the bikes sounded better after the service, we were looking forward to pushing the bikes further up the rev-range but it was too wet and windy to have a play.

I have ordered the Corsa screen from Zero Gravity as I cannot get any respite from the wind on the 300, the screen should be here in about 3 weeks.


Kawasaki Day

  27th April 2014


We were due to go the Kawasaki Day at the Ace Cafe, but the weather forecast looked like it was going to be very cold, wet and windy again, so we gave it a miss. Which is a shame as we've never yet made it to Kawasaki Day - they need to hold it later in the year I think!

The bikes were very dirty after yesterdays ride, so I gave them a nice wash. By 5pm the weather was much improved and we went for a ride. I took the opportunity to take the bike up to 10,000 rpm - it is quite a different machine after 8k rpm so I am looking forward to learning more about its character.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Diablo Rosso II tyres

  17th May 2014


All Ninja 300s come with IRC Roadwinners, I wasn't a fan of these on our 250s and they haven't been giving me much confidence on the 300. I had noticed on cornering that the bike will start to tip-in smoothly and then would suddenly tip-in a bit more - not a nice feeling. After some deliberation we decided to swap our tyres to Diablo Rosso II. These are a softer compound and have a much more rounded profile. The Rosso's corner nicely and the bike tips-in in a predictable manner now.

IRC roadwinner on the left, new Diablo Rosso II on the right.

Kawasaki Ninja 300

Zero Gravity Corsa screen in light smoke

  1st July 2014


The stock screen doesn't offer a lot of protection from the wind for me, so after much research and deliberation I ordered a Corsa screen made by Zero Gravity.

Fitting the screen is very easy as you simply unbolt both mirrors and swap the screen over. Screen looked a bit odd to start with as it's taller and a different colour. However now I've seen it on the bike a few times I'm starting to quite like it.

It definitely offers better wind protection and riding at 70mph is much less arduous as the wind hits me at my shoulders now.

I have also fitted a pair of mirror extenders from eBay which help to see more than just your elbows.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Sold

  8th July 2016


I've not written anything in the last two years, mainly because we've just been going out and enjoying ourselves on the bikes. A weekend away in north Lincolnshire last year was particularly good, wide roads with good visibilty and sweeping bends make for some fantastic rides.

Whilst the trip made us appreciate the bikes it also highlighted that they are hard work for long journeys and so we started looking around last October to see what could replace them. Reviews of the bikes we rode can be found here on my short rider review page.

Out of all the bikes the Honda CBR650F was a clear winner, with similar ergononmics to the Ninja 300 and smooth power delivery.

On the 18th June we took our Ninjas to the Honda dealer and came back on our white CBR650F's. I was sad to leave the Ninjas behind as they've been brilliant, but the Hondas are proving to be a very worthwhile upgrade.

Honda CBR650F pearl metalloid white

Specs

Engine typeLiquid-cooled, 4-stroke Parallel Twin
Displacement296 cm3
Bore x stroke62.0 x 49.0 mm
Compression ratio10.6:1
Valve/Induction systemDOHC, 8 valves
Maximum power29.0 kW {39 PS} / 11,000 rpm
Maximum torque27.0 N.m {2.8 kgf.m} / 10,000 rpm
Fuel systemFuel injection: Ø32 mm x 2 (Keihin), with dual throttle valves
IgnitionDigital
StartingElectric
LubricationForced lubrication, wet sump
Transmission6-speed, return
Final DriveSealed chain
ClutchWet multi-disc, manual
Frame typeTube diamond, steel
Rake/Trail27 ° / 93 mm
Suspension, front37 mm telescopic fork
Suspension, rearBottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock and 5-way adjustable preload
Wheel travel, front120 mm
Wheel travel, rear132 mm
Tyre, front110/70-17 M/C (54S)
Tyre, rear140/70-17 M/C (66S)
Brakes, frontSingle 290 mm petal disc.
Caliper: Single balanced actuation
dual-piston.
Brakes, rearSingle 220 mm petal disc.
Caliper: Dual-piston.
Steering angle, left / right35° / 35°
Dimensions
(L x W x H)
2,015 mm x 715 mm x 1,110 mm
Wheelbase1,405 mm
Ground Clearance140 mm
Seat height785 mm (30.5 in)
Fuel capacity17 litres
Dry weight164 kg
Automatic
Headlights On (AHO)
n/a

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