Kawasaki Ninja 300: The highway rolls out in front of me, a black ribbon toward the horizon. A twist of the throttle and it’s just like you’re there – the Kawasaki Ninja 300 is the epitome of what a lot of people look for in a motorcycle; Style, performance and a decent price.
Kawasaki Ninja 300 The Legacy Lives On
Kawasaki’s Ninja heritage can be traced back to 1984 when the GPZ900R was the 1st liquid-cooled 16-valve mounted on an aluminium chassis, sparking a revolution – EICMA! The 300cc model was a godsend to sportbike riders – it was potent enough to thrill, yet easy enough for beginners to learn on for the first time.
This isn’t simply another entry-level motorcycle, it’s a bold statement that refuses to whisper. The racy fairings and edgy lines are reminiscent of its larger stablemates, and the overall visuals are enough to stop heads both parked in front of a cafe and slicing through mountain corners.
Engineering Excellence
Pop the big ol’ hood on this creature and underneath you’ll see a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that’s way too large to be living in the little Buell’s garage.
The engine produces about 39 horsepower, not much on paper but magical in execution. Smooth acceleration from what’s in reality an ideal beginner’s bike is delivered progressively, an ultra positive trait that hares off any hint of the hard scarey bike image so often used in marketing elsewhere.
The six-speed gearbox snicks through cogs with great satisfaction whilst letting riders exploit all the performance available from the all-new engine. At freeway pace, the bike falls into a relaxed groove, the engine turning over with unexpected grace for its size.
Handling That Inspires
Where the Ninja 300 pulls away from the posers is in its handling. At affordable seat time, this 380-pound-leaven-and-wet weight is another step closer to a ballerina recital in a 440-pound package.
The diamond tubular frame is the perfect nexus between stiffness and flex, combined with the hard rubber tires, capable of hearing the changes in the road, yet also blending out some of the harsher impacts.
The suspension equipment may not be high on fancy adjustability (telescopic forks up front, bottom-link Uni-Trak system at the rear), but it’s tuned just right for on-road use. The Ninja feels planted, inspiring confidence from smooth place into pocked city streets.
Daily Driven Goes Overlanding
If anything, the Ninja 300’s most impressive trick might be that it changes its colors to match the world you’re riding through. But come Monday through Friday, it’s that perfect commuter – skinny enough to split lanes, thrifty enough to sip fuel (over 70 mpg is not unusual), and comfortable enough for gridlock.
On the weekend, the same bike transforms in to a canyon-carving buddy. The riding position — sporty without being painful — is able to keep you in the saddle longer without the chiropractor appointments many larger sportbikes seem to require. The windshield provides reasonable shelter for longer rides while the seat provides acceptable comfort for day rides.
Technology That Matters
Today’s riders are a demanding lot that want a clear but complex taste of what’s perfect in this post-modern world, and want all of the best parts without any of the fluff.
The dash cluster features an analog and digital display that features the most important information so you can monitor how your Pioneer 1000 is running.
ABS options provide peace of mind grinding to a halt from those unexpected times when your traction disappears. The lighting package also penetrates the dark with exceptional embeds’ worth of confidence-inspiring light.
The Perfect Learning Platform
By the way: for beginners, the Ninja 300 is totally suitable also. The power is there but manageable, the handling forgiving but communicative and the whole package lays a great foundation for correct riding technique that will last for years to come. More seasoned hands enjoy those same attributes, finding that simplicity can indeed be the key to genuine real world pleasure.
Ownership Experience
Kawasaki’s solid reputation for reliability carries over to the Ninja 300. They have intervals of reasonable regularity for maintenance, parts availability is still good, and a strong community for everything else, as the solutions to these issues are typically a forum search away. Resale values are also quite good so that the initial hit isn’t as painful.
Kawasaki Ninja 300 Conclusion: The Sweet Spot
In a motorcycle world obsessed with bigger, better and faster, the Kawasaki Ninja 300 has never tried to be any of those things. This is what riders are ultimately looking for: the performance to thrill, the style to be proud to own, and the ease of use to enjoy on a regular basis, without constantly shaking in one’s boots.
Whether it’s your first or twenty-first, the Ninja 300 will astound. And it’s not about topping out all the specs, but rather the feeling you get from riding a bike that was built for one reason, to win. And in that most important sense, the Ninja 300 is truly great.