Here is my honest take on the difference from the carbed 250 to the FI 300. You ride the 250 "like a 250". Row the gears, carry speed, downshift a lot to hold speeds uphill, headwind, whatever. The 300 you can just ride like a "normal" bike.
It needs more RPM than a 750/1400 but really, in normal, go out and ride it mode, you just don't feel like you have to wring its neck anywhere, even when going fast. If it is at 4k, it will not go Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuwahhhh, it just goes faster at WFO.
I'll shift at 6-7k on spirited country road rides and be flying. 4th gear with a +1 CS sprocket is GPS true 87 MPH. It pulled the 4 mile uphill on NY highway 17w ay 75 MPH in 6th without strain bone stock motor. I'm almost sure my kid's 2012 250 needed 4th gear on that one.
Ride one and short shift the thing below 4000 RPM in 3rd and hold the throttle full open. That will show you the real difference IMO.
Budget $35 for new steering head bearings and save for a better front brake set up.
