Subjective 250 vs 300 thread to help potential buyers

[Ninjinsky]

My old 99 pregen is warm blooded and takes time to warm up. Just curious if the EFI takes time to warm up or does it run straight from cold like a car?

[ninjamunky85]

Gotta say that I disagree with some of the comparisons made in the first post, but my only experience with the 250 is the pre-gen model.

-Compared to the pre-gen the 300 headlights put a lot more light on the road. I noticed the difference immediately when riding to work at night. Even with an upgraded bulb in the 250 the stock 300 headlight was brighter.

-I've never even noticed the "sinking" feeling from the 300 kickstand. I mean I guess it does move a little, but it never worried me. The one on my 250 moves some too, but maybe not as much.

-Don't the new gen 250 and the 300 have the same brakes? The stock pads on the 300 are nothing to write home about, but it's a cheap and easy swap for some better ones. The stock 300 brakes are adequate IMO.

-The 300 has some kind of "clutch assist". Not really sure what that means but it has a little easier pull than the 250. Not as light as the hydraulic clutch on my 450 though.

-I have no clue how anyone could think the carbed ninjetes have a better throttle feel. The EFI on the 300 is awesome, it never misses a beat and the throttle response is instant,.. with one exception, and that's the transition from on to off throttle

Going from on to off throttle, or off to on when you're moving can get a little jerky. It's not a problem for me except when cruising around town. Because of the down low torque of the 300 it's easy to cruise at around town speeds in 4th gear while barely opening the throttle.

If the car ahead of you slows down a little and you give it a little less throttle, well because you barely had the throttle on in the first place you just end up closing the throttle and start decelerating quickly. Then when you open the throttle again the bike jerks forward.

That's the one flaw with the 300's fueling, after they got the recalled ecu's replaced of course. After owning the 300 I seriously doubt that I will purchase another carbed bike. When I bought my 450 I searched high and low for something with EFI cause I love the instant throttle response, and dealing with carbs is a pain.

-Can't say that I think the 300 runs any hotter than my 250. In fact the heat off the 300 might be even less noticeable, due to the extra bodywork trapping the heat. Kawasaki's engineers really did a good job with the heat management system on the 300 IMO. Yeah, it does blow the hot air out of the bottom of the bike. I haven't figured where at yet though cause I've just never noticed it.

Both the 250 and the 300 put off very little heat though. Ride a SS bike with an undertail exhaust if you want to know what hot really is.

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

Don't the new gen 250 and the 300 have the same brakes? The stock pads on the 300 are nothing to write home about, but it's a cheap and easy swap for some better ones. The stock 300 brakes are adequate IMO.

The 250 has sintered brake pads. The 300 has only semi-metallic composite brakes that are somewhere between typical sintered and organic brake pads, except for the ABS bikes that get sintered pads up front.

[cadd]

Added ur comparison to the OP.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

Haha, all that heavy breathing after almost ass packing everyone you KNOW he needed to change his pants.

HAHAHA You worded that PERFECTLY!

on a serious note that is some scary stuff though.

[CycleCam303]

Danny, fun racing tip. The person behind almost always loses. I've had a handful of experiences of people slamming into me at corner entries. The person behind usually gets destroyed.

I want to make a comparison. Someone let me ride a 300. I've actually never been on one.

[Somchai]

Originally Posted by cadd

Also from my pov, it becomes really transparent during rev matching downshifts, particularly from 2nd to 1st at 10mph when coming to a stop at a red light. While in 2nd gear, throttle is completely closed. When I blip to downshift into first, the ECU isn't quick enough to react in time (we're talking split seconds here). And the bike doesn't blip at all!

Take your catalytic converter out of the exhaust and throw the o2-sensor as far away as you can.
@ninjamunky85, for you it's about the o2-sensor also ("If the car ahead of you slows down a little and you give it a little less throttle, well because you barely had the throttle on in the first place you just end up closing the throttle and start decelerating quickly. Then when you open the throttle again the bike jerks forward.")

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by CycleCam303

Danny, fun racing tip. The person behind almost always loses. I've had a handful of experiences of people slamming into me at corner entries. The person behind usually gets destroyed.

I want to make a comparison. Someone let me ride a 300. I've actually never been on one.

I was gonna say that you'll get to ride mine, but I guess it's also kinda not stock

[tfkrocks]

Originally Posted by Somchai

Take your catalytic converter out of the exhaust and throw the o2-sensor as far away as you can.
@ninjamunky85, for you it's about the o2-sensor also ("If the car ahead of you slows down a little and you give it a little less throttle, well because you barely had the throttle on in the first place you just end up closing the throttle and start decelerating quickly. Then when you open the throttle again the bike jerks forward.")

American ninjettes don't have an O2 sensor.

[CycleCam303]

After riding yours I might decide to put one of those disgusting yet useful tailboxes on my bike lol.

[Somchai]

Originally Posted by tfkrocks

American ninjettes don't have an O2 sensor.

Thank you for this information, I didn't know that.

[choneofakind]

There's a spot for them though! But no sensors hahaa

[cadd]

Anyone else noticed the seat not as comfortable on the 300? Took my regulsr 100 mile loop for the first time with the 300. But I find myself moving all over the seat trying to find that perfect spot. With the 250, the seat felt firmer and supported my sit bones better? Or does my bottom have to get used to the seat?

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by nbleak21

Regarding Engine braking, does anyone know if the 300 utilizes DFCO (deceleration fuel cutoff?)

Almost all EFI systems shut fuel off when off-throttle. You can see this in the increased MPG.

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by cadd

Anyone else noticed the seat not as comfortable on the 300? Took my regulsr 100 mile loop for the first time with the 300. But I find myself moving all over the seat trying to find that perfect spot. With the 250, the seat felt firmer and supported my sit bones better? Or does my bottom have to get used to the seat?

You can buy replacement seats. The 300 front half is narrower. You may be bottoming out and need to increase preload on the shock.

The 300 EFI is as close to perfect as you can get, no warming up, no choke, better fuel economy. Performance on the 300 is very much different than the 250 and the 300 does no touch down parts as easily as the 300 (they relocated the sidestand). ABS is just better.

The slipper assist clutch is miles better, and allows for upshifts very close in speed to a clutchless shift, the slip on downshifts avoid rear wheel lock. This gear slip issue is caused by the improper use of oils.

IMO, the 300 is a evolution from the 250 and addresses important issues.

However, the pads and lines need to be changed ASAP, and the tires are pretty weak and need to be switched out ASAP.