300 Suspension and compare to 250 ?

ally99 · January 14th, 2013, 05:40 PM

Forgive me if this is a stupid, or "girlie" question, but does the 300 have an adjustable suspension? Or is it only the preload that can be bumped up or down like the 250s?

Another question, for those of you who own a 300, are there things you liked better about the 250?

tnr4 · January 14th, 2013, 06:41 PM

Hi Allyson,

No, the suspension is not adjustable beyond rear pre-load. However, the front suspension is better -- I think they said they used thicker oil, but it feels more progressive and doesn't bottom out easily.

I like pretty much everything on the 300 better than the 250. The only thing that seems equal is the front brakes, but it it rides and feels better in pretty much every way. Not amazingly better, but better. If you have specific questions, just throw 'em up here!

Ninjaedit: but for reference, I had a pregen, so there may have been things on the new-gen that I would have liked more.

Alex · January 14th, 2013, 08:09 PM

Hi Ally! Here were my thoughts on it when I first picked it up. Suspension behavior is improved on the 300. The specs say that they lowered the spring rate slightly in the front, but increased the recommended oil level. Seems somewhat strange, but it is effective. Front feels controlled, yet is much harder to bottom out under hard braking than the new-gen 250's (which were much harder than the pre-gens).

ally99 · January 15th, 2013, 04:04 AM

Awesome! Thanks Travis and Alex!

psych0hans · April 3rd, 2013, 03:10 AM

Can anyone confirm the fork oil viscosity in the 300? I know it is 10w in the 250... @Alex @tnr4

Alex · April 3rd, 2013, 05:37 AM

Beats me.

old3 · April 3rd, 2013, 06:41 AM

The fork oil is green!

My son has a 2012, the 300 has it covered in every way except the plastics quality is worse and the passenger seat is less everything it should be. Smaller, not as comfy.

The shifting is better, the vibrations are lower, the suspension is more controlled, the clutch lever is lighter pull, power is not even in the same ballpark. Anything else that isn't better is at least equal excepting the exceptions above, exceptional improvement overall.

Somchai · July 22nd, 2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Hi Ally! Here were my thoughts on it when I first picked it up. Suspension behavior is improved on the 300. The specs say that they lowered the spring rate slightly in the front, but increased the recommended oil level. Seems somewhat strange, but it is effective. Front feels controlled, yet is much harder to bottom out under hard braking than the new-gen 250's (which were much harder than the pre-gens).

About the increased oil level the information is correct, the oil level from the 300 is 100 +/- 2mm compared to 108 +/- 2mm in the 250 Ninja. The spring is exactly the same like the 250 (partno. 44026-0126).

@Klondike1020

Klondike1020 · July 22nd, 2013, 10:29 PM

The Kawasaki dealers would like to tell you the 300 is a completely different bike
The only way you could be more partial to the 250 is if you like the looks better. Unlikely

The 300- it just the next step of improvements to the two fifty
Improvements on the same platform

Gussets in the same old frame. Tuned the same suspension a little, new fairing kit looks larger "like a 600". nicer gauge cluster, fuel injection, exhaust is piped a little different.

And bigger bore with different ECM maps

Oh slipper clutch which can be forgiving on aggressive down shifting.

Nicer tires stock on the 300

300 comes w a rear higher stock

So it is just a noticeable bit better in every possible way

I spent a couple hundred miles on both.

They are not worlds apart.

I couldn't justify selling my 250 and spending the money on a 300.

I think of it like this

Dating a girl and I find out she has a younger hotter sister who is more fun...

Probably not worth it to dump her and upgrade starting from scratch lol

I am still ridding my 250.

Then again unlike girls I got to try the 300 out for a bit before I stuck w my 250 haha

aeroblade · July 22nd, 2013, 10:51 PM

lol @Klondike1020

I'm still waiting to get a test ride, but there are none available here atm.

Jiggles · July 22nd, 2013, 11:24 PM

its bettuh

January 14th, 2013, 05:40 PM	#1
ally99 Ninja chick Name: Allyson Location: Athens, GA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 4 MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15	300 Suspension and compare to 250 ? Forgive me if this is a stupid, or "girlie" question, but does the 300 have an adjustable suspension? Or is it only the preload that can be bumped up or down like the 250s? Another question, for those of you who own a 300, are there things you liked better about the 250? __________________________________________________ Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson

January 14th, 2013, 08:09 PM	#3
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Hi Ally! Here were my thoughts on it when I first picked it up. Suspension behavior is improved on the 300. The specs say that they lowered the spring rate slightly in the front, but increased the recommended oil level. Seems somewhat strange, but it is effective. Front feels controlled, yet is much harder to bottom out under hard braking than the new-gen 250's (which were much harder than the pre-gens). __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 15th, 2013, 04:04 AM	#4
ally99 Ninja chick Name: Allyson Location: Athens, GA Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 4 MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15	Awesome! Thanks Travis and Alex! __________________________________________________ Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson

April 3rd, 2013, 03:10 AM	#5
psych0hans ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Hansveer Location: Bombay, India Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250r - Track whore, Ninja 300 - SOLD, KTM RC390 - Orange Hulk, Ducati 899 Panigale - Red Devil. Posts: A lot.	Can anyone confirm the fork oil viscosity in the 300? I know it is 10w in the 250... @Alex @tnr4 __________________________________________________ GETTING BACK INTO RIDING? Read this.

April 3rd, 2013, 05:37 AM	#6
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Beats me. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

January 14th, 2013, 06:41 PM	#2
tnr4 ninjette.org sage Name: Travis Location: Washington, DC Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): Suzuki GSX650F! Past: Kawasaki Ninja 300 (Sold); Triumph Street Triple (Sold); Kawasaki Ninja 250 (Sold) Posts: 664	Hi Allyson, No, the suspension is not adjustable beyond rear pre-load. However, the front suspension is better -- I think they said they used thicker oil, but it feels more progressive and doesn't bottom out easily. I like pretty much everything on the 300 better than the 250. The only thing that seems equal is the front brakes, but it it rides and feels better in pretty much every way. Not amazingly better, but better. If you have specific questions, just throw 'em up here! Ninjaedit: but for reference, I had a pregen, so there may have been things on the new-gen that I would have liked more.

April 3rd, 2013, 06:41 AM	#7
old3 ninjette.org sage Name: Jim Location: NJ Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300, KTM EXC610SMR Posts: 913	The fork oil is green! My son has a 2012, the 300 has it covered in every way except the plastics quality is worse and the passenger seat is less everything it should be. Smaller, not as comfy. The shifting is better, the vibrations are lower, the suspension is more controlled, the clutch lever is lighter pull, power is not even in the same ballpark. Anything else that isn't better is at least equal excepting the exceptions above, exceptional improvement overall.

July 22nd, 2013, 10:29 PM	#9
Klondike1020 Intrepid Adventurer Name: Josh Location: Rochester/Buffalo NY Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2004 GSXR 750 , 71 cb350streettracker, 07 Polaris Predator 500 Posts: A lot.	The Kawasaki dealers would like to tell you the 300 is a completely different bike The only way you could be more partial to the 250 is if you like the looks better. Unlikely The 300- it just the next step of improvements to the two fifty Improvements on the same platform Gussets in the same old frame. Tuned the same suspension a little, new fairing kit looks larger "like a 600". nicer gauge cluster, fuel injection, exhaust is piped a little different. And bigger bore with different ECM maps Oh slipper clutch which can be forgiving on aggressive down shifting. Nicer tires stock on the 300 300 comes w a rear higher stock So it is just a noticeable bit better in every possible way I spent a couple hundred miles on both. They are not worlds apart. I couldn't justify selling my 250 and spending the money on a 300. I think of it like this Dating a girl and I find out she has a younger hotter sister who is more fun... Probably not worth it to dump her and upgrade starting from scratch lol I am still ridding my 250. Then again unlike girls I got to try the 300 out for a bit before I stuck w my 250 haha

July 22nd, 2013, 10:51 PM	#10
aeroblade Doh! Name: Matt Location: Locating GPS... Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r Posts: 286	lol @Klondike1020 I'm still waiting to get a test ride, but there are none available here atm. __________________________________________________

July 22nd, 2013, 11:24 PM	#11
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	its bettuh __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

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