How happy are you with your 300?

[cadd]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with your bike?

Any regrets owning the 300? Not enough power as you like? Gas mileage not as good as you thought?

[snot]

I do love my 300, I don't like the brakes but that is an easy fix. I found out recently the GSXR600 is low enough I can ride it. Seat height is a big deal for me my inseam is about 26.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by snot

I do love my 300, I don't like the brakes but that is an easy fix. I found out recently the GSXR600 is low enough I can ride it. Seat height is a big deal for me my inseam is about 26.

I was not real happy with the stock pads. I now have Double-H Sintered Brake Pads and think it has all the stopping power I need.

I now have over 17k on my 300 so it will not last forever, at this rate I will need a new bike in 5 years or so and I will go electric then.

[Alex]

[Rogue]

My 300 meets all my needs except for distance comfort - that's on me and my jacked up, abused body. I will eventually add a more comfortable bike for longer trips, but I'm in no hurry and I will never part with this bike.

[antiant]

I love this bike, I have no regrets. My only complaint was how hard the stock seat was (made it hard for long distance), but I changed that with a Corbin seat and all is good.

[ally99]

I LOVE my 300! She gets better MPG than my 250. Even riding her hard, I get a solid 60-64mpg on every tank. Yeah!

[capt_bugaloo]

It's a good bike but I am always hankering for something different. In an ideal world I would have a garage with several different bikes, but unfortunately it's expensive enough just keeping one bike and one car on the road.

[Sirref]

I love my 300, she's a solid bike all around and I intend to keep her for a few years to come

she's not perfect, braking leaves room to be desired as does the suspension. The stock tires left room to be desired as well but I'm in love w/these michelin tires, the sound leaves room to be desired as well. All of that are things that I am going to change in the future.

The only thing that I can't change is that the seat height feels low, I wish I could raise it ~1inch and I mean the actual seat in respect to the tank but it's a minor detail anyway

there is a small list of bikes I would get but none of them are bikes that I want badly enough to sell my 300
cbr600rr & street triple r

[cadd]

I read in early production MY2013, there was an issue with stalling when coming to a stop when you pull the clutch lever in. Has that been fixed? Was there a recall for that?

How about the ABS issue? I remember reading something about an ABS recall?

[Sirref]

I never noticed the issues that caused the recalls but all of the recalls have been done and no new issues have popped up in a while

[JohnnyBravo]

It's a keeper!!!

[cadd]

Definitely a keeper! Unless there's going to be reliability issues where things start failing, I plan on keeping this bike for the long term. So far, after owning it for a week, I like everything about it. I can deal with the small "cons" (if you can even call them that).

[eddiekay]

When I had the 250 nobody ever said anything about it. When I got the 300 more than a few commented that it was nice looking. When I had the 250 several people made the commnet , Oh, that lil' thing really keeps up huh" with the 300 everybody expects it to keep up because they think its a 6...Nobody ever compared the 250 to anything...it was a
kawi's small bike....but a lot of people compare the 300 to the bigger bikes, expensive bikes and one made the comment that it was a bargain-basement 600...I dunno...I loved that 250 but the 300...I like.

[EsrTek]

Hmmm I may be an odd case here...as I am thinking of replacing the 300 in Feb, w/ either the CB6650F (new) or at the least get a used 600 SS of some kind and maybe keeping the 300 for commuting, depends on what deals I can find at time.
Plan to take a 650F out for test ride to decide.

Anyway...I actually came back to the baby ninja from a fz6r, as I felt I really missed how fun it was...and I did...it just didn't last.

Gas mileage is great!! Even romping on it!!
Engine is better than 250 (big time), buzzyness on highway still sucks. (It actually numbs my hands/feet within a 30min commute to point I literally can't feel anything my hands are doing when on interstate).
As for the handling..yeah it's easy to toss around...almost to light you ask me..I liked the heaviness of my 600...felt more natural. I kinda of feel like I'm riding a old 10-speed w skinny ass tires, like it's a BMX bike and just waiting for front to wash out when riding 300 hard.
Speakin of riding it hard, that is when the thing starts to scare me w the wallowing of suspension. I think in that area the 300 is worse than the 250 was, even though I know it's same parts.

I don't need, nor want, more power!! I want a bike I feel better riding, has more comfort for my 6'1" frame and damn good brakes.
Sure I can do a lot of mods/upgrades to the 300..but why spend all that $ and time when I can just buy those things as stock on bike! Plus, In the end it won't cure my main issue... the buzziness!

[Sirref]

@EsrTek if you get the cbr650f do a full writeup/review I'm fairly interested in that bike

also my 300 isn't buzzy, my pregen 250 is hella buzzy but the 300 not so much (footpegs are a little)

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Sirref

The only thing that I can't change is that the seat height feels low, I wish I could raise it ~1inch and I mean the actual seat in respect to the tank but it's a minor detail anyway

You can get 25mm (1") jack kits to raise the rear from Revzilla or eBay. There are aftermarket seats for this bike:

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/s...-300-2013-2014

[Bubba]

Originally Posted by Sirref

@EsrTek if you get the cbr650f do a full writeup/review I'm fairly interested in that bike

I spent two demo rides on the CBR650. It's expensive, has very dull colors (from the Honda car palette). The engine is really smooth, but very dull, little power on the bottom end, handling and brakes are mediocre, clunky tranny. Brakes have no feel. I was disappointed. I much preferred the Fz07, which handles like a 300, but the best bike in this class is still the SVF650, which has the best V-twin motor I have ever tried.

Not sure what Honda is up to, but they seem to have let their bikes be taken over by the car division and have massaged all the soul out of them. Even the CBR1000R had its Repsol colors replaced with Maytag white.

[Sirref]

t.t was hoping for something good out of them

oh well, there's always triumph, yamaha, and kawasaki to fall back on for good bikes

[EsrTek]

Originally Posted by Bubba

I spent two demo rides on the CBR650. It's expensive, has very dull colors (from the Honda car palette). The engine is really smooth, but very dull, little power on the bottom end, handling and brakes are mediocre, clunky tranny. Brakes have no feel. I was disappointed. I much preferred the Fz07, which handles like a 300, but the best bike in this class is still the SVF650, which has the best V-twin motor I have ever tried.

Not sure what Honda is up to, but they seem to have let their bikes be taken over by the car division and have massaged all the soul out of them. Even the CBR1000R had its Repsol colors replaced with Maytag white.

I've been getting same feeling about Honda's...they gotten very boring looks, rev limits are low as well. They seem to be leaning on the side of economy over anything w/ a soul.

[LittleRedNinjette]

I love my 300.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by EsrTek

I've been getting same feeling about Honda's...they gotten very boring looks, rev limits are low as well. They seem to be leaning on the side of economy over anything w/ a soul.

economy sells well, and someone has to go that route anyway

[Hero Danny]

I love my 300, but I at times wonder if I should of gotten the 650, mainly because the 300 can be uncomfortable at times and plus the extra bit of power on the 650 while it is still a good beginner bike would be nice..

But I don't at all regret my purchase, bottom line is my 300 looks amazing.. seriously it turns heads ALL the time, I LOVE IT. Also, I get 67 MPG average (and it's still in the break-in period). The 650 only gets like 45-50. Also the insurance was next to nothing on the 300 and I have theft protection, I'm sure the 650 wouldn't be too expensive also, but it's safe to say I'd have to dish out a few extra hundred dollar bills for the 650.

300 is a great bike, I do wish mine had ABS though. (just peace of mind)

[Sirref]

already wishing for a different bike, I see how you work boy

[LittleRedNinjette]

[Manimal]

My first impressions ..... (I had a modified 2001 old gen 250, an upgraded (suspension) 2009 250, then an 07 Gixxer 600)

I vote 5 - 8 ..... I don't plan to hang onto it forever.

- Brakes could be better, even after upgrading the front pads and SS line.
- OEM grips are too firm for my liking.
- Suspension and tires: With less than 100 miles on the bike so far, I don't quite have confidence in the handling (suspension and or OEM tires). But this could change once I swap out the tires to the Pirelli Diablo's.
- Seat: seems sticky to me. Most of my riding are in the twisties, therefore, I move around a lot. Gotta see if my Corbin seat from my 09 250 will fit on the 300

For now, that's it. Otherwise, it's what I expected (compared to the 09 250 I had), and so far, I am enjoying it.

[eddiekay]

Havent been able to raise a crew here in NY metro this season so got on a meet-up with other riders a few weeks back. Generally...750 and up. Good guys, competent riders and always waited at the intersection for me. Still...most of the sections we did had a lot more straight line than curved...even 1/4 mile put them an 1/8 mile ahead of me.
So...while the bike is perfect on it's own (IMHO) as long as there are more straight than turns I'm going to be way behind by the much bigger bikes. It's OK,,I ride alone 99% anyway but unless we got out with an exceptionally mellow group we just cant twist the wrist to pass into oncoming or rocket down the empty 1 mile, 2 mile section and expect to keep up. That's been my recent experience...no real surprise but now I understand why so many people "move up"...just to keep up on the straights when in a group.

[Greasedmonkey]

I love mine! I dont think I will ever sell it either. Its just too much fun.

[Klondike1020]

I love my GFs. I have considered multiple times selling my GSXR and buying a cheap used ninjette off of CL. But alas. I hanker for a real Sport touring or adventure bike.

So I will keep ridding my GFs when I get the desire and keep my GSXR because I have spent next to nothing buying and customizing it.

[vman1313]

Six months after purchasing my brand new 300, I purchased a brand new Honda CRF250L Dual Sport. I love love love my 300...BUT...had I bought the Dual Sport before the 300, I don't think I would have bought the 300. I enjoy Dual Sporting so much more than "Sport Biking." Nothing at all against Sports Bikes or my 300 (obviously since it is still in my garage and I drove it to work today and I have no plans on selling it anytime soon) but I have realized that Dual Sporting is my favorite type of motorcycling and would rather spend a day hitting up forest service roads, dirt trails, cow paths, pig trails, etc etc...as well as riding the twistys.

As anything else, it is just a matter of preference!

PS...If Kawi comes out with a 300cc Dual Sport then so long Ninja 300 and so long Hinda CRF250L !!!!!!

[ninjaprof]

Most enjoyable bike I have ever owned. Corbin seat, Race Tech springs and Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires are great upgrades.

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by snot

I do love my 300, I don't like the brakes but that is an easy fix. I found out recently the GSXR600 is low enough I can ride it. Seat height is a big deal for me my inseam is about 26.

I upgraded to Venhill lines, Galfer fluid, and Galfer semi-sintered pads and it's been great so far.

[BoBO]

Originally Posted by ninjaprof

Most enjoyable bike I have ever owned. Corbin seat, Race Tech springs and Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires are great upgrades.

+1 on the Pirelli Diablo Rosso, it's like 2 steps above my Pirelli Sport Demon in terms of grip and overall feel.

[petersophy]

Taking into consideration that my Ninja 300 is seriously modified, I love it! I don't plan on selling it anytime soon or ever.

[cadd]

Riding season starts again! Still the same feelings?

[nickjpass]

I've never ridden one.

[ally99]

Yep.

Though I loved my first 300 more than my current one, the bike still kicks ass.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by cadd

Riding season starts again! Still the same feelings?

starts?

when did it end?

[Hero Danny]

I like my ninja 300 even more now than when I first commented. 70 MPG fuel injection and IDK why people say it's a slow bike. I fly by on it all the time. It's really an outstanding bike, an excellent upgrade from a 250. The only time where I feel like I want more POWAH is sometimes on the highway, I am not saying that this bike isn't adequate for the highway, it has plenty of passing power, etc. However, when I am around town in the 20-30mph range I can romp my N300 and it will fly by cars and only a small percentage of cars can really keep up... the average sadan or what have you gets left in the dust (with a 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds) However on the highway that power is gone and you are just as fast as everyone else from 75-100. So I do feel a little uncomfortable...

Other than that, bike is solid I love it. I still want another bike, a 600rr. But I want to keep the N300 and track it. Since I believe it would make a fantastic track bike and would be a lot easier to handle than the 600rr on the track.

[sharky nrk]

where is the "wish I had one" selection lol