Picked up my new Ninja 300 this morning!

[Alex]

I know, it's forbidden to make these posts without pictures. So here:



It looks exactly like it does in the kawi glamour shots, probably because I've done nothing to it other than ride it from the shop to the garage. It still even has all of its stickers.

There are a number of organized reviews that cover everything, and this won't be one of them. This is just a bunch of first impressions before I can ride it more today and tomorrow.

• I like that the steering stem nut is no longer painted. It's now bare metal, which means that it won't fleck off after it gets hit with keychains or whatever over the years.
• The white looks great, and what you can't see in pictures is that it's not a flat white. It has metal flake in it, so when it's really clean and in the sunlight, it sparkles. It's a nice looking motorcycle.
• The seat is harder. It feels like there is less cushion, and it is somewhat less comfortable. The shape is narrower toward the front. It does feel about the same height from the ground. I'd imagine that whatever people felt on the new-gens, would feel similar on these, in terms of being able to reach the ground
• startup is great! It really does pop right on, with no warmup period. Just turn on, and get on the road.
• dash looks great, though the lcd panel looks somewhat cheap in a way I can't describe. It's very readable, but in some ways it reminds me of a cheap digital clock. I don't know whether it is because of the font, the size of the numbers, or something else that is subconscious
• The engine is great. It is noticeably more powerful from the instant you release the clutch lever. The low and midrange is much stronger than the 250, and that doesn't tail off all the way through the rev range.
• On the highway, there is much more power in reserve. Cruising at 80 (indicated) was a piece of cake, and I took it up to an indicated 100 without even trying, and this was sitting straight up and down being the sail that I am. I will be putting a GPS on it soon enough, and I can confirm any speedo error, and have more information about top speed numbers.
• The gearing makes a significant difference. On the highway it does feel much calmer. Sort of like adding a 15 tooth to the front on a new-gen or pre-gen, but even more so. The engine is very smooth, and it goes down the road feeling like a much larger bike.
• The suspension feels fine, but will have more info tomorrow after some twisties. I haven't adjusted the rear pre-load yet, so it's probably a little light for me as delivered.
• The brake feel is not great. I don't like that they are selling the non-ABS model with an organic front pad (non-sintered). It feels exactly like when I accidentally put a FA197 pad on the front of our newgen instead of a FA197HH. The initial grab is very weak, so you need to pull harder to get more braking force. If you really pull hard, the force is adequate and can stop the wheel, but it's just an adequate system with the stock pads. I'm hoping that the pads feel a little better as they break in, but I'll also be looking for a more aggressive sintered pad as soon as they are available for this bike.
• transmission/shifter feel is incredible! It is so light, so positive, so easy, it is truly the nicest shifter feel of any bike I can ever remember riding. Truly better than the 10R and 1600GT it shares the garage with. (Not "taking into account the cost", I mean outright better)

The only accessory I bought so far is a set of spools. Sometime this afternoon, I'll get those on and put the bike up on stands to start adding the GPS wiring, along with a battery tender/heated gear lead.

[Aggrotech]

Lookin sexy

[Old Lemon]

very very nice i got to sit on one today and the lcd part of the dash looks tiny. huge tach though

[Jiggles]

The seat probably feels harder because its new. I noticed that compared to my old 250 with 13k miles, my new used one with 3k on it was much harder. It just needs a couple hundred hours of butt time break in

[Alex]

Perhaps, but it's also noticeably thinner (not as thick padding). Time will tell. I can't see myself putting a custom seat on it, so my butt needs to adjust one way or another.

[NinjetteNewfie]

Congrats on the new bike Alex Should put some pics of the new ninjettes on the splash page

[Confuzshuz]

So, would you say it's worth going from the 250 to the 300?
I'm tempted to do the same.

[tnr4]

Originally Posted by Alex

Perhaps, but it's also noticeably thinner (not as thick padding). Time will tell. I can't see myself putting a custom seat on it, so my butt needs to adjust one way or another.

Nice! I was looking forward to hearing your thoughts. That observation about the clutch is really important; the biggest reason I'm thinking to make this change is because I want something that I can have fun on when I want to have fun, but that is really easy to ride for commuting. My Streety ain't that (the latter half), since it wants to loft the front wheel all the freakin' time!

Let us know as you make more observations! And of course, 'grats!

Travis

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Alex

Picked up my new Ninja 300 this morning!

Congratulations, Alex !

Are those saddle bags for the new bike?

Is this one for you technically still a "Ninjette"?

[Monkeytofu]

How is your garage so clean and organized? You cleaned it before taking the picture didn't you?

[CC Cowboy]

It looks like a 600

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Are those saddle bags for the new bike?

No, those are for the BMW.

Originally Posted by Motofool

Is this one for you technically still a "Ninjette"?

Yes, as far as I'm concerned. The smallest Ninja sportbike can always and forever be referred to as a Ninjette.

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

How is your garage so clean and organized? You cleaned it before taking the picture didn't you?

I wish. We're going through a remodel, so my car is sitting outside for the time being while we store materials in the garage. So it looks a little more organized than it would otherwise.

Originally Posted by Confuzshuz

So, would you say it's worth going from the 250 to the 300?
I'm tempted to do the same.

Beats me. It's only money. It's a better bike in some areas, but it won't teach a new rider anything any faster/quicker/safer.

[Alex]

More pics in that same gallery.

Kyle's a fan:



The small spools they had at the shop fit fine. Only the smallest spools will work, or you need a spacer, as the spool boss is underneath the swingarm and recessed a couple mm. These were small enough that they still fit underneath the swingarm and snugged up against the mounting hole. If they were any larger, they would would have been blocked by the swingarm.

The front of the bike took the pitbull stemstand even better than the new-gen, it no longer makes contact underneath the front plastics as it lifts.

[Heed]

omg that garage is clean.

Nice bike too. -.-

[lgk]

congrats

[tnr4]

Haha, I love the 'kids on bikes' pics. My niece will totally be a biker chick.

[HKr1]

Very Nice!

[hirubhaiambani]

SWEET!! Kawi does make awesome little machines...

Congrats Alex!

[Boom King]

Congrats on being a Ninjetter again! What's the word on the presence of an O2 sensor and catalyser in the Cali model?

[ninjaone]

Originally Posted by Alex

[*]The gearing makes a significant difference. On the highway it does feel much calmer.

I'd imagine the calmer feeling on the highway has more to do with the extended rake, trail, wheelbase, and heavier weight then anything. The 300's adjusted steering geometry is basically designed to make it more stable on the highway.

[Boom King]

There's only 2 kg of difference in weight between the 300 and 250.

[FrugalNinja250]

Can you hurry up and crash it? I need some parts off of it...

Actually, some things I'm interested in knowing about it:

1. Is there a speedo cable, or is it a sensor at the hub to feed a signal to the cluster?

2. Clutch is cable I assume? I don't see a reservoir in the pictures I've seen so far (Kawasaki dealer here is on the other side of one of the worst construction messes in Texas, so no recon trip there for the time being!)

3. What can you tell about the KAMS thingie?

4. How's the seating position compared to a pre-gen, things such as knee bend, torso tilt, etc?

That's all I've got at the moment. Nice looking bike! (Sadly, my finances preclude buying one new, will have to wait a few years and get used.)

[vman1313]

[iceknyght]

Looks awesome and thanks for the quick 'thoughts' on the bike! I have been waiting for someone that has a 250 to give their impressions! Glad to hear it's still mostly positive!

[Apex]

That bike looks sexy in white.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by FrugalNinja250

Is there a speedo cable, or is it a sensor at the hub to feed a signal to the cluster?

I believe there's a sensor that drives off the counter shaft sprocket

[Confuzshuz]

@Alex, can you post the major service intervals, specifically valve adjustments.

[IdRatherDrum]

Looks great! I hope I can get one as my first bike! Can you get a close up shot of the dash please?

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Boom King

Congrats on being a Ninjetter again! What's the word on the presence of an O2 sensor and catalyser in the Cali model?

Looks the same as the online pics of the 49-state bike. There is no O2 sensor that I can see on the midpipe, where the one was shown on some original kawi pic. I can't tell by looking whether there is a cat in the end can itself, but my hunch is there needs to be.

Originally Posted by ninjaone

I'd imagine the calmer feeling on the highway has more to do with the extended rake, trail, wheelbase, and heavier weight then anything. The 300's adjusted steering geometry is basically designed to make it more stable on the highway.

Those might help, but the lower rpms and lower vibration also play a part.

Originally Posted by FrugalNinja250

Can you hurry up and crash it? I need some parts off of it...

Actually, some things I'm interested in knowing about it:

1. Is there a speedo cable, or is it a sensor at the hub to feed a signal to the cluster?

2. Clutch is cable I assume? I don't see a reservoir in the pictures I've seen so far (Kawasaki dealer here is on the other side of one of the worst construction messes in Texas, so no recon trip there for the time being!)

3. What can you tell about the KAMS thingie?

4. How's the seating position compared to a pre-gen, things such as knee bend, torso tilt, etc?

That's all I've got at the moment. Nice looking bike! (Sadly, my finances preclude buying one new, will have to wait a few years and get used.)

No speedo cable to the front wheel. There's a sensor somewhere off the countershaft. Clutch is cable-operated. No opinion on any improved air management due to the fairing. The old one seemed fine. The new one seems fine. The seating position feels identical to the new-gen. I don't have the two right next to eachother to compare if they are truly identical, but other than that, they seem to be for me. The seat itself seems less comfortable, at least initially.

Originally Posted by Confuzshuz

@Alex, can you post the major service intervals, specifically valve adjustments.

Service intervals look identical to new-gen. First valve adjustment at 7500 miles, and then at 7500 mile intervals. The owners manual should be downloadable from that sticky thread in the 300 tech section soon, as soon as Kawi puts it up there.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by IdRatherDrum

Looks great! I hope I can get one as my first bike! Can you get a close up shot of the dash please?

The pics online are going to be much sharper. Just look at the reviews section at the top of the 300 tech section, there are a ton of links. Here's one:

[csmith12]

[gitoy]

the 300 looks like my white 07 cbr 600...

alex put a lot of miles on it tomorrow...like 200...

i would like a more thorough review...

[menikmati]

Would love to see what the oil change process is on the 300.

[00NissanNinja]

Congrats Alex! I sat on one today which promptly sold as I was leaving the dealer. The only thing I didn't like was how kind of cheap looking the LCD and like you said, I also couldn't quite put my finger on why. I almost want to sell my bike to get one.

[Alex]

The answer is: "4"

The question is: "How optimistic is the speedo at highway speeds?"

I put the GPS on today (DIY to come), and took it out for a 40 mile ride. At 50 mph actual, the dash speed says 53. At 60 mph actual, the dash speed says 64. At 70, it says 74. At 80, it says 85. At 90, it says 95. At some point, I'll top it out, and report back on the speedo error as it goes over 100 mph. Bottom line, there is a programmed in error that reads high, but it's not terribly unexpected or more than any other bike with a digital speedo. (My ZX-10R has almost the same error range).

The suspension is pretty good. The front feels planted, feels compliant enough, yet it's quite hard to bottom out. I did read in Gabe's review that they've softened the spring, yet increased the fork oil, and whatever they did seems to work. On the 250 I could bottom it out pretty easily, and need to be aware of it. On this bike, on the same corners, it didn't bottom out under the same deceleration. The rear feels slightly soft, and the bike weaves very slowly at high speeds a bit more than the 250 did, but I think that will go away as soon as I ratchet up the rear preload to the similar settings I liked on the 250. The new bike ships in position 2 (of 5), I'll probably bump it up to 4 to start.

Brakes are still a weak point, at least brake feel. The pads feel a little better after these few miles of break-in, but it's still not anywhere near what I'd prefer. Will continue to look for HH pads, and will install them as soon as they are available.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by menikmati

Would love to see what the oil change process is on the 300.

Supposedly, it can be done without removing the bodywork. It's just a spin-on filter that can be removed from the front.

[Alex]

While installing the GPS & heated gear leads, I saw that I'd already made the bike mine. I don't know if I nicked it with a tool, scraped it with a jacket button, or if it was already on the bike before I picked it up; but there is a tiny nick on the gas tank down right near the seat. Now I don't have to worry about keeping it perfect anymore.

But I am happy that white is such a piece of cake color to match if I choose to touch it up, especially for a small nick like that.

[menikmati]

Originally Posted by Alex

Supposedly, it can be done without removing the bodywork. It's just a spin-on filter that can be removed from the front.

Saw a picture of that, at least the filter is near the bottom of the bike as I'd hate to try to clean up the mess of a horizontal filter.

[IdRatherDrum]

That dash looks great!

[Surferboy120]

Congrats on the bike!!

I doubt the seat will ever feel any better. I have been putting down the seat time and my ass hurts still. I am getting a local here to redo the seat for me.