Official 2013 Ninja 300 (and 250) Thread

[Jiggles]

Yes, get real rubber for the track

[koenigcitizen]

Kawasaki reveals 2013 Kawasaki 300 and 400 Ninja


It seems that Kawasaki is serious about dominating "beginner" bike category
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/...m-636cc-zx-6r/

[Alex]

/merged

[massacremasses]

ha so the new Versys wont be available here (CA) -__-

[sharky nrk]

Yikes, Kawi is really shaking up the options on the market with "displacement class ringers"

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by psych0hans

If I'm planning on track days, should I consider switching from my ircs?.

yes.

Yes.

YEs.

YES.

YES! Grippy tires rock. IRC's (from my experience on a friend's bike) are fine for tooting around town, but the track is where you can actually find your limits, and you want nice sticky tires that can handle what you dish out without scaring you.

[2009zx6rider]

I was the first to tell of this bike and no one trusted me. September 13th in Times Square these new models will be released with Kawasaki's Time Square takeover.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by 2009zx6rider

I was the first to tell of this bike and no one trusted me. September 13th in Times Square these new models will be released with Kawasaki's Time Square takeover.

I still don't trust you.

2 posts, no background, and one of those posts was to say "nah nah boo boo"


For all we know, you're just some random member who created another profile to troll. It's happened before, so please excuse our distrust.

[broilmebk]

Originally Posted by 2009zx6rider

I was the first to tell of this bike and no one trusted me. September 13th in Times Square these new models will be released with Kawasaki's Time Square takeover.

ahahah coming from the guy who erased his original post...

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by broilmebk

ahahah coming from the guy who erased his original post...

Trololololol

[2009zx6rider]

As I sit at my desk and look out at my Kawasaki Ninja in the yard on a great sunny day I will put on my helmet and enjoy my ride. Don't worry I will not post about future items coming down the line from Kawasaki. I will keep info to my self and enjoy life as a Kawasaki enthusiast and insider. Sorry I have not posted here before but I and all of you know I was correct. You can watch the live reveal at Times Square in NYC live online at Kawasaki.com/ninjanyc on September 13th or join me there.

[Jono]

Lol, This guy seems legit now! Thanks for all your insider knowledge.

[MNDruggist]

Kawasaki is taking over New York's Time Square on September 13, 2012, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, ET, to introduce the world to the 2013 Ninja® sportbikes. The new 2013 Ninja® sportbikes will be unveiled and on display, along with several historic models and a few surprises.

Hangout for a while and enjoy a full day of cool events!

· On-site sweepstakes for a chance to receive one of two new Ninja® sportbikes
· Team No-Limit stunt show with Jason Britton and Eric Hoenshell
· A chance to take on 9-time World Champion drag racer Rickey Gadson via drag race simulator
· Autograph sessions with Monster Energy Kawasaki racing champion Ryan Villopoto
· Special guest DJ Biggie
· Motorcycle displays
· Kawasaki merchandise giveaways

If you can't make it to New York, you can tune in at 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm ET and watch the event via LIVE simulcast on Kawasaki.com/NinjaNYC.

[Snake]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[wdhansewd]

the information has already been released for the 250 Yamaha street bike...
http://caberz.wordpress.com/2012/02/...4-250-cc-bike/

[Alex]

That R4 pic is 4 years old at this point, it's been vaporware ever since. I think those that love small-displacement sportbikes would love for more manufacturers to jump in the game, but until a release date is announced, I wouldn't bet on this one being any closer to real than it ever was.

[Jiggles]

I'd love it if Yamaha would bring their 250 over here. I'd also love it if Honda would make a twin instead of a single. I'd love it if the ninja 300 motor is swappable into a newgen frame. I'd love a i4 250.

I'm glad that none of these things will ever happen because I spend enough money as it is

[kingkang204]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I'd love it if Yamaha would bring their 250 over here. I'd also love it if Honda would make a twin instead of a single. I'd love it if the ninja 300 motor is swappable into a newgen frame. I'd love a i4 250.

I'm glad that none of these things will ever happen because I spend enough money as it is

Isn't the yamaha a Single 125cc 4-stroke?

A reliable, durable, I4 250 would be amazing.

[Jiggles]

It would be the ultimate twisty bike!

[Sonofswin]

This thread is Fracked, so I hate to jump into it, but...

Anyone who says a 250cc Japanese bike like the Ninja will be discontinued or replaced by a larger cc bike is full of it. The reason being what they call a "shaken" here. You see, any motor vehicle over 250cc requires a biannual inspection. The rules set down for vehicles to pass these inspections basically keep them at or near stock unless you are a certified mechanic or know (bribe) your mechanic very well. Most people simply keep all their stock gear so that they can put it all back on before the inspection, only to put it back on afterwards. (That's what I used to do on my Suzuki Samurai.)

This inspection isn't cheap. The smallest Harley Sportster they make would cost you about $1,500 including the taxes & fees involved (stock.) That's every 2 years!! With prices going up as you need work done on it to get it to pass. I'm pretty sure you could get it done on a 650R for under $1,000 - but only if you didn't have it modded out too much. (Bikes are a bit more expensive than cars.)

This is why 250cc bikes (big scooters, etc) are so popular here and have such high resale values. While they may pull a 250 out of an overseas market, getting rid of a popular bike all together would seriously damage their market shares at home.

Disclaimer: For those of you who want to start showing pics of all those tripped out Japanese bikes here - You can file for a redefinition of your bike's basic characteristics once you've modded it out big time, for those non-reversible mods. It's expensive, but this is what the pro's do. (It's not just an emissions test, they check thoroughly everything from angle of headlight to remaining brake pads & disc width.) Hell, changing the timing belt is mandatory at 100,000 kilometers!

So basically, here in Japan, there is a whole different motivation to stay on a 250 or smaller bike. You can do whatever you want to it, as long as it's within basic road law - you're cool!

[Jiggles]

@Sonofswin The new ninja 250 has already been released but here in the US we don't have these inspections so its not entirely unfeasible that kawi would make a ninja 300. If they could do it for the same price or similar price to what a 250 costs now then it would completely blow the honda 250 out of the water. And then there is that EPA certificate thing that doesn't show a 250 but does show a 300 so I guess we will see on september 13th.

Personally I'm hoping they do a Ninja 300 because the 2013 Ninja 250 is too much of a downgrade

[Sonofswin]

Yeah, I was writing specifically to those posts saying the 250 would be discontinued.

The 2013 250R is already out and in talking to my Kawi mechanic, they said nothing about a 300, though they knew about the 250. To be honest, I'd be surprised if they came out with something so close, unless it was a bored out version of the 250R engine and there was a specific demand for it.

[Jiggles]

The 250 can be bored out to 300 so it's been suggested that that is what has been done. Here in the US bigger is always better so if noobs are on the lookout for a first bike 300>250 which will tank Hondas sales

[Snake]

Originally Posted by wdhansewd

the information has already been released for the 250 Yamaha street bike...
http://caberz.wordpress.com/2012/02/...4-250-cc-bike/

I like the fact that the Yamaha 250 has EFI but I don't like the fact that it is a single instead of a twin.

[gt_turbo]

http://blog.motorcycle.com/2012/09/0...300-announced/

Link to original page on YouTube.

Kawasaki Europe has pulled the wraps off a new Ninja 300, a larger-displacement version of its popular entry-level Ninja 250.

We first broke the news of an new Kawasaki Ninja 300 last week when the model was included in a list of 2013 motorcycles released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As we reported, the new model is powered by a fuel-injected 296cc four-valve twin-cylinder engine claiming 39 hp.

The 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 will also be available with anti-lock brakes. The ABS components are built by Nissin and are said to be 40% smaller than previous Nissin ABS systems. The Ninja 300 also features a slipper clutch and a back-torque limiter developed from Kawasaki’s racing program. According to Kawasaki, the new FCC Assist and slipper clutch allows for a lighter clutch lever pull.

Visually, the Ninja 300 gets the same styling the 2013 Ninja 250 received, with ZX-10R style “floating” windscreen, ZX-6R dual headlights and fins on the side fairing like the ZX-14R.

As of now, the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 has only been announced for Europe where it replaces the Ninja 250. The 2013 Ninja 250 will still be offered in some markets such as Asia where it is already available. It’s not clear however whether the new 300 will be offered in the U.S. We’ll have to wait until Kawasaki USA announces its 2013 Ninja lineup in New York City on Sept. 13.

New body style, slipper clutch and 296cc's. It's on! Hopefully we get the same announcement from Kawi NA next week.

[Snake]

Let's hope this is real.
Would this still be included in the ninjette forum since its not a 250?

[vman1313]

I clicked on a link on that same website and below (in bold) is what I read...does this mean the 300 is for sure replacing the 250?!?!?!

I know I know - 9 more days!!!


http://blog.motorcycle.com/2012/08/2...c-ninja-zx-6r/

A spreadsheet from the United States Environmental Protection Agency listing 2013 motorcycle certification data includes information about new an all-new Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Ninja 400R, while also confirming reports the new ZX-6R will return to a 636cc engine displacement.

Appearing on the EPA’s spreadsheet doesn’t necessarily mean these models will be introduced to the U.S. market however. The Kawasaki Ninja 400R was included in a similar document for 2012 but was never introduced. The 2013 document does not include a Ninja 250 (pictured above) which was recently updated for other markets, so it is likely to be replaced by the new Ninja 300.

According to the EPA document, the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 will be powered by a fuel-injected 296cc four-valve twin-cylinder engine. Power is listed at 29 kW (which translates to 39hp) at 11,000 rpm.The documents lists both an ABS and a non-ABS version.

[choneofakind]

So the 300 is now officially in Europe? hmmm

That makes our chances better I guess. I'll be watching with interest.


I believe Alex already mentioned that this will still be a ninjette, and so it will still be allowed on the site. He said that this possibility was why he didn't put any engine size in the forum name. Forgive me @Alex if I paraphrased you incorrectly here. The (potentially) ninja 300 will still be the baby ninja, and therefore will be a "ninjette"

[10spokess]

I am siked to hear about this I will be doing the MSF next week and need a bike fix as soon as possible

[Jiggles]

A slipper clutch!? Lol!

[choneofakind]

Yeah I thought that was a bit overdone too. Not really necessary. I mean you can make the bike a little squirrely at the track if you're already at 9k and you blip and downshift again during braking, but even then, it doesn't lock up the wheel or over-rev the engine.

[Jiggles]

Oh jesus, I'ma price this bike at $5,199

[choneofakind]

For that price, I want better suspension, forget a slipper clutch.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

For that price, I want better suspension, forget a slipper clutch.

Exactly my thinking, why add a useless element like that. ****, I'd rather have better stock tires

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

For that price, I want better suspension, forget a slipper clutch.

Yep. I could get behind a $5199/$5499 price point if if had adjustable damping and preload on both ends of the bike, plus more racy ergos (e.g. clip-ons, rearsets).

Without those, if it's over $5k in any flavor it's a lot less appealing.

The key thing to me is better suspension. You can bolt on clip-ons and rearsets in a lazy afternoon but suspension upgrades are expensive and a PITA.

Still interested, though... this is getting into a nice sweet spot power-wise. Once the aftermarket gets hold if it, it'll be kind of like the old 500 (which I had and liked a lot).

[choneofakind]

exactly. The engine is in a good spot between beginner lightweight and fun power. If it handles well, it will be interesting. I will need to test ride it at a demo day or something.

[BlueJeepYJ]

Very Cool!

[akima]

It's been announced on the official uk site:
http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/News/Details/34088113DDF

[eljay]

It's up for Canada too:
http://www.kawasaki.ca/model/STREET-.../Ninja-300-ABS

[Jiggles]

So did kawi just kill the 250 racing class or did kawi just exempt their new bikes from ever being raced?