2013 Ninja 300 Price Guess Game

[ninjaone]

It might even make sense for Kawasaki to sell the 250 and the 300 at the same time here. Leave the carbed 250 as the super cheapo ~4400 version to compete with all the other budget 250s, and have the 300 at 5000-6000 to fill the gap between the 250 and the 650 for people who might actually care about a slipper clutch, EFI, ABS and the marginal extra power.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by ninjaone

Because for $800 more then that you can have a much more powerful bike, especially if we are talking 6-7+ grand OTD. FZ6R, Ninja 650, or even Versys, NC700X adventure bikes. Another coupe hundred puts you in 600 SS class. Another couple hundred liter bikes, another couple hundred S1KRR, etc.

yeah, but I want a small, light weight bike that is easy to move around the garage, gets 50+ mpg when being railed on, and is still a hoot around fun roads without getting into lose-your-license-and-do-jail-time speeds, but is still easy and inexpensive to maintain. I would pay a little extra money for a souped up 250 than can do all that for me.

There is talk about different gearing on the 300. Like higher final drive, lower first gear, and higher 6th gear. Aka, this ninjette might also not be to shabby on longer trips at highway speeds. It might just be the perfect small displacement bike.

But then again, it might just fall flat on its face. Time will tell.

[ninjaone]

I have no doubt Kawasaki will put together a brilliant bike, I just don't think the market will bear a 5000$+ almost-250. I'm guessing the highest they will go is 4999 on the 300 unless they keep the 250 around to fight the CBR250.

The US market is unique: highly price competitive on new models and a bit saturated in the used market so really it's a buyers market. If the CBR250 was really eating Kawasaki's sales, and it was already cheaper and slower, I'm not sure what Kawasaki's strategy is by bringing out a faster more expensive bike.

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by ninjaone

I have no doubt Kawasaki will put together a brilliant bike, I just don't think the market will bear a 5000$+ almost-250. I'm guessing the highest they will go is 4999 on the 300 unless they keep the 250 around to fight the CBR250.

The US market is unique: highly price competitive on new models and a bit saturated in the used market so really it's a buyers market. If the CBR250 was really eating Kawasaki's sales, and it was already cheaper and slower, I'm not sure what Kawasaki's strategy is by bringing out a faster more expensive bike.

No point in keeping both 250 and 300

To compete with the CBR they had to upgrade the instrument panel and include FI in US/Canada (alrdy FI in Europe & Asia) which would have pushed the cost of the bike higher anyways so they would've had to offer something extra for people to buy it. They probably decided to shift the entry-level market from 250cc to 300cc since it probably doesn't cost them much more to build a 300cc engine (they'll stick with the 250cc engine in Asia where owning a >250cc bike is too expensive due to government regulations/taxes)

Remember that KTM is looking to launch a 350cc bike in 2014 so the Ninja 300 will kind of be able to compete with that. Honda will probably stick with the 250 for a few years to see how the market plays out. If the 300-350cc market succeeds then Honda will be forced to upgrade their bike and try to catch up, but if that market fails (most likely due to higher pricing) then Honda will come out ahead

I think the 300-350cc market will definitely succeed since it'll give people the little extra power that they want on the highway and I'm sure more people will be willing to hold onto their bikes for a longer period of time

Another idea on pricing is similar to what they did when the 08 Ninja came out -- spread the price increase across 2 model years:
07 Ninja $2999
08 Ninja $3499
09 Ninja $3999

Something like
$4500-$4800 for 2013
$4800-$5000 for 2014

I still think $5k would be too much, but on the other hand if it was a 350 then

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Jatan

07 Ninja $2999
08 Ninja $3499
09 Ninja $3999

You sure?
The current msrp for a bike is $4,449. I'm pretty sure a pregen was $3,499 new, but maybe I'm wrong. I think you're $500 off.

[Alex]

I thought that the pregens capped out at $2999. There was a hubbub when the new-gens came out $500 more, at $3499.

[choneofakind]

Huh, maybe I'm $500 off.

but the msrp of a current 2012 bike is definitely $4,449; I checked that before posting

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Huh, maybe I'm $500 off.

but the msrp of a current 2012 bike is definitely $4,449; I checked that before posting

Current is $4199 ($4449 if you want SE)

[choneofakind]

dumb kawasaki site is confusing...

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

dumb kawasaki site is confusing...

Yea, if you're looking at it in the menu then it just shows the $4449 price, but if you click on the 250 link then the page will show $4199-$4449 which is kind of stupid since they should put the cheapest price in the menu and then show the SE price once people are on the 250 page

[2012NewRider]

Originally Posted by Aggrotech

are you kidding? I checked 4dealers and i couldnt get my '12 for less than 7kOTD. Surely this will be quite a bit more.

I got mine at $6,500 OTD and I thought that was high

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by 2012NewRider

I got mine at $6,500 OTD and I thought that was high

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by 2012NewRider

I got mine at $6,500 OTD and I thought that was high

Do you have a price breakdown by any chance? Are CA dealers inflating the actual MSRP or are they adding in a bunch of different fees (freight/prep/inspection)?

Its probably cheaper for you guys to travel to a nearby state to buy it

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Jatan

Do you have a price breakdown by any chance? Are CA dealers inflating the actual MSRP or are they adding in a bunch of different fees (freight/prep/inspection)?

Its probably cheaper for you guys to travel to a nearby state to buy it

theres a bunch of different issues with buying out of state, thats why they have the california model.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Jatan

Do you have a price breakdown by any chance? Are CA dealers inflating the actual MSRP or are they adding in a bunch of different fees (freight/prep/inspection)?

Its probably cheaper for you guys to travel to a nearby state to buy it

It's illegal to buy a 49 state bike and bring it to CA if its new.

Here's how the dealer told me why the ninja 250 I wanted was 7k OTD. I went to check out the bikes, asked about the OTD prices on the 250s and said I was interested in the black one. He said they are selling really well right now so they are at full MSRP and then there are dealer fees bringing it to 6500, however the black ones are really hot so they are charging and extra 500 for the black one making it $7000, I left shortly after

Now here's the funny thing, the bike I'm riding right now is that first bike I ever looked at. The guy I bought this from on craigslist bought it from that dealer the day after I was in there. Just a weird coincidence.

[2012NewRider]

I was able to negotiate an added 3 yr mechanical insurance to the price so maybe a little cheaper or maybe they just got suckered by me. A lot of it was in the Tax and stupid dealer fees. I dislike California for their emissions and making everything more expensive because of it, like the Ninja 250.

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

It's illegal to buy a 49 state bike and bring it to CA if its new.

Here's how the dealer told me why the ninja 250 I wanted was 7k OTD. I went to check out the bikes, asked about the OTD prices on the 250s and said I was interested in the black one. He said they are selling really well right now so they are at full MSRP and then there are dealer fees bringing it to 6500, however the black ones are really hot so they are charging and extra 500 for the black one making it $7000, I left shortly after

Now here's the funny thing, the bike I'm riding right now is that first bike I ever looked at. The guy I bought this from on craigslist bought it from that dealer the day after I was in there. Just a weird coincidence.

I remember Fed-spec and Cali-spec for cars but didn't know they also had them for bikes -- good to know

[2012NewRider]

I'm from Chicago too but I never looked at what the specs would've been for Illinois, otherwise I would've gone home and bought it there instead but then again I would've probably had to pay more in sales tax considering that in Chicago you get city, county and federal tax added to a new vehicle purchase.

[alex.s]

[Johnnyscoots]

Since Kawi is the only manufacturer importing a 300cc sporty bike, the price will be:

Whatever they damn well pleases

Unless another manufacturer gives them competition, their whim will determine what it costs to step up another 50cc.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Johnnyscoots

Since Kawi is the only manufacturer importing a 300cc sporty bike, the price will be:

Whatever they damn well pleases

Unless another manufacturer gives them competition, their whim will determine what it costs to step up another 50cc.

not really it still has to be less than the ninja 400.
although they are comparing there own product, sooner or later outside comparisons will be made.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by lgk

not really it still has to be less than the ninja 400.

yeaaaaaaa, that doesnt exist

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

yeaaaaaaa, that doesnt exist

i beg to differ, eh...

[Boom King]

400R discontinued as of 2013.... eh

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Boom King

400R discontinued as of 2013.... eh

does that prevent a historical and somewhat logical price point comparison from being made?

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by Johnnyscoots

Since Kawi is the only manufacturer importing a 300cc sporty bike, the price will be:

Whatever they damn well pleases

Unless another manufacturer gives them competition, their whim will determine what it costs to step up another 50cc.

To a certain extent. Manufacturers will always try to maximize profits but ultimately the free market will dictate. I'm sure Kawasaki has market research data for all the local markets that will get the 300.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by lgk

does that prevent a historical and somewhat logical price point comparison from being made?

Nope. I agree with your point. Obviously just pointing out that the 400R example is not as current or perhaps relevant to the US market and for Canada as of 2013.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by Boom King

Nope. I agree with your point. Obviously just pointing out that the 400R example is not as current or perhaps relevant to the US market and for Canada as of 2013.

i think its a pretty hard limit.
comparing the two bikes specs, the 400 should cost more than the 300.
if it cost the same as a 400 most would jump for a 600.

[Boom King]

There's no way the 300 will cost the same as the 400R did ($6,999 CAD). A 2012 250R here costs $4,999 MSRP. I'm guessing the 300 will cost $5,499 or slightly less and add $500 for the ABS option.

[thisisbenji]

I'm gonna say $4,999 anything higher would be to close to the 650 for me.

[Jatan]

Prices start at $4799

http://ninja300.kawasaki.com/Overview

[rjones91]

I know ninjas generally keep its value quite well...I wonder if the introduction of the 300 will have an effect on the value of the new gen 250s now?

[Jiggles]

Rejoice my friends for it were only a $600 price increase! Hurrah!

[Confuzshuz]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Rejoice my friends for it were only a $600 price increase! Hurrah!

yeah, but wait and see how much of a markup the stealerships will add on

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Confuzshuz

yeah, but wait and see how much of a markup the stealerships will add on

Only as much as you let them

[Jatan]

Originally Posted by rjones91

I know ninjas generally keep its value quite well...I wonder if the introduction of the 300 will have an effect on the value of the new gen 250s now?

They'll still hold their value since the new one costs more

Most new riders wont be able to afford the 300 so they'll probably be happy paying $3000-3500 for a used 250 to learn on and then upgrade to something else

$4799 + tax/title/dealer fees/markup will come out to $6000-$7000 OTD for most areas ($7500-8000 for high priced areas like CA)

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Rejoice my friends for it were only a $600 price increase! Hurrah!

Hopefully they keep it at this price for at least 2 years -- it'll go to $4999 eventually

[Jiggles]

No lol, expect 6k-7k quotes for the 300 in ca

[akxel]

I love the new look and upgrades on the Ninja 300, but the price of this motorcycle is going up alot in a short time.

The price has skyrocketed from $3500 in 2008 to $4800 in 2012. A 37% increase in 4 years , or a 60% price increase from the 2007 model.

[Jiggles]

IMO, 2014 will be 5k

[Alex]

That's OK, because it's 63.4% cooler.