Dude, thanks for the video. After reviewing several videos and sitting on the bike at my dealer I knew this was the bike for me. I'm a new rider and I care more about corners and maneuvering than just going really fast. I wanted something I could improve my skills on and become a better rider and this is the perfect bike for that. Keep making videos and I'll keep watching.
Getting my Ninja 300 this Thursday with any luck and this video and others like it have been very helpful with the choosing process. Thanks a lot and keep em coming!
Great bike, own the same white one for last 5 yrs, put almost 20K miles, just now replaced factory chain and sprockets. Did not had ANY issues with this N300 whatsoever. It's a time to upgrade, but like it so much hard for me to sell, will still keep it for a little while... I put K&N performance air filter, Two Brothers carbon exhaust and use Lucas 4 stroke semi synthetic oil, it pulls way better! NOTE: on time oil change and chain lube is MUST, do not overdue. Thanks for the video...
That was an awesome review. I just purchased a 2013 ninja 300 2 days ago, and I love it. I'm 44 years and have been riding for years (decades actually) . My taller wind screen has already been ordered. I totally agree with you about the sprocket, 1st gear is USELESS!! I would recommend his bike to anyone. Thanks again for a great review.
Hi Steve. I updated the description with a link to my fuelly page. I avg mid 50s, with a mix of riding -- some very aggressive, some short-shifting and some stuck in traffic. The 650 has good mileage, but not that good. Esp. with the in-town riding. I avg. 55.8mpg on a tank where I rode in town the WHOLE time, stop-to-stop, and got stuck in major traffic jams twice. If you ride on the interstate a lot, they are closer together, as the 650 does well there and the 300 about the same.
Great review. Im 6,1 and 215 and have been looking for a reviewer of my stature. You fit the bike excellent, and the bike looks great. This seems like its the best overall deal between performance, looks, size, and fuel economy. I will be purchasing one in the near future. Ty
The rpms read the same regardless of sprocket -- the difference is in the speedo accuracy. So the tach reads about 7800rpm at 70mph, with both the 14t and the 15t sprocket. But there is a significant speedo error stock, so an indicated 70 is actually about 64-66mph. The 15t sprocket corrects the speedo error pretty closely, so an indicated 70 is 69-71. So it's not a huge difference, but it does quiet the bike down a bit and improve gas mileage.
Hey Man, DC rider here. Glad to hear you switched to the 15 tooth. i've been seriously contemplating it this season but haven't quite been willing to make the jump.
Slipper clutch & ABS option = best beginners bike. I have this bike and the Ninja 250. I gotta say fuel injection is a pleasure to deal with. I got a 600 as well but I like toying with the 300 bit more since it's cheap to modify.
The rpms still show the same reading at an INDICATED speed, but that's because changing the front sprocket affects the speedo. So going up one tooth actually CORRECTS the speedo a bit, since it tends to read high from the factory. So at an indicated 60mph, the 300 does and always has read 6800rpm. However, before the change, that indicated 60 was actually about 56-57; now it's about 60-61.
It is a sweet machine for sure. At first I was a little upset with Kawasaki for making this bike cause I felt like it was a waste of time. I mean cause they have the 650 which only has like 20-25hp more or so. Still under 100 hp to the wheel and can easily be ridden with no problem. First timers can learn on it but after a while and after reading more about it, I started liking this little ninja. I'd like to buy one myself soon. Anyway, I'm more interested in that tank protector of yours. That's super sweet and I'm thinking I need something like that for my 2012 10r for sure. I've got one but it don't cover the tank up like that at all. Just the part where your zipper would hit and that's it. Also I much rather have a clear one like yours. I'll have to check out that website and see what I can get done but that's one awesome looking machine there. If I had it, I'd toss a gp growler exhaust on it. ^_^
I've found it to be very smooth from day one. This bike has a fantastic transmission on it, so I can't imagine it really getting any better than it began.
Thanks for telling us about the vibes. Its hard to find honest reviews from owners on the ups and downs. I ride a CBR250R have almost 7k on it and love it, slower but thats ok, I ride it for the handling and mainly in city routes.
7 vids, 400+ sub not bad man, you should keep at it. Once you get enough subs it'll be like a snowball effect, and you'll be picking up more and more subs much faster.
Love your video. You should be the official spokesperson from the company for ninja 300. People say 15 t sprocket causes considerable torque loss especially being smaller displacement engine. So I am still confused whether to change stock as I love the pull and acceleration.
EXCELLENT video! I am 6'3" and have been debating this bike for my first bike. You addressed all of my concerns including whether or not it's powerful enough to pull me (same weight as you), and the fact that you went and sat on the bike was AWESOME! I have a 34" inseam, what's yours? I will be getting the green and black with ABS... can't wait! Thanks again for your videos, they rock! Keep up the good work man.
I just bought one of these. The first thing I di was put Pussygrips on it. They fatten the grip up by 4mm or 5mm and make it far more comfortable as the stock grips are too skinny and wear your hand out sooner rather than later. Good review and dead on.
Thanks for the response. The one thing that turns me away for is bike is the high cruising rpms at freeway speeds... Makes me want to look into the cbr500r. Especially when I have to take the freeway to get to school
The seat is actually pretty good. It's hard, and definitely sport-bike shaped, but it's more comfortable to me than most sport bike seats. If I had money coming out my ears, I would ABSOLUTELY invest in a Corbin seat, so that may be an option for you. My longest day in the saddle was about 400 miles of twisties (almost 10 hours), and I can't say my bum wasn't a bit sore, but it really wasn't terrible at all. Good luck!
It depends on whether you go bigger or smaller. Changing each sprocket basically changes the size ratio between the two. So the closer the ratio, the less aggressive the gearing. One tooth up on the front is a bigger change than one tooth down on the rear, since the rear sprocket has more teeth (is bigger). So I went from a 14/42 to a 15/42. You could probably get a similar outcome from going to a 14/40. If you went to 15/40, the bike would be quite sluggish at the low end, I bet.
What other bikes have you own? I have a 08 ninja 500r. Thinking about selling it and getting the 300. Don't like carburetors and the extra maintenance that comes along with them
Yeah, I really just prefer the 300 over the 650 also. The 650 would probably make my interstate riding and long trips a little more comfortable, but it just doesn't justify picking the bike I like less in every other situation (for me). Good luck on the decision!
Whoops! Lol totally missed it! Just got my first bike, a Suzuki Savage 650! I personally felt more comfortable on it at the dealer as opposed to the ninja. Ride on man!
Thanks! I'm actually in the DC area, but I bought the bike in Romney, WV. I also go into WV to ride in the mountains. A little better than the city. :-)
They're fine, but I won't be sad to see them go. They're great in the rain, but only okay when you want them to be sticky. I will replace them with Diablo Rosso IIs before the track or any major trips through the mountains.
Thanks! Yes, if you're getting frustrated with the gearing, def. try the 15t counter sprocket. It's so cheap that it's practically risk free. If you put it on and don't like it, just put the stock one back on. Have fun with your new bike, and keep the rubber side down. :-)
I'm the same size as you and this video does more to address the height/weight/will I fit? questions than any other video i've seen. And believe me, i've been looking.
I was surprised by the clutch too, but I love it now. Allows for nice, quick, two-finger shifts. And yeah, you definitely have to be in the right gear more than on bigger bikes. If you are in 5th at 35 mph, just twisting the throttle will make for some slow acceleration. But bang it down a couple gears, and you'll pass most vehicles on the road!
Hmmm. No plans to do any vlogs, but I'm actually not sure what they are! Lots of folks have asked me to review different things and do little tutorials, so once I get a decent camera, I may do that. :-) Unfortunately, I do not have the ABS version. That only comes on the SE Green model, and I really don't like the Kawi green, haha. But it would be a very nice feature, especially in the wet, especially for a new rider. If you can spring the $500 and don't mind green, I'd recommend it!
Not that I've seen (I mean, it's not a switch that's on the handlebars or anything). Rt side = daytime running light + your night low beam. There may be some way to mod the wiring (probably is an easy way to disable it and install a switch) but you'd be modding. The switch on the bars goes "lo" and "hi" and "hi" turns on the left side. Motorcycle daytime running light is common. If you want 2 lights for 2 housings u can get angel eyes HID kit. Not sure if it will be street legal, though.
I'm pretty much with the 'ok' group. They're fine for most street riding, and they seem to last (3500 miles and hardly any wear showing). I would love to throw the DRII on there, but I'll chew through them in 3-4k, which is pretty rough for a bike I commute on. We'll see!
Yeah, I can certainly see replacing a 250 with this if you wanted certain features: FI, new look, better gas mileage, and a little more punch. But if you were really looking for a bigger or faster bike, I would also recommend looking at the non-supersport middleweights. Add the FZ6R to the list from earthbound. It's an I4, so it will feel like a totally different animal (and sound like one too).
Are you going to do any vlogs:)? And this video was the last bit i needed to be completely convinced to get this as my first bike! Looks stunning, power seems enough as a first bike! Cant wait to get my hands on it:)? Do you have the ABS edition? Might have overheard it in the video... If so, how is the ABS? Im thinking in the wet mostly:)
The tank pad link is in the comments section -- you just need to contact Lucas, the owner there, and tell him that you saw my custom piece and are wondering about getting another print cut. I'm sure he'll do it. As to the gearing: that's exactly what I wanted, and the 15t front sprocket is just right. If you wanted to change the rear instead, I believe going down 2 teeth would be about the same as going up one in the front. So instead of going to a 15t in front, you could try a 40t in rear.
No problem at all. Since I weight 200 without gear, I probably have close to that when I'm loaded with a weekend's worth of luggage, and the bike doesn't even seem to notice. I personally don't like riding much with a passenger unless it's on a much bigger bike, but the bike itself doesn't have any problem with it.
I love it, but I also knew what I was buying. I've ridden lots and lots of bikes, and I was ready for something in this class. I personally think that the powerband on this bike is pretty much perfect for a streetbike, but you can get more power in a pretty new-rider-friendly package. The Ninja650, for instance, is significantly more power and still pretty forgiving. I just prefer the more aggressive character of the 300. It's almost like a very small supersport! Good luck.
It feels lighter, but I don't know if that is due to the weight -- probably more to do with the thin tires and overall geometry. It flicks significantly faster than the Streety did.
Yup, definitely get some seat time with both. They are very different bikes. If you are looking for something more utilitarian -- mainly commuting, some longer trips, I'd go Honda. If you're looking for something more sporty, I'd go Kawi, and then spend that extra $1000 on an exhaust and tune. Good luck!
I don't have a gps to verify, but the speedo reads high from the factory. So some folks have verified that the 15t actually CORRECTED it. Others have reported that it reads a few mph low afterwards. Until I can verify how accurate mine is, I'll just keep a close eye on traffic speed!
Ok, I linked the sprocket in the video description. I'm tempted to chalk up the stalling issue to rider error and badly set idle, but a few folks have insisted that this isn't it. The one time my bike did it, it was rider error and a too-low idle. A slightly richer idle, getting through break-in, and decelerating correctly *should*, I would think, prevent it from ever happening. But maybe I'm wrong about that.
Ah, the candy store. No FE kit or frame sliders for me, but right on the money with the performance mods. I've decided that with the miles I'm putting on this bike, I want a little more top end in the mountains and on the highway. So I'm doing a full exhaust system, drop-in air filter, and ecu tuner. But before I get to any of that, I'm upgrading the rubber and brakes. I already have the sintered HH pads for the front, and am gonna' try out Conti Motion ST tires. :-D
I linked to the exact one I bought, from my Amazon cart. It should be the same as the Ninja 250, so you can check compatibility there. You can also look at some of the discussion on the ninja 300 forums, and you'll see that this is the one everyone bought. So I think you can buy in confidence!
Well, I did end up getting a bigger bike, but only because I'm not doing urban commuting anymore. For the kind of riding I used to do, I still think the 300 was perfect, even for a guy my size. But now I do 1000 mi/mo freeway commuting, so I got a GSX650F for the extra weight and room.
Unfortunately, it does not. At first this bothered me, because my previous bike did. However, I quickly got used to what each gear feels like. The only ones that I'm sometimes fooled by are 4th and 5th. But it's a small enough engine, that you just shift as you need to. But yeah, you can see in my original review that I lament the gear indicator's absence!
Haha i can understand why you don't like the green :) i mean, i think it's okay, but i think i'm gonna go for a black one, and the do red rim stripes and red details... But my dealer in Denmark seems to have the black one with ABS too. They don't have a white one though, and they don't have any 300 without ABS. So i've written them a mail to figure out exactly which 300 they have, and what the price difference is. Would sure like to see more videos, as tutorials and such :) and keep us updated:)
Stock tires so far. They're actually not too bad, and really quite decent in the wet. And I can't bring myself to chuck unused tires. But as soon as I burn through them (and before my first track day) I'll upgrade to Diablo Rosso II's. I'm excited for that. :-)
Awesome bike. How does the white look in person though? Can''t decide between the white, se edition, and black. Have only seen the black in person and it seems a little boring to me. Thanks!
What is your opinion on the headlights? I hate the fact it has only one daytime light on... May just be me, but would you recommend changing it if I were to purchase one? Great video by the way.
Definitely not too slow for highway speeds, and how weak it is depends on what you want. I still tend to accelerate faster than any vehicle around me, and pulls strong right up to speeds that will get you a hefty fine on any road in America. The only time it ever felt slow was on the racetrack, where guys on supersports and literbikes were blasting past me on the straights like I was standing still. But for the street: more than enough power.
I just bought one of these yesterday, was able to get the SE version for the price of the non SE on cause they were out of the non SE when I went in. Love the bike though!
You know, you'll feel a bit stretched on most any bike, but I think you can get used to it. The 300 has a low seat height, and can be lowered a bit more as well. It'll just be a bit freaky while you're still learning, since you won't have the best balance. But once you're more comfortable on the bike, it should be no problem.
Thanks for the video, man! I realize this was quite a while ago now but I enjoyed it none the less. I recently purchased a 2014 300R and love it! I am technically the 2nd owner bit the first owner bought the bike for his wife and she refused to ride it. So all the miles are mine. I just rolled over 1300. I am really interested in the 15 tooth sprocket. I have noticed the same thing that you described - first gear is basically useless. So thanks for that tip. Do you remember the name of the manufacturer of the sprocket you purchased? If after these last couple of years you'd still back the product, I'll buy one immediately. Thanks again for posting this. I enjoyed it a lot.
So I've been looking for a good tank protection kit and I LOVE that. I tried the website link and it just opened up links to other sites. Could you help with more specific instructions on how to go about getting one done? I really want to get it done in matte black. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did that cost you?
Haha, thanks man! I had no ambitions of trying to get people to watch this stuff -- I just made the first video because people were starving for info on the 300. Now I'm trying to satisfy everyone's requests for more!
Haha. Well, don't forget there are non-supersport 600s as well. The r6 isn't just bigger -- it's a race replica. There are middle steps as well, like the Ninja 650 and the FZ6R. So wanting a bike bigger in stature doesn't require that you go for the cutting edge in performance.
I would think a woman would like a vibrating seat......then again, everyone is different. I must thank you for showing how you look on it, you obliterated my size concerns, and your tank pads are amazing.
Oh, I remember a 1000 ways to die episode. A woman died because of a vibrating sportbike. Too distracted by her orgasm to hang on....and she fell off, and tumbled to death on the road........I still like twin engines though, for their mid range torque.
Not really. It happened exactly once right after I brought the bike home. I raised the idle a little bit, and was just made sure not to pull the clutch early (as you should never really be coasting anyway -- I just did it that once because my wife was on the back and I tried to smooth out my decel). Never happened again.
The white looks great. It's the only one I wanted. It has a deep sparkle to it in the sun. Really looks high quality. The SE looks a little cheap, IMO, thanks to the graphics. But you won't be disappointed, whichever you get. :-)
I *think* my inseam is about a 33, so maybe a tad shorter than yours, but not much. Your legs WILL get cramped after a while on the bike, but that's true for any sport bike at all. That's why I may need an adventure/touring bike in the future. :-) Good luck with your new bike!
That's awesome! I just bought my first gear that day and I'll be buying a 300 myself soon. What are your recommendations on pants? Everyone's been telling me leather is the most protective way to go, but I thought mesh was supposed to be just as tolerant... does it get hot wearing all leather?
Good video. But read the user's guide that came with your bike saying 'never sit on the bike if the kickstand is deployed'. I was waiting for it's collaps... it hurt :)
That CF Tank Protection Kit looks awesome. Is it the same one they have on their website called "Ninja 300 Carbon Fiber Package" or was it custom made? I really want to buy one.
Dude, thanks for the video. After reviewing several videos and sitting on the bike at my dealer I knew this was the bike for me. I'm a new rider and I care more about corners and maneuvering than just going really fast. I wanted something I could improve my skills on and become a better rider and this is the perfect bike for that. Keep making videos and I'll keep watching.
Getting my Ninja 300 this Thursday with any luck and this video and others like it have been very helpful with the choosing process. Thanks a lot and keep em coming!
Best looking 300 on TH-cam by far
Great bike, own the same white one for last 5 yrs, put almost 20K miles, just now replaced factory chain and sprockets. Did not had ANY issues with this N300 whatsoever. It's a time to upgrade, but like it so much hard for me to sell, will still keep it for a little while... I put K&N performance air filter, Two Brothers carbon exhaust and use Lucas 4 stroke semi synthetic oil, it pulls way better! NOTE: on time oil change and chain lube is MUST, do not overdue. Thanks for the video...
That was an awesome review. I just purchased a 2013 ninja 300 2 days ago, and I love it. I'm 44 years and have been riding for years (decades actually) . My taller wind screen has already been ordered. I totally agree with you about the sprocket, 1st gear is USELESS!! I would recommend his bike to anyone. Thanks again for a great review.
Logged in just to "like" this video. Great job, man. Very informative.
Thanks, dude!
now log out
Can I buy the same exact tank guard? That looks STUNNING
Great vid, and thanks for the intro/riding position part. Very helpful in my decision!
Hi Steve. I updated the description with a link to my fuelly page. I avg mid 50s, with a mix of riding -- some very aggressive, some short-shifting and some stuck in traffic. The 650 has good mileage, but not that good. Esp. with the in-town riding. I avg. 55.8mpg on a tank where I rode in town the WHOLE time, stop-to-stop, and got stuck in major traffic jams twice. If you ride on the interstate a lot, they are closer together, as the 650 does well there and the 300 about the same.
Great review. Im 6,1 and 215 and have been looking for a reviewer of my stature. You fit the bike excellent, and the bike looks great. This seems like its the best overall deal between performance, looks, size, and fuel economy. I will be purchasing one in the near future. Ty
I was hoping to see an update from you and I'm glad you did one, thank you :D
The rpms read the same regardless of sprocket -- the difference is in the speedo accuracy. So the tach reads about 7800rpm at 70mph, with both the 14t and the 15t sprocket. But there is a significant speedo error stock, so an indicated 70 is actually about 64-66mph. The 15t sprocket corrects the speedo error pretty closely, so an indicated 70 is 69-71. So it's not a huge difference, but it does quiet the bike down a bit and improve gas mileage.
Hey Man, DC rider here. Glad to hear you switched to the 15 tooth. i've been seriously contemplating it this season but haven't quite been willing to make the jump.
Slipper clutch & ABS option = best beginners bike. I have this bike and the Ninja 250. I gotta say fuel injection is a pleasure to deal with. I got a 600 as well but I like toying with the 300 bit more since it's cheap to modify.
Kwel vid guy, look forward to more and since you're in the area maybe our paths will cross. 4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the Soul!.
The rpms still show the same reading at an INDICATED speed, but that's because changing the front sprocket affects the speedo. So going up one tooth actually CORRECTS the speedo a bit, since it tends to read high from the factory. So at an indicated 60mph, the 300 does and always has read 6800rpm. However, before the change, that indicated 60 was actually about 56-57; now it's about 60-61.
Absolutely excellent review.
It is a sweet machine for sure. At first I was a little upset with Kawasaki for making this bike cause I felt like it was a waste of time. I mean cause they have the 650 which only has like 20-25hp more or so. Still under 100 hp to the wheel and can easily be ridden with no problem. First timers can learn on it but after a while and after reading more about it, I started liking this little ninja. I'd like to buy one myself soon. Anyway, I'm more interested in that tank protector of yours. That's super sweet and I'm thinking I need something like that for my 2012 10r for sure. I've got one but it don't cover the tank up like that at all. Just the part where your zipper would hit and that's it. Also I much rather have a clear one like yours. I'll have to check out that website and see what I can get done but that's one awesome looking machine there. If I had it, I'd toss a gp growler exhaust on it. ^_^
I'm practically same height and weight. Thank you for honest answers, they really helped.
I've found it to be very smooth from day one. This bike has a fantastic transmission on it, so I can't imagine it really getting any better than it began.
Thanks for telling us about the vibes. Its hard to find honest reviews from owners on the ups and downs. I ride a CBR250R have almost 7k on it and love it, slower but thats ok, I ride it for the handling and mainly in city routes.
7 vids, 400+ sub not bad man, you should keep at it. Once you get enough subs it'll be like a snowball effect, and you'll be picking up more and more subs much faster.
Love your video. You should be the official spokesperson from the company for ninja 300. People say 15 t sprocket causes considerable torque loss especially being smaller displacement engine. So I am still confused whether to change stock as I love the pull and acceleration.
EXCELLENT video! I am 6'3" and have been debating this bike for my first bike. You addressed all of my concerns including whether or not it's powerful enough to pull me (same weight as you), and the fact that you went and sat on the bike was AWESOME! I have a 34" inseam, what's yours? I will be getting the green and black with ABS... can't wait! Thanks again for your videos, they rock! Keep up the good work man.
Cool, thanks for the response! Since the time it happened to me, I've actually lowered my idle to about 1200-1300 rpm from closer to 2000 rpm...
Came back and watched this for the second time after putting just under 3500 miles on my 300, and I agree with everything you said.
I just bought one of these. The first thing I di was put Pussygrips on it. They fatten the grip up by 4mm or 5mm and make it far more comfortable as the stock grips are too skinny and wear your hand out sooner rather than later. Good review and dead on.
Thanks for the response. The one thing that turns me away for is bike is the high cruising rpms at freeway speeds... Makes me want to look into the cbr500r. Especially when I have to take the freeway to get to school
I like the upgrades, smart choices. Think I'll follow suit with mine
The seat is actually pretty good. It's hard, and definitely sport-bike shaped, but it's more comfortable to me than most sport bike seats. If I had money coming out my ears, I would ABSOLUTELY invest in a Corbin seat, so that may be an option for you. My longest day in the saddle was about 400 miles of twisties (almost 10 hours), and I can't say my bum wasn't a bit sore, but it really wasn't terrible at all. Good luck!
What a great review! Well done man. Thanks!
It depends on whether you go bigger or smaller. Changing each sprocket basically changes the size ratio between the two. So the closer the ratio, the less aggressive the gearing. One tooth up on the front is a bigger change than one tooth down on the rear, since the rear sprocket has more teeth (is bigger). So I went from a 14/42 to a 15/42. You could probably get a similar outcome from going to a 14/40. If you went to 15/40, the bike would be quite sluggish at the low end, I bet.
your voice sounds just like my boss. its kind of freaking me out haha. thanks for the vid
I'm at 2k miles on mine - love it - I'm 5'10" 180 pounds. most fun I've had on any bike I have ever owned.
What other bikes have you own? I have a 08 ninja 500r. Thinking about selling it and getting the 300. Don't like carburetors and the extra maintenance that comes along with them
+Amel H. only a Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. it's nice too but not as light and fun
Cool because I like the way the stock looks
That's a great looking motorcycle! I have one too, customized it myself!
You got it man. More coming this season!
Its my first real bike and i love it the slipper clutch is so forgiving
Yeah, I really just prefer the 300 over the 650 also. The 650 would probably make my interstate riding and long trips a little more comfortable, but it just doesn't justify picking the bike I like less in every other situation (for me). Good luck on the decision!
Subbed. Great review man. I've been debating on the 300 or the 650. I think the 300 looks a lot better plus its a lil cheaper.
them tank protectors look AMAZING!
Whoops! Lol totally missed it! Just got my first bike, a Suzuki Savage 650! I personally felt more comfortable on it at the dealer as opposed to the ninja. Ride on man!
Thanks! I'm actually in the DC area, but I bought the bike in Romney, WV. I also go into WV to ride in the mountains. A little better than the city. :-)
They're fine, but I won't be sad to see them go. They're great in the rain, but only okay when you want them to be sticky. I will replace them with Diablo Rosso IIs before the track or any major trips through the mountains.
Thanks! Yes, if you're getting frustrated with the gearing, def. try the 15t counter sprocket. It's so cheap that it's practically risk free. If you put it on and don't like it, just put the stock one back on. Have fun with your new bike, and keep the rubber side down. :-)
I'm the same size as you and this video does more to address the height/weight/will I fit? questions than any other video i've seen. And believe me, i've been looking.
I was surprised by the clutch too, but I love it now. Allows for nice, quick, two-finger shifts. And yeah, you definitely have to be in the right gear more than on bigger bikes. If you are in 5th at 35 mph, just twisting the throttle will make for some slow acceleration. But bang it down a couple gears, and you'll pass most vehicles on the road!
OOOUUUUCCCHHHH. Glad you're still here!
Hmmm. No plans to do any vlogs, but I'm actually not sure what they are! Lots of folks have asked me to review different things and do little tutorials, so once I get a decent camera, I may do that. :-) Unfortunately, I do not have the ABS version. That only comes on the SE Green model, and I really don't like the Kawi green, haha. But it would be a very nice feature, especially in the wet, especially for a new rider. If you can spring the $500 and don't mind green, I'd recommend it!
Great review videos. Answered most of the questions I had. Thanks!
Not that I've seen (I mean, it's not a switch that's on the handlebars or anything). Rt side = daytime running light + your night low beam.
There may be some way to mod the wiring (probably is an easy way to disable it and install a switch) but you'd be modding. The switch on the bars goes "lo" and "hi" and "hi" turns on the left side. Motorcycle daytime running light is common. If you want 2 lights for 2 housings u can get angel eyes HID kit. Not sure if it will be street legal, though.
They probably just don't have it updated as a 300 part. But JT1539.15 fits. It's on the bike right now!
I'm pretty much with the 'ok' group. They're fine for most street riding, and they seem to last (3500 miles and hardly any wear showing). I would love to throw the DRII on there, but I'll chew through them in 3-4k, which is pretty rough for a bike I commute on. We'll see!
Good problem to have! Really can't go wrong with either, though. Good luck!
I like your approach to customize the bike, very practical. BTW can you post your gear.
Yeah, I can certainly see replacing a 250 with this if you wanted certain features: FI, new look, better gas mileage, and a little more punch. But if you were really looking for a bigger or faster bike, I would also recommend looking at the non-supersport middleweights. Add the FZ6R to the list from earthbound. It's an I4, so it will feel like a totally different animal (and sound like one too).
Are you going to do any vlogs:)? And this video was the last bit i needed to be completely convinced to get this as my first bike! Looks stunning, power seems enough as a first bike! Cant wait to get my hands on it:)? Do you have the ABS edition? Might have overheard it in the video... If so, how is the ABS? Im thinking in the wet mostly:)
The tank pad link is in the comments section -- you just need to contact Lucas, the owner there, and tell him that you saw my custom piece and are wondering about getting another print cut. I'm sure he'll do it. As to the gearing: that's exactly what I wanted, and the 15t front sprocket is just right. If you wanted to change the rear instead, I believe going down 2 teeth would be about the same as going up one in the front. So instead of going to a 15t in front, you could try a 40t in rear.
No problem at all. Since I weight 200 without gear, I probably have close to that when I'm loaded with a weekend's worth of luggage, and the bike doesn't even seem to notice. I personally don't like riding much with a passenger unless it's on a much bigger bike, but the bike itself doesn't have any problem with it.
Glad to help!
I love it, but I also knew what I was buying. I've ridden lots and lots of bikes, and I was ready for something in this class. I personally think that the powerband on this bike is pretty much perfect for a streetbike, but you can get more power in a pretty new-rider-friendly package. The Ninja650, for instance, is significantly more power and still pretty forgiving. I just prefer the more aggressive character of the 300. It's almost like a very small supersport! Good luck.
Congrats! Your life is about to get better. :-)
It feels lighter, but I don't know if that is due to the weight -- probably more to do with the thin tires and overall geometry. It flicks significantly faster than the Streety did.
Thanks for the great review! Love the way your tank pad looks too. What part of WV are you in? It's beautiful.
Yup, definitely get some seat time with both. They are very different bikes. If you are looking for something more utilitarian -- mainly commuting, some longer trips, I'd go Honda. If you're looking for something more sporty, I'd go Kawi, and then spend that extra $1000 on an exhaust and tune. Good luck!
Were you at the Cycle Gear in Laurel yesterday? I was shopping with my girlfriend and I saw a white 300 with the same exact tank protector on it.
I don't have a gps to verify, but the speedo reads high from the factory. So some folks have verified that the 15t actually CORRECTED it. Others have reported that it reads a few mph low afterwards. Until I can verify how accurate mine is, I'll just keep a close eye on traffic speed!
Lol @ the high tech fix. Nice bike I can't help thinking that a rear hugger & a tail tidy would finish it off nicely.
Ok, I linked the sprocket in the video description. I'm tempted to chalk up the stalling issue to rider error and badly set idle, but a few folks have insisted that this isn't it. The one time my bike did it, it was rider error and a too-low idle. A slightly richer idle, getting through break-in, and decelerating correctly *should*, I would think, prevent it from ever happening. But maybe I'm wrong about that.
Ah, the candy store. No FE kit or frame sliders for me, but right on the money with the performance mods. I've decided that with the miles I'm putting on this bike, I want a little more top end in the mountains and on the highway. So I'm doing a full exhaust system, drop-in air filter, and ecu tuner. But before I get to any of that, I'm upgrading the rubber and brakes. I already have the sintered HH pads for the front, and am gonna' try out Conti Motion ST tires. :-D
thanks for the help and the quick reply!
I linked to the exact one I bought, from my Amazon cart. It should be the same as the Ninja 250, so you can check compatibility there. You can also look at some of the discussion on the ninja 300 forums, and you'll see that this is the one everyone bought. So I think you can buy in confidence!
Huh. We have very different impressions! Lucky for you, it's an easy change back.
Well, I did end up getting a bigger bike, but only because I'm not doing urban commuting anymore. For the kind of riding I used to do, I still think the 300 was perfect, even for a guy my size. But now I do 1000 mi/mo freeway commuting, so I got a GSX650F for the extra weight and room.
Unfortunately, it does not. At first this bothered me, because my previous bike did. However, I quickly got used to what each gear feels like. The only ones that I'm sometimes fooled by are 4th and 5th. But it's a small enough engine, that you just shift as you need to. But yeah, you can see in my original review that I lament the gear indicator's absence!
Haha i can understand why you don't like the green :) i mean, i think it's okay, but i think i'm gonna go for a black one, and the do red rim stripes and red details... But my dealer in Denmark seems to have the black one with ABS too. They don't have a white one though, and they don't have any 300 without ABS. So i've written them a mail to figure out exactly which 300 they have, and what the price difference is. Would sure like to see more videos, as tutorials and such :) and keep us updated:)
Stock tires so far. They're actually not too bad, and really quite decent in the wet. And I can't bring myself to chuck unused tires. But as soon as I burn through them (and before my first track day) I'll upgrade to Diablo Rosso II's. I'm excited for that. :-)
Awesome bike. How does the white look in person though? Can''t decide between the white, se edition, and black. Have only seen the black in person and it seems a little boring to me. Thanks!
What is your opinion on the headlights? I hate the fact it has only one daytime light on... May just be me, but would you recommend changing it if I were to purchase one? Great video by the way.
Definitely not too slow for highway speeds, and how weak it is depends on what you want. I still tend to accelerate faster than any vehicle around me, and pulls strong right up to speeds that will get you a hefty fine on any road in America. The only time it ever felt slow was on the racetrack, where guys on supersports and literbikes were blasting past me on the straights like I was standing still. But for the street: more than enough power.
I just bought one of these yesterday, was able to get the SE version for the price of the non SE on cause they were out of the non SE when I went in. Love the bike though!
You know, you'll feel a bit stretched on most any bike, but I think you can get used to it. The 300 has a low seat height, and can be lowered a bit more as well. It'll just be a bit freaky while you're still learning, since you won't have the best balance. But once you're more comfortable on the bike, it should be no problem.
Thanks for the video, man! I realize this was quite a while ago now but I enjoyed it none the less. I recently purchased a 2014 300R and love it! I am technically the 2nd owner bit the first owner bought the bike for his wife and she refused to ride it. So all the miles are mine. I just rolled over 1300. I am really interested in the 15 tooth sprocket. I have noticed the same thing that you described - first gear is basically useless. So thanks for that tip. Do you remember the name of the manufacturer of the sprocket you purchased? If after these last couple of years you'd still back the product, I'll buy one immediately. Thanks again for posting this. I enjoyed it a lot.
So I've been looking for a good tank protection kit and I LOVE that. I tried the website link and it just opened up links to other sites. Could you help with more specific instructions on how to go about getting one done? I really want to get it done in matte black. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how much did that cost you?
Haha, Jake's not wrong. As to why I sold it, see my response just above. Just wasn't the right bike for me after I moved out of the city.
Haha, thanks man! I had no ambitions of trying to get people to watch this stuff -- I just made the first video because people were starving for info on the 300. Now I'm trying to satisfy everyone's requests for more!
8 yrs later this video popped up on my Tube screen, yap still watched :) Thank you...
The best, mate!
next upgrades...frame sliders, k&n air filter, fender eliminator kit, new exhaust.
Haha. Well, don't forget there are non-supersport 600s as well. The r6 isn't just bigger -- it's a race replica. There are middle steps as well, like the Ninja 650 and the FZ6R. So wanting a bike bigger in stature doesn't require that you go for the cutting edge in performance.
I would think a woman would like a vibrating seat......then again, everyone is different. I must thank you for showing how you look on it, you obliterated my size concerns, and your tank pads are amazing.
Oh, I remember a 1000 ways to die episode. A woman died because of a vibrating sportbike. Too distracted by her orgasm to hang on....and she fell off, and tumbled to death on the road........I still like twin engines though, for their mid range torque.
Well, on average. Apparently, a Ducati v twin sportbike, somehow feels like an inline 4.
Not really. It happened exactly once right after I brought the bike home. I raised the idle a little bit, and was just made sure not to pull the clutch early (as you should never really be coasting anyway -- I just did it that once because my wife was on the back and I tried to smooth out my decel). Never happened again.
The white looks great. It's the only one I wanted. It has a deep sparkle to it in the sun. Really looks high quality. The SE looks a little cheap, IMO, thanks to the graphics. But you won't be disappointed, whichever you get. :-)
I *think* my inseam is about a 33, so maybe a tad shorter than yours, but not much. Your legs WILL get cramped after a while on the bike, but that's true for any sport bike at all. That's why I may need an adventure/touring bike in the future. :-) Good luck with your new bike!
I'm definitely going to have to consider that sprocket. First gear has felt pretty unusable in my 300.
You got it. Thanks for watching!
That's awesome! I just bought my first gear that day and I'll be buying a 300 myself soon. What are your recommendations on pants? Everyone's been telling me leather is the most protective way to go, but I thought mesh was supposed to be just as tolerant... does it get hot wearing all leather?
Hi, Great video question how much was the tank kit in CF?
Thank you nice bike keep up the vids.
Great posting thanks and in my opinion it looks like a good fit for you!
Good video. But read the user's guide that came with your bike saying 'never sit on the bike if the kickstand is deployed'. I was waiting for it's collaps... it hurt :)
That CF Tank Protection Kit looks awesome. Is it the same one they have on their website called "Ninja 300 Carbon Fiber Package" or was it custom made? I really want to buy one.