2018 Lightweight Sportbikes Shootout
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- It’s getting to be a bit silly what’s passing for a lightweight sportbike these days. In the beginning, it made sense: You had the Kawasaki Ninja 250. And, well, that was it. It only took twenty-odd years, but the other manufacturers eventually took notice that building small bikes to entice new or returning riders was probably a good thing for the industry, and hence, started building little bikes of their own. Honda came around with the CBR250R…just as the competition upped the ante again. Kawasaki pushed the bar with the Ninja 300, then Honda made a weak attempt to follow suit with the 286cc CBR300R. Yamaha then jumped in the game, shoving displacement rules out the window with its 321cc R3 - but not to be outdone, the brash Austrians (via India) at KTM one-upped all of them with the 373cc RC390.
Today, Kawasaki is throwing convention out the window yet again, shelving the Ninja 300 (at least in the U.S.) and giving us the all-new Ninja 400. So it’s only right we at Motorcycle.com put it up against some worthy contenders. If this idea sounds vaguely familiar to you, it’s because we last put the crop of little bikes (not to be confused with liter bikes - very different) together in 2015 in our Beginner-ish Sportbike Shootout. There we had the CBR300, Ninja 300, RC390, and R3 fighting it out, with the Kawasaki narrowly beating the Yamaha for the top spot.
This time around there’s a CBR and an RC390 to go against the Ninja 400; however, considering the beating the CBR300R took in 2015, we’re bringing in its bigger brother - the CBR500R - to take on Kawi’s 400. As for the KTM, the RC390 has received some updates since we last tested one three years ago. Bigger brakes, revised suspension, and some chassis tweaks have made it a sharper scalpel compared to 2015. KTM says nothing was changed with the engine, but we find this hard to believe. Our 2018 tester makes three more ponies to the wheel than our 2015 model, reaching that point 1,000 revs higher (granted, these were different dynos, but the difference in power and engine speed seems significant). This was reason enough to include it in this test. If you take racing into account, then the KTM vs. Kawasaki comparison becomes even stronger, as the two brands are fighting it out in the World Supersport 300 category, as well as the MotoAmerica Junior Cup series.
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I just bought a ninja 400 and it's fun listening to them complementing my bike
Kawasaki is the best deal. I would pick one any day. But, the CBR is the best looking out of the three bikes.
That's a matter of taste. I like the Honda's look the best too, but if I were 10 years younger, I'd probably pick the Kawasaki. ;)
Damn you make me feel old with that statement because I totally agree.
Agreed. The CBR is the best looking. But I'll take the Kawi.
I have the honda cbr500r 2017 and I'm very satisfied!!
@@paulkotsis2478 I've got the 2015 CBR500R here in England and I love mine too. Looks great in silver.
Having owned two KTM's I can confirm that the reliability is a nightmare on the bikes. It's better to go with a Japanese and have peace of mind.
My rc390 is 3 yrs old with 27k miles on it it's my daily bike and I always run it hard but I've only faced a stator problem
well but the KTM is the lightest and you don't sit like an old granpa.
I like how the Ninja 3/400 look the part but sit like a CBF...
@@Josh-cw8by it needs lower clip-ons and higher rearsets.
Also stance is not really the concept to apply here as I think the bike looks fine, it's just that it doesn't feel sporty as it looks. Feels like any other sport touring bike...
@शिरीष ರಾಮಾಯ Ktms have always had reliability issues. Just because you haven't is irrelevant you're one person. Majority of folks complain about them.
@@ThouArtOfWar0724 See that's the problem with the internet. Just because you see people complaining about KTM you are already assuming that the majority of KTM bikes are unrealiable. When you don't have hard data or evidence that the Majority of KTM owners have problems with their bikes.
So, how many laps can the RC390 do between engine rebuilds?
Joric78 hahahahaha
About 114 or so
lmao
More than what you could do on foot.
i think because of having 390cc in a single cylinder is a cause of those issues. ktm should have make it a twin cylinder tho'
I brought my cbr500r a few months before the kawaii 400 release. The honda is a sport touring bike dressed to look sporty, nothing wrong with that it's exactly what i want.
lets call it stable though instead of overweight
I have one as well, solid bike and for someone who doesn't do track days its a joy to ride in just about any public road situation. The fact that it looks very sporty is a great bonus, while being comfortable to ride.
Totally agree with you!!!
I want one.
@@F1ll1nTh3Blanks get it you won't regret it
Sport Touring is the way to go
Bought a Ninja 400 in April and I love it. Fun to ride and plenty of power.
I have had my 2016 CBR500R for a year now and love riding it on lovely California days. Its still a keeper and still gets compliments from people on how nice it looks and sounds with Delkevic slip on.
I preferred the honda. And purchased me a 2018 Honda cbr 500r and freaking love it. My brother in law got a kawasaki 400 it wasn't comfortable for me being 6 foot 2 and a half. The foot placement wasn't pleasant and it made me feel more crunched than the cbr. I was more comfortable and more accurate in my inputs with the cbr.
Which felt faster?
Nice to see the Honda 500 getting some love
It got shat on tho. Mainly because it produces almost the same power as the other two while being the heaviest and a thousand dollars more expensive.
Dark Perez 500f is the same bike naked and cheaper.
The best real world bike of the three.
its a great city bike, i love mine
Yeah, they kept bashing it like "sport-touring" is a curse word. It's a sportbike for the real world. Honda knows what they're doing. Real people prefer the Honda for just the reasons it was bashed for here. Bottom line, get a used Honda CBR500R or CB500X for the street, and a used Ninja 250 for the track and probably come out about the same.
Me too, I got ninja 400, I love it!! More than enough power! As a beginner rider, it’s so easy to ride too and plenty of room for me to grow with this bike too!!
You guys did a great job reviewing these motorcycles. I've never ridden a motorcycle in my life, but I'm thinking to get into it. Personally, I really like the Ninja.
Excellent and fair review. I was leaning heavily toward the CBR500r. I think you did a great job of capturing the personalities, pros and cons of each bike...... I think I can safely say you've changed my mind (not an easy thing to do). Well done.
My Ninja 400 will be delivered 2 weeks from now . And I think I made the right decision.
4 yrs later..... Did you?
@@matejburian3191 funny enough i have a Zx10r now. I loved my N400, it never did dissapoint me. power, handling, weight. its very good. i could never ask a diffwrent bike as a biginner bike than the 400
That escalated quickly, well done :D
@@matejburian3191 i had to. its a too good of an offer to pass. swap bikes. and u can say i had my regrets. haha
Good stuff. I once answered a survey by Kawasaki... told them they should build a 444cc triple, keep it about 360-lbs, give it 60hp and 50ft-lbs... maybe some day... Until then, I'm liking the Ninja 400.
If Kawasaki ever builds that... I will kiss your forehead!
OregonOnTwoWheels You night like a used Triumph Daytona or Street Triple!
I’d love to see more Japanese triples though!
EliasTheHunter - I love the Triumphs :) Until Kawasaki gets back into triples, I'll take a nice Street Triple :),
I'd really like to see them build a 500cc inline four with a high redline - something to combat the very boring 650 lineup that are all mainly parallel twins - with exception of the Honda 650F that weighs a fuckton.
Just something very lightweight and nimble, with a racey feel without branching all the way into the 600cc segment. Just imagine, 160-70 kg, 4 cyl with 80-90 hp, 17+k redline. I'd have such a beast above any supersport tbh
They did that, 3 cylinder 60hp, but 500cc two stroke. Mach III.
I was thinking of trading in my honda cbr250r for the ninja 400 and you guys just confirmed i made the right choice
eventually did you?
KTM RC390 rules on track its a Perfect Track Machine.
Good to see Tom again. John, we can actually see what you look like now...please grow the beard back!
Fingers crossed that KTM comes out with a 650cc twin version of the RC390
probably wont happen, but you can wish for the 790 though
even an RC690 would have been cool.
skreet mycty 800cc twins with 100hp could be the new middle weight supersport class. They would weigh the same as these "lightweight" bikes but have twice the power and fully adjustable quality suspension and sharp brakes!
Miika Venäläinen yep, exactly what i thought
It's 790 but not an RC its a duke
I bought a 2016 RC390, and proceeded to hammer out 17,000 miles of heavy shredding in one year, and the only problem that bike ever gave me was a dead battery. I'm pretty sure maintenance delays are the root of the reliability problems.
Replaced it last year with a couple of Ducatis, but I'm definitely buying another one very soon.
Bro this is my dream, i have rc 390 2019
Im buying superbikes especially ducati and will buy rc 390 again and again especially modifications 😅
Congrats bro ❤
How about a Video like this for middleweight nakeds, like the 650 class?
Samuel Fz07, Sv 650, Monster etc...I agree would like to see a video!
Cbr650r would smoke everything
Kawasexy doing it again
Coming in second at the track?
exnihilo415 came first mate, only 1 guy chose the Ktm at the track...
Lap times are conspicuously missing, no?
exnihilo415 LMFAO everyone there made it clear the Ninja edged out the ktm sorry but it's just better
Lap time or it didn't happen
KTM 390 gen 2 owner for 30k miles. Reliability has been perfect. No issues. Oil changed every 3k miles
Great video, it felt very fair. 'seems like KTM needs to get their reliability sorted; no one likes to be stranded. Seems like Kawasaki has a real winner on their hands there.
For most of us though, who don't ride on the track at all, the obvious answer is to go for a lightly-used Honda CBR500RA. ABS linked brakes, best seat, best fit & finish, best riding position. Not many of us would say no to all-day comfort, because most of us (at least outside of CA) aren't just canyon strafing; we do real world things with our bike.
About the Kawasaki, I went and sat on one at the stealership, and you guys seem to be glossing over the fact that the seat is angled quite a bit forward; really smashes the beans against the gas tank. That, or you have to push yourself back all day with your wrists. Not comfortable at all. I think they were going for a low seat height (measured from the front) and just went overboard. Fix the seat and Kawasaki is the clear winner.
Any idea what makes the Honda so much heavier?
Nice job.
both the ktm and kawasaki have lighter trellis style frames which helps with weight and the motor on the honda may be heavier as well.
I have the RC390 as my first bike. In the UK the KTM is about £1500 cheaper then the others brand new. Love my bike it’s a hooligan
You guys should had ketp the R3 on the test even that just to show that it'd get smoked... my take.
Fábio nah i doubt it ..
They didn't need too because there was already some at the track getting smoked.
It would have been a good review for the new r3 too. Also it would show that the r3 is a great bike still!
Agree, it's a light sport bike and win or lose slow or fast should've been included.
Wont happen bro... KTM, Ducati etc play bully game... they dont follow 150, 300, 600, 1000 cc game like Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki etc... they will get like 200, 400, 800, 1200 and compete with the competitor who have also 25% less CC on them with price points.. I am surprised Kawa and Honda has started smoking them at their game now!
Love my ZX11. Kawasaki always seems to come out on top. 100,000 mile plus engines.
Please, please please invest in a pop filter when you're doing narration over footage in the studio. So distracting!
april 2021 ...just bought my first bike and it was the kawasaki 400 abs...this video just relieved any all doubt to my decision!! damn near bought the yamaha r3 because the paint was beautiful...yamaha makes a sexy bike...but i went with the kw400 basically because it was better package over all...loving my bike!!
If Honda brought the price of the 500R down to about $6000 even and squeezed out just a little more power it could easily (I think) straight up beat out their own CBR300R.
Number One Bacon they should drop the weight too.
I guess that was being facetious, but it can beat the CBR300 as-is. (it only being a 278cc single...) A closer match was the CBR500 vs. the old Kawasaki Ninja 300. Honda still won, but only just. With an extra 100cc and LESS weight, the Ninja 400 just STOMPS the Honda, which is more of a dressed-up streetbike, as others have said. To be fair, Honda doesn't place this in their Supersport class of bikes either. It looks nice, like a sportbike, but rides more like a sport-tourer, as Burns pointed out.
Rata 4U If you have all your stuff a gs1200 is the best tourer. If you want a small bike at least drop the weight
The Honda will never get a power boost, because all countries that have license restrictions have them set at 48 hp (which is exactly the 500R's power figure). If they brought it up by even a few hp, they could not sell them in the majority of the world, and they porbably can't be bothered with restricting it for most countries just so they can engineer a higher hp version for the US.
Instead, what they need to do is get rid of that 1980's steel frame, use aluminium parts (so the price is also justified), and make the engine a stress member of the frame. That would be waayyy better than any power increase, and would not have any negative impacts on sale around the world. Honda just needs to stop slacking.
Where i live in michigan u can get the kawi 400 abs for 4999 and the honda 500 for 5699. Ktm rc390 is 6099.
thanks guys this was what my decision came down to between the 400 and the rc390. I liked the 390 because how I leaned more to the front but as you said the maintenance would be $$$ so I decided to get the 400!!
Kawa is a fantastic product - truly going to scoop the market, but not for anyone 6 foot or more. I felt really cramped and I'm 5'11" Weight and power are excellent, but size is a bit teeny. Bigger seat and bar raisers? Hmmm... Love the Honda low down grunt though.
and more legroom!
Kawasaki has a driver seat that can be bought or ordered through the dealer that is about 1 inch higher.__ Helps with the leg room. __ Stock bars are ok. __ I'm 5' 10 " FWIW.
Yeah I'm 6-2 so I got the Honda 😂.... I look like that bear on a tricycle in Madagascar 3 when I sat on the Ninja 🤣
im 6'3 and i really like those new 'mini rockets' but sadly they are build to fit dwarves and whamen as ''entry bike''. so no way for you to enjoy those if you are a man of normal size that already know how to ride and just love the little engine
I'm an older guy and I bought the 2017 RC 390 a brand new return in Connecticut for $3300 out the door. I had to replace my Harley and needed a bike for the season. I was planning on getting rid of it the following year. Every time I ride this damn bike I cant see any reason to get a bigger bike. I beat the ever loving piss out of this thing every single time I ride it. I'm on my second season with almost 6K on the OD and the only issue I had was with the kickstand. I have never felt so connected to the street in my life. I absolutely love the RC 390!
I guess due to emission standards in the US the cbr500r produces only 42hp, but here in Germany mine produces 48 and I don't take it to racetracks when I have the autobahn. Last month I rode it from Germany to Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary and back so I rely on my own reviews. I can tell you that I didn't have any back or wrist problems and I didn't see one single super sport rider outside of major cities... go figure...lol.
The power figures are wheel hp, not crank. So it still produces 48hp just like yours :)
Daniel Kemnitz can you tell me please what's its top speed before it cuts the rev?
Before I remap, mine was 188 km/h and now 199 and the revs keeps going on until 9000 rpm.
That I do not know, I don't own the bike myself so never tested it, I only rode it for some weeks while taking my license a few years ago. I'd imagine the top speed would be around 185 ish km/h or close to yours.
I wish kawasaki would have added another 150cc cylinder and make the kawasaki a 450cc triple instead of a 400 twin engine. Kawasaki would have taken the small class market.
Spot Honda 100cc and the other two equal HP. Ride what you bring. Please find a comparison with other brands of a larger displacement up against Honda. Just saying. Honda has had the podium for far too long.
Ninja 400 is the new king of lightweight! Can't wait to get mine.
Come on guys, do your home work before dishing on a bike! 2017 onwards the ktm 390 engine received updates that has massively improve reliability.
MrKdr500 i wanted to believe that too but people are still having the same issues as before with blown head gaskets. Those were track bikes so maybe your right if people are just using them for commuting.
MrKdr500 Maybe YOU should do your homework. Read the forums - the 2017 and 2018 models are as shitty as their predecessors.
@शिरीष ರಾಮಾಯ exactly, here in the Philippines our group have at least 10 KTM's and 3 of them are 2015 models but no issues like that blown head gasket or valve clearance issue....
@शिरीष ರಾಮಾಯ You got it. a lot of motorcycle owners here in North America are too lazy to do their maintenance personally.
Slap some good rubber, exhaust, some RaceTech up under the CBR along with the GSX600 shock mod and some woodsports then it really wakes up. Not to mention, the 500 is a fullsize bike compared to the KTM and the Kawi so if you're over 6' have fun.
Try to go 500 km and see who has the most pain!! I bet the Honda will do better than the rest....I have tried it!
Having a Ninja since Dec 2018, brought it on 4 road trips & among those longest per day distance was almost 700km in 4hrs.
Being only 5'5" I fit into the ninja 400 comfortably. Days of hundreds of km trip on it & no backaches, no stiff neck, no numb wrist & hands 👍
@@leekelvin00 LOL! Not many places you can go 700 km in 4 hrs!! I was of course thinking about driving on NORMAL roads for, lets say, 6 to 8 hrs! 700 kms in 4 hrs is an average of 175km/hr..... on Kawa 400??
@@harryviking6347 sorry my bad, it should be ~5hrs!
From Singapore into Malaysia, into Ipoh for morning tea & then up to Cameron Highlands.
0530hr - ride off
0800hr - petrol/coffee/ pee break
1000hr - breakfast in Ipoh
1200hr - reach Cameron Highlands resort
Minus ~30min at both side of immigration, 30min at the 1st petrol stop & 1hr for breakfast & ya took us almost 5hrs
So, I picked up a RC390 a couple days ago. I'm happy with my decision. Supposedly, the head gasket and bake clearance issues were fixed. I'll find out in a bit.
So how did the RC worked for you? I am looking to buy a 2018 RC but would like to hear an opinion from you. Thanks in advance.
As someone who is nearing my 23rd 29th birthday: looking good, John! :)
As a beginner bike the r3 is more than enough. Had the best time on that lil beast!
LeggoMyWebos that face...
After reading the full review online it seems leaving the r3 out was a mistake.
On track: The CBR barely passed it in a straight line, but can't even corner at aggressive street speeds. So the r3 probably would have beat the CBR on the track, though it wouldn't even be close to the KTM or Ninja.
On Street: But go to the street portion and the r3 would demolish the KTM in comfort. Once again, it couldn't touch the best of the bunch for street comfort, the CBR, but I wonder how it would compare to the Ninja on the street. Plus with ABS the r3 is slighter cheaper than the KTM and Ninja with ABS. It wouldn't win, but the r3 belongs in this group.
Finally, here is a point well-made in favor of including the R3.
Ktm is cheaper than r3 here in india much cheaper
Ktm cheap in India because its made in India! In my country KTM is really expensive and r3 is underestimated
That's great and all, but aren't these companies forgetting the whole reason for these smaller starter bikes? Pretty soon a 600 will be the smallest you can buy and newbies will be killing themselves again.
The video had good time spent covering Honda and KTM in the track testing portion, but next to nil on the Kawasaki? Still enjoyable vid, but lack of time covering Kwak on track stood out.
I dislike single cyl street bikes. Single cyl motors are far cheaper to make, and unfortunately that's how the feel. Agricultural and vibey. But hey, a lot less effort, tooling exp and technology required to churn them out in great numbers.
"I dislike single cyl street bikes" ....Hate to break it to you but this test was not made just for you! Most motorcycle enthusiast's like any amount of cylinders as long as the rest of the bike is fun to ride.... I'm also guessing the single's you've owned were cheap bikes & most likely that's why they felt cheap.
Um who said I thought the test was just for me? I dislike lumpy singles for street application and will always choose multi cyl options. That's my opinion. Having ridden an rc390, I was amazed how stone-age the motor felt compared to my mc22 - a 250cc bike 25 years older with 4 cyl. Of course my motor would cost 5-10 times as much to manufacture, so you'd expect that. But any move from a single to a multi cyl is a move toward smoother and more refined engine characteristics. It is what it is. A single cyl is always an option, but the price better reflect it.
We were hoping by covering the strengths of the other two bikes and saying the Kawasaki could do them just as well - with an awesome engine to boot - it would get the point across. I was wrong. Although if I had continued to talk about the Ninja 400 the video would be an extra 10 minutes long!!! :)
CBR 500r looks beautiful
Ninja 400 looks majestic
KTM rc 390 looks nice
I picked the Naked Ninja for my old Butt...the 2019 Kawasaki Z400
Al most got the Ninja
Robert Salyers great bike. I picked the z650!
@@Jmeez69 you will Love it
1:30 - agree to disagree. I think the R3 would do better on the track than the CBR500, due to the latter being a bit... tubby.
Don't ride the RC390 too hard or the engine will explode.
joetca It's really not as bad as people claim. It's not for Highway riding. That 390 is rock solid with the proper maintainance. Singles can't be ridden near the readline for a long time.
Chazer I'm not making any false claims they even mention in the video about their reliability issues.
joetca I've seen a lot of Indian squids riding the 390 with no maintainance and revving the shit out of it. They seem to survive the abuse for a few years if not as long as the Japanese. They'd last much longer with maintainance.
please don't get it for Highway riding. It does not like constant redline and highway riding.
i have already repaired 3 blown up rc390 engines with less than 10k kilometers. so i guess he is right
This ktm doesn't have problems anymore, just need a tune and change the fan or dual fan
Head gaskets popping are those person who changed their exhaust to straight without tuning
Rc 390 is very lean out of factory due to emission
i wouldnt get the rc390
i dont do track days plus its low reliabilty.
the cbr500 makes about the same power as the ninja 400 but is much heavier.
So i would get the mean grean machine!
Track days! do it man, its where you really learn how to ride.
JimmyPtheman nah man. no bike no gear, no money to do it!
@Bunnyshooter 223 the street is our track lol!
and thats pawerrrrr
2:35 when you're tucked below the windshield doing 40
I like how the KTM sounds so much like a Moto 3 bike. That it's the most committed, and the raciest of the three, I'd have it and just put up with the reliability issues.
Reliability issues are for some motorcycles only my RC 390 has crossed 15k miles still no blown gaskets or anything even after rough use.Just make sure u atleast use motul 300v oil or motorex oil.
@@deathrow8809 Exactly, the negatives get exxagerated greatly. Maintain the machine and it will serve you. KTM is an excellent company and has a great reputation in the motorsport world. Plus the bike gets assembled in India's best factory(bajaj). I am not sure where the parts get manufactured and designed. Hopefully that is from KTM.
@@alexv5581 I read an article that said they source their parts from other companies in India as well. Even though they seemed to have worked on the issue of producing a lot of heat, It has been stated in forums that they still run pretty hot which really stresses the motor. Also their Instrument cluster is known for fogging up and the bike will occasionally just shut itself off. If you go onto a KTM 390 forum you will see that their biggest problem is vender parts reliability and quality control. I really wanted to like the 390 and was going to buy one until I read all the horror stories and the cost of maintenance compared to the Kawasaki so I had to go with the Kawi.
I have a 2013 cbr 500r and I put a lot of upgrades it in and I love it now. Stock sucked so I can see where you guys come from
Kawasaki its king in this class!
kawie is king overall and has been since the late 80's
Just got a brand new 2017 CBR300R on sale for 2,900! I can’t believe it still.
Too bad the ktm is unreliable. You buy one of these small bikes for them to be super reliable forever
I would have possibility picked up the N400 if I was buying it as my first bike, but with two other bikes in the garage I couldn't resist buying a leftover 18 RC390 to ride on the country curvy roads here in southern OH.
I love my Ninja 400 🔥
👍👍👍 it's a good bike
Great video! Thanks for making it. This really helped me out since I am in the market for my first bike in this class of bike!
Wait 35hp? Doesn't r3 produces 42hp?
Around 35 - 38 at the wheel
42 at crank
They're talking about the previous generation
Kawasaki is #1 rank for less engine problems. Ducati is rank #1 for most engine breakdowns. Kawasaki keeps putting out amazing bikes
If Rc390 being a single cylinder making 43bhp, imagine it being a twin, kawa and honda no where to be seen..!!!
chaitanya choudhary of it was a double it would be a 700cc...
emudshit no no ,i mean a 390 twin...!!!
chaitanya choudhary yeah there is one it's the ninja 400...the only reason the 390 keeps up is and is a single is because that single cylinder is the size of 2 cylinders man...the piston is huge if it where a twin it would be a 700cc or they would have to make the cylinders smaller so in the end it's the same things power wise.
emudshit yo emudshit! Fancy meeting u here. Wuddup from ninja400ridersdotcom~
Amit Jatt India m sirf VFM product hi chlta Hai inko quality se koi matlab nahi hota
I spent a couple of days on a Duke 390 (same base as the RC I believe?) and man what a great little bike, so fun to ride. It's gotta be tough to beat the KTM.
Damn, you guys haven't got the CBR 250RR? you're missing out man..
Lesara Nada isn’t that a inline 4 250cc?
After scrolling through the comments for a while, Lots of negativity about the KTM's reliability. I owned a 2015 RC390. The model I had is supposed to be the most unreliable of all. Read about overheating issues, valves crapping out and head gaskets going. I owned one for a year, rode it daily, bashing the limiter, popping the clutch etc and had absolutely no issues with it. Prior I rode a Kawa ZZR250 and that gave me endless issues even though it was made in Japan and was supposed to be *bulletproof*.It all comes down to how the bike is maintained. KTM's are good modern bikes. Look after them and they'll look after you!
Love the Kawasaki ... but, for World Superbike 300 class, the R3 shouldn't be included? It is the only 300, lol. Obviously, they need to change the name of that class.
Sean Paul Alejandro it’s 321 cc
R3 won the 2018 world supersport 300 in 2018. Ninja comes in with some restrictions in 2019. Yamaha is currently at number 2, behind the ninja and ahead of the KTM.
Best and most honest review ever !
Interesting how the prices on the N400 and the RC390 are the exact same there.
Here in India where the RC is made it retail's for about 3600 USD while the Ninja at roughly 7000 USD, SMH..
tax, and the KTM were build in india so...
It called "Protecting the domestic product from Imported ones" even if the domestic one happens to be the shittier one. Everyone(country) does the same to some degree.
JIGA BACHI Ktms ain't shitty, not as reliable as Japanese but not shitty
Harkamal Singh yes they are
Actually it's 3800 US dollars. Onroad price is 2.57 lakhs which is 3800 USD approx.
I can't lie... I really wanted to say whoever was riding the R3's just wasn't doing it right but honestly I think you're right. All the more reason we need an R4 with some updates and shit
Can you imagine if they made a 400 Four? That's the next trump card in this class. Then, they can actually demand a bit higher price to cover the added complexity, since the others think it's all about price and are sticking to thumpers and twins.
Hell yeah, or event a 400cc triple. Good torque and still some power on the top end. That engine would make for a hell of a good MT04 variant and both bikes would have Yamaha reliability too... KTM.
Waiting for the same old whiny comments about how Rc390 is unreliable.
Amit Jatt I don't speak street shitter but I do know that KTM has fixed a lot of the problems with reliability. Not a fan boy by any means but yeah.
playgame rig I might be biased, but I'm an American owner of a 2017 KTM rc 390. It is a well made bike with very nice features and a great suspension
Amit Jatt the new rc 390 is made in the Bajaj factory, even the American one
Suspension is crap but I do love my RC 390, 10k miles and no issues yet.
Well... it is.
The bike standing in the middle is always the winner.
A track day at Laguna Seca, talk about lucky.
Yep. Not the real world for most of us not living in CA.
ninja400 and cbr500r are on the same price in my country Thailand. that's amazing. both around 6,800 + - usd
I'm a little confused as to how you can compare a 390 to a 500.
Chris Anderson power to weight. The 390 smokes the 500 around the track
What of the R3 and the Ninja 300?
I think the ninja300 and the r3 are in the 30-35 hp range. They lose about 10hp to these bikes
Do they weight less?
Glad you asked. We did this test back in 2015! Check it out: www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/beginner-ish-sportbike-shootout
I own the 400abs kawi and it's wonderful
they should have thrown in a drz400sm just for fun.
I live 10 minutes from Azusa canyon, One day I'll see you guys out there!...
Been to The Rock Store and surrounding area.__ Live ( literally ) across the street from Palomar Mountain, so it could happen. ___Rubber side down....
I have been really debating a ninja 400 to replace my cbr300. I think I am going to wait a year to have all the recalls sorted out.
Death Wish83 you might have more fun on a ninja 650. I started on a 2006 ninja 650r. It's lightweight, great MPGs, and just enough power to have a lot of fun. Great all arounder.
karma's a bitch that was my first bike as well.
Looking to start my first bike on a 650 as well! Hopefully soon!
B H i would recommend used and cheap. It will hurt less financially if you drop it. Most people do in the first few months.
But a Ninja 650 is not a sport bike. 636 much better.
Amazingly well balanced review!! Kawi it is.
The cbr looks a ton better than the others.
also costs and weights a ton more tho
Marco Martins and feels a ton better. There is a reason friends I know don't go on long rides. By the time we are halfway I'm still going with the other riders they are on their way home because their body is killing them. 99% of the owners of bikes will never see a track but most riders will go on long distance rides. Which the 500 has the other two beat by miles. Sure I would love to see the 500 with less weight, but that weight can also make the bike more stable on the road ie wind. Especially when passing or being passed.
that bike is not made for touring tho, for that you get something like the NC750x, way more confortable on the higway
Yes I would say more weight make the bike more stable on the higway but it doesn't mean it will be more confortable because it's not a tourer not much wind protection and still a bit sporty position
@@Marco-cl9pb Do you ride a 500R? Also is the NC750 in this test? As far as wind protection the CBR is fine, as good as the 750 you mentioned.
Like my comment says the CBR is a better bike for the street than the others.
@DaH8ter hahaha, waaaaaa he said something about a bike I like waaaaa now I have to cry about it like a little baby and tell him to fuck off. Dude you aren't even worth trying to explain my comment. If you can't act like an adult do yourself a favour and wait until you grow up before using your fingers to look like a cry baby.
“Scientology” haha
I bought the Ni8nja 400. The RC390 is notorious for dependability. The new 2018 Ninja 650 is lighter than the CBR 500R. With slipper assist clutch, gear position indicator, shift light and ultra smooth throttle, it has CBR500R beat.
I own the CBR500R. Sat on a Ninja 400 and Ninja 650 in the stealership the other day. The Ninja 650 is much more comfortable than the 400; it doesn't slant the rider's balls into the tank. It also has a lighter clutch than the Honda.
I think Honda still puts together a higher quality bike, but I'm glad to see Kawasaki really putting some effort in. Enough to beat Honda sometimes, like here. They're just a more agile company, probably because they're smaller.
honda is more beautiful, ktm desing futuristic and kawasaki mechanical set better. Thank You. Unfortunately, in Brazil we do not have the kTM of this category.
....... That's why I bought mine 👍👍 cause she was the best looking out of the 3
Huge fan of yours guys , outstanding shoot out..
I still feel 390 is unbeatable on track
it will be on a kart track, that's for sure
+Marco Martins the 390 would blow by everything except the N400
that depends on the track, even the R3 has a higher top speed with just 320cc... that's exaclty why I said on a kart track the ktm would be indeed unbeatable on the class because of the torque of the 1 cylinder
For me, living in a crowded city the best buy is 150cc Moped or Sportbike. If I living at that empty roads, bigger bike is better. but still favor the 500cc two strokes.
Cruiser riders down voting again🤨
Sierra Nevada scratches head* I'm a biker noob. Why would cruiser riders down vote this video? Is there an unspoken rivalry between sport riders and cruiser riders?
tpcs I don’t think there’s a rivalry between the two, but there is often some well-intentioned banter between the two groups. Different types of riding, to be sure.
I’ve been riding for 12 years, started on a Honda CM450E, then ‘05 SV650N, now a Triumph Street Triple R.
tpcs Well as Cruiser guys he probably meant harley guys
ah. Yeah, so far the few 6 out of 10 harley riders I've met across 16 months have been kinda...snob-ish towards my rebel 300. " you need to get a real bike man" poking some fun at me. I tell them" 1. I"m a beginner..I'm not trying to easily kill myself on a liter bike. 2. Mpg and longevity are my priorities. I get 78mpg or more on this little two wheel go kart on steroids..weekly consistently. 3. I don't want a heavy big 700+ pound bike. I"m still learning". That shut them up pretty fast. I said it in a way that wasn't insulting or rude though.
Luiser riders
The Usual Clowns 🤣🤣 Troy is so funny
This review is terrible. "Lightweight Sportbike Shootout"? The Honda at 423lbs. is heavier than an FZ-07, c'mon, at least the R3 would have kept to the same approximate weight.
Also the winner of this "shootout" got spoken about as much as the R3 that wasn't even included in the test. You spent about 1 minute of a 20 minute video talking about the winner and newest bike with the least amount of information out there at this time.
Seriously, you talked more about how heavy the Honda is in your LIGHTWEIGHT SPORTBIKE SHOOTOUT than you did about the WINNER OF THE TEST. You spent the whole time gushing over a bike you admit is of questionable reliablity that been out for years already.
Adam Wilkinson sounds like we have an R3 owner here 🙄
This was a shootout, not a review.
You're taking the word "Lightweight" a little too literally. We're talking about lower displacement motorcycles and less about actual weight. And yes, maybe we could have talked about the Kawasaki more, but talking about the strengths of the other bikes and saying the Kawasaki does them all was our attempt at saying the Ninja 400 really is a jack of all trades in this category.
Troy, I took home a 2018 Ninja 400 on July 3rd based on your reviews. OUT THE DOOR cost with my military discount on the black 400 with ABS was $4932!! My two sons who will ride this GRINNED ear to ear after their first go. Our family drives newer BMWs and Hondas. First Kawasaki EVER. My 19 year old son, who was NOT into cycling, now wants his license and was showing it off to his friends. Looks, price, reliability, track, commuter, and weight make this a winner for the great sport of motorcycling. TY.
THIS is why we do it. Thanks for the kind words, and we're glad you - and your sons - love the bike. That's an excellent deal, too. Here's to lots of happy miles as you and your boys bond over motorcycling.
Honda 500r is the oldest model out of the 3. That model is 4yrs old.
Kawasaki is the newest of the 3.. 2018 model. So it was designed to under cut the 500r
Honda will go back to the drawing board and make changes to compete better
Kawasaki is best engine
John Burns audio was poor. I am torn between the Honda and the Kawasaki as a commuter. The Kawasaki is lighter and cheaper. I guess I would go green.
Lol poor r3
Yamaha hasn't developed R4/R5 yet, not profitable
It's big brothers can stomp those bikes. R3 is still the best small displacement bike.
I still think if it was in this test it would come 1st...it's like a 320cc engine, it can keep up with the 390cc engine of the ktm
GrowingDownUnder parallel twin vs single cylinder
RC390 has a huge maintenance cost : valve clearance every 6 000km vs kawasaki every 24 000km
Since when is the CBR500R 42hp? We only have then with 47.5 hp to max the A2 license capacity in Europe.
Jonathan Hessen They have mentioned Rear Wheel Power
Harkamal Singh Sorry for my ignorance... how does this work?
The power figures manufacturers claim are taken at the crankshaft. The power figures we at Motorcycle.com list are taken at the rear wheel. There is a certain amount of power lost delivering the energy from the crankshaft, through the transmission, then the drive gear (whether it's chain/belt/shaft), before it finally spins the back tire. These are called parasitic losses. Rear wheel horsepower is much more useful in our world, so it's the number we use.
Troy Siahaan but is differs depending on temps, tires, the test bench and a lot of other factors. roll over a bike to another bench and it will make different power.
They all had the same type of tire, same temps, same track conditions... All are chain drive. It's a fair comparison. Just drop it; it's OK to be wrong.
Good test guys keep it up
shoulda had the R3 that woulda beat the 500 not the 400 but the 500 would lose
Yamaha Rider J the CBR makes significantly more power then the r3, may be a little easier in the corners but on the straights the 500 will show its massive low end torque advantage...
I have the cbr500r 17 and everyone love how it looks and sound
Testing light weight commuters on a track LoooooL
😂😂
The Honda is more like a full size bike. Much better fit for an adult. but that price difference really hurts it. Even though it seems the Kawasaki 400 is a bit small for me being 5'10" It's my choice out of these.
👍👍👍👍
You guys can mention also the torque (honda wins hands down)
It's included in the written review, but yes, the Honda does win: 29 lb-ft vs. 25 lb-ft for both the Kawasaki and KTM. The four extra lb-ft are basically offset by the extra weight the Honda has to push around.
AgoProduction &Co It’s necessary due to the extra weight.
I have test ridden both (my) ninja and crb500r. Ninja 400 feels and probably is quicker in acceleration