Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Even though no info on how he crashed, but a helmet will break in such way when there is a direst head impact which is less likely to happen in race track, may be he might have crashed directly onto to barricade which is similar to concrete.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

That looks absolutely gut wrenching. Especially when you put your trust in a company and it's product to save your life. Honestly, there's so little regulation in India with regards to this stuff that it's hard to blame anyone but the RTOs. They just don't seem to want to grow with the market. I recently got myself an AGV K5, and I was honestly surprised to find a document enclosed that specified the maximum speed the helmet is safe to be worn at - both on track and off it. The very existence of such a thing sent a shiver down my spine when I considered the 4 older helmets I've owned - LS2, Studds, Vega and Globe - two of which I crashed in. None of them had a precautionary document stating anything about the limitations on the helmets. This might be a one off case for MT helmets and TBH I don't know much about the various standards of helmet certification(DOT, ISI, etc) but we need to learn from such things.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Exactly my thoughts. After reading this article,i just ordered an HJC RPHA ST helmet with DOT and ECE approval. I previously had LS2 jsut 4 months old, but still skeptical about it.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Guys,

My Cousin is planning to book the Ninja 300, but wanted test ride the bike before booking but the Kawasaki guys are absolutely pathetic when it Customer service.
Here is the copy of the mail which was sent to customerservice@bajajauto.co.in

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Their email service is very responsive, they'll probably get one of those showrooms to contact you and offer the test ride, to your satisfaction.
Do update us on what happens, lack of a Ninja test ride is something I've noticed too

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

You can forget about getting a test ride. Kawasaki just doesnt offer a test ride on their bikes to anyone. My suggestion is to find a friend whose bike you can take for a spin. But, I can assure you that if your mind is made up to buy the N300, you can be rest assured that you will be getting a top quality machine amongst the options presently available.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Kawasaki does offer test rides. But 90% is through their independent showroom only. Some KTM showrooms in metro cities does offer test rides on N300, N650 etc. You could easily get one in Bangalore but surprised it was unavailable. Please go and see John at Indirangar Kawasaki Showroom, he could help him out. The issue was the test ride bike was in a very bad condition the last time I saw it and hence they maynot offer one at the moment and I too would suggest a friends bike over a test ride bike to get the real feel.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Here in Pune, at least 3 years ago they flatly refused to give a test ride from their KTM Kawasaki showroom at Bund Garden Road. Then a couple of years ago, their showroom at Wakdewadi (Bajaj building) also refused, saying it wasn't in their policy do give test rides. Perhaps things are different now!

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

We were in touch with john for the last 3 weeks but even he couldn't get us a Test ride. Its not just the Test riding the bike but the attitude of the sales/Marketing guys that has pissed us, Even after constantly following up for Test ride and assuring them that we would book (had planned to get the bike for Diwali) there is zero response from them. Anyway we would be test riding the Yamaha R3 hopefully the response would be better.

We had sent the mail on Monday considering Monday & Tuesday was holiday, we have not got any response/acknowledgement from them.

Regards,
Jayanth

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

If the availability of the test ride is so poor for Kawasaki what about servicing? Do they provide enough servicing or there is also a hiccups?

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Yeah all the best with that! I've been trying so hard for a TR of the R3 and I've got nowhere. I am currently in correspondence with Yamaha(by that I mean, I've received 2 emails so far with a firm "NO!") in an attempt to get a TR. In the last mail I asked for the issue to be escalated up the ladder. No idea if I am going to get any kind of response! I got a TR of a Ninja from a guy who was kind enough to let me take as spin after hearing me plead for a TR from the Mekhri circle KTM guys. I didn't really get a feel of the bike as the TR was just around the block. I really don't know anyone else with a Ninja who can help me with a comprehensive TR experience. I'd really love to take the bike for a longer spin. I have no idea which one to pick. On the other hand I got the CBR for a longer duration, and I was really happy with the bike. Heats up a little, feels lighter than it looks and the engine is right up there in terms of refinement. I am used to 17 horses(on the vibey RTR engine), so the CBR really impressed me(but that's OT, so I'll stop). I still don't want to settle for the CBR because I want the P-twin power. That short ride on the Ninja blew me away. Believe me, I've been in your shoes for the last 2 years. You can actually still see my thread in the what bike section from 2 years ago seeking advice on which bike I need to buy. That's how long I've been trying and failing at getting an adequate TR of the Ninja. And it's like the universe loves to play games with me, now the R3 has come along to make things harder even.

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My questions exactly, but everyone here seems to be happy with the servicing - which really has to do with the reliability of the bike itself than the mechanics at the ASC. The spares are expensive and larger repairs like replacing a fairing seems to take time, but in the end everything seems to be dandy WRT the Ninja. I am however not the right guy to answer that question. What I wanted to say was, I asked the ASC guys about the lack of TR and they had two answers - 1. Kawa has no policy for TR vehicles. The showrooms are on their own there.
2. Lots of guys just come in for fun and with no real intent of booking the vehicle. These guys sometimes can't handle the bike and damage it in one way or another(drop, over rev, mishandle, etc) and the showroom has to bear the repairs on these vehicles, while they really don't have any chance at making a sale inspite of taking the damage. That's why they stopped giving TR of the bikes.

This seems to be happening to every showroom in Bangalore, irrespective of the brand. Anecdote: The guys at Triumph had this whole amazing thing going where for an entire Sunday they would just park on NICE road to offer TR of their bikes to prospect customers. One guys crashed their Daytona 675R because he had no clue what 120 horses could do. He refused to pay for the bike and that was 14 lakhs down the drain for them because Triumph has no policy for TR in India. That was the end of any TRs on the Daytona altogether and for every other bike they give a TR for, they demand that the customer leave behind their CC for the duration of TR. Can't blame them really. But the Yamaha guys went "NO!" from the moment the R3 was launched. Didn't even wait for collateral damage.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Also messaging IKM on their fb page would help. Bajaj also seems least interested in Kawasaki these days

Thats a weird comparison. I dont know why you compared test riding and servicing. Both are two different areas and I am happy the last 2 years of service from KTM, be it Karnataka, TN or Kerala. They have satisfied me 99% of time.
Its better not to give TR on someone elses booked vehicle and most doesn't prefer it as well. And another point is as Kawasaki are not having sales targets across KTM showrooms(For 300 and 650), expect them to least care about a TR and sell a Kawasaki from there.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

True. It's very unfortunate that many cases people in India misuses the TR policy or just use it for fun. I support the no TR policy for premium bike segment. But riding on a dyno should be there. I heard in this forum that Kawa people do offer a TR on dyno. Was it a wrong thing I heard or that tradition is also gone away from India?

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

I was unaware of this! If that is so, I'd love to take a TR on a dyno, though... I have never heard of any ASC equipped with a dyno. Maybe it went away when Bajaj decided to sell the lower CC Kawa bikes in KTM outlets. Maybe Probiking outlets allow this. On second thought, TR on a dyno seems pointless. You would not feel the bike, or get to test it in traffic. Isn't that the point of a TR? :P I can't see many people warming up to the idea.

Re: Kawasaki Ninja 300 Ownership Experience

Some erstwhile probiking outlets (before they were switched to ktm and the pulsar 220's relegated to regular dealers) used to have roller bench and not a dyno.
Maybe some still do.
And yeh, nothing like taking the bike out on the road for a few test rides.