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Initial riding and ownership experience.
I have now completed 250 kms and feel more comfortable with the bike. Some members had asked for my impressions vis-a-vis the R15 and so I will write this post by comparing the same. I know both are in totally different categories and cannot and should not be compared, however, this is more from a perspective of a R15 owner upgrading to a 300 Ninja and not intended to start any brand wars. Therefore, please don't make such comments as 'what an horse's ass this guy is!'...
First impressions: This is a big bike for a 250/300 category. How big is it? That is highlighted when the bike stands next to at 250 Ninja. While the wheel base is the same, the girth of bike is much more like that of a inline 4 based 600cc bike. The moment you swing your leg and straddle the bike you will get a big bike feel. The instrument cluster, clip ons, levers, switch gear and the body work all enhance the big bike feel from the cockpit view.
Switch on the ignition and go through the now familiar self check, flip the engine kill switch and hit the starter button. The headlight will come on only after the engine has started. The engine purrs to life and settles into a gentle throbbing beat which is unlike a single cylinder's prominent thumping beat. The engine is silent, maybe a bit too silent. After having lived with a Free Flow Exhaust on my R15 for more than 2 years, its a bit disconcerting to hear a engine that is so silent in a bike so big. Engage the clutch and put the bike into first gear and the first impression is 'wow, what a light clutch and smooth gear action!'. This is an area in which the bike scores a home run compared to the R15 whose clutch will feel heavy vis-a-vis the 300 and the gear action will feel chunky and slightly notched.
The moment you start moving, it quickly becomes apparent that the riding position of this bike is way different as compared to the R15. This is a more relaxed, upright, sitting on the top of the bike position compared to the R15 which has a more aggressive riding position which puts you in snug fit with the bike and has forward leaning weight bias. The riding position will take some getting use to for people who have been using R15s for substantial time and have become use to it like a well worn glove. I personally prefer a more aggressive posture and therefore at a later date will be considering Woodcraft clipons and Vortex/ Yoshi rear sets to change the riding position.
Once you are moving on the road, it quickly becomes apparent that the beefier suspension, broader tyres, and longer wheel base enhance the everyday ride quality. Mumbai's roads are a nightmare which have all shorts of potholes, cracks, uneven paver blocks, etc. The suspension absorbs all of this without any complaint and the bike does not loose composure at any time. The drawback? Compared to the R15 suspension, it does not give you as much feedback. The front end does not have the sharpness in the feedback on what short of ground you are traveling on and rear feels slightly dead as compared to the R15. However, this does not mean that its bad suspension. It just highlights how good the R15 is dialed in and people who are used to such feedback will need to reset themselves. The resetting will happen over a period of time with more miles under the belt.
The 300 having a longer wheel base is naturally not as flickable as the R15. It takes more input to get the bike to turn, but once it has settled into the turn, it is rock steady. Even using the brakes through the turn does not unsettle the bike. Though not as flickable, the 300 is certainly not a lethargic animal. Belaying its bulk, it is nimble enough that it will surprise you and challenge you pre ride impression of big girth equals slow steering. Once again you will need to reset your impressions.
The throttle input is light and smooth. Both the bikes are at par over here. As I mentioned in a earlier post the recommended shift point of 4,000 rpm for run in is ridiculous. Any type of slightest load other than a flat road and you will be lugging the engine in the 6th gear. Lugging the engine is a cardinal sin and to do it during run in is blasphemy. Be ready for a bottom end re-build if you have been lugging the engine. I shift at 5,000 to 5,500 rpm and vary my speeds from 3,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. This will gradually be increased after I cross 500 kms. The bike accelerates smoothly and there are no apparent fueling glitches. Nothing more can be said on the performance side for another 1,000 kms as the engine's character comes alive only after 6,000 rpm. One thing that I can say is that engine is becoming noticeably smooth as the miles are being added.
The gear ratios on the 300 are perfectly spaced. Whereas there is a big gap between 1st and 2nd on the R15 making riding in traffic a bit of clutch slipping exercise, the 300's ratios are close enough and smooth enough that is hassle free.
Some members have commented on the rear view mirrors. Here is my take on the same; the mirrors are just fine. They are positioned forward and away from the handle bars as compared to the ones on the R15. Thus the net effect is that they are little lower placed in height and further away from the place the regular R15 users are use to. They do give ample rear view and its just that they give a view with slightly different perspective. The R15 mirrors give a view that covers your 3.3 O'clock to 5 O'clock view and 9.3 O'clock to 7 O'clock view respectively. So essentially, you are blind in the areas between 5 - 6 O'clock and 7 - 6 O'clock and need to move you head to clear those areas. With the 300 mirrors the perspective view changes slightly, the view that it covers is 4 O'clock to 5.3 O'clock and 8 O'clock to 7.3 O'clock. This means that it covers more area between your 5 - 6 and 7 - 6 while leaving some area between 3 - 4 and 9 - 8 uncovered. This uncovered area can be cleared by the peripherial view and does not require you to move your head. In short, its just a different view that takes some time to get use to. Some people may find the shape of the mirrors disconcerting and the fact that 1/3 of the mirror coverage is only your elbows and arms. However, that is narrow part of the mirrors and every thing between your arms and elbows is actually in your 6 and therefore any which ways in your blind spot. The mirrors have a special anti glare coating which helps in night time riding. A feature much appreciated.
One member mentioned the horn. Compared to the R15's horn, the 300's is leagues ahead. It is surprisingly loud. I wonder if this is a India specific thing or something standard to all 300s across the world.
That brings us to the breaks. While the R15's brakes are good and made even better by adding steel braided lines, the 300's brakes are sublime. It makes one wonder why the Hyosung GT250R even requires 2 discs in the front. Talk about over engineering a product. The only gripe that I have with the brakes is the rubber lines. Come on Bajaj/Kawasaki even the KTM Duke 200 has steel braided lines!!! It would not have costed them more than a Rs.1000/- to add steel lines. Anyway, that is another change that will be in pipeline for me along with adjustable levers as I have short stubby fingers.
There has been some discussion on the seat. Personally having experienced the FZR 400 and FZR 1000 which have a sorry excuse of a piece of hard rubber pad that passes as seat on those bikes, I can say that this is a firm seat and not a hard seat. People who are used to the R15 seat will feel that its hard but you will get use to it quickly.
The instrument panel is well laid out, however, people use to the backlight of the R15 tachometer will feel that the backlight of the 300's is a little subdued. The only other issue I have is with the turn indicator idiot lights. These are a little dull and hard to see in the bright sunlight.
So the bottom line is that its a bike thats a very worthy upgrade to the R15 (unless Yamaha does something special and comes out the long awaited 250). I ride the 300 for 3 days a week and the R15 for remaining 3 working days. I am currently appreciating and enjoying best of both the worlds.
Update: Couple of additional things that are minor but do score over the R15. The placement of the coolant reservoir which is placed forward and right side of the bike behind the right turn indicator, makes it very convenient to read the coolant level. All you have to do is peek in from the top of the right side handle bar. All who have used a R15 know that reading the coolant level is pain in the *ss with the way the reservoir is placed. The second thing that is very convenient is the placement of the window on the front break reservoir, which is facing inside towards the rider. Minor things but much appreciated.
I have now completed 250 kms and feel more comfortable with the bike. Some members had asked for my impressions vis-a-vis the R15 and so I will write this post by comparing the same. I know both are in totally different categories and cannot and should not be compared, however, this is more from a perspective of a R15 owner upgrading to a 300 Ninja and not intended to start any brand wars. Therefore, please don't make such comments as 'what an horse's ass this guy is!'...
First impressions: This is a big bike for a 250/300 category. How big is it? That is highlighted when the bike stands next to at 250 Ninja. While the wheel base is the same, the girth of bike is much more like that of a inline 4 based 600cc bike. The moment you swing your leg and straddle the bike you will get a big bike feel. The instrument cluster, clip ons, levers, switch gear and the body work all enhance the big bike feel from the cockpit view.
Switch on the ignition and go through the now familiar self check, flip the engine kill switch and hit the starter button. The headlight will come on only after the engine has started. The engine purrs to life and settles into a gentle throbbing beat which is unlike a single cylinder's prominent thumping beat. The engine is silent, maybe a bit too silent. After having lived with a Free Flow Exhaust on my R15 for more than 2 years, its a bit disconcerting to hear a engine that is so silent in a bike so big. Engage the clutch and put the bike into first gear and the first impression is 'wow, what a light clutch and smooth gear action!'. This is an area in which the bike scores a home run compared to the R15 whose clutch will feel heavy vis-a-vis the 300 and the gear action will feel chunky and slightly notched.
The moment you start moving, it quickly becomes apparent that the riding position of this bike is way different as compared to the R15. This is a more relaxed, upright, sitting on the top of the bike position compared to the R15 which has a more aggressive riding position which puts you in snug fit with the bike and has forward leaning weight bias. The riding position will take some getting use to for people who have been using R15s for substantial time and have become use to it like a well worn glove. I personally prefer a more aggressive posture and therefore at a later date will be considering Woodcraft clipons and Vortex/ Yoshi rear sets to change the riding position.
Once you are moving on the road, it quickly becomes apparent that the beefier suspension, broader tyres, and longer wheel base enhance the everyday ride quality. Mumbai's roads are a nightmare which have all shorts of potholes, cracks, uneven paver blocks, etc. The suspension absorbs all of this without any complaint and the bike does not loose composure at any time. The drawback? Compared to the R15 suspension, it does not give you as much feedback. The front end does not have the sharpness in the feedback on what short of ground you are traveling on and rear feels slightly dead as compared to the R15. However, this does not mean that its bad suspension. It just highlights how good the R15 is dialed in and people who are used to such feedback will need to reset themselves. The resetting will happen over a period of time with more miles under the belt.
The 300 having a longer wheel base is naturally not as flickable as the R15. It takes more input to get the bike to turn, but once it has settled into the turn, it is rock steady. Even using the brakes through the turn does not unsettle the bike. Though not as flickable, the 300 is certainly not a lethargic animal. Belaying its bulk, it is nimble enough that it will surprise you and challenge you pre ride impression of big girth equals slow steering. Once again you will need to reset your impressions.
The throttle input is light and smooth. Both the bikes are at par over here. As I mentioned in a earlier post the recommended shift point of 4,000 rpm for run in is ridiculous. Any type of slightest load other than a flat road and you will be lugging the engine in the 6th gear. Lugging the engine is a cardinal sin and to do it during run in is blasphemy. Be ready for a bottom end re-build if you have been lugging the engine. I shift at 5,000 to 5,500 rpm and vary my speeds from 3,500 rpm to 5,500 rpm. This will gradually be increased after I cross 500 kms. The bike accelerates smoothly and there are no apparent fueling glitches. Nothing more can be said on the performance side for another 1,000 kms as the engine's character comes alive only after 6,000 rpm. One thing that I can say is that engine is becoming noticeably smooth as the miles are being added.
The gear ratios on the 300 are perfectly spaced. Whereas there is a big gap between 1st and 2nd on the R15 making riding in traffic a bit of clutch slipping exercise, the 300's ratios are close enough and smooth enough that is hassle free.
Some members have commented on the rear view mirrors. Here is my take on the same; the mirrors are just fine. They are positioned forward and away from the handle bars as compared to the ones on the R15. Thus the net effect is that they are little lower placed in height and further away from the place the regular R15 users are use to. They do give ample rear view and its just that they give a view with slightly different perspective. The R15 mirrors give a view that covers your 3.3 O'clock to 5 O'clock view and 9.3 O'clock to 7 O'clock view respectively. So essentially, you are blind in the areas between 5 - 6 O'clock and 7 - 6 O'clock and need to move you head to clear those areas. With the 300 mirrors the perspective view changes slightly, the view that it covers is 4 O'clock to 5.3 O'clock and 8 O'clock to 7.3 O'clock. This means that it covers more area between your 5 - 6 and 7 - 6 while leaving some area between 3 - 4 and 9 - 8 uncovered. This uncovered area can be cleared by the peripherial view and does not require you to move your head. In short, its just a different view that takes some time to get use to. Some people may find the shape of the mirrors disconcerting and the fact that 1/3 of the mirror coverage is only your elbows and arms. However, that is narrow part of the mirrors and every thing between your arms and elbows is actually in your 6 and therefore any which ways in your blind spot. The mirrors have a special anti glare coating which helps in night time riding. A feature much appreciated.
One member mentioned the horn. Compared to the R15's horn, the 300's is leagues ahead. It is surprisingly loud. I wonder if this is a India specific thing or something standard to all 300s across the world.
That brings us to the breaks. While the R15's brakes are good and made even better by adding steel braided lines, the 300's brakes are sublime. It makes one wonder why the Hyosung GT250R even requires 2 discs in the front. Talk about over engineering a product. The only gripe that I have with the brakes is the rubber lines. Come on Bajaj/Kawasaki even the KTM Duke 200 has steel braided lines!!! It would not have costed them more than a Rs.1000/- to add steel lines. Anyway, that is another change that will be in pipeline for me along with adjustable levers as I have short stubby fingers.
There has been some discussion on the seat. Personally having experienced the FZR 400 and FZR 1000 which have a sorry excuse of a piece of hard rubber pad that passes as seat on those bikes, I can say that this is a firm seat and not a hard seat. People who are used to the R15 seat will feel that its hard but you will get use to it quickly.
The instrument panel is well laid out, however, people use to the backlight of the R15 tachometer will feel that the backlight of the 300's is a little subdued. The only other issue I have is with the turn indicator idiot lights. These are a little dull and hard to see in the bright sunlight.
So the bottom line is that its a bike thats a very worthy upgrade to the R15 (unless Yamaha does something special and comes out the long awaited 250). I ride the 300 for 3 days a week and the R15 for remaining 3 working days. I am currently appreciating and enjoying best of both the worlds.
Update: Couple of additional things that are minor but do score over the R15. The placement of the coolant reservoir which is placed forward and right side of the bike behind the right turn indicator, makes it very convenient to read the coolant level. All you have to do is peek in from the top of the right side handle bar. All who have used a R15 know that reading the coolant level is pain in the *ss with the way the reservoir is placed. The second thing that is very convenient is the placement of the window on the front break reservoir, which is facing inside towards the rider. Minor things but much appreciated.
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