First of all thanks a lot to usman_imazz and arsenic for letting me know that the bike was on display. Did a quick call to KTM Kanjurmarg to confirm that the bike was on display and off I was. Well I first went to AH Helmets and got myself a Sparx S-07 Special Edition Rebel White Helmet and then I was off to KTM.
Reached to find the green kwacker standing on my left and the RC8 on the right !!! Well I should say that it is a good move on Bajaj's part to promote KTM. The RC8 look stunning!!! Met with VivekM who was checking out the bike as well and went through a lot of pros and cons with for the next 1.5 hrs...


The 300 is wow!!! I was very skeptical of the green colour after seeing the bike in pics but boy the bike looks brilliant in green. As mentioned by usman_imaz, it sounds great as well and I was loving every second of it, that is until the showroom guy decided to switch on the RC8. Man that thing ROARS!!! Compared to RC8 the 300 sounded like a cat, purring sedately...

If I were to jot down my initial impressions, here goes:

1) Looks stunning. Will definitely get a big bike feeling.
2) The seating position is forward biased and very sporty (I think I should start practising the seating posture of toes on foot pegs and gripping the tank with my inner thighs) but not overtly so like the GT250R.
3) Overall the finishing is good but on close inspection you can definitely see the gaps and in one are a poor finish on the welding work. Hoping this is a one off. Guys going to the Kanjurmarg KTM check the side above the rear brake lever (forgot to take a close up pic).
4) The horn sounds meek. I would personally change it to a double horn or something better
5) The saree guard is poorly made. You can see n number of weld mark on the display piece. Thankfully, it can be removed once the registration is completed
6) The instrument panel looks good. While the tachometer and the digital display are spot on, I somehow feel that the remaining indicators (especially the red and orange ones) look like they have been made up with cheap stickers.
7) There are "300" stickers on the rear panel, however, they are not clear coated and can be easily peeled off by anyone.
EDIT: 8) The ground clearance seemed to be a little worrisome. Will definitely scrape some of our well defined and amazingly put speed breakers

Overall the bike is beautiful. Now, however, I am in a dilemma: White or Green??? Pics to follow...

The 300 has landed

As I live 10 mins away from KTM East showroom at Kanjurmarg, let me do the honours

Price- 3,95,000 OTR Mumbai
Delivery- 45 to 60 days





No ABS...manager said there will be no ABS or Limited edition version in the offing anyime soon















If your pillion's butt is much larger than my palm, it's gonna be pretty uncomfortable!




Nice bungee cord hooks....



....bolted very securely to the rear tail frame

There goes my plans for the ninja. I expected the ABS version to be out

Nice alloys,dash also looks good.Non availability of abs was half expected as is..but discs and alloy shape almost make up for it. Looks like the saree guard is intended to be a practical joke;its funnier than the one on the 650 Seriously,saree guard for ninjas and all?
This is going to be a stonker of a performer on our roads.GC seems bothersome,specially on uneven roads and strong inclines like the ones in mall parking type.
Meter console and handlebars look the part!

This might be useful dope then- Duke 390 will come with ABS as std. ..OTR M'bai will be approx 2.5L

hey even I have got my AGV Rossi 5 continents helmet waiting for the bike to be delivered to me:-) am surely going for the green.

So the 4L figure is for the non abs version? Anyways going to wait till 10th for further confirmation.
But its a naked bike, I'm worried about rider comfort and stability at high speeds. I'm having the CBR on my mind right now, but don't know whether its worth to put 2l for that or shell out some more for a D390.

Green. Definitely green!

Saw pics of the white one and it seems lacklustre. This is the authentic Kawasaki lime green shade (not the metallic green on the N650) and gives the bike fantastic presence.

Yes, showroom manager categorically said no ABS on the horizon. And that the Duke 390 will come in ABS-only guise!

Personally I don't prefer the Duke for multiple reasons ranging from my 6 ft+ frame to the exhaust note, though the value it offers is unbeatable!
But the choice between a CBR and Duke is a tough one to call- 2 very very different bikes and positioning there!

And here is a quick walkaround video of the Kawasaki Ninja 300

Pardon the camerawork- was recorded from my phone



@moderators- Please help. Video is not visible!

And if people have not come across this before, this is what Kawasaki says how the new 300 differs from the 250 . This probably answers questions (I did ask too) on why the new 300 costs 60k more that the 250R.

IntroductionDetails & Features
What’s New New 296cc Engine
• Compact parallel-twin design offers good mass centralization for nimble handling
• Tuned to deliver smooth, step-free power with excellent mid-range and high-rpm power for effective highway performance
• New intake ports taper from 1mm wider at the throttle body to .5mm wider at the valve seats
• New 23.6mm intake valves are 1mm larger than last year
• New cam chain design reduces friction for increased power and efficiency
• Revised 10.6:1 compression ratio allows the use of regular 87-octane unleaded gasoline and helps reduce operating temperatures
• New lighter pistons reduce reciprocating weight and feature a hard anodized coating for reduced friction and increased performance at every rpm
• Revised piston bottoms efficiently route cooling oil across underside of piston
• New lighter piston pins reduce reciprocating weight and help preserve a high redline
• New shorter connecting rods offset new longer crank throws
• New sleeveless “open-deck” die-cast aluminum cylinders are 800 grams lighter and feature a friction-reducing “T-treatment” plating
• New thicker crankshaft balancer webs help offset the new longer crank throws
• New crank journal bearings are made from a stronger alloy for increased durability
• New crank cases feature improved oil passages
• New large-volume 2.4 liter oil pan features cooling fins and better ground clearance
• New easy-to-access cartridge type spin-on oil filter helps simplify maintenance


New Exhaust System
• New curved 2-into-1 header design contributes to the Ninja 300’s low and mid-range torque and smooth, step-free power curve
• New complex geometry silencer design offers modern styling and meets all regulations without compromising engine performance
• New large brushed-finish metal silencer guard boosts noise reduction and helps protect passenger from exhaust heat
• Meets strict Euro 3 emission standards with a single catalyzer in the collector section


Liquid Cooling with KAMS
• Kawasaki Air Management System (KAMS) uses a special deflector to redirect hot air from the radiator fan, so it exits the bottom of the motorcycle instead of being blown onto the rider
• Lightweight Denso radiator offers effective engine cooling with minimal space and weight
• Fan design uses a quiet-running motor that also saves space
• Fins on the lower side of the crankcase provide additional engine cooling
Six-speed Transmission with New F.C.C. Assist Clutch
• New F.C.C. clutch with assist and slipper functions is able to handle more power and requires significantly less lever effort to operate. Design also makes clutch easier to modulate and helps reduce the effect of back-torque to reduce wheel hop when downshifting
• Revised six-speed transmission features a new roller-type shift drum for smoother actuation and stronger gears for maximum durability. It also offers wide selection of ratios to match varied riding conditions and its positive neutral finder makes it much easier to find neutral when stopped
• Involute splines reduce friction and backlash between gears and shafts for easier gear meshing and smooth shifting under power


Petal-type Disc Brakes
• Large-diameter, 290mm front petal disc and a balanced action two-piston caliper offer excellent braking performance and a natural, direct feeling at the lever
• Two-piston caliper grips the rear 220mm petal disc


New Chassis
• New frame uses main pipes made from high-tensile steel tubing that is 150% more rigid than the tubes in the previous Ninja 250R’s frame. The added rigidity provides much better chassis response and improved steering precision and feel
• Frame design and chassis tuning offer confidence-inspiring stability at both high and low speeds
• Beefy swingarm bracket contributes to the frame’s rigidity and helps achieve an optimal balance of chassis stiffness
• Square-beam swingarm compliments the new frame’s rigidity


Updated Suspension New Wheels & Tires New High-Tech Instrumentation
• Large easy-to-read analog tachometer
• Multifunction digital display features an easy-to-read speedometer, odometer, dual trip meters, fuel gauge, digital clock and warning lights
• Economical riding indicator (ECO) illuminates to let the rider know when they are operating the Ninja 300 in a manner that will maximize fuel economy

New Aerodynamic Bodywork
• All-new bodywork features an aggressive and edgy design with strong Ninja family DNA that sets the Ninja 300 apart from its lightweight sportbike competitors
• New floating windscreen design helps reduce turbulence and rider fatigue
• Aggressive dual-lamp headlight design, minimalist tail section and separate seats further enhance the aggressive visual impact
• Two helmet holders conveniently located under the rear seat
• New two-stage under-seat storage compartment can hold a U-lock or similar device and is hinged for easy access to the tool kit located beneath the storage tray
• Two hooks under the tail, plus two behind the rear passenger pegs provide anchor points for securing items to the rear of the bike

Ergonomics
• New rider’s seat design is narrower near its front section, making it easier for riders to reach the ground
• New passenger seat features a flatter design which makes it easier to secure cargo or soft luggage
• Slightly forward-slanting seat and wide, slightly raised handlebars give the Ninja 300 a naturally comfortable riding position


New Genuine Kawasaki Accessories
• All accessories designed and engineered by Kawasaki
• New Color Matched Seat Cowl is factory designed with integrated styling cues and molded pad perfectly color matched to your Ninja 300
• New Tank Bag and Soft Top Case custom designed tank bag made exclusively for the Ninja 300. Can be installed or removed quickly, multiple storage areas for your gear expandable for carrying larger items
• New “Tall” Windscreen factory designed for easy installation 3” taller bubble design adds wind protection. Features an optically correct 3-D curvature
• New Fuel Tank Pad features matching graphics and helps protect the paint on the fuel tank. A touch of personalization to enhance its sportbike styling
• New Engine Guards factory designed for easy installation helps reduce the possibility of bodywork damage in case of tip over

I was lucky enough to test ride the N300 and I must say the biggest change compared to the previous N250R was the low end torque. This model has loads of power in low revs and it makes riding it in city that much more easier.

Clutch feel first felt the same as previous model however when you ride the bike and do those sudden downshifts you'll realise why you pay the extra money

To sum it up, all the cons in the previous model has been rectified in this model - Digital speedometer, wider rear tire, better looks, increased engine capacity, etc etc.

The bike in white looks very plain and lack of any decal or graphic makes it look dull.

Very subjective !!

Some people feel green dull and some feel white dull...
Even in green there are no graphics and looking same..

So graphic should have been done more better!!


Heard from showroom manager Kawasaki is deploying a plant to make and assemble the bikes below 800cc in india. how much is this true ??

I don't get why Ninja is not in ABS mode ??? What crap!! OTR 4L apprx and no ABS !! This is real SHit, But looks/Style and Ninja name will make it sell still!