Announcement

**The Monk** · 05-07-2018, 01:09 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Query Approved

**KID MONK** · 05-07-2018, 03:45 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Coming from the top of my head will be the KTM 390.

**newwannaberider** · 05-07-2018, 04:17 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

KTM 390's is your best bet. Duke or RC as you prefer. If you can afford, consider R3. Also there is the newly released RR310.

**Shumi_21** · 05-07-2018, 06:15 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Thank you [MENTION=65284]KID MONK[/MENTION] and [MENTION=91736]newwannaberider[/MENTION] for your replies.

The Duke 390 is brilliant. I have ridden the older version and it handles beautifully! But it would heat up way too much for my liking and the chain needed adjustment every 500km or so according to my friend who owns the older version. I will take a test ride of the new version before taking a decision on the Duke 390.

The R3 is good. But the problem is there is no test ride available. Every Yamaha dealership I called did not have test rides for the R3. I'm not very keen to put down ~4 lakh rupees without actually riding the bike.

**tanishq** · 05-07-2018, 07:07 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Also look out of rr310 a brilliant versatile meachine it is

**newwannaberider** · 05-07-2018, 07:25 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Shumi_21 View Post

Thank you [MENTION=65284]KID MONK[/MENTION] and [MENTION=91736]newwannaberider[/MENTION] for your replies.

The Duke 390 is brilliant. I have ridden the older version and it handles beautifully! But it would heat up way too much for my liking and the chain needed adjustment every 500km or so according to my friend who owns the older version. I will take a test ride of the new version before taking a decision on the Duke 390.

The R3 is good. But the problem is there is no test ride available. Every Yamaha dealership I called did not have test rides for the R3. I'm not very keen to put down ~4 lakh rupees without actually riding the bike.

If you can afford it, it's best to go with R3 if you can find a test drive.

**newwannaberider** · 05-07-2018, 07:29 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Shumi_21 View Post

Thank you [MENTION=65284]KID MONK[/MENTION] and [MENTION=91736]newwannaberider[/MENTION] for your replies.

The Duke 390 is brilliant. I have ridden the older version and it handles beautifully! But it would heat up way too much for my liking and the chain needed adjustment every 500km or so according to my friend who owns the older version. I will take a test ride of the new version before taking a decision on the Duke 390.

The R3 is good. But the problem is there is no test ride available. Every Yamaha dealership I called did not have test rides for the R3. I'm not very keen to put down ~4 lakh rupees without actually riding the bike.

About the chain adjustment, I think that all open chain bikes require cleaning every 500-750 km for their longetivity since they're always exposed to the dirt and whatnot from our roads.

**Shumi_21** · 05-08-2018, 10:06 AM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by tanishq View Post

Also look out of rr310 a brilliant versatile meachine it is

Thanks for the suggestion [MENTION=85739]tanishq[/MENTION]

I did test ride the Apache 310 recently. The bike is as brilliant and versatile as you say. Superb midrange, good brakes and top notch build quality. The only gripe are the vibrations. I actually found myself short shifting the bike due to the vibes and the tachometer being barely legible on the move. I can tolerate the vibes on the handlebars and footpegs for the performance it provides, but the test bike had an especially annoying buzz in the seat that really messed up what was an exhilarating riding experience.

Although the sales representative said the seat vibes are due to the test ride bike being abused by everyone and their cousin, I'm willing to give TVS the benefit of the doubt. I'm really impressed by the attitude of the TVS dealership, they did not give me any sales pitch, just handed me the keys to the test bike and let the motorcycle do the talking!!

I'm hopeful for the BMW twins, the G310R/GS, the BMW dealership said that they will be arriving in July and I feel that BMW will do a better job of controlling NVH levels than TVS. The GS310 seems particularly alluring!

**tanishq** · 05-08-2018, 10:50 AM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Shumi_21 View Post

Thanks for the suggestion [MENTION=85739]tanishq[/MENTION]

I did test ride the Apache 310 recently. The bike is as brilliant and versatile as you say. Superb midrange, good brakes and top notch build quality. The only gripe are the vibrations. I actually found myself short shifting the bike due to the vibes and the tachometer being barely legible on the move. I can tolerate the vibes on the handlebars and footpegs for the performance it provides, but the test bike had an especially annoying buzz in the seat that really messed up what was an exhilarating riding experience.

Although the sales representative said the seat vibes are due to the test ride bike being abused by everyone and their cousin, I'm willing to give TVS the benefit of the doubt. I'm really impressed by the attitude of the TVS dealership, they did not give me any sales pitch, just handed me the keys to the test bike and let the motorcycle do the talking!!

I'm hopeful for the BMW twins, the G310R/GS, the BMW dealership said that they will be arriving in July and I feel that BMW will do a better job of controlling NVH levels than TVS. The GS310 seems particularly alluring!

Well as far as vibes are concerned 30+bhp single cylinder bikes will have it. Vibes will come down to a gr8 extent after the 1st service.

**Ankey** · 05-08-2018, 01:14 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

+1 to above. Any single cylinder that is more that 250cc will have vibrations, and there is no running away from that fact.
The R3 checks all your requirements and if you have the budget, you can get a ride by other means.
Check if there is a bike rental in your city, rent the R3 for a day and experience it to your hearts content, if not... go to the R3 ownership thread and request the members from your city to meet up and request them to allow you to try out their steed, I'm sure they will have no problems helping out a fellow brother. Then, you can make a well informed decision.

The duke 390 is one crazy machine, absolute bonkers for such a good amount of money, but the reliability takes a hit. You, coming from a reliable Japanese bike, will pull your hairs out when the TFT display starts to malfunction for no apparent reason and small niggles appear every few weeks. Read the ownership thread to get a better understanding of what I am talking about.

If nothing works, the RR310 should be the answer and you will have to live with the mild vibrations.

Happy bike hunting

**Shumi_21** · 05-09-2018, 12:33 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Ankey View Post

Happy bike hunting

Thanks for some really sound advice [MENTION=69523]Ankey[/MENTION]

To be honest, I was looking forward to the Ninja 400. Finally here was a refined, reliable Japanese motorcycle that could outperform the KTM'S. It was a dream come true. But that atrocious pricing has all but ensured that it remains a dream for me. The R3 isn't cheap, but compared to the N400 it is value for money!

Let's hope I can get a good test ride of the R3. I will have to keep the Gixxer for at least another year, to be able to afford the R3. Whether or not it's worth the wait, I will decide after a test ride.

**Ankey** · 05-09-2018, 03:17 PM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Shumi_21 View Post

Thanks for some really sound advice @Ankey

To be honest, I was looking forward to the Ninja 400. Finally here was a refined, reliable Japanese motorcycle that could outperform the KTM'S. It was a dream come true. But that atrocious pricing has all but ensured that it remains a dream for me. The R3 isn't cheap, but compared to the N400 it is value for money!

Let's hope I can get a good test ride of the R3. I will have to keep the Gixxer for at least another year, to be able to afford the R3. Whether or not it's worth the wait, I will decide after a test ride.

Yes brother, the Ninja 400 Just does not make any sense to us. All it gives are the bragging rights of how rich a person is to afford it, I see no other benefit of ninja over R3.

Also one of my close friends owns a ninja 300, and the real problems start after you buy it. The spares are not available anywhere, in 2014 the service center did not had brake pads, he had to wait 2 weeks till the pads were ordered from Delhi. Last year his clutch leaver broke, that too was not in stock in the service center and the waiting time given by service center was another few weeks; he got aftermarket ones.

Imagine having a superb bike like ninja, but its gathering dust in your home because the service center does not even have brake pads. Imagine how frustrating it would be. Agreed Dehradun is a comparatively small city, but it is the capital city nonetheless and the hub of everything in our state, if Kawasaki cannot provide even such small things in a capital city of a state how bad would be the service in other cities.

For this reason alone, I would never advise a Ninja over a R3. The R3 is equally good, equally refined, niggle free and the service and parts are cheaper and easily available. No matter how rich a person may be, he can do nothing with that money if the service center is useless.

**rreneav1987** · 05-10-2018, 11:50 AM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by Ankey View Post

Yes brother, the Ninja 400 Just does not make any sense to us. All it gives are the bragging rights of how rich a person is to afford it, I see no other benefit of ninja over R3.

Also one of my close friends owns a ninja 300, and the real problems start after you buy it. The spares are not available anywhere, in 2014 the service center did not had brake pads, he had to wait 2 weeks till the pads were ordered from Delhi. Last year his clutch leaver broke, that too was not in stock in the service center and the waiting time given by service center was another few weeks; he got aftermarket ones.

Imagine having a superb bike like ninja, but its gathering dust in your home because the service center does not even have brake pads. Imagine how frustrating it would be. Agreed Dehradun is a comparatively small city, but it is the capital city nonetheless and the hub of everything in our state, if Kawasaki cannot provide even such small things in a capital city of a state how bad would be the service in other cities.

For this reason alone, I would never advise a Ninja over a R3. The R3 is equally good, equally refined, niggle free and the service and parts are cheaper and easily available. No matter how rich a person may be, he can do nothing with that money if the service center is useless.

I agree with you on the Service Center issues and spare parts availability with them.. There are after market spares easily available and delivered to you in 2-3 days..

I haven't faced issues sourcing spares for my Ninja 250 so far..

But it is better to go for R3 as the bike is easier on pocket post sale as compared to a Kwacker!

**Ankey** · 05-10-2018, 11:59 AM

Re: Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Originally posted by rreneav1987 View Post

I agree with you on the Service Center issues and spare parts availability with them.. There are after market spares easily available and delivered to you in 2-3 days..

I haven't faced issues sourcing spares for my Ninja 250 so far..

But it is better to go for R3 as the bike is easier on pocket post sale as compared to a Kwacker!

Yes sir, you see its still a lot better in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. But for people like me living in relatively small cities Dehradun (My home town) and Chandigarh (where I work), it is a really troublesome .

I also agree that we can stock basic parts like brake pads and such well in advance when we notice that they are about to be changed. But for unforeseen little accidents, like clutch lever breaking off due to small fall, or other small stuff like that it is impossible to stock such parts in our home. The condition gets worse as the size of the cities get smaller.

Announcement

Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Upgrade to my Suzuki Gixxer.

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment