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Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

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  • #1

    Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

    I currently own a R15 V2 and plan to upgrade to new bike i.e. 300cc bike.
    My requirements would be as follows

    1- Fully Fair Bike
    2- Daily Commutation of 50 Kms of 60 Kms
    3- Weekend Long Tours

    Currently am considering Ninja 300, KTM RC390 and Yamaha R3

    One of my major concerns about each of them being
    1- How high is the maintenance cost for Ninja 300 and availability of spares
    2- KTM RC390 how frequent is the service and parts damaged (I read in few places regarding the same) and how high is the maintenance cost for it
    3- When it comes to R3, I tried to see one in flesh but none of the dealers are currently having one for physical viewing or test drive, so want to know if the appearance is very different than R15 V3/V2 or more less looks the same and again same question about maintenance cost of the same.

    Finally how different are these when it comes handling, performance and overall feel.


    Advance Thanks
    Tags: 300cc, kawasaki, ktm, ninja, sports bike, yamaha
  • #2
    Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

    Thread approved.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

      You should also consider Apache 310R or BMW. Although RC390 is the one preferred by most people diving in 300 segment.

      https://youtu.be/OqD4TuIbmYw

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

        Originally posted by Zapps View Post
        You should also consider Apache 310R or BMW. Although RC390 is the one preferred by most people diving in 300 segment.

        https://youtu.be/OqD4TuIbmYw
        Thanks for the answer would appreciate if the questions that i asked cn be answered by anybody

        Video gives some clarity but not enough

        Also not keen on buying any Bajaj or TVS

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

          Originally posted by ckn View Post
          Thanks for the answer would appreciate if the questions that i asked cn be answered by anybody

          Video gives some clarity but not enough

          Also not keen on buying any Bajaj or TVS
          Since you own an R15, you must be aware of Yamaha spares and upkeep costs.
          Since you don't want any Bajaj or TVS, it removes Duke 390/RC 390 and RR310 from your list.
          You have now:
          Benelli 302
          Kawasaki Ninja 300
          R3

          It doesn't sell nicely but R3 is your bike in that category.
          Ninja matches close to all that R3 can do but costs more in spares and servicing. R3 is cheaper than Ninja in upkeep but straight down the barrel, R3 is the most costly bike in 300cc+ category.
          Regards,
          Akash Yadav

          The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

            Originally posted by Akash.Yadav View Post
            Since you own an R15, you must be aware of Yamaha spares and upkeep costs.
            Since you don't want any Bajaj or TVS, it removes Duke 390/RC 390 and RR310 from your list.
            You have now:
            Benelli 302
            Kawasaki Ninja 300
            R3

            It doesn't sell nicely but R3 is your bike in that category.
            Ninja matches close to all that R3 can do but costs more in spares and servicing. R3 is cheaper than Ninja in upkeep but straight down the barrel, R3 is the most costly bike in 300cc+ category.
            Even if I consider TVS and Bajaj major issue is am hearing
            RC 390 is getting an upgrade in 2019, spending this amount i don't want the bike to become old within a year :-)

            Also can you shed some light on TVS, i actually rejected it because don't have any ownership experience of TVS and neither my friends or any close ones owns it. Also according to my old notion TVS is not that reliable

            Coming to R3 only thing that's stopping me is, its looks are more or less same as R15, which somewhat makes me not to want to have it (I know it may sound stupid, but exterior will look more or less the same, may be am wrong, if you can shed some light on it)

            Again Ninja am hearing will stop manufacture of 300 by 2019 end.

            Am in hell of a confusion, because of these reasons

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

              Originally posted by ckn View Post
              Even if I consider TVS and Bajaj major issue is am hearing
              RC 390 is getting an upgrade in 2019, spending this amount i don't want the bike to become old within a year :-)

              Also can you shed some light on TVS, i actually rejected it because don't have any ownership experience of TVS and neither my friends or any close ones owns it. Also according to my old notion TVS is not that reliable

              Coming to R3 only thing that's stopping me is, its looks are more or less same as R15, which somewhat makes me not to want to have it (I know it may sound stupid, but exterior will look more or less the same, may be am wrong, if you can shed some light on it)

              Again Ninja am hearing will stop manufacture of 300 by 2019 end.

              Am in hell of a confusion, because of these reasons
              Regarding your 2019 model query, I hope you are not looking towards buying a bike immediately, atleast wait for the 2019 models to launch, probably by March as they'll be mandatory from April.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                Originally posted by Zapps View Post
                Regarding your 2019 model query, I hope you are not looking towards buying a bike immediately, atleast wait for the 2019 models to launch, probably by March as they'll be mandatory from April.
                ya not immediately am looking at a timeline of March-May. But i doubt new RC390 will come by April

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                  Originally posted by ckn View Post
                  Even if I consider TVS and Bajaj major issue is am hearing
                  RC 390 is getting an upgrade in 2019, spending this amount i don't want the bike to become old within a year :-)

                  Also can you shed some light on TVS, i actually rejected it because don't have any ownership experience of TVS and neither my friends or any close ones owns it. Also according to my old notion TVS is not that reliable

                  Coming to R3 only thing that's stopping me is, its looks are more or less same as R15, which somewhat makes me not to want to have it (I know it may sound stupid, but exterior will look more or less the same, may be am wrong, if you can shed some light on it)

                  Again Ninja am hearing will stop manufacture of 300 by 2019 end.

                  Am in hell of a confusion, because of these reasons
                  Coming from a R15 if you have a good Yamaha dealer go for the R3 ,though i prefer the looks of the older R3 over the 2019 model ,with ABS and Metzeler tyres touring and commuting is more comfortable over the more committed riding position of the RC 390. Though the 2019 model may look like an R15 it also looks like the latest R1 ,since all the R series family have gone for a uniform look.
                  Yamaha RX 135 5 Speed - 2000 -(current)
                  Yamaha R15 v1 - 2009 - 2016 ( Sold )
                  Yamaha R3 - 2015 - (current)

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                    Originally posted by ckn View Post
                    Also can you shed some light on TVS, i actually rejected it because don't have any ownership experience of TVS and neither my friends or any close ones owns it. Also according to my old notion TVS is not that reliable
                    From what i understand, TVS A.S.S experience is pretty bad in north india. It's only in the south, especially Tamil Nadu, that they have reasonable levels of service.
                    As about reliability, I've owned 2 TVS bikes for a total period of 23 years and they have been good. The 310 however comes with technological knowhow from BMW. Not sure how that affects things.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                      I had recently visited anzen kawasaki in bombay for the launch of ninja 300.....and these were my first impressions! It might help you!

                      https://youtu.be/hrzve6-GLuI

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                        Originally posted by Fmeeran View Post
                        From what i understand, TVS A.S.S experience is pretty bad in north india. It's only in the south, especially Tamil Nadu, that they have reasonable levels of service.
                        As about reliability, I've owned 2 TVS bikes for a total period of 23 years and they have been good. The 310 however comes with technological knowhow from BMW. Not sure how that affects things.
                        Yes in south its good because they have HQ and production there itself, its their home turf :-P

                        ----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

                        Originally posted by bharatheshk View Post
                        Coming from a R15 if you have a good Yamaha dealer go for the R3 ,though i prefer the looks of the older R3 over the 2019 model ,with ABS and Metzeler tyres touring and commuting is more comfortable over the more committed riding position of the RC 390. Though the 2019 model may look like an R15 it also looks like the latest R1 ,since all the R series family have gone for a uniform look.
                        Quick Update
                        Test Drove a Ninja 300 and liked the sitting posture and everything, overall decent experience, only issue ground clearance is very very less.

                        Also as per the dealers info, availability was a issue several months back parts taking 30 days to come

                        But now slowly things are changing from what he told

                        N as per him costs are more than Yamaha by 2-3k

                        Again his words not mine

                        Would be glad if others can verify this

                        There is a handling charge of 16k and overall costs comes to 3.5 Including everything.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                          Originally posted by ckn View Post
                          ....
                          RC 390 is getting an upgrade in 2019, spending this amount i don't want the bike to become old within a year :-)
                          ...
                          Buddy, I picked up a RC390 in October, after trying out everything from Dominar to z650. A couple of things, in my opinion:

                          1. The 2019 update makes the RC a more tame bike. So, you can look at it as perhaps the last chance to pick up a true hot blooded RC.

                          2. The RC390 offers maximum value (power, comfort, reliability, costs), followed next by the z650 (if you can stretch). If you can afford the z650, do pick it up.

                          The only other motorcycle really worth picking out of everything else, is the R3. Everything else is too much of a compromise.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                            Originally posted by roy_libran View Post
                            comfort
                            Being a fellow owner, hearing some else say comfort on an RC390 is such a nice feel that only I can relate to personally
                            Bajaj SuperFE 150 - Forever in my heart
                            Bajaj Discover 135 DTSi Sports - 2009 to Current
                            KTM RC390 - 2015 to Curr​ent
                            TVS Jupiter - 2016 to Current

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Need help And Advice Regarding Selecting 300cc Bike

                              If you are looking for comfort and long distance touring, N300 or the R3 should be your choice. RC is more focussed and committed and not relaxing posture.

                              When it comes to cost, N300 OTR is less, but maintenance is high. R3 OTR is high since it's still a CKD and maintenance wise is lesser than N300. I have ridden both, my opinion was R3 was more refined and punchy compared to N3.
                              R15S - Current
                              Honda Dio - Current
                              TNT 600i - Sold
                              Classic 500 - Sold
                              Pulsar 220 dtsi - Sold
                              Yamaha YBX125 - Sold

                              Comment

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