Kawasaki has a knack of designing great-looking sportsbikes, and the 2016 Ninja 300 is no exception. Our test bike came in the black and green Kawasaki racing colours, looking fast and furious.
Engine
I can’t really fault the performance of the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300: 296cc, two-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine, which pumps out a claimed 39 BHP @ 11.000 RPM and reaches the peak torque figure of 27 Nm @ 10.000 RPM. The power peaks are at the top end of the rev range, so you have to make the engine work that bit harder to get the most out of it: if it isn’t screaming, it isn’t giving you everything it’s got in the reserves.
For anyone stepping up from smaller capacity bikes, this level of power opens the doors to a whole new realm of fun. For those taking a step down the cc ladder, there’s still enough power for a spirited ride on most roads, but you have to plan your overtakes and acceleration a bit earlier as the Kawasaki Ninja 300’s power isn’t as instant as on bigger machines.
2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 - On The Road!
In the true spirit of sportsbikes, the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 is pleasantly light, agile, and lots of fun to ride. The riding position is very relaxed for a sportsbike, but it’s easy to tuck in and get your head down if you want. The short wheelbase and the steep fork angle help make steering very responsive and light. I took the bike on a track training day and although it lacks the acceleration and top speeds of bigger bikes on long straights, in corners it was easily faster than many others.
Kawasaki has got the suspension pretty much bang on with the Ninja 300: it’s firm without feeling uncomfortable and deals with poor road surfaces surprisingly well. There is very little front dive under heavy braking as you’d expect from a sporty bike. The brakes are perfectly adequate for the weight of the bike. It would have been nice to have an adjustable brake lever to allow for different hand sizes, but other than that there’s little to be criticised.
The only thing that I struggled with a little bit were the mirrors. As often seems to be the case with sportsbikes, their streamlined design makes them pretty, but slightly too small and too close together to clearly see everything that’s going on behind you.
Is It Worth to Buy ?
If you like sports bikes, and you have an A2 licence, then the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a very interesting prospect. It offers a lot more power and performance than A1 licence-friendly bikes, without becoming too big and bulky. There are plenty of options available in this licence category, such as 2016 KTM RC390, Yamaha YZF R3, Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 and so mainy others - so test riding a range bikes is always a good idea, but you might be pleasantly surprised by this one.
2016 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Specifications and Price
Engine : 4-Stroke, Inline-Twin, DOHC 8-Valve, Liquid-Cooled
Bore x Stroke : 62 x 49.0 mm
Capacity : 296 cc
Compression Ratio : 10.6 : 1
Induction : DFI
Transmission : 6-Speed, Chain-Drive
Power : 39 BHP @ 11.000 RPM (claimed)
Torque : 27 N.m @ 10.000 RPM (claimed)
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 2.015 x 715 x 1.110 mm
Wheelbase : 1.405 mm
Seat Height : 785 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity : 17 Litres
Weight : 172 kg (kerb, claimed)
Frame : Tubular Steel Space Frame, Load-Bearing Engine
Front Suspension : 37mm Telescopic Fork
Rear Suspension : Monoshock Uni-Trak® with 5-way Adjustable Preload
Front Brakes : 290mm Discs, with 2-Piston Caliper
Rear Brakes : 220mm Discs, with 2-Piston Caliper
Front Tyre : 110/70 - 17
Rear Tyre : 140/70 - 17
Price : £4899
Labels: Kawasaki, New Bike Review, Review
