KTMphil
Senior member
[h=1]More displacement and a slipper clutch for Kawasaki’s entry-level sportbike.[/h]
View attachment 9568
Kawasaki has held the U.S. press at bay for weeks, revealing no details amid much speculation about the 2013 models due to be unveiled September 13 at the “Ninja Times Square Takeover.” Well, the gig is up. On Tuesday, Kawasaki Europe pulled the wraps off a Ninja 300. Will this new entry-level sportbike share the limelight in New York with a Ninja 636?
According to overseas reports, the Ninja 300’s liquid-cooled, 296cc parallel-Twin shares the same 62.0mm bore with the current Ninja 250R, while a 7.8mm-longer stroke combined with shorter, lighter connecting rods has kept engine height identical. Dual-throttle-valve fuel injection feeds wider intake ports and larger-diameter intake valves. Compression has been reduced a full point to 10.6:1.
An advanced clutch with “assist” and slipper functions is new to the beginner sportbike class. The assist aspect is said to allow lighter, newbie-friendly spring tension, while the slipper feature reduces the risk of rear-wheel chatter, hop or lock when downshifting. The clutch lever has also been revised to sit closer to the grip, a benefit for riders with smaller hands.
Kawasaki claims the diamond-style steel tube frame is more rigid, while a recalibrated conventional fork and shock offer improved ride comfort. A 140mm rear tire has replaced the previous 130 for increased stability. Nissin’s latest ABS control unit is said to be 40-percent smaller and much lighter than its earlier design.
With the styling similarities that the new Ninja 300 shares with its larger-displacement siblings, expect plenty of double takes from the liter-class elites. MSRP hasn’t been announced, but we anticipate Kawasaki will price the bike competitively with the $4599 Honda CBR250R ABS.
Source: Cycleworld
Kawasaki reveals a big-bore of the Ninja 250, the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300.
View attachment 9568
Kawasaki has held the U.S. press at bay for weeks, revealing no details amid much speculation about the 2013 models due to be unveiled September 13 at the “Ninja Times Square Takeover.” Well, the gig is up. On Tuesday, Kawasaki Europe pulled the wraps off a Ninja 300. Will this new entry-level sportbike share the limelight in New York with a Ninja 636?
According to overseas reports, the Ninja 300’s liquid-cooled, 296cc parallel-Twin shares the same 62.0mm bore with the current Ninja 250R, while a 7.8mm-longer stroke combined with shorter, lighter connecting rods has kept engine height identical. Dual-throttle-valve fuel injection feeds wider intake ports and larger-diameter intake valves. Compression has been reduced a full point to 10.6:1.
An advanced clutch with “assist” and slipper functions is new to the beginner sportbike class. The assist aspect is said to allow lighter, newbie-friendly spring tension, while the slipper feature reduces the risk of rear-wheel chatter, hop or lock when downshifting. The clutch lever has also been revised to sit closer to the grip, a benefit for riders with smaller hands.
Kawasaki claims the diamond-style steel tube frame is more rigid, while a recalibrated conventional fork and shock offer improved ride comfort. A 140mm rear tire has replaced the previous 130 for increased stability. Nissin’s latest ABS control unit is said to be 40-percent smaller and much lighter than its earlier design.
With the styling similarities that the new Ninja 300 shares with its larger-displacement siblings, expect plenty of double takes from the liter-class elites. MSRP hasn’t been announced, but we anticipate Kawasaki will price the bike competitively with the $4599 Honda CBR250R ABS.
Source: Cycleworld
Kawasaki reveals a big-bore of the Ninja 250, the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300.
