Kawasaki Ninja 300 for a first timer?

[Cheekyfats]

I've never owned or rode a motorcycle before but its a dream to one day own one especially a Ninja 300 for my first bike.

Would like to hear from experienced riders on which bike is great for a first timer.:Punk:

[OddDuck]

It's got to be right for you.

Go around the dealers, test ride everything they'll let you out on, get some actual on-bike-and-rolling experience under your belt before making any solid decisions.

Keep weight to what you can manage on an angled driveway... ability to handle while parking counts. Avoid older than 10 yrs + unless you're handy and have a garage and a pretty decent disposable income.

But yeah, the ninja 300 is a great little learner.

[KawasakiKid]

Buy a road legal 250 enduro, the best learner type of bike. Do not listen to anyone telling you to get a Suzuki GN, an absolutely terrible bike to learn on. If you are short and worried about getting feet to the ground a Honda VT250 (Ducati Monster style) is a great learner.

I would advise against a brand new fully faired bike of any sort until you get some riding experience

[MENTAL490]

Buy a road legal 250 enduro, the best learner type of bike. Do not listen to anyone telling you to get a Suzuki GN, an absolutely terrible bike to learn on. If you are short and worried about getting feet to the ground a Honda VT250 (Ducati Monster style) is a great learner.

I would advise against a brand new fully faired bike of any sort until you get some riding experience

My first road bike was a kr250 2stroke light and stop very well for its time, but now 2 strokes are few and expensive, the advise from Kawasakikid I would agree %100, plus i really hate gn's and all those jap 250 wanabe low riders.

[Cheekyfats]

i looked around before deciding on wanting the ninja 300 and did a brief read on the reviews (which im happy with). Do i need a bikers licenses (have none) to test drive a bike at a dealership?

I plan to buy a second hand bike can you tell me some tips on what to look out for ie KMs, Age or other important info.

[Cheekyfats]

I'll keep looking around for something that'll suite me better but i'll be hard because im pretty hooked on the ninja 300. Thank you for the heads up about the Suzuki because that was my other choice.

[Cheekyfats]

My first road bike was a kr250 2stroke light and stop very well for its time, but now 2 strokes are few and expensive, the advise from Kawasakikid I would agree %100, plus i really hate gn's and all those jap 250 wanabe low riders.


i'll be happy with a kr250 too if i couldnt get my hands on the kr300. Whats a fuel injection? i heard its a pain/expensive but i don't know exactly what it is and how it affects the bike.

[AllanB]

Get into it.

It will add at least a inch to your dick and women will swoon as you dismount.

[FJRider]

Get into it.

It will add at least a inch to your dick and women will swoon as you dismount.

Nah ... you need an FJ1200 for that to happen ... :niceone:

[Cheekyfats]

Get into it.

It will add at least a inch to your dick and women will swoon as you dismount.


nah man i don't need it :cool:

[Moi]

Get into it.

It will add at least a inch to your dick and women will swoon as you dismount.


nah man i don't need it :cool:

Brilliant riposte...

[OddDuck]

i looked around before deciding on wanting the ninja 300 and did a brief read on the reviews (which im happy with). Do i need a bikers licenses (have none) to test drive a bike at a dealership?

I plan to buy a second hand bike can you tell me some tips on what to look out for ie KMs, Age or other important info.

Biker's License for test ride: YEP. They will want to sight your license, there will be a form to sign, etc etc... oh and insurance excess is likely to be high, too. Several grand high.

Get that license. Yeah, I know it's a pain to go through the license process before even test riding to buy your own bike... do it anyway, you need those basic handling skills courses in carparks before you do anything on the roads.

Buying used: try to find something that hasn't been mucked around with. Bone stock, as the yanks would say... it might be a bit boring but it's quite likely to be reliable.

Check Carjam for finance owing and odometer trickery, try for younger than 10 years, high kms may or may not be a problem depending on how well the bike has been looked after. Most Jappas just keep on going if they're looked after. If it's cheap then ask why.

Good luck out there!

[OddDuck]

i'll be happy with a kr250 too if i couldnt get my hands on the kr300. Whats a fuel injection? i heard its a pain/expensive but i don't know exactly what it is and how it affects the bike.

Fuel injection: pressurised fuel pump supplies petrol to injectors, these spray into cylinder heads or intake manifolds. Injectors are directed to open, at the right time and for the right amount of time, by the on-board computer, the ECU. Fuel is sprayed into engine while it gulps air, and then spark, fire and power follow. The ECU can be mapped for best possible engine response over a huge range of conditions and variables. Awesome.

It's higher tech than the old carbies, which were fussy mechanical devices depending on the gods of vaccuum, float level, and jetting, in order to sort of work... most of the time. It was messy, smelly, rich, lean, clogged, dirt got in the jets, that sort of thing, but when it went wrong it was within the ability of mere mortals to fix it themselves in their own garages. Getting it running better was nigh impossible though. Carb tuning was a black art practiced by wizards in caves.

That said, it was simple. Carburettors didn't need a computer, or a high pressure fuel pump, or feedback via an exhaust O2 sensor, or a knock sensor, or a throttle position sensor... or... etc etc. They were always approximate though.

The short answer is that injection's way easier to live with day to day but when something packs a sad and the dash gives some shitty computer error message, well, it's fucking difficult to sort it out. Off to the dealer, out with the wallet. That said, it's highly unlikely that you'll have issues with injection if the bike's Japanese, younger than 10, and not tweaked by a Rossi wannabe.

[rastuscat]

Sports bike are more challenging gong to manoeuvre at slow speeds due to their forward riding position and their lower bars.

Contrast the MT 03 and the R3. If you are a beginner the MT is a better bike to learn on.

The Enduro idea is a good one too. Upright position, wide bars, likely less expensive to lie down.

Just get a licence. Life's simpler once you have one.

Sent from Outer Space

[nerrrd]

If you've got the money, you could eventually look at a Versys 300 - same engine, more upright, easier to manage riding position (apparently). But you really should get the basics down first on something more disposable (i.e. cheap and easy to repair).

329704

http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/catalog/streetbikes/dual-sports/KLE300CHF/overview

[nerrrd]

Also there's this from BMW (due April).

329717

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-1291703150.htm

Or one of these if you like Tintin books (not very ninja-y though). And there's an 'incentive' on at the moment, wonder what that could be...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-1289288826.htm

[Oakie]

I'll keep looking around for something that'll suite me better but i'll be hard because im pretty hooked on the ninja 300. Thank you for the heads up about the Suzuki because that was my other choice.

Not wanting to start a shit-fight on your thread but as you had already thought about it, don't discount the GN250 as a learner (i.e., the bike you get for a year to learn the basics without killing yourself) just because some people with much nicer bikes tell you they are crap. They may be a fairly bland bike but that blandness gives you a margin for error as you learn how much throttle and brake you need and how much lean is good. (I would acknowledge though that when you want to give it some welly, the GN is improved with better tyres.) It also has a comfortable upright seating position which will allow you to see and (possibly) be seen in traffic. You can buy a brand new one for under $3000 and they won't cost you a mint to fix when you drop it ... and you will drop your bike, whatever you get. Lastly, if they are that bad, why are there so many of them around?

As an earlier poster said though, sit on as many bikes as you can to get a feel for what is right for you. Always remember though, you need to learn to walk before you can run.

[pritch]

Keep it simple. Worry about cool looks later. If you are among the vertically challenged get something that lets you plant your feet on the ground. That cool looking plastic body work is expensive to replace, best to leave that until you are confident.

Wellingtonians might be able to advise you where you can get training.

[caspernz]

Nothing wrong with GN250 as a starter bike. You'll only have it long enough to get your full licence anyway. Yes the GN is a bit slow, but the ninja 300 isn't exactly a rocket ship either. Yes I had a GN as my first bike, yes I dropped it, like mentioned by another poster. Your call, but buying a fully faired bike as your first is likely to be painful.

If I had to do it all again, I'd still go for an unfaired learner bike. Best of luck chap.

[release_the_bees]

I rode a GN250 from Auckland to Masterton once, which was a great laugh. I remember the rear suspension overheating through the Manawatu Gorge which caused the rear end to slide about all over the place. It was great fun.

Back on topic. Firstly, any bike is better than no bike, but the Ninja 300 is a great bike to start with. It is a good learner friendly bike that has enough power and performance to keep things interesting as your skills progress.

As a first bike I'd definitely recommend a second hand one though. The odds are pretty high that you'll be wanting to upsize at some point in the future so there is no reason to spend additional money on a new one.

[OddDuck]

Sorry Oakie and Caspernz but I've got to disagree with you on the GN250.

Kiwis buy the damn things in droves because:

1) they're dirt cheap
2) errr...
3) that's it really.

Vague handling. Cheap suspension, cheap brakes. Power levels like a scooter. Rusts in about five minutes once a typical Wellington winter sets in. Rapidly devalues to around 1,200 to 1,800 after purchase from brand new, that's if they can even be had brand new any more. Ideal fodder for would-be bobber builders to mutilate though...

Seriously, there was an era that the GN's were designed in, the design has had a great run, but the world's moved on.

Anyway, OP's keen on the Ninja 300, and good on him. It's easily ten times the bike.

[Oakie]

It's easily ten times the bike.

I agree that it probably is ten times the bike bike my question was is this too much bike for an absolute beginner? I can't answer as I haven't ridden one. If you have and believe it is a good beginner bike then I can't really argue.

[mossy1200]

Seriously, there was an era that the GN's were designed in, the design has had a great run, but the world's moved on.


Move over gn250. Its now the year of the Enfield 350/500. Far rather have an Enfield.

[mossy1200]

I agree that it probably is ten times the bike bike my question was is this too much bike for an absolute beginner? I can't answer as I haven't ridden one. If you have and believe it is a good beginner bike then I can't really argue.

As long as legs arnt too short is ideal for learner. Not big power and smooth delivery. A lot easier than a late 80 early 90s inline 4 to ride.
If you think you can keep it nice condition and well maintained then coins lost when sell wont be huge.

If your a total disorientated blunder likely to crash a lot get the cheapest GN250 available until you lose interest in motorcycling forever. Then scrape as much rust from it and take carefully angled photos of it while it is slightly wet to sell it again.

[Oakie]

. A lot easier than a late 80 early 90s inline 4 to ride. .

Exactly what I had in mind actually ... the ZXR250 to be specific.

[Moi]

To the OP, you've had some very sensible and thoughtful advice, however before you go any further you need to get your 6L licence - see the NZTA (http://nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/getting-a-licence/licences-by-vehicle-type/motorcycles/) site for the info you'll need to know what to do and to make the decision of how you continue after getting your 6L.

Once you have your 6L, then you can go looking for a bike. Consider what you want the bike to do? Do you want to ride only on weekends? Do you want to commute on it? Is the bike physically big enough or too big for you? Can you do basic maintenance? Also consider the cost of getting some good basic gear - helmet, gloves, jacket, pants and boots.

Once you have all of that, seriously consider doing the Ride Forever Bronze course and, perhaps, then the Urban Rider course. Be prepared to spend a bit of money having some one-on-one instruction.

The learning curve will be steep, at times, but it's worth it!

As for the Ninja 300, know someone who bought a second-hand one as his learner bike and loves it.