Okay, so I took a long, very long, and sweet test ride of the 300 today. It lasted about an hour and a half. There was traffic, there were empty stretches, and some curves. Man. I love it. I love everything it has, and everything it has to offer. The first time I ever crossed 100kmph on two wheels, and on this, it didn't even feel like I was going that fast. Given an open road and no delinquents on the there, I could go a lot higher. At this point, the only things worrying me on road are other drivers, and specially bikes. I bitterly dislike how some behave on the road, and being on a bike and more vulnerable, this dislike is amplified.
The bike though, I really, really like it. The riding position is almost perfect, the engine is just so smooth, the un-worrying engine braking is superb, and it moves where and when I want it to. And, in that, it misses a few things that I wish it had, which I believe the 400 will:
1. (Most obviously) ABS
2. LED lights (maybe can be retrofitted)
3. Gear indicator
I don't get why the 650 has the gear indicator and this doesn't. Wouldn't a beginner want to see and know which gear he's in more than an experienced biker?
I also think, even at this point (I mean, I've just started, but) that I'd outgrow the 300 soon. Or, let me put it another way. I'd want more power in the exact same package pretty soon. And that will be the 400. Probably.
I also rode the 650 for about 10 kms. This 650 wasn't as smooth, had a lot of vibrations which really felt jarring after the silk that was the 300, and there was 'play' in the throttle which made me stall the bike a few times. Also the sound was a little gruff, like a muscle car. Weird. I asked the guy about these issues, and also asked him on the mileage on the bike. It had only done about 3800kms but he said that maybe it wasn't serviced, so that could be the issue. The 650 felt more pliant, slightly softer, and ofcourse less manoeuvrable than the 300, but I'd like to have another go so I told him I'd come again to try the 650 in a week or so and they should try to sort out these issues.
I would also like to mention about the guy, Lokesh, at Kawasaki Delhi. Patient, and free. He had zero issues, and created zero fuss when I took the bike for so long. Even then he said that I could take it again if I wanted to, and that I should be sure about what I wanted. He answered everything nicely, and I did ask some very noob-ish questions.
I still feel though that the 300 would be better suited for me right now, and that the 300 is undoubtedly more fun.
Edit: I also think that they are pushing the 300 a bit, and kept on insisting that the 400 won't be here for atleast a year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by swiftnfurious What's your comparison of the R3 vs Ninja 300 |
The R3 ride was too short, and uneventful in my mind. It was a customer's bike that had come in for service that they said I could take around the block to get a feel. I was extremely cautious, and that's it, so I don't have much to say about it.