[TusharK]

Kawasaki has launched the 2024 Ninja 300 in India. The bike is now manufactured in India and is priced at Rs 3.43 lakh (ex-showroom).



The 2024 Kawasaki Ninja is available in two new colours – Candy Lime Green and Metallic Moondust Grey. The overall design of the bike remains unchanged. The fully-faired sports bike features dual headlamps, clip-on handlebars and a stepped seat.



Powering the Ninja 300 is the same 296cc parallel-twin engine as the CBU model. It produces 38.4 BHP @ 11,000 rpm and 26.1 Nm @ 11,000 rpm. The engine is paired with a 6-speed gearbox via an assist and slipper clutch.

The Ninja 300 is equipped with a telescopic front fork and monoshock suspension at the rear. Braking duty is handled by single discs at both ends with dual-channel ABS.

The Ninja 300 competes with the KTM RC 390, TVS Apache RR 310 and the Yamaha R3 in the Indian market.

Link to Team-BHP News

[AtheK]

While Kawasaki have some great bikes lined up for India, this is the biggest mystery bike. They just refuse to update this bike when it can get them some really good numbers.

The bike look historic when it comes to features, while competition has moved way ahead. I would any day pick the RS457 over this bike day in night out, even if it might not be as reliable as the Ninja.

[Senotrius]

Would this atleast translate to cheaper service/spare costs?

[TheHelix0202]

Close to 5L OTR Bangalore. Talk about milking a dead cow. This is not a logical purchase for anyone. And should not be an emotional one either.

[Sudarshan42]

Originally Posted by AtheK

While Kawasaki have some great bikes lined up for India, this is the biggest mystery bike. They just refuse to update this bike when it can get them some really good numbers.

The bike look historic when it comes to features, while competition has moved way ahead. I would any day pick the RS457 over this bike day in night out, even if it might not be as reliable as the Ninja.

Think I heard Shumi say that this is now the only market where the 300 is sold, which disincentivizes updating it or giving it anything more than a new set of stickers. It's time they kill it and bring down the price of the Ninja 500, which can serve as the new and more apt entry point to the Ninja club.

[bf1983]

Originally Posted by Senotrius

Would this atleast translate to cheaper service/spare costs?

The article is actually incorrect. The bike was localized way back in 2018 itself when they dropped the price of the bike heavily. The bike's engines aren't made here but the fairings and other parts are localized which means lower quality.

I have checked the Ninja 300 with the imported Ninja 400 and the quality levels were quite improved on the Ninja 400.

This is basically the same bike as the 2018 model with just BS6 compatibility. As people have said since this bike is only sold in India there is little incentive to upgrade it.

There were spy shots of a Versys 300 in testing so maybe Kawaski is putting the 300cc engine in an ADV style bike.

[Flyingdutchman]

As much as I want to bash Kawasaki for milking the Ninja 300 to the core; when I see that sales stats,I get why Kawasaki is still selling the Baby Ninja.
Kawasaki has close to 97 dealers in India. They need numbers and sales in order to stay in business and recover atleast operational cost. If you take a glance at chart, you would see that Ninja 300 is still the best selling bike of Kawasaki in India. Other bikes have miniscule sales figures. Even though Margin is wafer thin on Ninja 300, That's the only bike which keeps dealerships atleast operational.
It's not that Kawasaki doesn't want to launch new bikes, but one needs to consider cost involved to launch the bike/Advertisement/TD/Launch even/CKD route/ assembly/Training and then have to assess feasibility.
Can't really blame the manufacturers.

[Samarth 619]

Originally Posted by Flyingdutchman

As much as I want to bash Kawasaki for milking the Ninja 300 to the core; when I see that sales stats,I get why Kawasaki is still selling the Baby Ninja.
Kawasaki has close to 97 dealers in India. They need numbers and sales in order to stay in business and recover atleast operational cost. If you take a glance at chart, you would see that Ninja 300 is still the best selling bike of Kawasaki in India. Other bikes have miniscule sales figures. Even though Margin is wafer thin on Ninja 300, That's the only bike which keeps dealerships atleast operational.
It's not that Kawasaki doesn't want to launch new bikes, but one needs to consider cost involved to launch the bike/Advertisement/TD/Launch even/CKD route/ assembly/Training and then have to assess feasibility.
Can't really blame the manufacturers.

Not many will like your opinion, and fewer will understand it, but what you said is the damn truth.

Kawasaki is almost not on Bajaj's side anymore, since around the very first ZX10R's launch time.
That's why, when everyone was laughing at W175 launch, I was watching in anticipation, because for me, W175 was like the pair of legs that will enable Kawasaki to run. The ground level product that will enable dealerships, salesmen, mechanics and the company to stay afloat.

I do hope they succeed with Ninja 300. They're going against the grain, going against value for money philosophy, by focusing more on value, and less on money.
But its a mature stand, and I can respect that.

What a battle they're fighting on their own since years, getting unexpected bikes like Ninja 650, ZX6R, ZX4R, H2/ H2R, to our shores despite the challenges and the miniscule volumes involved.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by Flyingdutchman

As much as I want to bash Kawasaki for milking the Ninja 300 to the core; when I see that sales stats,I get why Kawasaki is still selling the Baby Ninja.
Kawasaki has close to 97 dealers in India. They need numbers and sales in order to stay in business and recover atleast operational cost. If you take a glance at chart, you would see that Ninja 300 is still the best selling bike of Kawasaki in India. Other bikes have miniscule sales figures. Even though Margin is wafer thin on Ninja 300, That's the only bike which keeps dealerships atleast operational.

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

Not many will like your opinion, and fewer will understand it, but what you said is the damn truth.

I do hope they succeed with Ninja 300. They're going against the grain, going against value for money philosophy, by focusing more on value, and less on money.
But its a mature stand, and I can respect that.
.

You both are absolutely right, but point in the end is that competition has moved way ahead. Ninja might get the dealers a few extra numbers but they will dwindle as well with customers obviously preferring newer tech at same cost.

Ninja 300 except the Kawasaki brand does not get anything more on the table which is now easily negated by Aprilia RS457. If they want to continue selling Ninja 300 they need to upgrade the electronics on it if nothing else, and in turn help there dealers sell more. No dealer has an answer to the customer when they ask him that why should they pick Ninja 300 over a RS457 (Except for the reliability part). RS457 is technically superior looks the part and has got an amazing reception already.

Keep the Ninja 300 if you have to but upgrade it and bring it in line with competition and not just add new stickers is what even the dealers will ask of Kawasaki.

[Samarth 619]

Originally Posted by AtheK

You both are absolutely right, but point in the end is that competition has moved way ahead. Ninja might get the dealers a few extra numbers but they will dwindle as well with customers obviously preferring newer tech at same cost.

Ninja 300 except the Kawasaki brand does not get anything more on the table which is now easily negated by Aprilia RS457. If they want to continue selling Ninja 300 they need to upgrade the electronics on it if nothing else, and in turn help there dealers sell more. No dealer has an answer to the customer when they ask him that why should they pick Ninja 300 over a RS457 (Except for the reliability part). RS457 is technically superior looks the part and has got an amazing reception already.

Keep the Ninja 300 if you have to but upgrade it and bring it in line with competition and not just add new stickers is what even the dealers will ask of Kawasaki.

You have a point.
But Kawasaki have always charged premium prices. Here's how they line up:-

Ninja 300 (Rs. 3.43L ex)
compared against,
RS457 (Rs. 4.1L ex): the difference may go upto 80k-1L~ in on-road so I believe the Ninja is safe (for now).
Duke 390 (Rs.3.11L ex): Ninja is around a 40-50k premium in the on-road price for a twin cyl., but slightly lesser performance.
Apache RTR 310: (Rs. 2.5L ex- starting variant): Around 1 Lakh premium, but its less powerful (35.6 bhp) and a single.
Ninja 500 (451cc actually) (Rs.5.24L ex): don't even mention

So you're right, as such the numbers don't stack up too favourably for the Kawa, even if its home made, but it might hold its own.

They need volumes. Plus, even if I think they can, they can't go all budget class just like that. I don't think a ZX10R owner would like to see his bike serviced next to a W175, for example.
Maybe a new, junior brand for their budget series of bikes? to get the cash flow model running?
Maybe a culture first approach like Royal Enfield?
Let's see how they solve this..

[RD150]

Kawasaki needs to equip the Ninja 300 with lcd/tft display, all LED lighting and slipper assist clutch without increasing the price. I don't think this is a big task engineering point of view. What's stopping them God knows

[Sudarshan42]

If sheer volumes are what Kawasaki are after, then the Dual Sport 230 or some other such product (Versys 300 perhaps?) will bring customers in droves to their showrooms if priced reasonably well. That cannot be an excuse to continue flogging this grandfather model at such steep prices. I mean its fine that they're doing it, people still seem to want it, but this now creates an artificial price floor for the 500, which has to stay at a certain gap to the 300. Which might end up depriving them of more 500 sales, which can be a much better competition to the RS457, Duke/RC 390 or any other new entrant into the club.

[Geo_Ipe]

Originally Posted by Flyingdutchman

Kawasaki has close to 97 dealers in India. They need numbers and sales in order to stay in business and recover atleast operational cost. If you take a glance at chart, you would see that Ninja 300 is still the best selling bike of Kawasaki in India. Other bikes have miniscule sales figures. Even though Margin is wafer thin on Ninja 300, That's the only bike which keeps dealerships atleast operational.

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

Not many will like your opinion, and fewer will understand it, but what you said is the damn truth.

W175 was like the pair of legs that will enable Kawasaki to run. The ground level product that will enable dealerships, salesmen, mechanics and the company to stay afloat.

Absolutely relevant point there. It is not just the sales number and margins that matter - each sale automatically brings service revenue as well. Kawasaki & all other premium motorcycle brands charge same labour for their 300 cc entry level and their litre class superbike.

Dealerships always make money off of service, not sales.