STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! KAWASAKI STRIKES BACK!!!!

FastDoc · 09-14-2012, 02:39 PM

Just as soon as Honda brings out the CBR250 and creates a fight for Kawasaki, Team Green delivers a knockout punch!

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-91424.html

katoranger · 09-14-2012, 02:56 PM

That will be a hot seller. Styling is nice.

FastDoc · 09-14-2012, 03:09 PM

It's gonna be a great engine size, and lots of useful technology. Lower maintenence is a plus as well.

SpudRider · 09-14-2012, 05:20 PM

It's nice to see Kawasaki stepping up to the plate.

I guess Honda had to shake them out of their lethargy.

How much is the Ninja 300 going to cost? It's hard to beat the $4,099 price tag of the Honda CBR250R.

Incidentally, rumors are circulating Honda plans to introduce a CBR500 and CB500, both manufactured in Thailand.

I wonder if Honda will price the CB500 less than the Ninja 300? :?:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...500-and-cb500/
http://www.moto-station.com/article1...s-photos-.html

Spud

FastDoc · 09-14-2012, 05:50 PM

There was no price in that article that I could find.

The small Ninjas are made in Malaysia, IIRC. Since the extra displacement costs nothing to manufacture and the basics of the rest of the bike are evolutionary inprovement, not radical changes I would expect it to be priced competively. :P

Bear in mind I was wrong about the pricing of the Honda though...

As I see it Kawasaki could ask for up to $500 more than the Honda and sell them very well as the extra performance will be VERY significant. Recal even the 250 was quite a bit faster.

On the other hand maybe Kawasaki is pissed. In that case they could sell it at the same price as the Honda and shut them down. I can even picture them making the bike a loss leader, and make it up on upgrades and market share. :idea:

In any event this will be good for all motorcyclists and interesting. Especially so if Honda brings in more higher performance inexpensive non-Japan built products.

I wonder if Japanese workers are as hurt/harmed/offended as American workers are when their jobs get outsourced overseas? I expect they feel the same... :?

I'm still aggravated they closed the Maryville, Ohio Gold Wing plant where they were made since 1975 and moved that to Japan. Oh well, it was their plant...

MICRider · 09-14-2012, 06:04 PM

pete · 09-14-2012, 10:37 PM

If Kawasaki was real cleaver they would
build a ADV bike around that engine....
But alass.. I don't think they are...

FastDoc · 09-21-2012, 06:42 PM

This is the hot ticket for a high performance little bike:

Bad news for those who own a motorcycle in the quarter-liter category: the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 has officially made your bike obsolete.
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-91429.html

SpudRider · 09-22-2012, 12:20 AM

The Ninja 300 is a nice bike, indeed.

However, I'm a bit disappointed they priced the bike $800 higher than the CRB250R. :roll:

Spud

FastDoc · 09-22-2012, 01:28 PM

It makes sense considering the impressive performance differential. The difference between non-ABS models was only $600 IIRC.

For that difference I would not even consider the slower bike. :wink:

SpudRider · 09-22-2012, 02:03 PM

I'm happy Kawasaki stepped up to the plate with the larger, Ninja 300.

I would certainly consider buying the new Ninja. However, I am a big fan of single cylinder engines. They are simpler to maintain, and much less expensive to rebuild. Therefore, the Honda CBR250R still has a strong appeal to me.

Spud

FastDoc · 09-22-2012, 11:48 PM

I still like the CBR also, Spud.

I also respect the work Honda put into it. 8)

Fact is Kawasaki sorta cheated here with the stroker motor, but I like it. :wink:

09-14-2012, 02:39 PM	#1
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! KAWASAKI STRIKES BACK!!!! Just as soon as Honda brings out the CBR250 and creates a fight for Kawasaki, Team Green delivers a knockout punch! http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-91424.html __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

09-14-2012, 02:56 PM	#2
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	That will be a hot seller. Styling is nice. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0

09-14-2012, 03:09 PM	#3
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	It's gonna be a great engine size, and lots of useful technology. Lower maintenence is a plus as well. __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

09-14-2012, 05:20 PM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	It's nice to see Kawasaki stepping up to the plate. I guess Honda had to shake them out of their lethargy. How much is the Ninja 300 going to cost? It's hard to beat the $4,099 price tag of the Honda CBR250R. Incidentally, rumors are circulating Honda plans to introduce a CBR500 and CB500, both manufactured in Thailand. I wonder if Honda will price the CB500 less than the Ninja 300? :?: http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...500-and-cb500/ http://www.moto-station.com/article1...s-photos-.html Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

09-14-2012, 05:50 PM	#5
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	There was no price in that article that I could find. The small Ninjas are made in Malaysia, IIRC. Since the extra displacement costs nothing to manufacture and the basics of the rest of the bike are evolutionary inprovement, not radical changes I would expect it to be priced competively. :P Bear in mind I was wrong about the pricing of the Honda though... As I see it Kawasaki could ask for up to $500 more than the Honda and sell them very well as the extra performance will be VERY significant. Recal even the 250 was quite a bit faster. On the other hand maybe Kawasaki is pissed. In that case they could sell it at the same price as the Honda and shut them down. I can even picture them making the bike a loss leader, and make it up on upgrades and market share. :idea: In any event this will be good for all motorcyclists and interesting. Especially so if Honda brings in more higher performance inexpensive non-Japan built products. I wonder if Japanese workers are as hurt/harmed/offended as American workers are when their jobs get outsourced overseas? I expect they feel the same... :? I'm still aggravated they closed the Maryville, Ohio Gold Wing plant where they were made since 1975 and moved that to Japan. Oh well, it was their plant... __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

09-14-2012, 06:04 PM	#6
MICRider Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 3,274
	0

09-14-2012, 10:37 PM	#7
pete Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ChCh , NZ Posts: 2,261	If Kawasaki was real cleaver they would build a ADV bike around that engine.... But alass.. I don't think they are... __________________ 09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com
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09-21-2012, 06:42 PM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	This is the hot ticket for a high performance little bike: *Bad news for those who own a motorcycle in the quarter-liter category: the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 has officially made your bike obsolete.* http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...iew-91429.html __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

09-22-2012, 12:20 AM	#9
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	The Ninja 300 is a nice bike, indeed. However, I'm a bit disappointed they priced the bike $800 higher than the CRB250R. :roll: Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

09-22-2012, 01:28 PM	#10
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	It makes sense considering the impressive performance differential. The difference between non-ABS models was only $600 IIRC. For that difference I would not even consider the slower bike. :wink: __________________ Happy to serve.
	0

09-22-2012, 02:03 PM	#11
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	I'm happy Kawasaki stepped up to the plate with the larger, Ninja 300. I would certainly consider buying the new Ninja. However, I am a big fan of single cylinder engines. They are simpler to maintain, and much less expensive to rebuild. Therefore, the Honda CBR250R still has a strong appeal to me. Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
	0

09-22-2012, 11:48 PM	#12
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	I still like the CBR also, Spud. I also respect the work Honda put into it. 8) Fact is Kawasaki sorta cheated here with the stroker motor, but I like it. :wink: __________________ Happy to serve.
	0