RX3 Visits With the X-300

[rjmorel]

Spuds, put one of those rotors on the back and I bet you could cut firewood with it rj

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Thanks for posting your detailed impressions of the X-300, JB. Based upon the excellent information you have provided, I'm confident I would prefer my RX3 over the new Kawasaki bike. ?....

Same for me, Spud.

Looks like y'all will need to read about my experiences with the RX3 a bit longer.

jb

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by rjmorel

Spuds, put one of those rotors on the back and I bet you could cut firewood with it rj

The EBC, MD929D brake rotor is rounded, without the serrations of the Arashi brake rotor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EBC-Brakes-E...375?rmvSB=true

[Sullybiker]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Spin-on oil filter, and shim adjusted valves (12,000 mile valve checks).

Is that definitely miles, and not km? The reason I ask is that's about 7500 miles which is the current interval on the '300.

Although it's a longer interval, it's a pain in the arse, especially if you've not encountered them before.

It's not difficult, but a bit intimidating if you're not a mechanic (like me). You have to remove the mid-fairings and tank (about 45 minutes work), a bracket holding some connectors, the air injection system, coils, finally the valve cover.

If you need to change the shims, the cam chain tensioner (an invention of satan himself when it comes to putting it back) needs to be removed and the cams lifted.

The shims themselves aren't difficult, you then have to put it all back adhering to the timing marks on the cams.

All of which of course is still preferable to the shop doing it for 500-700 dollars....

[Juanro]

It's mixed feelings about shims, right?
Pros: longer check/adjust intervals. Cons: not for the faint of heart

[Sullybiker]

Originally Posted by Juanro

It's mixed feelings about shims, right?
Pros: longer check/adjust intervals. Cons: not for the faint of heart

They're hard work. Screw adjusters may be shorter intervals but they're way less irritating, plus you don't need to spend $60ish on a shim kit to make sure you've always got the right sizes available.

[fjmartin]

Thank you Spud. I hadn't seen this post. Hmmm...more farkles to come!!!

[SpudRider]

You're welcome, Joe.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

Is that definitely miles, and not km? The reason I ask is that's about 7500 miles which is the current interval on the '300.....

Sully, Thanks for the correction. I was reading km on the chart.

According to the X-300 Owner's Manual:

7.6 miles x 1,000 = 7,600 miles for valve clearance inspection.




Sully, from your description of the process of checking shims on the Ninja, I might have to change my opinion.

My experience with shims has been positive with the parallel twin in my '06 Triumph Bonneville.

Maybe that's where I remember the 12,000 mile number from.

And perhaps on the Bonneville the process was a bit easier than the Ninja....Remove the tank, remove the valve cover, and the clearance can be measured.

My old Bonneville only had 4 valves to check. The new one has eight.

To change a shim, the camshaft has to be removed......however the clearances usually don't change much.

In 25,000 miles on the Bonneville, I changed 1 shim at 12,000 miles. At 24,000 miles, the clearances were still in spec.

I didn't have to buy the whole kit of shims. The Triumph took the same shim as a Honda, so I only bought 1 shim at the Honda dealer.


Perhaps, I would change my opinion about screw type valve adjusters, if the ones on my RX3 would not change every time I check them.

On my TW 200 and DR 650, the screw adjusters work fine, and the clearances only change minimally.

I think it is a matter of a difference in metallurgy between the RX3 and the other bikes....that may be a discussion for another thread.

jb

[jbfla]

Sully, I hope I didn't offend you when I said the Ninja 300 engine is the wrong engine for a small displacement adventure bike.

Personally, I think Kawasaki made a poor choice of engine for the X-300, not that the Ninja engine is not a good one...just the wrong application.

jb

[Sullybiker]

Originally Posted by jbfla

Sully, I hope I didn't offend you when I said the Ninja 300 engine is the wrong engine for a small displacement adventure bike.

Personally, I think Kawasaki made a poor choice of engine for the X-300, not that the Ninja engine is not a good one...just the wrong application.

jb

Not in the least. I think it's a great motor for a lightweight sportbike. I wouldn't buy an X-300 for the same reason.

I think a thumper is a great motor. Outside of an RX3 if I was going the smash the piggy bank I'd look at a VStrom which has a twin a lot more suited to the job.

[Biker_Andy]

I think we can all agree the x300 is the ideal small adventure sport bike (so far). Certainly not ideal for off road in its current state but it might not take much to greatly improve it's off road prowess either.

I see the x300 competing more against the CB500X and other more street oriented adventure styled bikes.

I think Kawasaki is having great success putting the ninja engine in a cruiser that the figured why not try it with an adventure bike.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Biker_Andy

I think we can all agree the x300 is the ideal small adventure sport bike (so far). Certainly not ideal for off road in its current state but it might not take much to greatly improve it's off road prowess either......

I agree. Perhaps a change of sprockets could tame the high revs and the close gear spacing.

Ninja 300 sprockets = 14/42

X-300 sprockets .....= 14/46

And according to a mega-thread on the Ninja 300 Forum, even with the 14/42 gearing, many are putting on a 15 tooth front sprocket.

The X-300 may be fine for many....it isn't for me.

jb

[Lee R]

The x300 looks like a great street focused adv which like the rx3 will probably go further than it should off the beaten path. It's going to be easier to live with on pavement for the little extra power which opens up highways vs the RX. Having gotten a taste of just how good the TT250 is off pavement I'm now wishing we had a longer travel suspension 21/18 version the the rx3.

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by jbfla

I agree. Perhaps a change of sprockets could tame the high revs and the close gear spacing.

Ninja 300 sprockets = 14/42

X-300 sprockets .....= 14/46

And according to a mega-thread on the Ninja 300 Forum, even with the 14/42 gearing, many are putting on a 15 tooth front sprocket.

The X-300 may be fine for many....it isn't for me.

jb

Even the little headlight / signal trigger flashy thing didn't convince you ?

csc, spoiled us forever.