THE 300s : KTM RC390 Vs KAWASAKI NINJA 300 Vs HONDA CBR 300 BURN YOUR WAY!!!
KTM RC390:
KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is a world renowned
Austrian company that manufactures bicycle, motorcycle and moped. The company
was founded by famous engineer Hans Trunkenpolz in 1934 as a metal workshop
named Kraftfahrzeuge Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. The company started manufacturing
motorcycles in 1954 and since then has earned a lot of awards and given the
world a lot of big names. It has its current headquarters in Mattighofen,
Austria. The company started a joint venture in Indian market with Indian
two-wheeler company Bajaj Auto in November 2007.
KTM RC390, a new sports bike was unveiled
globally at the EICMA, Milan in November 2013.It is
completely a sports bike in purest form. It is agile and powerful , suitable
for second class racers. Whether you are on
country roads or the racetrack, the racing genes are perceptible in every
manoeuvre and convey pure race feeling.
Design and Style
KTM RC390 has many striking features
that makes it a formidable competitor which includes its stylish body panels
from tank to tail, sharp fairing, new clip on handlebar and switches for a weight forward and
aggressive riding position, superior control, inward moved footrests for
a comfortable riding experience, advanced designed windshield with aerodynamic front, two-part
seat with superior ergonomics, new steel fuel tank developed with respect to
the bike's style and design, a compact 3-chamber silencer which favors the
overall center of gravity of bike.
The bike features a thin tail with stylish number plate holder, mirrors with integrated blinkers, sporty new
twin headlights, new aluminum-forged triple clamps, pillion seat nicely
integrated into the bodywork lines, new footrests, bodywork and pedals, flaming
orange frame sections and lots of other jaw-dropping minute details. It also
has a powder-coated, steel made tubular space frame that makes it a solid bike.
Instrument Panel
KTM RC390 has a fully digital LCD instrument console that displays the information like fuel
gauge, engaged gear and service reminder along with an RPM alert which tells the
best moment for shifting up. It also features a speedometer, odometer, dual
trip meter, clock and a tachometer.
Weight and Fuel Tank Capacity
The RC390 has a kerbweight of 166kgs which is grouped very close to the center
of gravity for better maneuverability and precision. It has a perfectly placed
fuel tank along with a capacity of 9.5-litres.
Engine and Gearbox
KTM RC390 has a powerful 373.2cc, water-cooled, forced oil engine
lubrication with 2 eaton pumps, mechanically operated Wet multi disc clutch, electronic fuel
injection with digital ignition timing adjustment, twin OHC based engine which
has a claw-shifted 6-speed transmission. This single-cylinder, 4-stroke engine
pumps out a maximum power of 43 bhp and a maximum torque of 35 Nm.
Brakes and Suspension
The suspension system consists of a WP upside down
telescopic forks with
125mm travel at front and a WP mono-shock absorbers with 150mm travel at rear.
It also has a 4-piston, radially bolted caliper with single disc brake of
diameter 300mm at front and a single-piston, floating caliper with single disc
brake of diameter 230mm at rear for superior braking response. It also features
Bosch ABS for precise and pwerful braking.
Tyre Size
The 17-inch orange painted cast alloy light wheels with Metzeler tyres (110mm
front and 150mm rear) for superior grip
and durability are fitted in to the KTM RC390.
Ride and Handling
It has an extended wheelbase of 1340mm, a high ground clearance of
157mm, seat height of 830mm,
power/weight ratio of 0.2KW/Kg and steering head angle of 66.5degrees. All of
these, offers wonderful handling characteristics and a stable ride.
Shades
KTM RC390 is available in a Black/White shade.
Ex-showroom Price
The ex-showroom price of KTM RC390 is Rs. 2.12 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) may vary.
KAWASAKI NINJA300:
Kawasaki Aircraft initially manufactured motorcycles under the Meguro name, having bought out an ailing motorcycle manufacturer called Meguro Manufacturing Co. Ltd with whom they had been in partnership earlier, but later formed Kawasaki Motor Sales. Some early motorcycles display an emblem with "Kawasaki Aircraft" on the fuel tank. Kawasaki motorcycles are manufactured by the Motorcycle & Engine division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries at plants in Japan, USA, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a 296 cc (18.1 cu in) sport bike introduced by Kawasaki in 2012 for the 2013 model. It is currently sold in Europe, North America, Australia and elsewhere. In some markets, the Ninja 300 replaced the Ninja 250R,while in others the two were sold alongside each other and some sold the Ninja 250R only. By comparison with the 250R, the Ninja 300 also features a slightly smaller 17-litre (3.7 imp gal; 4.5 US gal) fuel tank, taller gearing, and a back-torque-limiting slipper clutch with an assist feature that decreases clutch lever effort.
Design and Style
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 looks more like a thing of future. The front sharp twin headlights of this bike broaden its face
which helps this bike to get a fascinating look. Its long V-shaped pointed
visor mounted with black colored rear view mirrors makes it look aggressive and
sporty. It has an edgy front fender which is short in size but adds flavour to
its front designing. The new design of alloy wheels don’t look much premium
though but gels well with the overall appearance of this bike. The bike looks
best when seen from sideways; its integrated engine cowl and side fairing adds
motion to this bike. The air-inlets have been smartly designed and match the
color theme on this bike. Its elegantly designed fuel tank looks premium with
its name written on it. Kawasaki has placed split seats on the top of its
integrated side panel and rear cowl. This tall positioned rear cowl and naked
chain of Ninja 300 looks flashy at the back. Its LED tail light has also been
placed in its rear cowl while the side indicators get fitted in its extended
rear fender. Kawasaki has also added bulk to its rear tyre and silver finished
silencer.
Instrument Console
A very
stylish dashboard has been equipped in the new Ninja 300. It sports an analogue tachometer which is placed right in the
centre while other essential indicators are placed around it. There is a small
LCD just below this tachometer which displays digital speedometer, odometer,
fuel- gauge and 2-trip meter. The LCD also has a digital clock and uses white
color for illumination at night.
Engine and Gearbox
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 uses a liquid-cooled, 4-stroke
parallel twin 296cc engine. This 8 valves engine churns out a
maximum power output of 39 bhp at 11000 rpm. The maximum torque production of
this DOHC engine is of 27 Nm which arrives at 10000 rpm. This bike is equipped
with a six-speed manual gearbox which has one gear down and five gears up-shift
pattern.
Acceleration and Performance
Similar
to its smaller sibling 250R, this bike is also meant for high speed cruising.
The bike feels significantly faster and aggressive than its smaller variant.
The bike comes with an acclaimed top speed of 170km/hr which makes it 20km/hr
faster than its younger sibling. Ninja 300 has tall gear ratios which keep on
increasing as you speed up. The bike completes 0-100km/hr in less than 8 seconds and that makes it faster than
many sports bikes. This DOHC engine shows the high level of refinement and
stays away from any type of noise and harshness. The dual throttle valve
technology helps Ninja 300 to offer instant throttle reaction. It never
suffocates for power and that can be noticed when you take this bike on
highways. Overtaking with this bike is quite easy thanks to its strong high
range and additional sixth gear. The power to weight ratio of Ninja 300 is also
quite respectable. The anti-slip clutch also helps while accelerating this
bike. The bike feels best when driven between 120km/hr-160km/hr.
Mileage
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 may give a mileage of around 22km/ltr in city conditions while on highways; you can
expect anything around 25-27km/ltr.
Comfort while Driving
The
riding position and seating comfort on Ninja 300 is similar to its younger sibling.
Kawasaki could have increased fabrication on its seat as it feels a bit hard
and that’s quite uncomfortable on long trips. The rear set foot-pegs help you
to get a sporty riding posture while its handle bar gives aerodynamic position
to your elbows. Your elbows and palm stays stress free and get firm grip on
this bike. The space on its fuel tank gives way to your knees to stick around
it properly.
Storage Space and Safety Features
Similar
to other Ninja bikes, there is no storage space in this bike. Its safety
features include bright twin headlights which gives you bright vision
of roads at night. The bike also has a vital safety feature of radiator fan
which saves rider from the heat of the engine as it directs heat towards the
air outlet.
Suspension and Brakes
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 is equipped with an advanced suspension and braking system. It
features beefy telescopic
forks of 37mm at
its front while bottom link uni trak with 5-way adjustable gas charged shock
absorber can be seen at the back. Ninja 300 has disc brakes and 2-piston
callipers on its both wheels. Its front petal disc brake is of 290mm while it has a single disc brake of
220mm at the back. This new gen Ninja is also incorporated with an advanced ABS
system.
Ride and Handling
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 is based on a new frame with an extended wheelbase and high ground
clearance for better stability and turning abilities. It has a wheelbase of
1405mm which keeps it grounded along with its suspension system when you drive
this bike fast on highways. The ground
clearance of 140mm improves
it aerodynamics while taking turn at slow speeds. The new braking system fills
rider with confidence in city traffic and on highways. It always stays under
control and feels quite comfortable. The bike handles quite easily in city
traffic as you never find this bike bulky. It is quite responsive on highways
also as it never loses contact with the road and steers accurately.
Tyre Size, Shades and Variants
Kawasaki
Ninja 300 features 17 inches alloy wheels.
It is available in only one variant and is available in two shades: White and
Ninja Green.
Verdict
Looking
at the pricing of Kawasaki Ninja 250R, it surely looks amazing and offers impressive performance.
Feature wise, you can also say it’s a good package. A reasonable price helps
this bike to become popular in India as currently, there is no competition in
this segment.
HONDA CBR 300:
Honda is a Japanese multinational corporation that designs and develops power packed automobiles since 1948. Its headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan.
The Honda CBR250R (model Honda MC41) is a single cylinder sport bike made by Honda. It was primarily intended for the Thai and Indian markets, but is sold worldwide, including in developed countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere.For the 2015 model year, Honda has announced a larger displacement successor, the CBR300R, to keep pace with similar machines from Kawasaki.
Design and Style
The CBR300R is a handsome bike as far as looks are concerned. The twin, sharp, stylish, dual
headlights and a new exhaust imparts full sport fairing and throaty sound. The
new pillion seat and side covers offer a sporty riding position and functional
utility. A honey comb cut tail light enhances the aesthetics and performance of
bike. The H-shaped, 5 spoke aluminum cast alloy wheels gives it an attractive
look. The black colored rear view mirrors, integrated front cowl, sliced fuel
tank and short rear fender offers an aerodynamic style.
Dimensions and Fuel tank capacity
The CBR300R comes with a length of 2035 mm, width of 720 mm and a
height of 1120 mm as it dimensions along with a weight of 164 Kg. The bike has a fuel tank capacity of
12.8-litres.
Instrument Panel
Honda CBR300R features a sporty, LCD type instrument console which includes a digital speedometer, fuel
gauge, dual trip-meters, clock and odometer. It also features an analogue
tachometer along with an illuminating red colored needle. The panel also bears
indicators for low fuel, battery and oil. The amber colored back light provides
better illumination and gives it a futuristic look.
Engine and Gearbox
The CBR300R is powered by the 286cc, liquid cooled, mono cylinder engine that kicks out a maximum
power of 30.4 bhp at 8500 rpm and a maximum torque of 27 Nm at 7250
rpm. The engine is mated to
a six speed manual transmission and a wet, multi plate disc clutch system. It
uses PGM-FI technology for fuel injection which gives it an amazing power.
Brakes and Suspension
Honda CBR300R is equipped with 296 mm disc brake at the front and 220 mm disc brakes at the rear
end. On the other hand, suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks at
the front while pro link suspensions are placed at the back.
Ride and Handling
The CBR300R offers you a pleasant and comfortable riding
experience. The response of bike
is quite good at sharp corners and even in the city traffic. This motorcycle
does not loose control and stability even at higher speeds. The high ground
clearance of 145 mm and an extended wheelbase of 1380 mm makes it perfect for
rough and tough conditions.
Variants
The bike is available in two variants: Honda CBR300R STD and Honda CBR300R ABS. The
only difference between the two is of anti-lock braking system (ABS) .
Shades
This sports bike will be available in four attractive
shades: Black, Black/Yellow,
Red and Tri-color.
Price
The expected price range for Honda CBR300R is INR 1.95 - 2.25 lakhs
(ex-showroom, Delhi) may vary.
SPEC COMPARISON:
Compare the RC390 to the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and you notice the difference in character. Where the RC seems out and out designed for the track, the Ninja looks more grounded, more street sport oriented, but with some racing genes from Kawasaki. And it shows in the equipment. There’s no fancy tech here, just regular entry-level sportsbike stuff. The Ninja 300 gets part-analogue-part-digital clocks and regular suspension; tubular frame and no ABS. The tyres aren’t track focused either.
The Honda CBR250R is even more focused towards road riding and comfort and it looks it too; the CBR250R looks more like a sport touring machine than an out and out sportbike. It packs in similar equipment as the Ninja; similar frame, similar suspension; and similar road focused tyres. The instrumentation like the Ninja 300 is partly digital as well. But, you can order the CBR with ABS and that’s a plus. Finally then, neither the CBR nor the Ninja can match the RC390 on the feel good factor of packing in more features.
Looking at the suspension – the Honda gets telescopic front forks and a pro-link rear suspension. Braking duties are taken care of by a 296mm disc in the front and a 220mm disc at the rear. The Honda though, gets ABS as an option but at an additional cost of almost Rs 30,000.
The Kawasaki gets 37mm front telescopic forks up front with a bottom-link Uni-Trak gas-charged damper at the rear with 5-way adjustable pre-load. The KTM on the other hand, gets larger WP suspension 43mm dia upside down forks at the front with a WP monoshock with 150mm travel at the rear.
The Kawasaki gets a 290mm petal disc at the front and a 220mm petal disc at the rear. The KTM however, gets standard ABS Bosch system with a larger 300mm disc brake in the front with four-pot caliper from Bybre. The rear is also a Bybre unit – a 280mm disc brake with one pot caliper. Yes, in the braking as well as the suspension departments, it is the KTM which seems to have the goodies.
In terms of displacement, the Honda CBR250R displaces the least. It is a 249.6cc single cylinder liquid-cooled engine that makes 26.3PS of max power at 8500rpm and 22.9Nm of peak torque at 7000rpm. The KTM comes in next. The RC390 is also a single cylinder mill like the Honda’s but it is larger displacing 373cc. But it’s the 43.5PS of max power that it packs in at 9,000rpm and a 35Nm of maximum torque at 7000rpm that truly should make this a special tool to ride. And ride fast!
The Ninja is the only bike with a twin cylinder engine here. The 296cc parallel twin presents the Kawasaki with 39PS of power at 11,000 revs and 27Nm of torque at 10,000rpm. The Ninja might sit between the KTM and the Honda in terms of output figures but its twin cylinder layout does lend it a unique riding experience.
0 comments:
Post a Comment