UNLEASHING SPEED AND THRIFT: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE KAWASAKI NINJA 300

For new motorcyclists who love going fast on a budget, the Kawasaki Ninja 300 has long been among the best of the breed and among riders’ favourite first bikes. So when Kawasaki dropped the Ninja 300 from its lineup, I was sad, but not terribly surprised. When you scratch your way through the layers of performance and price and market standing, though, you find that maybe, just maybe, outlaw riders have always found a way to get their speed.

NAVIGATING THE PRE-LOVED MARKET: THE AFFORDABILITY OF THE NINJA 300

The search for a Kawasaki Ninja 300 might begin with a browser search of the boisterous, 25,000-listing US marketplace for used motorcycles, where a Ninja’s balance of speed, power, and budget makes it as much of a steal as the motorcycle itself is fast. A pristine Ninja 300-A1 from, say, 2013, will likely cost you somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000, depending on the year, condition, and the quirks of supply and demand in your geographic corner of the marketplace. At that price, for many of us, it qualifies as recreational yet cautious.

THE ENGINE THAT POWERS DREAMS: UNPACKING THE NINJA 300'S PERFORMANCE

The Ninja 300, though, slips beneath its chic exterior to unveil 296cc of Kawasaki engineering, two cylinders with the power-to-weight punch of something much larger. It’s certainly no top-speed record holder, but this Kawi can capably cruise up to speeds in the mid-90s. For the rider who wants the raw feel and excitement of the open road but doesn’t want to decimate a bank account, the Ninja 300 delivers.

A COMPARATIVE GLANCE: THE NINJA 300 VERSUS ITS PROGENY

When we consider this evolution of Kawasaki’s line-up, we can see just how much more power and sophistication are now available in the Ninja 400 and 500 models compared with the four-stroke 250. When you can purchase the Ninja 400 for a starting MSRP of $5,299, you begin to wonder whether what you get is really worth the extra expense? Besides, there’s the satisfaction of owning a machine that has so far only had one owner and comes with a 12-month limited warranty.

BEYOND THE SURFACE: EVALUATING THE NINJA 400'S SPEED CREDENTIALS

To those whose heart rate jumps at the thought of reaching maximum velocity, the new Ninja’s top speed of 116.7 mph will weigh heavily in its favour, especially over its predecessor.

A SPECTRUM OF CHOICES: EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES WITHIN THE 300CC CATEGORY

The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is the counterpoint in a vast universe of motorcycles: a whole constellation of 300cc bikes that offer something to almost anyone who wants or needs a motorcycle. And, for first-time two-wheel riders, the 300cc class has so many bikes to choose from other than the Kawasaki, with an equally appealing mix of attributes and character.

MAKING SENSE OF THE DECISION: TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY

A web of weightier considerations – budgetary concerns, performance ambitions, personal preference – lies at the centre of this decision-making process. For the eventual buyer, the choice frequently comes down to that of a new bike with a factory warranty and backing, and an impetus for adventuring that comes with an ageing Ninja 300 at a significantly less painful price.

A FINAL NOTE ON SENSE IN THE WORLD OF MOTORCYCLES

After all, buying a motorbike is not only a matter of technical specifications or cash when it comes right down to it – it’s all about the feeling between the rider and the vehicle, and the exhilaration of personal freedom at the twist of the throttle and the need for like-minded nerdiness. Whether riding around town or out in the country, it’s a sense of community and jubilation, and the feeling of coming home that matters.

In closing this saga, we find that the process of choosing the right motorcycle is at least as much about the elusive sensations that it inspires, as it is about the very real attributes that it imparts. In motorcycling, sense is not so much a word – it is a sensation, a sign, and finally a companion on a road less travelled.