Kawasaki NINJA 300, 2013

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dank45

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Hey guys,

So I'm just looking around for my first bike and have been set on buying a Ninja 250 to learn on. However with the new Ninja 300 out I think the re sale value of a used Ninja 250 would go down by a lot if I sold it next year. The price difference is also a factor for me, but something I could get over. A used Ninja might cost me $4500 taxes in and a 300 is gona be around $5800 taxes incl. For the experienced riders out there that have probably seen new models come and go, what would you do?
 
I don't have any experience with the Ninja 300. I can only go based on reviews when they compare the 250r to the 300. A good place to check out is Ninjette.org. There are few riders there that have both bikes and give comparsions on both. I can say my old 2009 Ninja 250r was a great bike for me to learn and improve on. It did everyting good enough for me. I don't think I would worry too much about the resale vaule in a one year. The 300r is a new model and you will see limited numbers of them out there. The Ninja 250r has a great resale vaule. In fact I sold my bike for almost what I paid for it 3 years later.
 
I bought a 2010 250R with less than 5000 km on it for 3000 taxes in... keep looking
 
I'd stay away from the first batch of new "model" bikes and wait for the 2nd year....but that's just me.
 
Personally after now having rode both I would say the 650 is a good starter if you have that much cash to throw down on a 300 used 650s are cheaper than that and proven track record of reliability. I'm sure the 300s are good but I like the other poster prefer not to have first year models.

That said personally a cheap 250 (sub 2000) is good to start odds are after a year you will want something bigger and you will get back all your money of initial bike cost. I sold mine for exactly what I paid for it last year and I doubled the km on it plus some.
 
The magazines test rides I've read on the 300 have been "meh".

Seems to be the general consensus for the bike.
 
The new 300 hundreds are nice but they have driven down the price of old 250s. I have a 2012 Ninja 250R and once I get it out of storage it will be up for sale if I don't trade it in first on a ZX6R. But new 2012 250s are going for cheap, $3,999 plus tax. I would love to get the 4000 - $5,000 that people are asking for used ones online but really only a sucker would pay that and that's coming from a guy who wants to sell.
I thought about upgrading to the 300 from my 250, but after sitting on the 2013 Ninja 300 and a 2012 ZX-6r I know where I am going for my next bike.

My $0.02.... if you are going to keep this first bike for a number of years then I say go for the 300 (if it's in the budget). If you are going to flip to bigger bike I would opt for either the "still new" 2012 or a used one depending on your preference. I am not making any money by selling or trading in my "less than one year old" under 4,000km 2012 Ninja 250 and I knew that was going to be the case when I bought it last July. It was my first bike and I wanted no worries at all mechanically or other so I went new even though knew it would only last a year or so before I upgraded.
 
Sold my old 2009 250r with almost 13,000 km`s on it for $4,200 (I paid $4,400 new) without a safety certificate also. Sold it within 2 weeks of advertising it back in July. The bike was in mint condition (no scratches, drops etc). You would be surprised how much interest there is out there for these bikes. The dealer was only offering me $2,500 as a trade in when I upgraded. These bikes are one of the best beginner bikes out there and a lot of people realize that. I do agree that with the 300r out now. That the resale value of the 250r will slowly drop. But it should take at least another year or so before the number of 300r `s out on the road will have an impact on the used market. Just my opinion, but with the low km`s and assuming your bike is in mint condition. You should have no problem getting close to $4,000 for it. Even if the dealers are selling the new bikes for almost the same. Buy the time you add in dealer admin fees and taxes. A used bike is still approx. $700.00 cheaper.
 
lets put it this way...

you're a brand new rider.

Would you rather crash a used 250 or a brand new shiny 300?

That should answer your question.
 
I always find that type of response as a negative approach. What makes everyone so sure that a beginner will drop their first bike? When I was a new rider I never dropped my bike. No-one I know dropped their bike when they were just learning. I agree the risks or odds are higher for a newer rider but that doesn't mean that the logic applies to everyone.


LoneRonin said:
lets put it this way...

you're a brand new rider.

Would you rather crash a used 250 or a brand new shiny 300?

That should answer your question.
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250R-ICE said:
I always find that type of response as a negative approach. What makes everyone so sure that a beginner will drop their first bike? When I was a new rider I never dropped my bike. No-one I know dropped their bike when they were just learning. I agree the risks or odds are higher for a newer rider but that doesn't mean that the logic applies to everyone.
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Agreed, my 250 was never dropped or low sided or anything. I mean if everyone crashed their first bike could you imagine how high our Ontario insurance rates would go?!


Oh, I am sure $2,500 sounds low for a 2010 Ninja, just saying that is all it is worth and the most I would ever think about paying for one. But luckily the world of supply and demand factor in here.
 
I think probably the biggest draws to the 300r are 1) more modern looks and 2) fuel injected

For that price though, you could get a ton of different bikes. $5800 seems grossly overpriced to me. There's someone here selling a GSXR750 (i think a '08?) for $5900. Someone I know is selling a CBR600 ('09) for $5k flat. SVs can be had for $3500 or less and they're awesome bikes.
 
Legend said:
Agreed, my 250 was never dropped or low sided or anything. I mean if everyone crashed their first bike could you imagine how high our Ontario insurance rates would go?!
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you must not have gotten the memo when Jevco increased their premiums 8-10% overall while targeting smaller bikes and newer riders. My own insurance went up $200 with the only thing changing was me getting another years experience...thanks to noobs and the fact that they're crashing a lot more. The stats don't lie.
 
LoneRonin said:
you must not have gotten the memo when Jevco increased their premiums 8-10% overall while targeting smaller bikes and newer riders. My own insurance went up $200 with the only thing changing was me getting another years experience...thanks to noobs and the fact that they're crashing a lot more. The stats don't lie.
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No arguing over the stats. Just saying not all of us new riders crash our new bikes. Telling new riders that they are going to crash and not to get a new bike because of that is IMO the wrong message. Hell my next bike I hope to have when spring arrives will be a new 2012 ZX6r, I know the odds of my dropping it or an accident of some kind is higher until I gain more experience but that isn't gonna stop me from buying something I want this time around. :D

Again I get your point, just see things a little different.
 
Legend said:
No arguing over the stats. Just saying not all of us new riders crash our new bikes. Telling new riders that they are going to crash and not to get a new bike because of that is IMO the wrong message. Hell my next bike I hope to have when spring arrives will be a new 2012 ZX6r, I know the odds of my dropping it or an accident of some kind is higher until I gain more experience but that isn't gonna stop me from buying something I want this time around. :D

Again I get your point, just see things a little different.
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and I see your point as well, but OP says he needs a bike to learn on, a brand new bike is not a good idea...

Yes, not all new riders crash, but that's like surviving a car crash without wearing a seatbelt and saying "I didn't die, so you don't need to wear a belt either". Be glad you were one of the lucky ones.
 
LoneRonin said:
and I see your point as well, but OP says he needs a bike to learn on, a brand new bike is not a good idea...

Yes, not all new riders crash, but that's like surviving a car crash without wearing a seatbelt and saying "I didn't die, so you don't need to wear a belt either". Be glad you were one of the lucky ones.
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Okay, he should buy my 2012 - 250r then :)
 
Go for it, minus the 2 guys
090412-2013-kawasaki-ninja-300-03.jpg
 
250.
fact is most riders (myself included) say that they will continue to ride their 250s/300 or some other low CC bike for at least 2 years before upgrading. However 90% of us will upgrade within a year of riding that 250.

you'll probably change bikes every year or 2 years, go with used.

plus the 300 is not astronomically faster/better than the 250 which will make you want to keep a 300 and ride that forever.
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