Kawasaki Ninja 300 vs Benelli 302R: Real World Performance Compared

Confused between the two sub-400cc, fully-faired, parallel-twin motorcycles? We compare them to find out which could be your ideal daily driver

There’s a lot in common between the Kawasaki Ninja 300 and the Benelli 302R than you might think. Both pack an almost-300cc parallel twin engine. Both make an identical amounts of power (Ninja - 39PS, 302R - 38.7PS). Both motorcycles are now around Rs 60,000 cheaper than before! (Ninja - 2.98 lakh, 302R - 3.10 lakh). So, what will you be better off with when it comes to handling your daily commuter duties? We compare the numbers to find out.

Acceleration:

While both may churn out the same amount of power and torque figures, it is the Ninja 300 which is quickest of the two. It is quicker by almost half a second during 0-60kmph darts. Things get worse for the Benelli in the 0-100kmph run as the Ninja leads by two whole seconds! The majority of the blame falls on the 302R’s mammoth kerb weight of 198kg, making it 19kg heavier than the Ninja! Also, the engine on the Benelli is lazy, which means it takes a long time to rev up and go fast.

Roll-ons:

Again, the Benelli’s weight works against it. The Ninja is 0.75 seconds and 0.57 seconds faster than the 302R during 30-70kmph and 40-80kmph roll-ons, respectively. Hence, overtaking manoeuvres are comparatively quicker on the Ninja than the 302R. 

Braking:

Both bikes come with dual-channel ABS as standard. The Benelli makes the most of its dual 260mm front and 240mm rear disc by stopping 2.71m before the Ninja during our 80kmph-to-zero brake test. The Ninja, on the other hand, gets a bigger single disc at the front at 290mm and a 220mm one at the rear, but fails to come close to the Benelli during both 80kmph-to-zero and 60kmph-to-zero tests. The 302R wins this round. In terms of braking prowess, the new Endurance brakes on the Ninja offer better feel as well as progressiveness.

Fuel Efficiency:

Coming to the most important question here - kitna deti hain? Well, if your commute involves hitting the highway quite often, both motorcycles will give you a similar range of numbers. But we feel it is the Ninja 300 you should be on with its almost-vibe-free engine and a generous 17-litre fuel tank. It is the same case in the city as well. With Kawasaki's superior heat management system and an impressive mileage of 32.1kmpl, it is again the Ninja 300 we would place our bets on.