Yamaha YZF-R3 vs Kawasaki Ninja 300

Yamaha Motor India Sales Pvt Ltd is all set to launch its new parallel-twin powered YZF-R3 in India on 11th August 2015. Now, who is the closest competitor of this machine in the Indian market? The only other twin-cylinder 300cc motorcycle in the segment is another Japanese machine- Kawasaki Ninja 300.



Specifications and features of both the rivals are almost similar and they are going to give a tough competition to each other. Now, everything depends on the pricing of the Yamaha R3, which is expected to be around Rs 3 lacs. So, are we getting something extra with the Ninja 300 priced around Rs. 3.5 lacs, let’s figure out.

Appearance:

Both the Yamaha R3 and the Kawasaki Ninja 300 are the supersport styled motorcycle for road use. These motorcycles offer a bit less aggressive riding position than a proper supersport machine, which makes them compatible for your daily ride as well.



Yamaha R3 take some style cues from the previous generation of the big R1, which reflects in its full body front fairing. It continues to carry the signature elements of the series like the split pattern headlamp, which has been designed more interesting this time. Other style features of the bike include a well-crafted fuel tank, split seat with raised tail, a short side-slung type muffler, painted split spoke alloys and much more.



Kawasaki Ninja 300 looks inspired from the mid-weight supersport Ninja ZX-6R (636) at the front. Like the R3, it also features split pattern headlamps, split seat, full body fairing, raised tail, side-slung muffler and split-spoke alloys. Lengthwise, it is much shorter than the R3, however, other dimensions of the machines are almost similar. The shorter length makes this motorcycle more quick and nimble on the corners.

Engine and Transmission:

This competition is so close and both the rivals are powered by liquid-cooled, parallel twin-cylinder motor displacing around 300cc. Looking at the power and torque figures, the slightly bigger motor of the R3 makes a little more than the Ninja 300.



Powering the upcoming Yamaha YZF-R3 is a 321cc DOHC engine, which comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox via a wet multi-plate type clutch arrangement. Using a fuel injection system, it makes power up to 41.4bhp at 10,750rpm and delivers torque up to 29.6Nm at 9,000rpm.



The 296cc motor of the Kawasaki Ninja 300 has a lower compression ratio than the R3, and it puts out up to 38.5bhp of power at 11,000rpm. It uses an electronic fuel injection system with 32mn throttle bodies and delivers a peak torque of 27Nm at 10,000rpm. Like the R3, its motor comes mated to a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox, however, it gets an advanced Assist and Slipper clutch arrangement.

So, the power output of the new Yamaha R3 is almost 3bhp higher than the Ninja 300. Also the R3 is 3 kg lighter, having a better power to weight ratio of 248hp/tonne against the 227hp/tonne of the Ninja 300. Hence, we can say that this Yammy is a little faster than its rival Kwacker.

Chassis:



The Yamaha R3 has been assembled on a diamond type frame, instead of the Deltabox used in the track focused R15. It comes with a KYB suspension set-up including 41mm telescopic front forks and a seven-step preload adjustable rear shock absorber. The 17” alloy wheels of the bike come with 110/70 section front and 140/70 section rear tubeless tyres. To control the motorcycle with safety, it has a 298mm front and 220mm rear disc brakes with ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) assistance.



The Kawasaki Ninja 300 also uses a diamond type frame with some performance equipment, quite similar to the R3. It has 37mm telescopic forks at the front and 5-way preload adjustable Uni-Trak suspension at the rear. Wheel and tyre size of the bike are exactly similar to the R3, however, they come from the different brands. The braking system includes 290mm front and 220mm rear disc brakes, which also comes with the ABS as a standard feature.

Verdict:

No doubt, the new Yamaha YZF-R3 performs could perform much better than the Kawasaki Ninja 300, but in styling I like the Ninja more. Yamaha misses the slipper clutch, which comes with Kawasaki. However, India is a price conscious market and Yamaha can go aggressive with the pricing of the R3. Yamaha also has a better sales and service network for the entry-level-performance motorcycles than the Kawasaki, which also adds as an advantage to the newcomer. Overall, we think that the Kawasaki needs to prepare for the upcoming Yamaha R3, as it seems to be a game changer for the market.

Also Read: Yamaha YZF-R3 Launched in India at Rs 3.25 lacs