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Beginner-Ish Sportbike Shootout

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#1 ·
Honda CBR300R, Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS, KTM RC390 and Yamaha YZF-R3 face off to determine which reigns supreme





By Troy Siahaan @Motorcycle.com

From the title alone, there’s a good chance new riders are intently combing through each word of this shootout. The beginner bike market is one the manufacturers’ value dearly, and for decades Kawasaki has owned this corner of the market with its EX/Ninja 250, and now the current Ninja 300. Honda finally followed suit in 2010, introducing the CBR250R as a 2011 model, and later, in 2014, the CBR300R as a 2015. Now the floodgates have opened, as both KTM and Yamaha have launched their own small-displacement sportbikes – the RC390 and YZF-R3, respectively – to try to grab a slice of that pie. If it weren’t for the crop of highly advanced literbikes coming out this year, a strong argument could be made for 2015 being the year of the entry-level sportbike.

Meanwhile, more experienced riders probably don’t care. Those bikes are way too slow for me. I’d get bored with them in no time. This is likely the tune they’re singing. Here’s the thing: your humble MO staff has several decades of riding under their collective belt, on everything from 50cc scooters to fire-breathing superbikes. After hopping off each of these “beginner” bikes, whether on the street or the racetrack, we couldn’t stop smiling. All are genuine hoots to ride, no matter your skill level. Beginners will appreciate the gentle learning curve each provides, while more experienced pilots will get their jollies off wringing the necks out of each of ’em. As former MO staffer, and now MO columnist, Gabe Ets-Hokin describes in his Skidmarks column, it’s simply a blast to ride a slow bike fast.

Alas, you didn’t come here to read about a four-way tie. You want to know how each bike stacks up. Are the Honda and Kawasaki, with their smaller engines, outgunned against the Yamaha and KTM? Will the Yamaha pose any threat to the Austrian RC390? Or is this all pointless because the KTM is going to rule the roost, anyway. Spoiler alert: The KTM is notour winner.

For this test, we commuted with each bike, both around town and on the freeway, and also took them for a loop around some of our favorite mountain roads. Just for kicks, since these are sportbikes after all, we ventured out to Chuckwalla Valley Raceway to join our friends atMoto Forza for one of their low-key, well-run trackdays. Joining me are my esteemed MOcolleagues John Burns and Tom Roderick, as well as honorary MOron, Thai Long Ly.


Not surprisingly, the KTM’s displacement advantage is clearly evident on the dyno. The Honda may have the least displacement, but its graph looks very smooth, a sign of good EFI programming and a modest state of tune. Most surprising is how evenly matched the Yamaha and Kawasaki are, the Ninja almost equalling the R3 in power, but the blue bike having a stronger midrange.

It should be noted that all four bikes were fitted with the same Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires, in stock sizes. The upgrade in rubber over the standard stuff on the Japanese bikes (the KTM already comes stock with the Pirellis) placed all four bikes on a level playing field and dramatically improved handling performance on the Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha, inspiring confidence in the rider to lean farther and with more aggression. Had all bikes been tested with the stock rubber, the KTM’s deficits likely would have been overshadowed by the inferior tires of the others.
Another interesting topic of note: All four motorcycles were built somewhere other than their home countries as a way to keep prices as low as possible. The Honda and Kawasaki are built in Thailand, the Yamaha in Indonesia, and the KTM in India.



As usual, we turned to our trusty MO ScoreCard to convert our subjective thoughts into a numbered score, then added those to our objective metrics like price and wet weight. And now, the results…


The picture is relatively similar on the torque front, with the KTM outgunning the field. The dips and valleys of the KTM’s line point towards fueling that could use some tweaking. The Honda’s peak torque, meanwhile, is roughly the same as the KTM’s lowest point. Then there’s the Kawi and Yamaha; the former flowing up and down, while the latter’s midrange trumps that of its Japanese rivals.

Honda CBR300R 77.8%
$4,399 (ABS: $4,899)




It’s too bad somebody has to finish in last place, but at least this was the one prediction the four testers made before the test that actually panned out. The Honda’s 286cc Thumper is the smallest here, and its 26.3 hp and 17.5 lb-ft. of torque simply can’t keep up with the might of the others. We all knew the Honda would have a fight on its hands, but by virtue of its smallest price tag and 356-pound wet weight, the lightest here, it warranted inclusion.

Sure enough, both on the street and track it was very easy to flick from side to side, despite a 25.0º rake, the second-laziest behind the 27.0º Kawasaki. Still, it struggled to keep pace with the others. Though to dwell on the Honda’s performance shortcomings would be doing the bike an incredible disservice. At 30.7 inches, its seat height is tied with the Yamaha’s for the lowest here. Combine that with well-tuned EFI, comfortable ergos and a clutch lever that can almost be pulled with one finger, and the CBR300R is perhaps the ideal bike to learn on. It doesn’t hurt that it glides from one gear to the next and that I believe its brakes are the best in the bunch.


The lack of power is simply too much for the Honda to overcome on the track. If it had more oomph, its great brakes and lightest curb weight could be better exploited.

“Any absolute beginner should be all over this bike,” chimes Thai. “The fact that it is comfortable, has excellent fuel economy and makes for a wonderful commuter means that combined with its [optional] ABS and low seat height, any neophyte should feel supremely confident petting such a toothless animal.”

Its soft suspension means you’ll hardly feel the crappy city streets you’ll be buzzing through on your way to class. Speaking of buzz, somehow Honda found a way to make sure you don’t feel any of them coming from the Single – even while turning 8500 rpm at 80 mph on the freeway. It’s quite remarkable and in stark contrast to the similarly-cylindered KTM. From an ergo perspective, even Chief Complainer Roderick had nice things to say. “The CBR is light and small but remains comfortable for a tester of my 5-foot 11-inch, 180-pound dimensions. Riding the CBR is more comfortable than riding the KTM.”


On the streets, the CBR is friendly, agreeable, and a fantastic pick for the absolute rookie looking to dip their toes in the sportbike market.

So if it’s cheap, economical and noob-friendly motorcycling you’re going for, the Honda CBR300R is it. Otherwise, the little CBR is a little bland. Not that that’s a bad thing, says Thai. “What’s wrong with a bike that’s as hardcore as an open air Yanni concert on a rainy night? Nothing. Yanni sells millions of albums just like Honda will sell boatloads of CBR300R’s.”

+ Highs
  • Best bike for the true beginner looking for economical transportation.
  • Best price
  • Highly maneuverable.

- Sighs
  • Least power.
  • Outgunned in this company
  • Overshadowed by the others.

KTM RC390 81.8%
$5,499




Thai, like the rest of us, had high hopes for the RC390 before this test started. “This is the bike that I figured would be the king of the castle, even before inserting the key. With all the hype surrounding the little thumper my expectational cup ran full and the numbers on paper seemed to support this foregone conclusion.”

When it came time to perform, however, the hyped-up athlete delivered just a mediocre performance. Needless to say we had high expectations for the KTM, and for it to finish just slightly ahead of the Honda might seem puzzling at first, but allow us to explain.

Let’s start with the good. With 39.7 hp and 24.6 lb-ft., the 373cc Thumper is class of the field. It’s also second lightest, behind the Honda, at 364 lbs. This combination means the KTM leaves the others behind once you twist the throttle. The Single’s torque easily pulls you out of most situations on the street and feels lively when you’re accelerating through the twisties. On track, the top-end advantage means the others couldn’t keep up – at least in a straight line.


As the most track-focused of the four, the KTM RC390 sports the most aggressive geometry numbers. This is clear in how eager the RC likes to flick from side to side.

Wide, relatively low bars and a willing chassis make the RC390 very anxious to dive into turns. The RC390 sports a 23.5º rake, the sharpest here, and a 52.8-inch wheelbase, besting the Honda and Yamaha by 1.5 inches, and the Kawi by 2.5 inches. Unfortunately, despite impressive geometry figures, the RC is let down by sub-par suspension bits, especially the shock, which sits precariously close to the hot exhaust. Our resident sleuth, Sherlock Burns, theorizes the heat may compromise the shock’s oil. As he explains:

“Maybe it’s only a rear shock away from being much better, but you’ll need to replace the exhaust too because there’s not even enough room for a heat shield between the two. You can feel how hot the shock gets compared to the other bikes’. I was closing up on yous two on it at Chuckwalla at one point, when I hit that bump at the exit of Turn 1 (which I didn’t really know was there on the other bikes) and got sideways two laps in a row because of a complete lack of rebound damping and scared the pee out of myself. With 40 hp compared to 35 for the Twins and less weight, it should lap quite a bit faster. It really doesn’t.”


The distinctly orange KTM trellis frame houses, among other things, a preload adjustable WP shock. Note its close proximity to the exhaust hump in black directly in front. We theorize exhaust heat could be affecting the shock’s damping abilities, as its lack of rebound damping saps confidence to push its limits. Kudos to KTM, though, for equipping the RC with Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires, stock.

There’s another demerit point in the braking department, too. “Surprisingly, the KTM’s brakes were my least favorite of this group,” says Roderick. The ByBre brakes may have been designed by Brembo, but the cheaper alternative was by far the worst in the test, getting demolished on the ScoreCard. They lacked both feel and stopping power – a bad combination. Ironically, the RC is the only one of the group that comes standard with ABS.

Tom continues, “None of these bikes have top-shelf suspension, but we struggled getting the KTM to hook up at the track wearing the same tires as the other bikes.” The double whammy of bad brakes and weak suspension killed our confidence when trying to hustle the KTM around Chuckwalla. Burns wasn’t the only one sliding both ends in the corners, and while the engine gives a valiant effort, its supporting cast just isn’t up for the task.

What happens when you put her on the road, away from the track? “She works well,” says Thai. “Like a pair of Chuck Taylors. Competent and serviceable. Though I’m not sure I’m willing to make such a race-inspired commitment when there are more comfortable options available when stepping away from the track environment.”


With its braking components designed by Brembo, including radial-mount caliper, steel-braided lines and standard ABS, one would think the RC would have stellar stopping power. Unfortunately, the KTM’s brakes are disappointing.

At calmer street speeds, the KTM’s shortcomings aren’t as pronounced and are more manageable. When not flogging it through the canyons, it routinely gets over 50 mpg, our best being 56.3 mpg, but once you start playing in the high rev range, fuel goes fast. Our worst figure was 44 mpg. To make matters worse, the KTM only holds 2.6 gallons of gas, by far the least here.

KTM’s not trying to hide the RC390’s intentions as a track-focused machine. “The racy nature of the KTM is apropos as it is the only bike here with its own racing series in America,” Tom notes. As part of the RC390 Cup series, one of the few permitted modifications is fully adjustable suspension. At the Corsa Moto Classica, Tom was speaking with Jim Doyle, team owner of G-Baby Racing, an all-girl amateur team who won the 2014 CMRA 2nd F2 Endurance Championship, who was in attendance racing the KTM RC390. They too struggled with rear grip and suspension problems, finding a solution by installing a JRi shock that they report has greatly increased rear suspension performance. According to Doyle, the JRi shock is a much smaller diameter than the stock shock, which gives it a bit of extra breathing/cooling room next to the exhaust. It also has a remote reservoir, which would further cool the shock and its oil.


At slower street speeds, our shock complaints aren’t as big a concern, though we’d still like more bite from the brakes. Roads like this are where the KTM thrives. For freeway slogging, best to go with one of the other three.

Alas, this is a street test primarily, and as such, the KTM is a hard sell. It costs the most of the four, isn’t as comfy for the long haul, and puts out considerable vibes at freeway speeds compared to the others. But if your goal is to simply play at the track or the canyons, this is the one to get. With a sorted suspension and a toothier set of brake pads, the RC390 would be transformed.


+ Highs
  • Most power and torque is fun to play with.
  • Agile chassis likes to flick.
  • Standard ABS

- Sighs
  • Cheap shock a real setback.
  • Brakes need some help.
  • Vibey on the freeway.

Yamaha YZF-R3 84.0%
$4,990




Yamaha might have waited a while to enter the beginner bike market in the U.S., but now that we’ve ridden the R3 we can say it was well worth the wait. Getting acclimated to the little Yamaha took no time at all.

“It’s like sleeping with an ex you haven’t seen in ages,” notes our promiscuous friend Thai Long Ly. “You can simply warm her up, toss a leg over and you’re charging like a boss as you confidently enter every corner. That instant comfort zone is reserved for only those that have learned to check all the right boxes at all the right times. This R3 does so out of the gate.”


Burns, declaring his age right there on his Arai (ok, not really), felt confident enough to whip the R3 around Chuckwalla largely due to the capable chassis and suspension. The Pirelli tires helped a lot, too. With the stock Michelin Pilot Street rubber, the rear tends to chatter rather easily at the track.

Second only in displacement to the KTM, the Yamaha’s 321cc Twin pumps out 35 hp, virtually equal to the smaller Kawasaki. Torque is also marginally higher than the Kawi’s, 18.9 lb-ft. vs. 17.6 lb-ft., however the R3 carries more than 10 lbs less weight (370 lbs vs. the Ninja’s 381 lbs) and has a broader spread of torque throughout the rev range, leaving Tom to conclude, “The R3’s engine is torquier than the Kawasaki’s, making around-town operation easier.”

Despite the apparent advantage the R3 engine has on the street over the Kawi, on track it was hardly noticeable. The Yamaha fades as the revs climb, whereas the inverse is true for the Ninja. “The larger engine and additional power of the Yamaha gives the R3 a minor power advantage, but not enough for me to get past Troy [on the Ninja] down the front straight at Chuckwalla,” Tom noted. “The R3 would inch closer, but to get past him would have taken a straightaway with twice the distance.”


An analog tachometer dominates the view from the R3’s gauge cluster, its needle easy to read even in glaring sunlight. We liked that Yamaha also included a gear position indicator on its entry-level sportbike; the costlier KTM was the only bike also equipped.

It’s a game of splitting hairs in the handling department, as three of the four testers judged the R3 and Ninja dead even. Burns was the only defector, rating the R3 considerably lower, due to suspension that felt soft and under-damped and didn’t jibe with him. Overall though, for having beginner-bike suspension pieces, the R3 is well damped for track duty while still providing a comfortable ride on the freeway and riding over neglected downtown roads.

Ergonomically, our testers were torn between the Kawi and Yamaha. The R3 provides a position ever-so-slightly less committed than the Ninja, which was preferred by both myself and Thai, with a seat that offers more support. At nearly 6-feet, Tom says, “The Ninja has the best seating position, ergonomics and legroom, but the Yamaha comes in a close second. The R3 also has better seat material that’s supportive as well as comforting.”


The Yamaha’s stopping power is decent, though feel could be a little better. The R3 stands out in this grouping because it’s the only one not offered with ABS, even as an option.

Brakes are average, but more than good enough for the job. Unfortunately ABS isn’t available, not even as an option, and is a blemish for the R3, especially considering it’s optional on the Kawi and Honda and standard for the KTM. ABS aside, the R3 rated high amongst us. It’s gauge cluster looks the most modern, is easily readable, and even comes with a gear-position indicator. The KTM has one, too, but it’s harder to read. Even after a day of flogging in the canyons, we still managed 52 mpg from the R3. An average of 56 mpg was more common under normal riding.

In the end, the Yamaha and Kawasaki are separated by one percentage point on the ScoreCard. Personally, the Yamaha came out on top in my scoring, but the other three disagree. And even though Tom scored the Ninja slightly higher, it’s not the bike he’d put in his garage.


The R3’s street-oriented engine characteristics mean a broad spread of power is available at the engine speeds you’re more likely to use on the street. It also has a well padded seat, and is more than capable of handling a curvy mountain road.

With a score this tight, it all comes down to looks. Says Tom, “Not that I dislike the Ninja’s styling, but I’m more attracted to the looks of the R3. Being that most areas of comparison between the R3 and Ninja are so close, I’d probably buy the Yamaha because of this.”

Alas, the Yamaha is a very close second favorite in this test. Why second? “Because, Ninja,” quips Thai.

+ Highs
  • Great engine for the street.
  • Comfortable around town or at the track.
  • Not a bike you’ll grow out of quickly.

- Sighs
  • Mediocre brakes
  • No ABS
  • Engine barely more powerful than older, smaller Ninja.

Kawasaki Ninja 300 85.0%
$4,999 (ABS: $5,299)




Being the oldest bike here, we just assumed the others (save the Honda) would outgun it by virtue of having all this time to study what Kawasaki was doing and making something better. But, by the faintest of exhaust fumes Kawasaki has managed to hold onto the beginner- bike crown. If only just. The formula for the OG, Kawasaki Ninja 300, to come out on top in this test is quite simple, at least according to Thai.

“How does old beat new? Can Rossi really take Marquez? Can Tom Brady outgun Russell Wilson? How does Gandhi dominate Justin Bieber? By simply being better. Then and now.”


The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is an example of age and experience trumping youth and exuberance. If only just.

The Kawasaki, at 381 lbs, is the heaviest, but nobody complained about the bike’s girth in relation to the others, both on track and on the street. It’s impressive that, with only 296cc, the Ninjette puts out almost identical power figures to the Yamaha. However, “You really have to keep the Ninja’s parallel-Twin on the boil to get maximum performance,” says Tom. “On the track it’s a blast to ride, on the street the Yamaha’s Twin is torquier and more user-friendly.”

Still, this didn’t deter our testers from singing the Kawasaki’s praises. The Ninja won eight categories on the ScoreCard, though admittedly with narrow margins over the Yamaha. Everyone loved how easy it was to ride, and ride quickly; its chassis and suspension more composed than any of us were expecting. The Ninjette punched above its weight, able to stick with the Yamaha on track while keeping the KTM honest.

On the roads, the same lovable characteristics we liked on track carried over. The suspension is geared toward the soft side, but not overly so. The relative lack of torque means you need to rev it to really get a move on, but the gears click from one to the next easily. Better still, says Tom, “The Kawasaki is the only one that comes with a slipper clutch, a truly cool technology – especially for a 300 – that even the racier KTM does not offer.” We got a worst mpg rating of 54.3, with 60 being more common during average riding.


In contrast to the Yamaha, the Kawasaki comes alive once the revs pick up. Some more bottom end torque would be nice, but it still performed well enough for the majority of our testers to choose it as their favorite of the four.

Ultimately, the Ninja 300 just works so **** well. Well enough to win our 2015 Entry-level Sportbike Shootout.

“I’d forgotten how good the Ninja is since the last time I rode one when it was new,” Burns notes. “For being a ‘beginner bike’, it’s one of the best-polished, most dialed-in production bikes I’ve ridden. Nothing about it stands out, including its 35 hp, but all its systems seem perfectly integrated and balanced. Fuelling is excellent, both on and when you roll off the throttle. It’s smooth enough and its suspension is so nicely damped you can feel the weight transfer back and forth from front tire to rear in Chuckwalla’s corners, which lets you ride right on the edge of the tires, and its steering is the most accurate as a result of everything else. At first, the potty chair ergos feel like they’re not going to work at all on the track, but you adjust and within a lap it’s excellent with the grips right next to your ears. Big fun till some **** roars past on a Ducati, and then it’s still fun as you close back up on them mid-corner…”

+ Highs
  • Punches well above its weight.
  • Only one with slipper clutch.
  • Comfy ergos, even for taller folks.

- Sighs
  • A little more torque wouldn’t hurt.
  • Heaviest
  • A little help here…

Beginner-ish Sportbike Shootout Scorecard

 
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#3 ·
I cant argue the written review. Interesting that the cb300f won it's class on motorcycle.com, but the cbr300r came in last.

I enjoy the authors' viewpoints and experiences, and think it might help me chose (had I not already made a choice)

But the "score card" is stupid. All number based reviews are, but this one really gets me.

As an example: Transmission: 84.4 vs. 83.8? What the **** does that mean?

What do any of the numbers mean?

Have you ever sat on anything and said. "Hmmm... This is .6% better than that?

I get that it might be a rounding out of four scores, but wouldn't just calling them both 85% make more sense?

Can you accurately gauge that the Yamaha fit and finish is 1.3% better than the Honda?

Just round all the scores off:

Honda: 80
Kawasaki 80
KTM 85
Yamaha 85

Does that tell you anything? No, but it isn't as ridiculous as pretending that a 7% spread in scores is any appreciable difference.
 
#5 ·
It is cool to see that the Honda 300 keeps up with the yamaha and ninja on the dyno sheet until after 8krpm. You can also tell that the Honda's power delivery is much more refined than its competitors.
 
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#6 ·
Eh, still would have picked the Honda if I had to do it all over again. Am I in denial? Not at this particular time.

"Better" is subjective to each individual as well. Let the buyer decide at the end, not the reviews. Granted it was a fun read.
 
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#7 ·
Well that was mildly interesting but I could probably go on the internet and find a similar test with reverse results.
Some familiar themes coming through in all comparisons tho: The KTM and R3 have both got painfully average brakes and the KTM's rear shock sucks. Considering they are both the latest models you'd expect them to be right up there leading the way.
 
#8 ·
I really like the article. If speed and hp are not high on the list of deciding factors, it sounded like they put the Honda at the top of the list. Since I got the bike for fuel efficiency and not race speeds, I think it is perfect. I feel like this article completely validated my decision (not necessary, enjoyable nonetheless).

What I saw here was that Honda went for refinement and not high hp. Works great for me. No way I break 100mpg on the others with out a lot of effort. I was driving the **** out of my bike and still got 78.7mpg on my last tank. Will it beat another bike in a race? Not unless it's a moped. Can a stock 4 wheeled cage beat me in a race? Not without it costing 50-100 times what I paid... I can totally live with that.
 
#9 · (Edited)
+1 for my summary of this article which was very interesting,


no speed demon bike but I did not expect it to be, & mpg not a major concern for me but I can confirm visiting a gas station on this Honda Red Baron is a rare event indeed, I was completely impressed for the first tank I got 77.5 mpg !!!!!!!!!


also made note of the tires they used on all bikes Pirelli Diablo Rosso II for all bikes in stock sizes
 
#11 ·
I think for most people riding for fun, or using it as a commuter, hp and 0-60 time means very little.
For myself, MPG means more than fast 0-60 time.


The CB300F isn't too bad in acceleration, definitely outruns most cars from a stoplight, so that's ok with me.
It does about 100MPH tops, but I doubt many people will actually ride it much at those speeds; especially since the legal top speed in many states is 65MPH (people usually go 80-85MPH on those roads).


MPG means more to me, because if I have a bike at 50MPG, or one at 75MPG, that means one bike goes 200 miles on a tank, and the other goes 300 miles.
Over the course of the bike's lifetime, say you get to ride it 50k miles, one bike will have cost you $3500 on gas, while the other would have cost you $2333 on gas. That's $1167 on extra gear to buy, or as a down for your new bike!


As a commuter biker, you don't need anything more than 300cc to travel comfortably on most roads.
Not a speed demon, but it gets you where you want to go, and being lightweight as it is, it could be considered pretty peppy!

Those high-rev engines have a lot more power than bikes almost twice their size from 10-20 years ago (topping out at 6-7.5k rpm).
 
#12 ·
The CB300F isn't too bad in acceleration, definitely outruns most cars from a stoplight, so that's ok with me.
It does about 100MPH tops, but I doubt many people will actually ride it much at those speeds; especially since the legal top speed in many states is 65MPH (people usually go 80-85MPH on those roads).
You gotta be rolling down hill no wind to get to 100. I haven't hit it yet. Came close going down hill at 95... Considering where I live where the speed limit is 80 on some highways it's difficult to pass.
 
#13 · (Edited)
I have to take exception to the idea that any of these bikes are good "beginner" bikes, despite the fact that this is how they are being marketed.

IMO, they are entry level sport bikes well suited for those riders who have at least some amount of previous motorcycle experience and are not interested in a larger displacement sport bike. I say this because all of these smaller displacement sport bikes offered today are capable of a level of performance which is far beyond the skill level of what the majority of first time riders possess. This idea is reinforced by the fact that so many first time riders get these bikes and put a few miles on them and then complain and nitpick things like gearing, vibrations, tires (the list goes on...), when the reality is that these "first bike nitpickers" have nothing in their experience to base any of their complaints on.
 
#15 ·
Well,
the cbr300r/cb300f bikes are a bit more vibey than similar priced ptwin bikes.

Also, the bike is very jard to get the front wheel off the ground.
That also means it's hard to accidentally skid the wheel, by giving too much throttle at departure.
Unless you want to do these things, they don't really happen by accident.

For me, the best part about beginner bikes, is their weight.
regardless of whether the bike is 300lbs, or 1000lbs, the contact surface with the road on either bike, isn't larger than the tip of a pinky per tire.
I rather have 300lbs on my front wheel braking, than 700.
 
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#21 ·
Could some one here on this Forum..direct me to a MPG (miles per gallon) test of the above bikes..I am wondering how much better the CBR 300R is on fuel..

Thanks to all...Laurie:nerd:
 
#22 ·
Not sure about the fuel consumption on the other bikes. You may have seen this thread about the CBR300R fuel consumption, but I reckon the CBR300R would be hard to beat if you are after fuel economy: http://www.cbr300forum.com/forum/cb...-cbr300r-fuel-mileage-multiple-threads-6.html . I'm more than impressed. I might try and ride it a bit more conservatively and see if I can break the 100mpg / 22 miles per litre barrier :)
 
#23 · (Edited)
Really?? Break 100 MPG?? Where I am in Nova Scotia Canada there are lots of hills....where you are (Surrey U.K.) is it hilly or fairly flat? Also to achieve that kind of mileage...do you short shift and stay @ 90 KMH (55 MPH) ? I thought the 300 was good but I had no idea it was THAT good..Thanks very much..:)

Thanks for the above link..great reading..
 
#25 ·
You also have to be careful when comparing UK mpg with US mpg.
Ive had 95 UK mpg out of my 300R which (i think) is only 88 US mpg.
It can get misleading and /or confusing. Lets just say they are bl00dy economical machines! :D
 
#29 ·
I rode with a guy on a R3 last week. I fully expected to be left in the dust...not so. I'm assuming his bike was bone stock. Mine has a full Yoshi exhaust, KN high flow filter. Bazzaz ZFI, custom map via their Dyno. This 300F has solid excelleration, very smooth power band. No backfires, very torquey. As hard as the R3 tried, it could not shake me. I don't know about top speed, but this little red thumper was right on the R3's tail. This was on the Ortega highway in SoCal, Lake Elsinore to the coast. I did notice that I just won't take as many chances as I use to. So when the R3 pulled away from me on tight curves, I don't know if it was lack of cajones on my part, or the Yamaha cut through the curves much quicker and smoother than my 300f. i would recommend any cats from SoCal should try the ride through the Ortega's to the coast.
 
#30 ·
Good to hear that you were able to foot it with the R3 in a straight line. Like you alluded to, cornering speed, stability and ground clearance are harder to gauge unless your in a track environment using the same rider on each bike and ideally the same tyres.
It's not worth getting out of your depth just to be able to say 'the CBR is as quick thru the bends as the R3'.
 
#31 ·
A re post from another thread..

After watching a few videos on Youtube of these little so called "Beginner Bikes" I really (IMHO) realize how this model is NOT a beginner bike at all. This model from Honda has a better more rigid frame/better brakes (floating)/optional ABS/liquid cooling ETC that was unheard of 20 years ago at a very inexpensive price point.
Time make things relevant does it not? Can you imagine this model being released then? It would have been hailed as a motorcycle far from being just a "Beginner Bike". Although at the moment I do not own a CBR 300 R,,I hope to have one soon in my garage. What a great "Beginner Bike".
 
#33 ·
After watching a few videos on Youtube of these little so called "Beginner Bikes" I really (IMHO) realize how this model is NOT a beginner bike at all.
I agree, in other countries a 250cc is considered a big bike. Here in the U.S. if a bike is under 600cc it's considered a beginners bike. My 250 cc can hit triple digits just like my old 600rr & Superbike. Any bike can kill you. I treat them all with the same respect.:)
 
#32 ·
They're called 'beginner bikes', because it's hard to skid the wheel on a dry pavement, or lift up the front wheel; which is a contributing cause of accidents with mostly young and inexperienced riders.

Even a 500cc can be considered beginner bikes, although I would not say that...
 
#34 ·
Like I have said (posted)previously..how bloody fast do you need to go? At 30 KMH you could be killed in an accident...easily Would any body in their "right" mind run as fast as they can only to throw themselves on pavement wearing just a pair of shorts/T shirt?

So at 160 KMH (100 MPH) on this bike there is potential for death. At MY age (yeah I'm an old far*) I just like to cruise with in the speed limit or less..have a light flick-able bike that gets terrific gas mileage. The Honda for me fits the bill.
 
#35 ·
If getting killed is the determining factor to rate if a bike is a beginner bike or not, then a 50cc scooter would not be a beginner bike anymore either, as it goes 40MPH, and can get you killed.

I would say that a bike that defines a beginners bike, is one that's under 400LBS, and has ~40HP or less (no skidding wheels or lifting front wheel at full throttle).

But still, I believe a 50cc is not a good learners bike, as it can be dangerous on roads where cars go beyond 40MPH.

The perfect beginners bike for me, is anything between 75cc and 150cc ~100-250LBS, and has gears; like the Honda Grom 125cc, Sym Wolf 150, Yamaha YZF125R, Aprilia RS125, or Sachs Madass 125cc. Even a cheap Chinese 100-150cc bike would help, as usually you'll outgrow it before they fall apart (a good 2 to 5k miles, or 6-9 months).

Ride on it for 6 months to a year, get accustomed to shifting gears, and riding in traffic; and upgrade to a 275-425LBS bike between 250 to 500cc, which is good to learn about highways and interstate speeds, exits, and handling the extra weight.
From a 250-500cc it's easy to upgrade to a bigger bike.

Personally I'd like to own a 125cc, 300cc, and a 650cc bike; for the city, highway, and one for the long journeys.
 
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