New Baby Ninjas & a Versys 1000 for the US

[Rincewind]

According to EPA documents, Kawasaki appears to be evolving the Ninjette from 250cc to 300cc for 2013.  Also listed is the Ninja 400, previously offered in Canada, and the Versys 1000, previously only sold in Europe.  

Looks like the US is getting some interesting new Kwackers for 2013.  

Here is the source article - Link

Here is the Ninja 400 as sold in Canada currently - link

And the Versys 1000 UK page - link

[Squareman357]

That 300cc Ninja, in fuel injected form, will do fine here replacing the existing 250cc model, and the power bump should carry it past the Honda CBR250RR with ease.  Versys 1000 should do fine here too.  That Ninja 400 probably won't.  It's a sleeved down version of the Ninja 650 at nearly the same weight and price, what would be the point?  Might as well just buy the 650.

[expatbrit]

Saw this yesterday over on HFL. My understanding is that the 400 has been on the EPA document for several years and has never come here. It's offered in regions where insurance or licencing is displacement based, and then having a 400 makes sense.

I seriously doubt we'll see it here, regardless of if it's on the EPA filing or not.

[Giaka]

It's a sleeved down version of the Ninja 650 at nearly the same weight and price, what would be the point?  Might as well just buy the 650.

To bad its not a sleeved down ZX6 motor in the ZX6 frame. I applaud the 300cc upgrade for the 250. Its needed that from the beginning. I might be a baby ninja owner again.  

[DogBoy]

A sleeved down ZX-6 in a ZX-6 frame would cost just as much as a ZX-6 to produce. You'd have an $11,000 400cc sportbike that would make maybe 70hp and attract about ten buyers.


I'm intrigued by the 636cc ZX-6. The old 636cc was a great engine and I hope the new one has the same traits.

[Rincewind]

Saw this yesterday over on HFL. My understanding is that the 400 has been on the EPA document for several years and has never come here. It's offered in regions where insurance or licencing is displacement based, and then having a 400 makes sense.

I seriously doubt we'll see it here, regardless of if it's on the EPA filing or not.

I didn't know that, thanks.  So a placement on an EPA list is not any sort of guarantee for these bikes.  

[expatbrit]

I didn't know that, thanks.  So a placement on an EPA list is not any sort of guarantee for these bikes.  

That's what I've been led to believe. Not sure why you'd go to the EPA trouble and /not/ import it, but apparently that's what they've done for the 400R.

[james_g]

I'm intrigued by the 636cc ZX-6. The old 636cc was a great engine and I hope the new one has the same traits.

I am too and if it comes to fruition I might buy one. I rode one of the older ones a handful of years ago at the Keith Code school and really, really liked it.

james

[camaroz1985]

Makes me miss my 250.  Maybe a 300 will be in my future.

[Grainbelt]

The 300 (if rumors of 39hp, EFI, and ABS are true) finally bumps that model into 'potentially useful in the Western US' for me.

I had a GS500 that I really quite liked, and this newer 300 seems at least close to delivering the same capability.

[Silverbird]

HA! Honda just went through all that trouble developing a 250 for their baby VFR and Kawi is going to kick their a** with 20% more cc's.  I love it!

[veefer800canuck]

I still say Honda should have taken the old VTR250 twin engine, squeezed the internals for a few more ponies, and wrapped a new chassis around it instead of developing the CBR250 thumper. The arrival of the Kawi 300 reinforces that thought.

Since 2009 Honda has been selling a fuel injected version of the VTR250 overseas.
A redesign with new full coverage bodywork, mimicing the full sized VFR1200 as it does now. Add a few more HP (32 currently) would have been far more cost effective than a whole new bike.

Drop the ancient trellis frame and slide the FI twin into a new frame with VFR-look bodywork and off we go!

[veefer800canuck]

BTW, the cbr250 single puts out 23.7 HP vs the 32 of the VTR twin.

The VTR trounces it in torque as well.

[DogBoy]

Honda is using the CBR250 engine in a new dual sport. Considering they are more likely to sell a few hundred thousand dual sports in developing markets than a handful of 250cc Naked twins to North Americans, the single is probably the right choice.

CRF250L
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/crf250l.aspx

[bungie4]

Honda is using the CBR250 engine in a new dual sport. Considering they are more likely to sell a few hundred thousand dual sports in developing markets than a handful of 250cc Naked twins to North Americans, the single is probably the right choice.

CRF250L
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/crf250l.aspx

Two things. Rumour has it look for a CBR400 in 2013. Nobody knows where it's going to be sold, but lots of guys have their fingers crossed for NA.

I bought a CBR250L just last week.  It most definitely is a low-spec trail bike which is about perfect what I'm going to use it for.

[DogBoy]

Cool 250L. Deserves its own thread in Dirt Lovers or the Honda Forum. Those 250 ds bikes are super versatile.

[bluepoof]

I would totally buy a Ninja 400 if it were physically smaller than the 600.  

The 300cc intrigues me but I'm disappointed that they went with the crazy styling.  Maybe it looks better in person (and I do realize I'm not the target demographic) but I'm meh on the all-angles pointy/waspy superbike plastics.

Guess I'll just stick with my awesome pre-gen Ninjette.  

[Mr. Whippy]

Definitely want the Ninja 300 (with FI).  

[JSharp]

I would totally buy a Ninja 400 if it were physically smaller than the 600.  

The 300cc intrigues me but I'm disappointed that they went with the crazy styling.  Maybe it looks better in person (and I do realize I'm not the target demographic) but I'm meh on the all-angles pointy/waspy superbike plastics.

Guess I'll just stick with my awesome pre-gen Ninjette.  

Current designers grew up playing with Transformers. Now we're riding them.

[bungie4]

Guess I'll just stick with my awesome pre-gen Ninjette.  

 

Great bikes, if it weren't for the seat I would've had a really hard time justifying the purchase of my CBR.  Now even it's for sale!  (had a buyer before I put the deposit down on the CRF, they bailed.. live and learn, chickens <> hatched)