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)

[David Morrow]

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.  

The Versys 1000 is also available in Canada; my local dealer has one.

[Bama67]

The Baby Ninja and new Versys will do great here.

But they would have to be full retard to bring in the sleeved down 400.

[JSharp]

The baby Ninja for sure but I'm not sure about the big Versys. I'm sure it's a great bike but not sure what would make me want one more than what I bought.

[Rincewind]

First look at the Ninja 300 from Visor Down...



and promo vid..

[expatbrit]

First look at the Ninja 300 from Visor Down...

What gets me is ... slipper clutch?!

[bluepoof]

God, I'm so old.  I think that is seriously ugly.  

 

[Xanth]

It's the tail end that bothers me. Why does everything need to have those tiny little tail sections?

[Squareman357]

God, I'm so old.  I think that is seriously ugly.  

 

Funny but my 20 and 17 year old sons both think it's hot and want one in blue or black...and I personally think it looks way better than the 20 year old model.  Its a toss up between this and the recent gen version.

[deanzaZZR]

Judging by the video it looks like they expect to sell quite a few in Europe, and why not?

[DogBoy]

Thats a good looking bike and does a good job of adapting the ZX-10R, ZX14 family design. Not so sure about the Mentos commercial, though.

[Bama67]

I think it looks fantastic, by glancing at it, you cannot tell it is the baby ninja.  

The old ones you could spot a mile away, not to mention the pre-2008s all look like they were made in 1990.  


But you know what they say about opinions.  

[Dave the slave]

another video

http://youtu.be/N-gmNSsMCHk

[camaroz1985]

What gets me is ... slipper clutch?!

Makes sense.  Now new riders should have more confidence in low grip situations, no worries with locking the rear when releasing the clutch.  This along with ABS should make it a great bike for beginner and commuter alike.

[JSharp]

Makes sense.  Now new riders should have more confidence in low grip situations, no worries with locking the rear when releasing the clutch.  This along with ABS should make it a great bike for beginner and commuter alike.

The Z1000 series bikes could use one. Kawasaki's answer seems to be just put weak pads on the rear brake.

[Rincewind]

Ninja 300 info released -- http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/u-s-model-ninja-300-revealed-by-kawasaki-in-times-square/

$4799 USD
$5499 USD for ABS

"should easily exceed 110mph"

[Cablebandit]

It's the tail end that bothers me. Why does everything need to have those tiny little tail sections?

[GerryPetrecca]

It's the tail end that bothers me. Why does everything need to have those tiny little tail sections?

And why does the front end always have to look like a reject from a transformer movie!

[Giaka]

God, I'm so old.  I think that is seriously ugly.  

 

I'm older and I like it.  

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=717

[Zixxerpilot]

The Z1000 series bikes could use one. Kawasaki's answer seems to be just put weak pads on the rear brake.

No, they don't. People need to learn to ride! I love being able to get the rear squirrelly at will!! Leave the Zed alone.


On another note, where do I get in line for the Versus 1000? Want!!!!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

[JSharp]

No, they don't. People need to learn to ride! I love being able to get the rear squirrelly at will!! Leave the Zed alone.


On another note, where do I get in line for the Versus 1000? Want!!!!!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

The pads on the rear of my '11 Ninja are similar to blocks of oak. Lots of people have noticed this. 'Learning to ride' won't make them bite harder.

Maybe the older Z's are different.

It's not a huge complaint for me. I don't use the rear brake for much anyway. The engine has tons of compression braking and the bike has plenty of front brakes.

[falconati]

Oh man, this looks fantastic.  A 300cc parallel twin?  Sign me up!  I still think the Honda is prettier though.

[bungie4]

Oh man, this looks fantastic.  A 300cc parallel twin?  Sign me up!  I still think the Honda is prettier though.

Wait to see if Honda is releasing the CBR500 in North America.

[atadaskew]

The problem I have with the latest gen 250, and now the 300, is that they are getting heavier and heavier.

The 300 only weighs a little bit less than a GSXR600 (20lbs?)

Small and slow = ok
Bigger but still slow = not so ok

[Nodaclu]

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.

Totally agree but.....ooooh white!!!  



I loves me some white bikes. I might have to consider this one on that point alone. Also not in love with the busy, overdone styling, but as a previous Ninja 250 owner, this ticks off a lot of my minimalist touring checkboxes perfectly.  

[atadaskew]

I guess I don't get it.

The beauty of the original 250 Ninjas were that they were 250 sized.  Small and light.
The 300 now is just a bit lighter than a 600 (20lbs?) but much much weaker.

So what you are essentially buying is a really slow budget 600 sized sport bike.

It has already been GPS verified by motorcycledaily to have a top speed of 102mph.   So this has looks and size that it's performance cannot back up.

[DogBoy]

I think it shows how f*cking awesome sportbikes are these days. The 600 and 1000 supersports are so light, have such good components and great power that they look like bargains next to bargain bikes.

[atadaskew]

I think this shows how Honda has done it right.

Their 250 is light and cheap.

This new Kawi is much more expensive (about $1K more for ABS vs ABS), bigger, heavier.  But still has budget suspension and brakes.
IMO this price gap now has put the Kawi dangerously close to pricing itself out of the 'beginner bike' market.

It seems to have become a poser bike. The show of a ZX10, with none of the go.

[Kraz]

Love that Versys 1k, might have to look into that...

[Rincewind]

Love that Versys 1k, might have to look into that...

While the 300 Ninja has appeared on the US Kwak site, the Versys 1k has not shown up yet.  The news source, MD, may have gotten that speculation wrong, or maybe the bike will make a delayed appearance in the 2013 US line-up.  

[expatbrit]

Wait to see if Honda is releasing the CBR500 in North America.

According to HFL and a 'reliable source inside Honda Europe', yes.

*shrug*

[bungie4]

While the 300 Ninja has appeared on the US Kwak site, the Versys 1k has not shown up yet.  The news source, MD, may have gotten that speculation wrong, or maybe the bike will make a delayed appearance in the 2013 US line-up.  

My local dealer has one available for test rides. Lots of demo's on it, no takers.

[Kraz]

While the 300 Ninja has appeared on the US Kwak site, the Versys 1k has not shown up yet.  The news source, MD, may have gotten that speculation wrong, or maybe the bike will make a delayed appearance in the 2013 US line-up.  

Ugh... I guess I did know that, but didn't make the connection.

Oh well.  I guess I'll have to be responsible and put the money aside for later.  Too bad.  I like the 1050 Tiger, which is pretty comparable to the Versys 1k, but I just don't LOVER Triumphs for some reason... plus, I don't really NEED a new bike.