New Baby Ninjas & a Versys 1000 for the US

[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.