Features 12 Jun 2014

Q&A: Entry-level 300cc motorcycle influx

Is 300cc the perfect learner-approved powerplant?

On the back of Kawasaki’s sales success in Australia with the Ninja 300, and retaliation from Honda with the new CBR300RR, we look at the emergence of this new capacity class of entry-level motorcycles.

Source: Kawasaki Australia.

Source: Kawasaki Australia.

Q: How has the entry-level motorcycle market been shaped by the LAMS?

A: On the back of a nationally uniform Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS), the once Japanese-dominated, sub-250cc market of entry-level motorcycles has been opened up for choices significantly. Almost every manufacturer now has a new machine for entry-level riders sub-660cc and with the appropriate power-to-weight ratio of no more than 150kW per tonne. As a result of bigger, better value machinery for a first choice, it was expected that the 250cc market would dwindle away. But it’s been the opposite. There has there been an influx of smaller capacity machines on the Aussie market like the KTM 390 Duke, Yamaha YZF-R15, Honda CBR250R and CBR125E to name a few. There’s also been an increase in the old 250cc benchmark as the optimum capacity for smaller machinery with the introduction of the Ninja 300 and other manufacturers set to follow suit. The Ninja 300 blew away the smaller capacity end of the learner market with its performance, and had much the same effect on the sales charts last year, and still leads a relatively slow-starting 2014 sales year.

Q: What’s the benefit of a 250 growing into a 300?

A: The 300s that information has surfaced on all have twin-cylinder engines. As the increased capacity comes from a change in bore and/or stroke, and without going into specifics on a bike’s other improvements, the increase in capacity generally should see more power, more torque, same weight. And with a lot of 250cc engines running a long production life before R&D hits a new model, the new 300s will no doubt have much better fuel consumption and longer servicing intervals as has been seen with the Ninja 300.

Source: Honda Australia.

Source: Honda Australia.

Q: Does the move to 300cc spell the end of the 250?

A: With only Kawasaki selling a 300 at the moment, they can best answer the question. “On a global level, Kawasaki has not shifted away from the 250cc Ninja at all. The model is still current and popular in many overseas markets. Due to changing guidelines surrounding the LAMS scheme in Australia allowing learners to ride a 300cc Ninja, it was an obvious step to release the Kawasaki Ninja 300 locally which we’re very glad we did due to the models huge popularity,” says Robert Walker, Kawasaki Australia’s national sales and marketing manager.

Q: What other 300s can we expect to see soon?

A: Honda has upped the ante with a 300cc CBR, and BMW and Yamaha are also rumored to have a few new 300cc models for Australia in the near future. The Honda CBR300RR is due to hit our shores any day soon. Rumours are they are in the process of finalizing a CBR300R nakedbike too. Kawasaki is set to strip down the Ninja and for a naked Z250L. And based on the progression of the Ninja 250 to 300 for the Australian market, with any luck we could see it take the guise of Z300L. Yamaha’s R25 is due to be launched this year, and will be 300cc (most likely named R30) in Europe and, hopefully, Australian markets. BMW is rumored to be producing a sub-500cc range that will include a common engine and chassis platform 300 built by Indian manufacturer TVS. A nakedbike and sportsbike perhaps? We could only hope so!

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