Kawasaki Ninja 300 specifications
Kawasaki · Sport
The Ninja 300 is a friendly, high-revving bike. BikeWale calls the engine one of the bike's strongest points for its refinement and rev-happy nature, notes that it makes most of its power high in the rev range, and praises slick, positive shifts with a light clutch. A 17-liter tank gives a range of over 500 km.
Kawasaki Ninja 300
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2026 |
| Class | Sport |
| Engine | 4-stroke, Parallel Twin, DOHC, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 296cc |
| Bore x stroke | 62.0x49.0mm |
| Compression ratio | 10.6:1 |
| Transmission | 6-speed, return shift |
| Front suspension | 37mm telescopic fork |
| Front suspension travel | 4.7 in |
| Rear suspension | Uni-Trak swingarm with gas-charged shock and adjustable preload |
| Rear suspension travel | 5.2 in |
| Front brake | Single 290mm disc with dual-piston caliper and ABS |
| Rear brake | Single 220mm disc with dual-piston caliper and ABS |
| Front tire | 110/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 140/70-17 |
| Seat height | 30.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 55.3 in |
| Rake (caster angle) | 27.0° |
| Trail | 3.7 in |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 gal |
| Ground clearance | 5.5 in |
| Starting MSRP | $4,999 |
| Destination charge | $650 |
| Final drive | Sealed chain |
| Wet weight (curb) | 388.1 lb |
| Maximum horsepower | 38.9 hp |
| Maximum horsepower (at rpm) | 11,000 rpm |
| Maximum torque | 19.3 lb-ft |
| Maximum torque (at rpm) | 10,000 rpm |
| Ignition | TCBI with Digital Advance |
| Frame | Diamond, high-tensile steel |
| Electronic rider aids | Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) |
| Length x width x height | 79.3x28.1x45.7 in |
What the Ninja 300 is like to ride
It also points out that the Ninja 300 is a 12-year-old design with no modern features and barely any major upgrades. But that it still has a few tricks up its sleeve that carve it a niche. Autocar India adds that the 6-speed gearbox and slipper clutch work flawlessly, though a quickshifter would be welcome.
Comfort, fit and limits
Autocar India says the clip-on handlebars and supportive seat make the bike suitable for moderately long rides, and the new windscreen improves wind protection, but that taller riders may find the compact ergonomics and high-set footpegs slightly cramped and shorter riders more comfortable. Its suspension feels less refined than newer rivals over broken roads, and the brakes and tires perform adequately rather than at a class-leading level.
Motoryk describes the 296cc twin as widely regarded as one of the most reliable engines in the beginner segment, often running past 30,000 miles with basic maintenance.
Ninja 300 or Ninja 500
Kawasaki's Ninja 500 is the successor in spirit: a 451cc twin that Kawasaki rates at 51 hp, starting at $5,399, $400 more than the Ninja 300's $4,999. For a buyer who expects to stay on a sportbike for years, the extra power is worth the $400. The Ninja 300 remains the cheaper way in for a rider who wants an inexpensive, forgiving bike.
Fuel range and track use
The Ninja 300's 4.5 gal tank goes a long way. BikeWale says the 17-liter tank gives a range of over 500 km, and that a rider who wants to take it on a race track can move back on the seat, tuck in and take corners with ease. The same review calls the twin's refinement impeccable and says the six-speed gearbox has a light, easy clutch action.
Because it makes most of its power high in the rev range, a rider new to the bike should expect to keep the engine spinning and downshift for hills and passing.
Ninja 300 against the Ninja 500, YZF-R3 and CBR500R
Kawasaki's own Ninja 500 costs $5,399 and Yamaha's YZF-R3 costs $5,499 at 373 lb, and Honda's CBR500R is $6,399 at 421 lb. At $4,999 and 388.1 lb, the Ninja 300 is the cheapest of the four.
Kawasaki Ninja 300 — specification reference2026 Kawasaki Ninja 300 questions
Is the Kawasaki Ninja 300 a good first motorcycle?
Yes. Reviewers describe a refined, rev-happy twin, a light clutch and slick shifting. Motoryk calls its engine one of the most reliable in the beginner segment. Its seat is 30.9 in and its curb weight is 388.1 lb.
How much power does the Ninja 300 make?
Kawasaki rates the 296cc twin at 38.9 hp and 19.3 lb-ft. BikeWale says most of its power comes high in the rev range. So it rewards a rider who keeps the revs up.
The 2026 Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a 296cc sport bike with a twin rated at 38.9 hp and 19.3 lb-ft, a six-speed return-shift gearbox and ABS. It has a 30.9 in seat, a 4.5 gal tank and a 388.1 lb curb weight, and starts at $4,999 before destination. It is the smallest Ninja and a design more than a decade old, praised for a refined, rev-happy engine and criticized for its age.
It suits a new rider who wants an inexpensive, reliable sportbike, and a rider who has outgrown it will move to the Ninja 500.
Other models in this reference: Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX, Kawasaki Ninja 650.