Honda CBR500R vs Kawasaki Ninja 300: A hold

The verdict of the bench

Honda CBR 500 R and Kawasaki Ninja 300 share the same engine architecture: Parallel twins also designed for the regulation of the European A2 license. However, the Honda CBR 500 R has extra capacity: 471 cm3 296 cm3 against Kawasaki. In addition, the mechanics of the CBR 500 R is also more modern than the Ninja 300, derived from the Ninja 250R. We spent the two motorcycles to dyno to see if the curves then identified correspond to sensations perceived on the road.

Visual supports globally perceived sensations on the road. First, the Honda CBR 500 R supersedes the Kawasaki Ninja 300, whether in power as a couple. The differences of the two curves are obvious, but the little Ninja, although helped by her weight and went longer than 8000 r / min, is better than defense. 
Also note that the nature of these engines is revealed here faithful to what we have felt on the road. The Honda accelerates linearly with a couple still available for free at all times and acceleration schemes choking after 7500 rev / min. Kawasaki presents chaotic curves confirm the acceleration light levels before pulling harder on the arm at high speed (over 9000 rev / min).

Power and torque readings to the crankshaft (CE95 standard / 1)

Honda CBR500R (green curves): 49.9 hp at 7986 rev / min, 4.9 kgm at 6164 rpm / min Kawasaki Ninja 300 (red curves): 44 hp at 11,465 rev / min, 2.9 mkg 10 201 r / min

Power and torque returned to the wheel

Honda CBR500R (green curves): 45.5 hp at 7986 rev / min, 4.5 kgm at 6164 rpm / min Kawasaki Ninja 300 (red curves): 40.2 hp at 11,465 rev / min, 2.7 kgm at 10,201 rev / min

Speed ​​regimes played on the counter, calibration

Honda CBR500R:
130 km / h, 126 km / h real, 6100 rev / min
90 km / h, 87 km / h real, 4100 rev / min

Kawasaki Ninja 300:
130 km / h, 124 km / h real, 9000 rev / min
90 km / h, 85 km / h real, 6000 rev / min

Again, Honda take its higher capacity to reduce its rotational speed of any desired fairly low from Honda to limit consumption. A 130 km / h stabilized highway, this is a significant gap in terms of comfort (vibration, acoustic, feel the engine endurance).

Average consumption recorded during the test

Honda CBR500R: 5.4 l/100 km Kawasaki Ninja 300: 5.8 l/100 km

Attention to our consumption readings: we conducted this test briskly. It is therefore quite possible to go under 4.5 l/100 km with these two motorcycles, rolling more quiet. In addition, if the Kawasaki here has a slightly higher consumption is simply because it has the follow Honda CBR 500 R.

Kerb Weight checked

Honda CBR500R: 195 kg (96 kg AV, AR 99 kg): 194 kg announced Kawasaki Ninja 300: 173.2 kg (84 kg AV, AR 89.2 kg): 172 kg announced

With nearly 22 kg difference, the Kawasaki Ninja 300 shows much more obvious to park without using the engine, just as it plunges more easily turn or is lively with angle changes. For the rest, with a little practice, the Honda CBR 500 R is far from being a hard place: it does not even exceed 200 kg. On a motorcycle of modern design, it is not.

Comparative protection

Our pictures do not reflect the shape of the bubbles: if they seem almost the same height on our assembly, more vertical than the Honda CBR 500 R form is certainly an advantage to play the ramparts, from 110 km / h . It feels, to the detriment of the Kawasaki Ninja 300.

Retro folding

Both bikes have retro folding, convenient for easy parking in a narrow box. On the Kawasaki, they have notches to lock in low or high position, and distance in traffic is correct. Side of the coin, we see more elbows in it. No danger of that for the Honda, which has widely spaced mirrors, disabling in interfile. Nevertheless, they fold easily and vibrate less than the Kawasaki.

Standard tires

Honda CBR 500 R shoes a set of tires OEM. The Dunlop D222 resembles RoadSmart II for his design, but its slightly different technology ignores the bigomme technology. He gave us satisfaction on both dry and wet, except on steep angle on dry ground where the bike only slightly to stall.
Kawasaki side, we note once again the shortcomings of the IRC Road Winner of the Ninja 300 in the wet, where they glide quickly and without warning while the dry, they are correct no more. The little Ninja deserves better than the soaps, especially the new Sava M Racer appear much more convincing.

Equipment - Manufacturing

Equipment and manufacturing side, the Honda CBR 500 R takes the lead through a blend of remarkable rigor that price. The equipment is simple, but the key is there with a board full board. The stalks do not ignore the warnings as the Ninja, but the new Honda horn control takes place near the left thumb, the usual location of the turn signal switch. The passenger seat and handles also make a difference on the CBR 500 R while the passenger of the Ninja 300 will be selfless. Both deserved a larger to accommodate a lock storage.

Insurance: Play the competition

CBR and Ninja are approved for the new A2 license, and therefore accessible from 18 years. But watch your insurance rates: as insurers, premiums can vary significantly. Both bikes are in fact classified as "sports" category among insurers that are based on the name. Others have understood the actual position of these machines, rather reasonable face the usual midsize sports roadsters that are the bulk of the market.