[sjc1127]

Hey everyone, First I want to say I'm so thankful this forum was created and happy to be a part of it and hope I can grow to be a helpful member. My name is Sean, I am 21, I live in PA in the suburbs of philadelphia. My first and only bike was a '09 KLX250s which I bought brand new in Dec. of '08 and loved dearly. I wasn't satisfied with the way it performed when i got it, and since I did mainly street riding, I poured thousands of dollars into trying to make it what I wanted. As we all know, horsepower is addictive and you can never get enough (at least not when your starting with an 18 HP Dual Sport). Anyway as time went by I ended up putting on a full exhaust system, 330cc Big bore kit, FCR pumper carb, steel braided brake lines, custom bars, grips, handguards, Basically everything under the sun you can do to the bike and at the end at 3,500 miles I loved the bike but it just was never fast enough or really competent on the street. It was an excellent dual sport and excelled at walking that thin line well but since I hardly had anywhere off-road to ride it and (though i would have loved to) really didn't get the chance to do much off roading, so I sold it to pay for college and decided when I could save up money for a new bike I wanted a street bike. Just recently, I decided the time has come where i'm ready and in the position to buy a new bike.

I had my heart set on the 2012 Ninja 650 and have just been waiting until I save up and little more money so i can pay off the first year's insurance all at once rather than do monthly payments. I've always liked the price and general look of the Ninja 250, but after my experience with the Klx, I decided I wanted something bigger for my next bike and by God it must have EFI. Not hating on carbs but I mean, it isn't the 90's anymore... So Right when I'm just about ready to purchase the 2012 650 (figured winter is a good time to buy plus the '13 model is coming out and since they just updated the '12 it'd be a great idea to get a good deal on the '12 leftovers) The '13 Ninja 300 comes out like a message from heaven...

I LOVE everything about this bike. I hear alot of people liking and getting the white color scheme but honestly I really like the SE and am even considering paying the extra $ for it. I'm so surprised not many people seem to like it. Anyway, I'm dying to go out to the dealer today and pick one up but After reading what people are paying OTD, it is just insane. Seeing as I'm a young college student and it took me literally years to save up the 8 grand I put aside for a bike I want to make sure I get the best deal I can because I won't have the oppurtunity to buy a new bike for a while. So I'm thinking of waiting a little while to purchase the bike when things calm down. If I could get OTD for $5600 I would be satisfied. Also, theres still a small part of me that is worried I won't be satisfied with only 300cc of engine and am still semi-considering getting the 650 because of that and also because I could get such a good deal. I know this is the kawi 300 forums but I just wanted to put that out there. Sorry for the long-winded post just wanted to give everyone an idea of where i'm at. Look forward to meeting you all!

 

[Torchsport]

Welcome Sean.
I like the green model as well. If you like it, get it. Don't worry about what others think. Some of them just couldn't pony up the extra coin, but secretly like it as well.

Good on you for saving money up for the bike.

I think you'll be satisfied with the power for years to come. It's a very capable package, and will respond well to a few performance mods.
That being said, since this is a new model, there will be a demand for it in the used market, if you decide later on to sell it, and upgrade.

 

[cbzdel]

Everyone is only getting the white because that's all the out.. Once the other colors come out it will be a battle for what color is the fastest

 

[kawasaki-ryder]

Everyone is only getting the white because that's all the out.. Once the other colors come out it will be a battle for what color is the fastest

it sucks it's gotta be like that, i was hoping green would be available as soon as the white, i guess not. one of my reasons for holding off.

 

[sjc1127]

Yeah I agree I'm dying to get my hands on a non-abs SE. Call me crazy but I just don't want an ABS bike, As silly as it sounds I want to hone my skills without the abs, I just feel it'd help me become a better rider....

 

[zimzim]

Congrats on the bike! Hurray for hard work and saving money.

 

[Administrator]

Yeah I agree I'm dying to get my hands on a non-abs SE. Call me crazy but I just don't want an ABS bike, As silly as it sounds I want to hone my skills without the abs, I just feel it'd help me become a better rider....

No need to hone your skills without abs. The Day you need the abs will be the day it saves you from going down and probably some costly repair bills.

ABS on a bike is nothing like it is on a car. Locking up your brakes on a bike is a very very rare thing and probably because you are doing some evasive manure, exactly the time when you dont want them to lock. Chances are if you do lock up your brakes, you are probably in deep **** and will likely result in going down.

ABS is a great tool and could possibly save your life. If I were you, I would go with the ABS. Im pretty sure your life is worth the extra few hundred.

And on that note, Welcome to the site

Stew

 

[nightrider]

Yeah I agree I'm dying to get my hands on a non-abs SE. Call me crazy but I just don't want an ABS bike, As silly as it sounds I want to hone my skills without the abs, I just feel it'd help me become a better rider....

I live in a busy city and having ABS helps a lot, as it does cut down on your braking distance by a lot. ABS is well worth it, just watch these

 

[Mike]

I read that ABS makes you 37% less likely to get into a fatal motorcycle accident and I'd say 80% more confident riding in the rain lol