Two of the fastest sub-400cc sport bikes going head to head till their top speeds. Which one are you betting on?
The Kawasaki Ninja 300 was the only multi-cylinder sub-400cc sportbike in India. This, however, changed when Yamaha brought in its YZF-R3 here, with the aim of dethroning the Ninja.
While this didn’t really go to plan (thanks to the R3’s sky-high price tag), the YZF-R3 did become very popular, establishing itself as the fastest sub-400cc motorcycle on sale in India.
Want to know whether this stands true even today? Well, lucky for us, YouTuber KSC Vlogs has pitted these two sportbikes against each other in a drag race. Check out the results below.
The Competitors
First up, we have the Yamaha YZF-R3. It is powered by a 321cc, parallel-twin engine which puts out 42PS and 29.6Nm, and comes mated to a six-speed gearbox. Meanwhile, the YZF-R3 tips the scale at 173kg.
Today, we’re finding out which one’s faster between a Kawasaki Ninja 300 and a Yamaha YZF-R3, thanks to KSC Vlogs
Going against the R3 is the proven baby Ninja, the Kawasaki Ninja 300. Using a 296cc, parallel-twin motor, the Ninja 300 makes 39PS and 27Nm, while tipping the scale at 179kg.
It’s also worth noting that the YZF-R3’s peak torque and power both kick in earlier than the Kawasaki Ninja 300.
Kawasaki Ninja 300 vs Yamaha YZF-R3 Drag Race
Meanwhile, the Ninja 300 produces 39PS while weighing 179kg
The race starts off with three honks and it’s the YZF-R3 that takes an early lead but only by a whisker. In fact, the Ninja 300 is so close behind that the Kawasaki rider slipstreams behind the YZF-R3 and passes it at around 125kmph.
However, the YZF-R3 once again edges ahead, thanks to its power advantage, and stays there with the Ninja 300 closely behind.
However, the Ninja 300 is so close that it slipstreams and flies past the R3 at around 125kmph. But……well, swipe up to know the full story.
What’s interesting, though, is that the Yamaha R3 shows a top speed of over 190kmph while the Ninja 300 displays only 180kmph, even though it’s right behind the R3, meaning the former has a massive speedo-error.
Well, that’s true and it’s the YZF-R3 that edges the Ninja 300 initially
For the next race, the riders swap bikes and the race is much more decisive. You see, once the R3 has a lighter rider on board, it truly showcases its prowess and surges past the Ninja 300 from the get-go. In fact, the lead is so huge that the Ninja cannot even get in the slipstream, let alone try to keep up.
Conclusion
Well, it’s quite clear that the Yamaha R3 is the faster motorcycle between the two and is rightly deemed the fastest sub-400cc sportbike in a straight line.
However, the massive speedo-error on the YZF-R3 was quite shocking and we hope this is not the case with the new model that’s on sale overseas.
Here’s the full video:
Keyword: Drag Race: Watch The Kawasaki Ninja 300 Try To Keep The Yamaha YZF-R3 At Bay