The final time we noticed a Kawasaki Ninja 300 shipped to the US was in 2017, with the entry-level sport bike being changed by the larger-displacement Ninja 400 in 2018. And the 400 was then changed by a 500cc iteration in 2024, which has now left a niche in Kawasaki’s lineup the place the beloved Ninja 300 as soon as lived.
To some, the Ninja 500 fulfills the necessity for a sport bike at an entry-level value level, with an approachable using place, energy output, and total efficiency per greenback spent. However for a lot of, the Ninja 300 wasn’t only a child sport bike; it was the gateway to honing their using abilities earlier than stepping as much as one thing extra highly effective.
I spent a few days with the Ninja 500 last summer, and whereas the twin-cylinder motor made ample horsepower, I couldn’t assist however really feel like I ought to’ve been on a Ninja ZX6-R, though the using place was significantly extra snug on the five hundred. And that left me questioning, why would somebody select the Ninja 500? It appeared like a form of stopgap motorbike. A stable alternative for a rider returning to the saddle, however not the best choice as a starter bike, and never the appropriate weapon for a observe day, both. The place was the Ninja 300, and why did Kawasaki trim it from their lineup?
Effectively, in accordance with the sleuths at Motorcycle.com, the Ninja 300 could also be slated for a return to the US, and overseas.
Because of data supplied by the California Air Sources Board, which issued an govt order for a 2026 Kawasaki mannequin coded as “EX300GT,” it looks like we may see a 300cc sport bike from KMC as early as subsequent 12 months. You see, EX is used internally to designate a twin-cylinder Ninja mannequin such because the EX500 (Ninja 500) and EX650 (Ninja 650). The earlier Ninja 300 carried the identical designation, labeled because the EX300AH, with the “A” signifying the mannequin’s technology and the “H” representing the 2017 mannequin 12 months.
Due to this fact, the “GT” on the finish of EX300GT suggests a brand new technology Ninja 300 for mannequin 12 months 2026, with “T” being the letter used industry-wide to determine bikes slated for launch subsequent 12 months.
Moreover, the manager order “confirms the Ninja 300 will use the identical 296cc displacement because the earlier mannequin in 2017, and that will probably be a special iteration of that engine than the one at the moment powering the Versys-X 300.” Though the Ninja 300 has been absent from dealerships since 2017 right here within the US and in Europe, Kawasaki has continued to supply the 300cc sport bike in India and different international locations, a few of which see a 250cc variant. In Might, Kawasaki unveiled an up to date Ninja 300 for the Indian market, with a bigger windscreen, new projector headlights, and a brand new inventory tire.
So, will we see the return of one among our favourite small sport bikes in 2026? We’re actually hoping so, and anticipate that KMC will unveil a US iteration of what’s being provided in India later this 12 months after they launch the remainder of their 2026 mannequin 12 months bikes.
Trending Merchandise
