RX3 Visits With the X-300

[Lee R]

Originally Posted by jbfla

The only thing stopping me from buying it is the dealer price.

ABS model is $5,700 USD. Add sales tax and all the dealer BS fees and I was quoted an OTD price of $7,500 USD.

...and that is with no accessories. Similarly equipped, it will easily be the price of two RX3's.

.....hmmmmmmmm.


jb

I was just quoted $5150 or $5400 non/abs from Romney Cycles on the east coast, add 75$ and that's their OTD price, plus whatever your state tax is on the bike.

Honestly that's not a bad price and my RX3 with the 19" wheel, usb and Shinko 805's was 4200 to my door. It's basically 1000 more than the RX3 or 1250 if you prefer ABS.

Of course you'll then need Luggage and crash bars plus a skid plate (the stock skid plate on the RX is a bit weak though to be fair).

The Kawasaki will hold value better than the RX3 so that 1000 difference isn't really much, it's the accessories that add value to the RX3.

The RX3 is still competitive but it's no longer alone. The RX4 is going to be up for some stiff competition when it arrives as it'll likely be priced at or very close to the Kawasaki and by then the KTM 390 ADV will be around and if Yamaha jumps in we may see a 320 Tenere.

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by Lee R

I was just quoted $5150 or $5400 non/abs from Romney Cycles on the east coast, add 75$ and that's their OTD price, plus whatever your state tax is on the bike.

Honestly that's not a bad price and my RX3 with the 19" wheel, usb and Shinko 805's was 4200 to my door. It's basically 1000 more than the RX3 or 1250 if you prefer ABS.

Of course you'll then need Luggage and crash bars plus a skid plate (the stock skid plate on the RX is a bit weak though to be fair).

The Kawasaki will hold value better than the RX3 so that 1000 difference isn't really much, it's the accessories that add value to the RX3.

The RX3 is still competitive but it's no longer alone. The RX4 is going to be up for some stiff competition when it arrives as it'll likely be priced at or very close to the Kawasaki and by then the KTM 390 ADV will be around and if Yamaha jumps in we may see a 320 Tenere.

KTM 390 ADV...ooo la la that might just be worth the big bucks...but, like you say, a 10k moto with all the farks.

[Lee R]

Originally Posted by BlackBike

KTM 390 ADV...ooo la la that might just be worth the big bucks...but, like you say, a 10k moto with all the farks.

I'm betting the KTM is way closer in price to the Kawasaki. The 390 Duke is a 5000 dollar bike, the ADV is going to be a made in india bike like the Duke. I'm betting it's under 6000 and probably costs 5500 to compete with the India made BMW 300 that's also out.

With accessories to match it's still going to be a 7k+ bike BUT it'll likely be very good offroad, it's a KTM and it's 21/18 combo.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Lee R

I was just quoted $5150 or $5400 non/abs from Romney Cycles on the east coast, add 75$ and that's their OTD price, plus whatever your state tax is on the ....

Lee, for that price, I might get used to the high revving engine.

Might be worth a trip to WV......wonder how far that is from Marlinton?

jb

[Sullybiker]

Originally Posted by Biker_Andy

I think we can all agree the x300 is the ideal small adventure sport bike (so far). Certainly not ideal for off road in its current state but it might not take much to greatly improve it's off road prowess either.

I see the x300 competing more against the CB500X and other more street oriented adventure styled bikes.

I think Kawasaki is having great success putting the ninja engine in a cruiser that the figured why not try it with an adventure bike.

I think you're referring to the Vulcan? that's the Ninja 650 mill which is a really nice twin. It's also in the Versys and people love that bike.

It's interesting that you mention the Honda 500 series. I rode the CBR500R and it's a seriously well made bike, but for an entry level sport standard (like the Ninja 300) the engine was just a bit too well-mannered. The CB500 and 500X however, are absolutely brilliant, and I have a little buyer's remorse I didn't get the former as It's a really good commuter, and those same easy manners on the engine work really well.

[jbfla]

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

........

It's interesting that you mention the Honda 500 series. I rode the CBR500R and it's a seriously well made bike, but for an entry level sport standard (like the Ninja 300) the engine was just a bit too well-mannered. The CB500 and 500X however, are absolutely brilliant, .....

Coincidentally, I was looking at the CB 500X and 500F today....

Prices on leftover 2016s are comparable to the X-300.....

jb

[RogerWFarrier]

Originally Posted by pyoungbl

39 hp from a 300cc mill? I'd like to verify that on a dyno. Manufacturers are usually very optimistic when they list stuff like weight and hp, knowing that lots of people will take those numbers as gospel. I'm thinking about my Guzzi V7 (744cc) which dyno'd out at 39.57 hp stock and 41.86hp after flashing the ECU. That's about 10 hp less than advertised.

As for the cost...I got lots of options (skid plate, front and rear tire w/ 19" wheel trail package, tourer package...aluminum bags etc) and the bottom line was $5900 delivered to my door. I think it's easy to forget that the X-300 price is MSRP. Delivery, setup, documentation, etc are profit centers for the dealer and those numbers are unknown. I'm guessing a gap of $1.5 ~ $2K between the two bikes when all is said and done. That's not to say that the X-300 is not a good bike, possibly more capable than the Zong, just that CSC has less overhead to cover and thus can offer more for your money.

Peter Y.

Those Kawasaki small twins are great little engines. I had an '04 Ninja 250 and it put 26.4 hp to the rear wheel on a DynoJet 250i dyno so 39 hp at the crank out of their 300 seems to be pretty much in the ballpark for what I've seen in my experience.

[Biker_Andy]

Originally Posted by Sullybiker

I think you're referring to the Vulcan? that's the Ninja 650 mill which is a really nice twin. It's also in the Versys and people love that bike.

Yes the Vulcan with the Ninja engine seems to be very successful and I was seriously considering buying it at one point.

I own a CB500X, I wanted an RX3 but they weren't available in Canada at the time so I bought the 'X' instead. I really like my "X" and am glad I made the purchase. I own a TT250 for off-road riding and really like that bike too. I think I have a better combo of bikes for off-road and street then if I just had the RX3 but I also spent twice as much on the two bikes as one RX3.

The 300-X like the CB500X needs a rally raid kit or similar to make it off-road worthy but at the price of the kit you could just buy a new TT250.

[BlackBike]

http://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/ka...0-test-review/

Some of the same knit pics as jbfla but overall positive review for everyday riders that will appeal to the masses

[Lee R]

If your in the market for a commuter, have a very very good look at the Honda NC700x. My father just picked one up for 5800 with DCT all the factory luggage, the touring screen and 12v plug. It's a year old with 2500 miles on it.

I've ridden it and the DCT is amazing and I'm a manual fan. It fits that engine perfectly. Think of it as an automatic F1 car transmission, it has a mpg, drive logic or a S sport logic that stays higher in the rpm. Manual mode uses quick shifters on the left grip. It's nothing at all like the car auto transmissions. This thing is lightning quick and shifts when you click it, it does not wait like a car does for appropriate rpm. I've ridden the Africa Twin with it as well for two days. I'd pick DCT over manual at this point.

Best of all the built in trunk is awesome and he got 74mpg and 72 out of the first two fills. The first was at 65-75 mph uphill into the AZ mountains. This is calculated at the pump. I've never seen anything that efficient at freeway speeds. This is I think 680cc. My RX gets 52-55 at that speed. Range is 200 plus miles per tank.

It uses screw adjustable valves which require 16,000 mile checks and are easy to access, easier than the RX.

Handling is very good with a super low CG and 17" wheels. We did plenty or riding on loose gravel forest roads and the low CG makes it feel as light as a 400lb bike. Low speed manners are the best I've ever ridden on a bike.

It's a very underrated motorcycle and now I want one just for commuting.

[Roronoa Zoro]

I don't think that anyone with over 10K miles on their RX3 has experienced stability with their valve adjustments. Like a disposable motor. Just adjust until replacement/rebuild is needed. Most likely is metalugically related, with inferior materials in those areas.
That's why IMO they need to skip over the RX4 and get that parallel twin 400cc bike to market. Should hold up better over time.

[Paeksukis]

You guys should watch this x300 review by F9. This guy need more subs.

[Juanro]

Originally Posted by Roronoa Zoro

I don't think that anyone with over 10K miles on their RX3 has experienced stability with their valve adjustments.

My bike is over 28000km (17.5K miles) and is still pretty consistent on keeping valve gap. It never showed any sign of it decreasing, perhaps the second time I adjusted it, at the begining, had the exhaust valve lash been a little tight, but never under specs. Note that I'm from Argentina, my bike is a 2015 Rx3 carburetor version, not a CSC one.

[2LZ]

Interesting vid. Well done. I have yet to have either of my RX3's vibrate to pieces but my non-balanced thumpers have been like riding blenders. I do understand the entertainment value that needs to happen in videos and after all, he wasn't testing the RX3.
That seems like a lot of ponies. I have to look back in this thread to refresh myself on what jb said about it.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Paeksukis

You guys should watch this x300 review by F9. This guy need more subs.

Welcome to China Riders, and thanks for posting the excellent video review; I enjoyed watching it very much.