1701 RF final

Kawasaki Ninja 300R
This bike really looks the part of a proper
sportbike as lots of the styling elements of
the ZX10-R can be found on the little Ninja.
The 296cc power plant is strategically
tucked into the frame to centralize the
bike’s lack of weight ensuring nimble
handling. The Ninja 300R will make a
great ‘first set of wheels’ as well as daily
commuter.
KAWASAKI 300R R64 995
296cc twin, 36hp @12000rpm • 27nm@10000rpm
154kg dry • 0-100kph=7sec, max speed=180kph
Yamaha R3
In my opinion I don’t think this particular
bike is the best looking small sportbike. It is
not as convincing as KTM RC’s bikes or the
Kawasaki Ninja. That being said, in Rossi
Replica colours it looks pretty awesome.
It’s not even necessary to discuss reliability.
It will probably swop through a couple of
owners in its lifetime. Great power and
handling is also a given.
YAMAHA R3 R64 950
321cc twin, 42hp @10750rpm • 30nm@9200rpm
148kg dry • 0-100kph=7sec, max speed=184kph
2017 Honda CBR250RR
Lets us not beat around the bush as this
new CBR250RR is a real looker. It’s without
a shadow of a doubt one if not the best
looking small capacity sportbike of late. The
RR in the name also
suggests
it’s a tat special and sporty at that. In fact
this might just be the fastest four-stroke
250cc sportbike ever. Honda also claims
that this bike will be a corner eater and
then some given its track oriented setup
and design. Given the time Honda spend
developing this bike I tend to believe these
promises of sheer brilliance. No word on
the price yet but I don’t expect this baby
Blade to cheap.
HONDA CBR250RR R?????
249cc twin, 36hp@12200rpm • 23nm@10000rpm
150kg dry • 0-100kph=7sec, max speed=180kph
Suzuki GSX 150F
It might not be the fastest or most powerful
small sportbike, but it surely opens the
door to biking like no other.
At R29 600 it is a bargain,
no matter how you look
at it. This is what entry
level biking is all about,
having an affordable yet
properly built motorcycle,
which either helps you to
improve your biking skills
or simply just takes you
from point A to point B
and putting a smile on your
face while doing so.
Suzuki GSX-R 250
It looks promising indeed and given the
good ‘value for money’
trend set by Suzuki when
it comes to small bikes,
should this bike also be
keen to your wallet as
it is to your eyes. But
then you compare
the figures to the
similarly size
CBR250RR
and you start to
realize it has to
be cheaper than
SUZUKI GSX 150F R29 600
155cc twin, 15hp @6500rpm • 14nm@6000rpm
127kg dry • 0-100kph=8sec, max speed=125kph
SUZUKI GSX-R250 R?????
248cc twin, 25hp@8000rpm • 23nm@6500rpm
165kg dry • 0-100kph=7.0sec, max speed=130kph
the Honda to really make sense. Suzuki
claimed a top speed of merely 130kph
which might be a blower to a potential
buyer. This fact makes the GSX-R250 one
of the slowest bikes here, not something
you like to hear when you fancy some
street cred out on your new ride. But let us
not get hopeless right away about this new
little Gixxer as a 300cc version is said to be
in the making. And I mean just look at it.
RIDEFAST MAGAZINE JANUARY 2017 6 3