2021 Benelli 302R vs Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6 Specs Compared

Published May 12, 2021
Views : 9022
4 min read

Is the Benelli supersport a better motorcycle now than the crowd favourite?

The Benelli 302R has undergone a major overhaul for 2021. Not only is the motor differently tuned and meeting the current European/Indian emission laws, the bike has also lost an incredible amount of flab. Does it finally have what it takes to outshine the Kawasaki Ninja 300, the most popular twin-cylinder sub-400cc motorcycle on sale in India?

*BS4 engine shown here

Engine

Specifications	2021 Benelli 302R	Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
Engine	300cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 8-valve engine	296cc, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 8-valve engine
Power	35.35PS @ 11,000rpm	39PS @ 11,000rpm
Torque	27Nm @ 9,000rpm	26.1Nm @ 10,000rpm
Gearbox	6-speed	6-speed

With the transition to BS6, both the Benelli and the Kawasaki have lost a bit of top-end performance. There still exists a major power difference between the two supersports but the Benelli 302R has gained an edge in terms of peak torque, which also kicks in a thousand revs sooner than the Ninja 300. Benelli has worked hard to shave off 22 kilos from the old BS4 model and that has improved the 302R’s power-to-weight ratio. But still, it is a tad less than the Kwacker.

Although the Ninja might just have the edge in terms of outright performance, the 302R could be better suited for commuting. Both motorcycles have peaky power deliveries but thanks to the more accessible torque on the 302R, making swift overtakes in higher gears would not be as time consuming as on the Ninja 300.

Underpinnings

Specifications	2021 Benelli 302R	Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
Frame	Tubular steel diamond	Tubular steel diamond
Front suspension	USD fork	37mm telescopic fork
Rear suspension	Link-type preload-adjustable monoshock	Link-type preload-adjustable monoshock
Front brake	Twin discs, twin-piston calipers	290mm petal disc, twin-piston caliper
Rear brake	Single disc, single-piston caliper	220mm petal disc, twin-piston caliper
Front tyre	110/70 - R17	110/70 - 17
Rear tyre	150/70 - R17	140/70 - 17

It is advantage Benelli as the 302R packs slightly more sophisticated suspension components, a twin disc setup on the front wheel, and radial tyres. While the earlier generation 302R didn’t have brilliant brakes, it had the better suspension tune of the two. Even the tyres offered in India on the Italian supersport were high-spec Metzeler Sportec M5s that are vastly superior to the Kawasaki Ninja’s MRFs.

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Dimensions

Specifications	2021 Benelli 302R	Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
Wheelbase	1,410mm	1,405mm
Ground clearance	130mm	140mm
Fuel tank capacity	14-litres	17-litres
Seat height	785mm	780mm
Kerb weight	182kg	179kg

There’s a reason why the Ninja 300 is so highly rated as a sports tourer. It has comfy riding ergos, a large fuel tank, and a decent amount of ground clearance to tackle harsh Indian roads. The Benelli does a rather good job and is certainly better than other segment players like the TVS Apache RR 310 and the KTM RC 390 (which is also set to undergo a massive overhaul). It is just when you compare it to the Ninja 300 that the Benelli lags behind.

Features

	2021 Benelli 302R	Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
LED headlight	Yes	No
Colour TFT screen	Yes	No

The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is a handsome looking motorcycle. However, the design of the bike has started to grow weary, especially in light of newer, more striking motorcycles. Admittedly, Kawasaki hasn’t given it any serious updates because globally, the Ninja 300 has met its fate and has been replaced by the Ninja 400.

The Benelli 302R on the other hand has been given a fresh lease of life for 2021. The new front fascia is in tune with the times. You find lots of LED elements here that are lacking on the Ninja and even the colourful cluster adds some pop to the package.

Price & Verdict

2021 Benelli 302R	Kawasaki Ninja 300 BS6
Rs 3.60 lakh (expected)	Rs 3.18 lakh

(all prices ex-showroom India)

It is going to be extremely hard for Benelli to match Kawasaki on the pricing front. At Rs 3.18 lakh, the Ninja 300 is one of the more affordable multi-cylinder motorcycles that you can buy in the country right now. Benelli would have to offer the 302R at around Rs 3.60 lakh or lower to even make some dent into the Ninja’s brilliant sales record. The 302R is expected to hit our shores sometime this year, so expect us to pit these two (and perhaps even the updated RC 390 and RR310) in a battle soon.

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