Kawasaki J300 ABS

Overview

Amidst the range of all the small, medium, and big performance oriented motorcycles, Kawasaki does offer a unique scooter in the name of J300. The entry-level maxi-scooter is the only scooter offering from Kawasaki in Malaysia, with an edgy and modern design as well as strong mechanicals. The J300 has been priced by Kawasaki at RM 31,498 and is being offered in two sober paint shades of black and white.

Design

Like every other maxi-scooter on sale in the country, the Kawasaki J300 too offers a big and premium design, which gives a European flair to it.

At the front, the Kawasaki J300 has got a huge front fairing with centrally mounted dual headlamp assembly. Flanking the angular headlamps on both the upper edges are 3-bulb LED position lamps, which give the J300 a contemporary front fascia. The saber-tooth shaped clear lens turn indicators below the headlamps on both the sides look good too. Adding some more visual appeal to the front of the J300 is the huge fully adjustable transparent front windshield.

The side profile of the Kawasaki J300 is a bit generic from the standards of the maxi-scooter category, however, it still manages to look quite distinctive from other entry-level scooters. The partitioned floorboard reduces the load carrying capacity of the J300, however, it is quite ergonomic for tall riders as well. The single piece seat, as well as pillion grab rail, are large and very comfortable to use. At the rear, the J300 gets a W-shaped LED tail lamp assembly.

The rider’s cockpit of the Kawasaki J300 too is one unique view to see, with the scooter getting wide clip-on handlebars finished in silver color, thus adding to the overall premium feel of the scooter. The two analog dials for speedometer and tachometer, with a small LCD screen for digital readouts of fuel gauge, temperature gauge, clock, odometer, and trip meters, looks quite huge and nicely styled. However, given today’s times, we would have loved to see a fully digital instrument console on the J300. The J300 also comes with a large under-seat storage compartment with LED lighting as well as a small handy glove box mounted on the front apron, with the latter getting a dedicated 12V socket for charging your smart-phone.

Ride & Handling

The most focusable trait of a maxi-scooter is offering a plush and smooth ride quality, an aspect in which the J300 emerges out as a clear winner. Sitting on a tube diamond frame, the Kawasaki J300 is blessed with 37 mm telescopic fork at the front and twin shocks with 5-way adjustable preload at the rear.

The overall ride quality, thanks to the wide and grippy 120/80-14M/C front tyre and 150/70-13M/C rear tyre, is massively impressive in terms of overall comfort levels. The 260mm front disc brake, as well as 240mm rear disc brake too, is flawless in terms of feedback.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

Compared to the rev-happy engines of the other motorcycles from Kawasaki, the J300 has got a sedate sounding four-stroke, single cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 299cc engine. The engine mated to a smooth operating CVT transmission, belts out a maximum power output of 28PS and a peak torque output of 28.7Nm. Like all the other Kawasaki engines, refinement of the J300’s engine is undoubtedly the best in the segment. Adding a few more zest to the engine is the usable midrange, making it very friendly for urban riding conditions.

Braking & Safety

Given the entry-level positioning of the J300, it is safe to say that the scooter misses out on many sophisticated safety aids commonly found in bigger middleweight maxi-scooters. However, the presence of dual channel ABS ensures that handling the J300 in all emergency braking conditions is not a haphazard experience.

Verdict

The Kawasaki J300 is one perfect scooter for all those who want a premium maxi-scooter experience without feeling too much intimidated by its size. With very friendly stance and dimensions, the J300’s practicality only gets more likeable with the torquey engine as well as smooth and pliant suspension setup.