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It’s outstanding what a couple of tweaks can do in bettering a motorbike’s skills on a racetrack. I received to expertise this primary hand on the Rajini Academy of Aggressive Racing (RACR), final November, once they let me borrow their track-ready Kawasaki Ninja 300 for the weekend.
The Ninja 300 is now an outdated bike and ours is without doubt one of the previous few markets it was bought in – a BS6 version is being readied as we converse. In its time although, the newborn Ninja was a moderately versatile specimen even proper out of a showroom. However, in its inventory type, it wasn’t very best for the racetrack. The crew at RACR have carried out a powerful job in altering these points, turning it into an thrilling on-track machine.
I didn’t have the chance to journey a inventory Ninja 300 back-to-back and examine the place the modifications are most obvious, however I can safely say that this race-spec Ninja is a fast little factor – one which’s definitely faster than the inventory bike. How can I say for positive? Firstly, there’s a notable chunk of weight that’s been shaved off. Something that isn’t required on a racetrack – the lights, pillion seat and that giant eye-sore of a seize rail from the inventory bike – has been stripped away. The bike hasn’t been weighed for a precise quantity, however I’ve been informed it weighs about 10-15kg lower than the inventory bike, which, for reference, has a kerb weight of 179kg. In consequence, the bike feels extraordinarily simple to tip right into a nook; a bit of too simple, the truth is. There’s little or no weight on the entrance and only one nook in, I realised it required little or no enter to get the bike to lean over. Owing to this decreased weight on the entrance, I additionally felt like an pointless enter mid-corner would unsettle the bike fairly a bit, so it was essential that I used to be deliberate, however clean, with my actions.
Entrance and aspect fairings are from the Ninja 400 for decreased weight and higher aero.
The added agility can also be enabled by a recalibrated suspension set-up. The bike retains basically the identical suspension {hardware}, however a higher-viscosity oil and altered internals within the telescopic fork permit for a stiffer, extra track-oriented journey. The crew at RACR has made modifications to the ergonomics as effectively. The inventory Ninja 300 had an nearly sport-tourer-like using place that wasn’t almost as aggressive as a few of its totally faired rivals. On the race bike, the handlebar stays in its inventory place, however the addition of rearset foot pegs have gone a good distance in aiding its ergonomics on monitor. It nonetheless doesn’t put you in a really aggressive using place, but it surely’s sufficient to determine a agency reference to the bike and what’s taking place below you.
Additional aiding its dealing with is the selection of rubber. The bike now runs on Dunlop Sportmax Alpha-13 SPs at both finish – a notable step up from the MRF Nylogrip Zappers on the inventory bike. Our time at Kari additionally noticed some rain and the tyres held up decently effectively, even if the monitor wasn’t all the time in good using situation.
Entrance brake makes use of aftermarket braided traces, however grasp cylinder stays inventory.
This explicit bike has been developed solely to be used at RACR’s monitor days and coaching periods, so the modifications are usually not restricted by the laws of the FMSCI. Regardless of this, the crew has stored modifications to the high-revving engine pretty easy, restricted to a reflashed ECU, an aftermarket exhaust from AHM, and a entrance sprocket that’s smaller by one tooth. These modifications lead to stronger acceleration on the compromise of high velocity and a quick-throttle system makes it a lot simpler to get going even with the slightest twist of the wrist. Regardless of the smaller entrance sprocket, this Ninja nonetheless climbs shortly previous 140kph down the now-shortened major straight at Kari. Nonetheless, it’s on the finish of it the place one other facet of its modifications turned clearly obvious – the brakes.
The RACR livery makes the bike look beautiful even when it’s going sluggish.
The inventory brake pads have given method to efficiency models from EBC and the system additionally makes use of steel-braided traces for higher and extra constant braking. This mix ends in extraordinarily sharp braking and I used to be bowled over by how effectively they carried out, the primary time I used to be exhausting on the brakes. That’s most likely why the fellows behind the bike’s growth determined towards upgrading the grasp cylinder as effectively.
Lastly, there are some beauty modifications as effectively. The entrance and aspect fairings have been changed by those on the Ninja 400. The crew opted to take action as a result of they felt it had a greater aerodynamic profile. I wholly agree with their determination as a result of, within the RACR Castrol Power1 Racing livery, it seems gorgeous.
I solely received a couple of quick laps on the bike, owing to the academy’s tight schedule. However, it was sufficient for me to understand {that a} decently highly effective bike and a few moderately cheap modifications are all you want for those who’re trying to spend some high quality time on a racetrack. It’s not a scary quantity of energy to get began on, however there’s additionally sufficient efficiency in there so that you can have a smashing good time.
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