Okay, so, about that 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300… Man, what a ride that was! I remember picking this bike up, thinking it was going to be a good starter bike. And it totally was, but it also surprised me with how much fun it was even after I got more experienced.
First thing I did? Got familiar with it. I mean really familiar. I spent a good afternoon just sitting on it in the garage, getting a feel for the clutch, the throttle, the brakes… everything. I even practiced slow-speed maneuvers in an empty parking lot for hours. I think I dropped it once or twice at super low speed, no big deal. Getting that muscle memory down is key, you know?
Maintenance Time!
- Oil Changes: This was probably the thing I did most often. Super easy, even for a newbie like me back then. Just warmed up the engine, drained the old oil, replaced the filter, and filled it up with new oil. I think I watched a YouTube video like five times before I actually did it, though.
- Chain Cleaning and Lubing: Okay, this one was a little messier. But so important! I got a good chain cleaner and lube, put the bike up on a stand, and just went to town. Took a while to scrub all the gunk off, but a clean chain makes a huge difference.
- Tire Pressure Checks: This became a pre-ride ritual. Grabbed my trusty tire pressure gauge and made sure everything was at the recommended PSI. Super simple, but can save you a lot of hassle (and maybe even a crash) down the road.
- Coolant Check: That’s easy, rearly do it, just need to look at the level on the reservior.
- Brake Pads Inspection: Another easy one, I just looked at the remaining pad material through the caliper. When it got close to the wear indicators, I swapped them out.
Minor Mods
I couldn’t resist making a few tweaks, of course. Nothing crazy, just some things to make it a little more mine.
- Slip-On Exhaust: Man, this made the bike sound so much better! It wasn’t super loud, but it had a nice, throaty growl. Pretty easy to install, too. Just unbolted the old one and bolted on the new one.
- Fender Eliminator: This cleaned up the rear end of the bike a lot. Just removed the bulky stock fender and installed a smaller, sleeker one. Made it look way more sporty.
- Frame Sliders: These were a must-have, in my opinion. If (or when) you drop the bike, these help protect the fairings and other important parts from getting scratched up.
All in all, that Ninja 300 was a fantastic bike. I learned a ton, had a blast, and created a ton of memories. I eventually sold it, but it was a great few time with it.
