2021 Benelli 302R vs Kawasaki Ninja 300: Photo Comparison

Can the upcoming Benelli 302R steal the Ninja 300’s thunder?

Currently in India, the only 300cc motorcycle to pack a parallel-twin motor is the Kawasaki Ninja 300. However, that will change very soon with the 2021 Benelli 302R on the charts. The latest iteration of the 302R has not only received a major cosmetic overhaul but also quite a few mechanical tweaks. So, to find out how it stacks up against the Japanese offering, we’ve compared both the bikes in detailed images: 

Benelli has redesigned the fascia and the 302R now gets vertically stacked projector headlamps with fairing-integrated winglets. On the other hand, Kawasaki has been using the same front end, featuring a halogen headlamp, for the Ninja 300 for years now and a small refresh would be much appreciated. 

Powering the 302R is a 300cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine that makes 35.35PS and 27Nm, which is 3.4PS less power and 0.5Nm more torque than the BS4 model. The Ninja 300 gets a 296cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled engine that pumps out 39PS and 26.1Nm. 

Another major update on the 2021 Benelli 302R is the full-colour TFT instrument console. The Ninja 300 sports the same semi-digital instrument cluster as before, which looks a bit archaic.

While both the bikes use LED taillights, Benelli has taken things up a notch by adding vents below the pillion seat. 

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Suspension work on the 302R is done by the same 41mm USD front fork, which is now preload-adjustable, and a monoshock at the rear. On the other side, the Ninja 300 uses a 37mm telescopic fork and a rear-linked monoshock, the same as before. 

Braking on the 2021 Benelli 302R is handled by twin front discs and a single rear disc while the Ninja 300 sheds speed using a single 290mm front and 220mm rear petal disc. Dual-channel ABS comes standard on both bikes.

Benelli has managed to cut down the 302R’s weight by 22kg and it now tips the scales at 182kg. The Ninja 300 weighs in at 179kg. 

Benelli has carried over the same 14-litre fuel tank for the latest version of the 302R whereas the Ninja 300 gets a 17-litre fuel tank. 

As of now, in China, the Benelli 302R is priced at CNY 29,800 (approximately Rs 3.38 lakh). Once it’s launched in India, the expected price can be around Rs 3.60 lakh (ex-showroom), whereas Kawasaki India has priced the Ninja 300 at Rs 3.18 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).