KAWASAKI J300 (2014 - on) Review

The J300 is an excellent entry into the competitive scooter market and shows the firm is really serious about the market. It's sits perfectly between lighter 125cc scooters and much larger and heavier maxi scoots, combining a good spread of power with good, easy handling.

Isn't the Kawasaki J300 just a Kymco? 

Well, yes and no. According to Kawasaki ‘the core drive train and additional chassis elements were provided by strategic vehicle partner, Kymco and the development, styling and final product engineering approach was conducted exclusively by Kawasaki’s European R&D Department’.

In effect it is a Kymco Downtown 300i (which was cheaper than the J300), a capable little machine which has been given a Kawasaki overhaul. As well as a cosmetic job, the J300 gets a new rear suspension, revamped ECU for more mid-range power, a comfier seat, different brake calipers, redesigned screen, better lights, footboards and heel pads. Its core is a Kymco, but the J300 is very much a Kawasaki.

As you'd expect from a scooter the ride is plush without being too soft and at 191kg it's not too heavy to throw around mini roundabouts and between cars. Out on the open road it's surprisingly fun and easy to ride. The saddle is very plush and after a full day of riding was still comfy.

Despite 'only' making 27bhp the 299cc single-cylinder engine in the J300 has plenty of go. It's easy to overtake uphill at 70mph and it'll happily sit at 80mph without any trouble. There's enough punch from the engine to make light work of dicing between cars and getting away from the lights in town.

The J300 is based heavily on the Kymco Downtown 300, a Taiwanese scooter, but the fact Kawasaki are willing to partner with Kymco and put their name on it suggests they're confident with the quality. The scooter feels well made.

Our Kawasaki J300 owners' reviews show a few reliability issues and some corrosion has occured, but overall people are happy with their bikes. One reader said the brakes could be better on his bike.

The ABS version will go on sale in limited numbers for £4,499, which represents fairly decent value in the mid-range scooter market. There are cheaper scooters of a similar capacity available, but few of them have ABS. If ABS isn't a deal breaker there's the SE model priced at £4,149 and the standard model priced at £4,049.

Group test: Kawasaki J300 vs Piaggio X10 Executive vs Honda Forza

Kawasaki may be a late-comer to scootering with its new J300 (it’s the last of the ‘Big Four’ to offer a small-wheeler – and by a long way) but it reckons it compensates for that by bringing something new to the party. To be specific, the firm say its 300cc scooter ‘blends sport, control, comfort and convenience which will appeal to sports-minded riders looking for a daily dose of fun from their commute’.

So perhaps the new mid-sized twist-and-go can bring a little extra excitement to the genre. Until now, 300-class scoots were primarily practical and efficient machines which made perfect sense for the extra-urban commuter. They’re economical, low stress, nimble and come with bags of storage. All are great reasons to own one. The only downside is they can be a little boring so finding one with a perfect blend of function, style and excitement is no mean feat. Which is where the J300 is supposed to come in and is what makes it an important machine for ‘Team Green’.

If what Kawasaki is saying is true, the J300 will be good for work duties and getting a move on. So to find out if it delivers just that we decided to pit it in a series of tests designed to explore commuting, practicality and fun factor, against two competitors at opposite ends of the spectrum: the practical Honda NSS300A Forza and flash Piaggio X10 Executive. This is how it got on.

Despite being late to an already competitive party, the J300 is a quality machine. Kawasaki received a fair amount of help from Taiwanese firm Kymco, but the redesigned and modified scoot looks and feels like a fresh alternative. The bodywork looks sporty and stylish. It comes with nice touches such as a hydraulically-operated seat, faired-in indicators, adjustable levers and a fair amount of wind protection. There’s bags of torque and the 299cc motor packs a good punch. But the budget suspension lets it down, and it’s a shame you can’t fit two lids under the seat like the Honda and Piaggio. 

The Forza takes the practicality prize as it’s a £1000 cheaper than the Piaggio and can carry just as much. It’s more economical but loses out on acceleration. 

The Piaggio is our favourite. It’s sleek, comfortable, roomy and marries the acceleration of the Kawasaki with the handling of the Honda. Yes, it is £1500 more expensive than the J300, but still takes the win. It’s a luxurious and accomplished scoot. But the J300 shouldn’t feel deflated; yes it could do with more storage space, but Kawasaki has done a brilliant job.

Equipment is fairly basic, offering the usual scooter practicalities. Under the seat there's enough room for a full face helmet and A4-sized briefcase. The seat is held up by a hydraulic arm, while there's also an internal light activated by a light sensor. It's a nice touch but may struggle in the dark since it relies on light to work. There's a lockable glovebox underneath the left handlebar which is big enough for a wallet and phone and includes a 12V socket.

The 2019 Kawasaki J300 is available in two colour options to match the Kawasaki J125. The black and green option remains from the original range, and Khaki and Metallic Moondust has been added.