The last time we saw a Kawasaki Ninja 300 shipped to the US was in 2017, with the entry-level sport bike being replaced by the larger-displacement Ninja 400 in 2018. And the 400 was then replaced by a 500cc iteration in 2024, which has now left a gap in Kawasaki’s lineup where the beloved Ninja 300 once lived.
To some, the Ninja 500 fulfills the need for a sport bike at an entry-level price point, with an approachable riding position, power output, and overall performance per dollar spent. But for many, the Ninja 300 wasn’t just a baby sport bike; it was the gateway to honing their riding skills before stepping up to something more powerful.
I spent a few days with the Ninja 500 last summer, and while the twin-cylinder motor made ample horsepower, I couldn’t help but feel like I should’ve been on a Ninja ZX6-R, even though the riding position was considerably more comfortable on the 500. And that left me wondering, why would someone choose the Ninja 500? It seemed like a sort of stopgap motorcycle. A solid choice for a rider returning to the saddle, but not the best option as a starter bike, and not the right weapon for a track day, either. Where was the Ninja 300, and why did Kawasaki trim it from their lineup?
Well, according to the sleuths at Motorcycle.com, the Ninja 300 may be slated for a return to the US, and abroad.
Thanks to information provided by the California Air Resources Board, which issued an executive order for a 2026 Kawasaki model coded as “EX300GT,” it seems like we could see a 300cc sport bike from KMC as early as next year. You see, EX is used internally to designate a twin-cylinder Ninja model such as the EX500 (Ninja 500) and EX650 (Ninja 650). The previous Ninja 300 carried the same designation, labeled as the EX300AH, with the “A” signifying the model’s generation and the “H” representing the 2017 model year.
Therefore, the “GT” at the end of EX300GT suggests a new generation Ninja 300 for model year 2026, with “T” being the letter used industry-wide to identify motorcycles slated for release next year.
Additionally, the executive order “confirms the Ninja 300 will use the same 296cc displacement as the previous model in 2017, and that it will be a different iteration of that engine than the one currently powering the Versys-X 300.” Although the Ninja 300 has been absent from dealerships since 2017 here in the US and in Europe, Kawasaki has continued to offer the 300cc sport bike in India and other countries, some of which see a 250cc variant. In May, Kawasaki unveiled an updated Ninja 300 for the Indian market, with a larger windscreen, new projector headlights, and a new stock tire.
So, will we see the return of one of our favorite small sport bikes in 2026? We’re certainly hoping so, and anticipate that KMC will unveil a US iteration of what’s being offered in India later this year when they release the rest of their 2026 model year motorcycles.
