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bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038

Posted 2/12/2008 5:01 PM (GMT -8)

We sample Kawasaki's best-selling sportbike in San Diego. In fact, the Ninja 250R is the Japanese firm's best-selling motorcycle period. Check out MotorcycleUSA's 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R - First Ride.

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 2/12/2008 5:40 PM (GMT -8)

The new 250 looks great, but it is a real bummer that it now weighs more than the old bike, but makes less power. Independant dyno tests have already confirmed that.
More on the - side is that it also no longer offers a centerstand.
On the + side - apparently much better suspension and wheels.
What gets me is that this is a huge seller in the US for Kawi, and yet none of the other mfgs offer anything to give it competition. Even though they do sell 250 sport bikes in other markets outside of the USA. Kawaski has shown that there is a huge demand for them. So why no one else brings in their stuff?

Børk! Børk! Børk!

blue ninja
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2007
Total Posts : 25

Posted 2/12/2008 8:52 PM (GMT -8)

I have a 2005 Ninja 250 and my only complaint about it is the styling. I really like the look of the new one and I got a chance to sit on it at the Chicago Motorcycle Show this last weekend. It doesn't fit me as well as the old one did because now the tank flairs out and gets a little bit in the way of my thighs. If the new ninja doesn't have a centerstand then that is a big minus I think. I would not want to buy a chain driven bike without one because it would make the adjustment more of a pain than it already is.

jon
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4569

Posted 2/12/2008 9:14 PM (GMT -8)

nice write up...yep, kaw has done a great job changing the baby ninja's appearance.

Desmo,

hyosung does offer the gt250r that looks just as good as the baby ninja imo in the good ol u.s. of a but i guess people are waiting for it to established a good rep first before they start buying it.

bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038

Posted 2/13/2008 8:32 AM (GMT -8)

I was hoping Kawasaki would have had an old Ninja 250 for us to ride at the intro so I could compare the two better, but no such luck.

Desmo your claim of independent dynos confirming the new Ninja produces less peak power sounds right, although Kawi reps promised that the low to mid range has improved. The suspension and wheels make it a much better machine though, even if its a bit heavier. I totally agree with you about the surprising lack of competition, but so far none of the other Big Four have feel it's was worth their while, even though Honda and Yamaha both produce a 125cc sportbike as a beginner bike in Europe. Maybe that will change in years to come. As for the Hyosung GT250R, it is the only direct competition with the Ninja, but surprisingly the new Kawi is $200 cheaper. We would love to test those two in a comparo, not sure if we'll be able to make it happen, but it sure would be fun.

wmg1299
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2008
Total Posts : 53

Posted 2/13/2008 8:52 AM (GMT -8)

We just bought an 08 250R as my wife's starter bike. The little Ninja is the best value on the market, and I have ridden it a lot more than I thought I would. I've been on cruisers for years, but the 250R is the most fun for short trips around town. I never rode an older Ninja, but IMO the 08 has an amazing amount of power for such a small engine. Even though I'm 6'05", 250 lbs, the thing still easilly does hignway speeds.

I never know that a 250 could do all of this, and now I'm amazed that there is no direct competition for Kawasaki in the US. If I'd have known the things were so cheap to insure and finance, I'd have picked one up for fun years ago.

jon
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4569

Posted 2/13/2008 10:10 AM (GMT -8)

bmadson said...
As for the Hyosung GT250R, it is the only direct competition with the Ninja, but surprisingly the new Kawi is $200 cheaper. We would love to test those two in a comparo, not sure if we'll be able to make it happen, but it sure would be fun.

as i've stated to Desmo, that's only on competition i know in this country so i would 'love' to see it too.

Desmolicious
Registered Member

Date Joined Aug 2004
Total Posts : 4618

Posted 2/13/2008 10:43 AM (GMT -8)

bmadson said...
Desmo your claim of independent dynos confirming the new Ninja produces less peak power sounds right, although Kawi reps promised that the low to mid range has improved.

The graphs that I saw on ninja250.org shows the older bike is stronger everywhere...

Børk! Børk! Børk!

GAJ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763

Posted 2/13/2008 10:56 AM (GMT -8)

Tremendous writeup and very, very informative for newbies; maybe it should be a "sticky" as it gives many of the reasons NOT to buy a bigger bike to learn on.

As an experienced rider I'm actually thinking of trading in my literbike for one of these little mosquitoes for exactly the reasons you mention...though at almost 6ft 1", and 190lbs, I might be a bit big for it...maybe I should just be happy with my DRZ400SM as a "wring its neck" big grin little bike, (another great starter bike but much more $$$). Riding at 1/4 throttle most of the time seems a bit pointless.

Question, would you need to buy new wheels to put radials on that thing or are radials completely unnecessary??

BTW, how IS the ground clearance as you're flying through those corners; anything touch down?

Nice job.

sandmanfvr
2007 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe

Date Joined Oct 2007
Total Posts : 161

Posted 2/13/2008 12:05 PM (GMT -8)

I am a bigger guy and I am now thinking of a ninja 250r as my first bike. Highway riding will be minimum but I don't mind not having "break neck" power, I don't won't my neck broken at all. heh :) The review was nice and make me REALLY wonder since above a 250lb rides it fine and in the review that guy wasn't small. Plus for $3500 you can't ignore the value.

bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038

Posted 2/13/2008 12:37 PM (GMT -8)

Sandman, I think the suspension and ergos are ideal for someone under 6' and somewhere in the 160lb range. That said, I weigh about 205-210 and am 6'1" and didnt have any trouble with the stock setup, although if I could adjust it I may have stiffened up the fork a little bit. You're right, the value is hard to ignore, which is why Kawi sells so many of them.

GAJ, not 100% sure about the radial tire question, but Kawi reps were keen on the fact that with the wider rims and 17" wheels, a lot more modern tire options are available, which was a big complaint about the older bike. Our test bikes had Bridgestone BT45s. I'm not sure if those are the stock tires are, but the ones on our test ride worked just fine. As for ground clearance, the Ninja's so slender and the footpegs a little high, so I'm sure someone might be able to scrape them during street rides, but it wasnt me.

Dr. Sprocket
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 88

Posted 2/13/2008 4:21 PM (GMT -8)

The new Ninja 250 looks good to me. I have ridden a 2006 Ninja 250, and for my 6'5" frame it fit okay. The old seat just plain sucked. I hope they didn't forget to upgrade the foam on the newly styled seat.

It's not old... it's "classic."

HogWild
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2006
Total Posts : 5123

Posted 2/13/2008 5:20 PM (GMT -8)

$2,999.00 and it has an awesome fun factor too. How could you go wrong?

Engine No. 9
Registered Member

Date Joined Jan 2006
Total Posts : 599

Posted 2/13/2008 6:40 PM (GMT -8)

I really like the updated styling of the baby Ninja. Any Canadian beginners looking for a first bike should also know that the CBR125 is sold up here, north of the border. They're great-looking bikes with a similar seat height to the Kawasaki, but with a 125cc single cylinder and about 50 lbs less weight.

sandmanfvr
2007 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe

Date Joined Oct 2007
Total Posts : 161

Posted 2/14/2008 5:50 AM (GMT -8)

Maybe this is to small for me. It is a nice bike though.

bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038

Posted 2/14/2008 8:28 AM (GMT -8)

Hog, the MSRP got bumped up to $3499 for the 2008, but it is still a bargain.

Sandman, you might consider a test ride. The little 250 is a great bike for beginners, plus the resale is pretty high, so you could get one, ride it for a year, sell it and move up.

Engine No. 9, have you had a chance to sample one of the CBR125s? They seem pretty interesting. I know Europe just got a YZF-R125 that looks pretty good as well. I wonder what those little 125s are like.

sandmanfvr
2007 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe

Date Joined Oct 2007
Total Posts : 161

Posted 2/14/2008 8:37 AM (GMT -8)

I might do that, or go and see how they look. Being open to cruisers etc, but a small sport bike that sits upright like that and is speedy and faster than most 250, plus being so cheap, is really nice.

636ADAM
Registered Member

Date Joined Mar 2005
Total Posts : 1946

Posted 2/14/2008 9:22 AM (GMT -8)

In my mind the 250 compares to a real real fast go-gart, in the sense that you can flick it around b/c its so small. As far as power...I dont get it.It seems like its faster than it should be. Its not a 600 and you know that b4 you ride it soo your not expecting that pull. But they do a good job with gearing or something. Get one for sure. I am considering replacing our old two fiddy with new 1.

Don't look at me!

Adam

Sidewalk
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2007
Total Posts : 4

Posted 2/14/2008 12:03 PM (GMT -8)

I hope the market for the old 2-fiddys drops so I can afford one soon. I don't have a need nor strong desire to replace my 1000RR anymore. Sure, 140 HP was nice when you could twist and go at any RPM. But since getting into track riding I have found that riding full tilt on a smaller bike is so much more fun.

Racing in the new 250 production class designed for the '08 would be fun though. Just out of my budget for now.

flickmeister
Registered Member

Date Joined May 2004
Total Posts : 1021

Posted 2/14/2008 7:30 PM (GMT -8)

My big dilemna, if I decide to buy a little track bike, is do I spend $2998 for a leftover '07, or spring $3500 for a new one?

GAJ: There are some Pirelli tires that are bias ply that should work just fine on the track if you can't find sticky radials. That's why I'm considering the leftover models. Even with the 16" wheels, I can come up with decent rubber for the track. Cheers, Jack

Sidewalk
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2007
Total Posts : 4

Posted 2/14/2008 10:28 PM (GMT -8)

I have been amazed at the performance of the Bridgestone BT-45's on my Nighthawk, they also seem to perform well on the 250. The Dunlop GT-501's seem to be the prefered tire of a 250P racer I know of.

Tire performance isn't much of an issue for the 16's.

By the way, I have gotten totally hooked on racing my YSR. It is simply amazing how after owning bikes like a Buell X1, Honda 1000RR, and KTM RXC that none of them has put a smile on my face like the YSR has. But then again, it is so much easier to push the YSR to my limits (not the bikes limits, or else I would be winning al the races!). If I rode the 1000RR that hard, I would be out of a lot of money and in a lot of pain! Nothing like the experience of pushing the front through a corner, running wide into the dirt, and staying on the throttle and not losing a position jumpin

If you are in Socal, check out www.racecmrra.com (other regions have organizations). There is even an article on here somewhere about racing the Honda NSR.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=1569

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=1573

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=1693

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=2496

flickmeister said...

My big dilemna, if I decide to buy a little track bike, is do I spend $2998 for a leftover '07, or spring $3500 for a new one?

Post Edited (Sidewalk) : 2/15/2008 6:43:50 AM GMT

sandmanfvr
2007 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe

Date Joined Oct 2007
Total Posts : 161

Posted 2/15/2008 9:28 AM (GMT -8)

Well flickmeister, it is up to you and the changes to the 08. I would try both. I plan to look at one this weekend. I might be going this route.

GAJ
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763

Posted 2/15/2008 12:18 PM (GMT -8)

Sidewalk, welcome to the forums.

I agree; my DRZ400SM is a grin machine too on the crappy back roads around here.

Every ride, you're pinning the throttle, which I simply can't do on my other bikes.

I watched the video on the Kawi 250 test; nice looking little bike, and Bmadson ain't exactly tiny so I might just fit on that mighty mite after all!

Do I really need two 'pin the throttle' little bikes???

At under $4grand out the door, and the ability to sell quickly if you get tired of it, are awfully attractive though. As Flick says, gotta be a 'ton a fun' track bike...even if everyone else blasts by you on the straights...maybe BECAUSE everyone blasts by you on the straights and you catch 'em in the twisties.

Sidewalk
Registered Member

Date Joined Sep 2007
Total Posts : 4

Posted 2/15/2008 9:56 PM (GMT -8)

GAJ said...
I agree; my DRZ400SM is a grin machine too on the crappy back roads around here.

On my short list hop

Jon Neet
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 10

Posted 2/18/2008 10:24 PM (GMT -8)

Maybe I missed it, but did the review mention that the 2008 now has shim adjusted valves, rather than the screw type of the older model? The adjustments should last longer, but are now going to be more involved. I think the lack of a centerstand is a bad move. Thats one thing I've had to deal with on the many dual sport bikes I've owned over the years. I would think there might be some good buys on leftover 2007s?? And the Hyosung, as mentioned above, is a contended, maybe not in quantity yet, but in concept anyway. But then what do I know? Look at one of my rides:

jon

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