Ninja 250

100mpg · 05-29-2006, 05:59 PM

Anyone have a Ninja 250? 5 years ago, If I lived to be 100, A Ninja would be the last bike I would have ever considered buying.

Thats because I didn't know they had a 250 and it got 65-70 MPG without mods, and 70-80 MPG with different sprockets. Now, I am thinking about buying one.

The MSRP is $2999. for a 2cyl, 4 stroke, 6 speed trans and a 14,000 redline. I am the furthest thing from a ricky racer, but 70-80mpg gives me a chubby. Yeah, I am sure I need to get a GF or just get out more but the MPG's got me hooked.

The main purpose of this bike is to go back and forth to work, year round, as long as there is no snow on the ground. And I am sure there will be a couple of long trips mixed in if it is comfortable enough...

Anyone?

oh yeah, here is the blue one.

Gordy · 05-29-2006, 06:19 PM

I picked one up for my daughter and have "snuck" out on it a few times. It is a fun bike. It doesn't say 250 on the graphics and most guys think it is a 500 or something.

The mileage is incredible, insurance cheap, but is a small bike. If you are over 5'10" or so, it will really be cramped.
Search out the Iron Butt Association results from last year. A guy rode and finished on one. He beat out lots of big bikes!

MotoKat · 05-29-2006, 06:24 PM

Traded mine in about a year ago for my SV650. I loved loved loved the bike, and I miss riding it. I really miss the MPG - down from 70mpg to 40mpg

. The only negative thing about it was that I live in a windy state and I would get tossed around a lot, other than that, it was a great bike. I fully intend to get another some year.

100mpg · 05-29-2006, 06:33 PM

I heard some comments on the ninja 250 site about being kinda slow up hill. I am not sure if that was with the gear change or not. How was the power with yours? I live on Long Island and there ain't many hills. I was planning to head up north through New England (ct,ma,ri)for a 3 day if I get it, so I am wondering if it is THAT road worthy?

LazyLion · 05-29-2006, 06:38 PM

Why, yes, I do. There are a group of zealots to be found here.

http://www.ninja250.com/

I'm only 5'9", but I weigh 230. I wring it out through the revs like a maniac. I get about 55mpg. It is so much different from my other bike, an Electa-Glide, which is the only reason I can give for the hard riding.

foster · 05-29-2006, 07:04 PM

Wife has 250 Ninja and I ride it often. We live in the mountains of western NC and it's a blast to ride on the twisty stuff. It has plenty of juice for going uphill- you just have to use the available revs. It's lightweight, responsive, fast enough and goes forever on a gallon of fuel. It does tend to get blown around a bit, the mirrors offer a less than stellar view of what's behind and it is a small bike so I feel cramped on it.

Just bought wife an F650 and can't decide if I really want to sell the Ninja......

MotoKat · 05-29-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foster

Just bought wife an F650 and can't decide if I really want to sell the Ninja......

Don't do it - you'll regret it!

I never had any problems on the hills with the ninja. As far as being road worthy, I've done 450 mile days on it with no problems at all. I'm kind of short though, 5'3" so I never felt cramped. It does 75mph freeways and mountain twisties like a champ. In fact, in the twisties, it was way more effortless than my SV is. I forgot the mirror issue, foster's right, they suck.

tbirdsp · 05-29-2006, 07:33 PM

I had one for a while. I bought it as a track bike, but rode it on the street a little. I'm 5'9" and 200 or so. The stock suspension sucks, but you can add fork springs/oil and a used Ninja 500 shock for cheap.
I personally wouldn't regear the bike for lower revs. It likes you to rev the piss out if it

I don't think I ever dropped below 10 grand on the track. You don't have to wring it's neck THAT bad, but if you want to go fast you can't be afraid to rev it out.
I actually passed a Hayabusa and a ZX-9 in the corners on the track. Clueless nOOb riders, but it was fun anyway. Only sold it because our local track club is open riding and I was getting passed by liter-bikes at 150+ on the straight while I was doing 95

Got an SV650 then.
It's a sweet little bike and will take you anywhere you want to go. Check out the board listed above, good resource.

Jack90210 · 05-29-2006, 07:36 PM

Awesome bikes, unbeatable for the price. And IMO it's plenty comfortable for tall guys, much more so than any "sport bike" for sure. It's got more standard-y than sporty ergos, IIRC (haven't been on one in about a year).

100mpg · 05-29-2006, 08:03 PM

I have never even sat on one. It is the high mpg's that I am interested in, and doing it on the highway. I am about 5'10", 190. The dam dealer was closed on sunday when I went by to see it, and they are about 25 miles from me. The current promo for Kawi is up 5/31, so I am going to try to get there before then. Thats going to be tough due to working all the dam time.

Thanks for the input all! Any other comments, like how far have you taken your 250 in a day?

lastmanout · 05-29-2006, 08:06 PM

Yep, Dittos to the above. Fixed up a salvage for the girlfriend (She never got to ride it). Really FELT fast- like I was GP racer. Actual speed was 50-75 mph. FUN! Watch for the insurance rates. Grilfriend was new rider, she cost as much as me on a 1200cc ZRX. Both Kawasakis are gone now-and so is the girlfriend!! I would probably buy a KLR650 and skip the 250 ninja if I had to do it again.

jimmyjam · 05-31-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100mpg

The MSRP is $2999. for a 2cyl, 4 stroke, 6 speed trans and a 14,000 redline. I am the furthest thing from a ricky racer, but 70-80mpg gives me a chubby.

Speaking of which, if you really want a nice 70 mpg bike, look at a new bmw f650. More advrider friendly, and two spark plugs and fuel injection can't be beat.

100mpg · 06-01-2006, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjam

Speaking of which, if you really want a nice 70 mpg bike, look at a new bmw f650. More advrider friendly, and two spark plugs and fuel injection can't be beat.

i had looked into that but at about 2x the price, I didn't look too long. Tried to find a used one for cheap, but no luck. gotta go to work.
hey zeke

foster · 06-01-2006, 01:56 PM

Wife has decided to sell hers. PM me if interested.
2003 Ninja 250 with 6800 miles. good paint (green), good condition, the usual wear & tear but no dents. Does have a little goo stuck to one of the mufflers - looks like someone melted a nylon pant leg on a hot pipe??

Just got back from a short twisty ride and filled her up. Last tank = 75 mpg. I would keep it but I am a big fan of a little thing we call torque.
Prolly gonna put it in flea market later.....

100mpg · 06-01-2006, 02:11 PM

PM sent

Quote:

Originally Posted by foster

Wife has decided to sell hers. PM me if interested.
2003 Ninja 250 with 6800 miles. good paint (green), good condition, the usual wear & tear but no dents. Does have a little goo stuck to one of the mufflers - looks like someone melted a nylon pant leg on a hot pipe??

Just got back from a short twisty ride and filled her up. Last tank = 75 mpg. I would keep it but I am a big fan of a little thing we call torque.
Prolly gonna put it in flea market later.....

05-29-2006, 06:24 PM	#3
MotoKat Whine Cooler. Joined: Feb 2005 Location: PDX Oddometer: 28,921	Traded mine in about a year ago for my SV650. I loved loved loved the bike, and I miss riding it. I really miss the MPG - down from 70mpg to 40mpg . The only negative thing about it was that I live in a windy state and I would get tossed around a lot, other than that, it was a great bike. I fully intend to get another some year. __________________ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

05-29-2006, 06:38 PM	#5
LazyLion Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Upstate New York Oddometer: 495	Why, yes, I do. There are a group of zealots to be found here. http://www.ninja250.com/ I'm only 5'9", but I weigh 230. I wring it out through the revs like a maniac. I get about 55mpg. It is so much different from my other bike, an Electa-Glide, which is the only reason I can give for the hard riding. __________________ Ride to work, work to ride.

05-29-2006, 07:33 PM	#8
tbirdsp REMF Joined: Mar 2002 Location: Nebraska Oddometer: 8,546	I had one for a while. I bought it as a track bike, but rode it on the street a little. I'm 5'9" and 200 or so. The stock suspension sucks, but you can add fork springs/oil and a used Ninja 500 shock for cheap. I personally wouldn't regear the bike for lower revs. It likes you to rev the piss out if it I don't think I ever dropped below 10 grand on the track. You don't have to wring it's neck THAT bad, but if you want to go fast you can't be afraid to rev it out. I actually passed a Hayabusa and a ZX-9 in the corners on the track. Clueless nOOb riders, but it was fun anyway. Only sold it because our local track club is open riding and I was getting passed by liter-bikes at 150+ on the straight while I was doing 95 Got an SV650 then. It's a sweet little bike and will take you anywhere you want to go. Check out the board listed above, good resource. __________________ Mike S. '09 Bonneville Black AMA MSTA STOC http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/...orcycleriders/

05-29-2006, 07:36 PM	#9
Jack90210 mindful Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Oddometer: 14,446	Awesome bikes, unbeatable for the price. And IMO it's plenty comfortable for tall guys, much more so than any "sport bike" for sure. It's got more standard-y than sporty ergos, IIRC (haven't been on one in about a year). __________________ I must say that my son has exposed a reservoir of love and of worry within me that I never knew existed. --nskitts, 9/2/12

05-29-2006, 08:06 PM	#11
lastmanout Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: NW PA,USA Oddometer: 210	Yep, Dittos to the above. Fixed up a salvage for the girlfriend (She never got to ride it). Really FELT fast- like I was GP racer. Actual speed was 50-75 mph. FUN! Watch for the insurance rates. Grilfriend was new rider, she cost as much as me on a 1200cc ZRX. Both Kawasakis are gone now-and so is the girlfriend!! I would probably buy a KLR650 and skip the 250 ninja if I had to do it again. __________________ Tell me Doctor, where are we going this time.......

05-29-2006, 06:19 PM	#2
Gordy Team Listo Joined: Dec 2001 Location: NM Oddometer: 18,300	I picked one up for my daughter and have "snuck" out on it a few times. It is a fun bike. It doesn't say 250 on the graphics and most guys think it is a 500 or something. The mileage is incredible, insurance cheap, but is a small bike. If you are over 5'10" or so, it will really be cramped. Search out the Iron Butt Association results from last year. A guy rode and finished on one. He beat out lots of big bikes!

05-29-2006, 07:04 PM	#6
foster Huh? Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Cartoogechaye, NC Oddometer: 725	Wife has 250 Ninja and I ride it often. We live in the mountains of western NC and it's a blast to ride on the twisty stuff. It has plenty of juice for going uphill- you just have to use the available revs. It's lightweight, responsive, fast enough and goes forever on a gallon of fuel. It does tend to get blown around a bit, the mirrors offer a less than stellar view of what's behind and it is a small bike so I feel cramped on it. Just bought wife an F650 and can't decide if I really want to sell the Ninja......

06-01-2006, 01:56 PM	#14
foster Huh? Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Cartoogechaye, NC Oddometer: 725	Wife has decided to sell hers. PM me if interested. 2003 Ninja 250 with 6800 miles. good paint (green), good condition, the usual wear & tear but no dents. Does have a little goo stuck to one of the mufflers - looks like someone melted a nylon pant leg on a hot pipe?? Just got back from a short twisty ride and filled her up. Last tank = 75 mpg. I would keep it but I am a big fan of a little thing we call torque. Prolly gonna put it in flea market later.....

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