2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R First Ride

[TGriffith]

I know it seems weird that there would be talk of bike with about 35 horse power on a web site named TrackDayRiders. 
But I had a chance to ride the new 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, and I gotta tell ya - it was a lot of fun.
For starters - the look of the 250 is nothing like that of any of the previous models.  They have given the 250 a complete face lift, and the bike now looks like its bigger brothers with a 600cc engine.  An unexperienced eye would tell you that the bike is a 600 at first glance.  Kawasaki did a great job on making the bike look big and fast.
Next is the seating position - you are not hunched over on the bike, but more up-right.  This is a very comfortable position, and with 75 miles per gallon, and a 4.7 gallon tank - you could litterally ride for hours on this bike.
Despite the fact that the bike is not fuel injected, and is only 250cc - it still feels like they got as much power as possible with that setup, and the power is entertaining.  Of course - you aren't going to win any drag races, and the accelleration is nothing compared to a 600cc - but that goes without saying... and, you can't have everything.  Besides, for a starter bike - you don't want anything that will poull your retnas to the back of your skull.
One of the most fun things I like about the bike was the weight.  Coming in at 330 pounds, you feel like you can corner just by thinking about it!  I think the bike would be a complete blast on the track - and you'd probably shock the hell out of people as you pass them thru the turns!  (although, topping out at 100mph on the straights is a bit slow - but all the fun is in the turns!)
I think this is an awesome starter bike for anyone - and even a lot of fun for the experienced riders!
Unfortunately - they are sold out everywhere, and you probably won't find another one this year, and they're already taking deposits on 2009 models!

[oneal]

Nice review Tom.  You're right about the Ninja 250 being a great beginner bike, and I always thought it's best qualities were that it was lightweight, small and forgiving.  330lbs, however, doesn't seem all that light for an overgrown scooter... maybe it just has a low center of gravity??

...when was the last time you rode a bike and DIDN'T like it??

[oneal]

...speaking of scooters.

I just got back from a week-long vacation in Cozumel Mexico.  While we were there, I was amazed at the number of scooters buzzing around.  Very few people had a car except for cab drivers or the jeep-driving tourists.

On the third day there, I decided to rent a Suzuki Avenis 150.  I Don't think they bring these into the States (and I'm not sure why).  Anyway, it was a complete blast and you could ride it all day for $4.00 of gas!  I nearly ran out once because there was only one gas station on the island.  We're definitely spoiled here with a gas station on every corner.

Downsides were - The thing only topped out at 100 km/h (60 mph) and was a bit twitchy when the wind kicked up.  Oh, and I probably looked pretty gay (but everyone else did too!)

[TGriffith]

yeah, 330 pounds seems a little porky for such a tiny bike... but you're right - the center of gravity is very low - which makes the bike feel even lighter - and very flickable.  The bike is a lot of fun - although, I miss the accelleration some times.

As for scooters, it's obviously much better for mother earth for people to use scooter instead of those 5-ton SUVs that get 6 gallons to the mile.  Those light-weight bikes are a blast to ride... (all the more reason for you to get in to SuperMoto!  (my SuMo only weighs 238 pounds, and has about 58 horse power - that just screams fun!)
(did you drag knee on that scooter)?

(I think the old BeaveRun photographer - Fred Voit - had some neat pictures of scooters on the kart track - but I think his site has been down for a while - since he's gotten out of the business).

[TGriffith]

Here's the pic I found of what Ian probably looked like:
(look at the big smiles on their faces - what a hoot!!!)
(click here for main page)
(click here for scooter pic)
(click here for scooter pic 01)
(click here for scooter pic 02)

[oneal]

Nope, no knee-dragging.  The roads were so bad, I felt like I was doing supermoto

I think the 250 Ninja would be a great street bike because, you're right, it's great on gas and very flickable.  Riding a liter-bike on the street never made much sense to me (at least any bike that makes 150hp).  Even my Monster900 gets me in too much trouble on the street 

[oneal]

Here's the pic I found of what Ian probably looked like:
(look at the big smiles on their faces - what a hoot!!!)
(click here for main page)
(click here for scooter pic)
(click here for scooter pic 01)
(click here for scooter pic 02)

Are those smiles, or is it pure terror?!

[TGriffith]

Stumbled across this pic today: (click here) A chick on what appears to be a 250 Ninja - and she looks like she's having a blast!
What a hoot!

[teacoach]

Tom

where did you buddy buy it from?  I'm actually thinking about getting one and dumping the ktm

cut down on my gas consumption a little (50 mile roundtrip commute)

Plus the ktm just sits there most of the time collecting dust

[TGriffith]

wow - that's quite a commute.
I ran some numbers real quick for you... assuming your car gets 20mpg and the 250 ninja gets 70mpg, and you commute 5 days a week, and don't drive anywhere else... you'd save $145 a month in gas.
Now - here's the kicker... my buddy is financing that bike for $70/month!  ... in other words... the money you save in gas is more than double the financing!

But - now for the bad news.  The 2008 Ninja 250 is sold out everywhere.  We called all dealerships in the Pittsburgh area, and some even said that you will not find a 2008 anywhere - and they are already taking deposits on 2009 models.

We didn't give up.  We searched CraigsList, eBay and CycleTrader for about 1 month (maybe longer - the summer is flying by).  We used the criteria of 100 mile radius (maybe 150), and finally found a bike in New Philadelphia, Ohio (about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive - real nice drive, too - no traffic out 22 to 250).  (click here for Apex Motorsports)

I just searched CycleTrader, and the closest I could find was in Peninsula, OH (click here for search)  Looks like an easy 2 hour drive up I-76 and I-80.  (click here for dealership info)  (looks like they have a lot to choose from)

Good luck - let us know what you find.

[oneal]

Tom

where did you buddy buy it from?  I'm actually thinking about getting one and dumping the ktm

cut down on my gas consumption a little (50 mile roundtrip commute)

Plus the ktm just sits there most of the time collecting dust

Teacoach,
How's the house hunt going?  It sounds like you're planning to stay in Pittsburgh for a while.

vvvvv Ninja 250 content vvvvv

Here's a review from motorcycle.com
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/kawasaki/review-2008-kawasaki-ninja-250r-75782.html

[teacoach]

House selling is kinda slow....although we are/were buying a piece of property to build on, but it failed the perk test yesterday, so know i have no idea whats going on with it.

Tom,  I found one in salem, OH at a dealership, they wanted 1100 in setup and deliver and i laughed at him literally i laughed at him.  i found one on ebay im trying to get, but im behind one other person whose looking at it today.

he's going to sell it to me for 4000, it has a full Yosh system and dynojet kit.  Plus he will tell them i paid a lot less for it for taxes.

The price for 2009 is going up to 3999 with no changes!

I called State 8 they don't have any.

What did your buddy pay for it?

[TGriffith]

Sorry to hear about the house.

As for the Ninja 250-R - we just put the Yoshi pipe on it last night, and let me tell you... that is without a doubt the best aftermarket part you can get for that bike!  (or any bike, for that matter).

With the Yoshi pipe, the bike growls, and sounds like it's ready to attack the roads.  So, now the bike looks and sounds like it's bigger brothers.  And, the gain in horse power is definately noticable.  We did not make any changes to the carb.  I would highly recommend that if you get the Ninja 250, that you also get the Yoshi pipe.  FYI: the pipe is about an extra $370 - and worth every penny.

My buddy paid MSRP for the bike... $3,500.  I think there was also some kind of dealership setup fee (I don't recall exactly what the line item was), and I think that was $190.  Plus $370 for the pipe, which brings the total to $4060.  Hopefully you can get one from eBay.  The bike comes with a 12 month warranty - hopefully that's transferrable.

I can't believe Kawasaki is jacking up the price 14% with no changes - that's a huge jump.  Although, I'm sure they'll still sell them all.  I also can't believe State 8 is out of all the bikes that were on CycleTradera... geeze, these things are selling like hot cackes!

[oneal]

Tom, you sound pretty excited about this bike... Trading in the Daytona??

[TGriffith]

I am excited about the bike.  I think everyone should be riding motorcycles.  But, getting started on a bike is tuff.  If you start off on a bike that's too big - you can scare the crap out of yourself, and give it up.  Conversely, if you got a small bike - that was nothing "cool" to get... until now.
I think the Ninja 250 will help get this country where it needs to be... on 2 wheels!

As for trading the Daytona for a Ninja - hell no.  As much as I love the Ninja, I still love the Daytona that much more.