Who has sat on one? What do you think of the new Ninja 250? : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

beansbaxter · 12-03-2007, 10:09 PM

Who has sat on and checked out the new Kawasaki Ninja 250? What do you think of it?

I got to sit on one this weekend at the International Motorcycle Show in Seattle...and this would be a helleva fun bike in a 250cc race class. Then if you wreck it bad enough, it may be cheaper to just buy a new one...but something tells me these are going to be sold out in every Kawi dealership.

Is it odd to see a 250 Ninja without a petcock?

trauma11 · 12-04-2007, 07:05 AM

Since you got a chance to sit on one maybe you can answer a few questions for me. Before i ask though, ill just throw out there im a fairly big guy (6'0 220 lbs) and i was sitting on one of the older 250's at a kawi dealer and it felt too small, the handle bars werent long enough, just overall the bike didnt feel big enough. Now the '08 is supposed to have about a half inch seat difference from the 650R and about an inch and half lower than the zzr600, Is it that much taller and larger of a bike? Also the 07 250 suspension was really soft (sags a couple inches even when my 185lb cousin sat on it) Did they change or sitffen the suspension at all to accomidate more riders? Ive read the max weight is like 345 or something ridiculuos on the 250, and im just gonna go ahead and say that putting 345 lbs on one of those bikes has to be impossible

thanks in advance

joelcool · 12-04-2007, 08:15 AM

I've got a '96, and the new one felt similar in terms of body position - but it was tough to tell the details without sitting on the two side by side.

The new one has a completely new frame, which I think should be a huge improvement over the highly flexible one I have. The wheels are a modern 17" design, and the suspension is new.

In terms of your weight I'd guess the new one will likely be overwhelmed, but suspensions can be modified fairly easily. I'm sure the aftermarket will be very anxious to get support for these bikes. I picked up a used EX500 shock for my '96 and put stiffer springs in. This helped, but the frame still moves around a bit more than I like.

I think it's a great redesign effort.

trauma11 · 12-04-2007, 10:26 AM

Yea on the kawi website it says the rear shock is adjustable to support riding 2 up so im thinking it might be all good. I guess ill have to wait for the deal to get a couple and have them play with it

rabones22 · 04-21-2008, 10:42 AM

trauma11, just to let u know i'm 5'11 1/2 and 220lbs. Actually trying to lose mass weight :) but anyways I got a 2008 250 and it looks fine on me is what everyone said. It doesn't look too small and honestly i've seen the 600 and the 250 next to eachother and literally saw people walking in asking why this '650' (250) was right here and not with the other 600's. So its pretty sweet in size and feel. Even for us somehwat taller people.

I have read countless reviews also of people who were over 200lbs and all of they said it carried them just fine. Hope that helps.

blackcrow321 · 04-21-2008, 12:07 PM

We got Swoosh to sit on one at Daytona... looked like he was riding a bicyle.

hes like 6'10'' for those who dont know.

DomC · 04-22-2008, 09:05 AM

I own and ride an 08 daily about 40 miles plus (back and forth to work) and I love it. I got it for my first bike over the 500 namely because the 250 is a much more modern and sporty looking bike, whereas the 500 looks dated and granny-anny style! I've been getting around 200 miles to a tank of gas (less than 15 bucks a tank w/93), so it beats the hell outta what my car does! As far as being big or small, the 250 looks as big as a lot of 600's. I parked it next to a CBR600F4i, and there isn't a huge difference in seat height or overall size. The only issue I've had since getting a 250 over a larger bike is you always get some tool asking stupid questions like "Why only a 250? I woulda got a 600." Some of us are smart enough to start small and work up, not jump on a bike that's way too big and/or powerful and end up as a cross on the side of the road. I'll step off the soapbox now, it just ticks me off when some guys buy a bike to make a masculine statement, instead of buying one to ride it!

rabones22 · 04-22-2008, 10:43 AM

I sat on a 08 250 at the dealship and actually bought one and am waiting till it gets in. But i'm a 5'11 220lb guy and I actually got to see myself on the bike from the mirror on the wall at the dealership and honestly I look like everyone else on the bike and it's not tremendously small at all. With the new 250 sporty look, it actually looks pimpin!

I have heard so much good reviews on it and it is my starter bike. It's interesting because DomC is right about the comments about getting bigger bikes and how the 250 is just too small. I highly disagree because its going to be the best bike to learn on and I guarantee when I get pretty damn good on my 250 and jump up, i'll be way way ahead of someone who just jumped on a 600.

with the 2008 250, I'm so glad I waited to ride until now because the old model 250s are still tight, but to me look like a delivery bike. Some of them at least.

deviniscool · 04-22-2008, 01:42 PM

I bought one two weeks ago as my own personal birthday gift to myself, and so far I'm glad that I made the purchase.

If you're looking for a ridiculously fast bike with sharp handling, look elsewhere. For what it is, though, it's a very impressive 250. It's very lightweight and easy to manage. For the price you can't go wrong.

One gripe I have is how quiet the bike is. I'm going to be adding an exhaust onto my bike sometime soon, if only to be better heard on the road.

DomC · 04-22-2008, 07:31 PM

True dat Dev! Exhaust is way up on my list of stuff to do!

madmax2295 · 04-23-2008, 02:22 AM

they make a 250????

DomC · 04-23-2008, 05:33 AM

joostertag · 04-23-2008, 10:50 AM

the 08 looks alot better than the older model but when it comes to the sound of the bike, i cant stand it. it sounds like a moped and even when the exhaust is added it sounds like a very loud moped.

jalaan1 · 04-23-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmax2295

they make a 250????

you aint right.

green meenie · 05-01-2008, 01:15 PM

The wife bought one but hasn't got her permit yet and hasn't done the MSF course yet either so I rode it home from the dealership for her just yesterday.

It's nice & light and nimble and feels like it would handle amazing in tight stuff. I didn't push it too hard what with brand new rubber and all - didn't want to drop it on her by mistake

They said: "keep it under 6 grand until broken in"!

At 6 grand in 1st; you aren't even hardly moving - I was shocked. Couldn't shift that thing fast enough into second. Needless to say; the "soft" break-in intentions were out the window within a block of the dealership. At least I didn't red-line it or drop it on her.

Seems like a nice little starter bike though

And yes - it's very quiet.

jalaan1 · 05-01-2008, 05:52 PM

went to a stealership yesterday to fit test some new lids, and finally saw
a new 250 in person.
i really like it. since it was right next to a 6r, you could notice that it's
not that much smaller. and the muffler looked more substantial in person.

man, i really wish this thing was out when i was looking for my first bike.