Kawisaki Ninja 250R discussion

[GasSavers_SD26]

Bah... 2/3

[Rockadile]

Originally Posted by DarbyWalters

I would love to have a "street legal" Trials Bike!

They are a little tricky to find. Do a search for the Honda reflex it is a street legal trials bike, they are sweet. I think they are 200 CC or so.
The last one I saw was not for sale and I did ask.
Don't be suprised if the search also shows a bunch of little reflex scooters though. Honda used the same name for both bikes for same ignent reason.
I wouldn't do my 75 mile commute on it, but it would be kinda neat to crawl over the top of a guys car in traffic.

[jcp123]

The way I've heard it is that a Ninja 250's a great learning bike. Then, people grow out of them, maybe ride others for a few years, then come back to the 250 because it's such an entertaining little thing and in many ways a fantastic value.

FWIW, I get a pretty consistent 39-43mpg out of my Honda Shadow Sabre 1100 on my commute, and 47-53 on highway rides. Not the most efficient machine out there, for sure, but for its size, gearing, and output it's almost downright amazing. Plus it's good for extended rides, has tons of roll-on torque, and 1/4's in the 13's.

[smalldisplacementfreak]

The new 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250 has a fuel gauge, albeit with carbs. I sold my '04 since I plan to get the newer 250 when the time is right, but any 250 Ninja serves both efficiency in commuting and fun in sport riding. Can't really get anything more worth while. My 2 cents.

Has Peak Oil hit yet?

[QDM]

I know of several people who load their Ninja 250s with camping gear and use them for touring. No speed demons but more than fast enough to keep up with traffic on mountain roads and freeways. Reliability and fuel efficiency is excellent. The sport bike styling and seating position is not for me but they sure look like an efficient and relatively inexpensive way to go.

Q

[GasSavers_Dust]

Originally Posted by smalldisplacementfreak

albeit with carbs.

Seriously? I thought that we were in the 21st century.

[michaelwoodcock]

Originally Posted by Dust

Seriously? I thought that we were in the 21st century.

modern carbs are just about PERFECT for small engines! look at all the power sports under 600cc and you will see plenty of carburated engines that win over and over again. Their only downfall is that they cannot adjust to temperature, and atmospheric pressure changes. I know that some carbs are fine tuned for the weather conditions and such every race, but, they do work quite well. If you follow dirtbike racing, Aprilia has a fuel injected 450, and i have yet to see it beat a carburated bike

[GasSavers_Dust]

I understand the modern carbs are good, but I would think that after what, almost 30 years of no changes, that Kawi would want to modernize their bike. Give it all the modern stuff, and make it better suited for whatever comes along, aka temp and BP changes.

[Rockadile]

I suppose part of the 2999.00 price tag is due to the fact that the little ninja doesn't have a $500.00 Fuel injection system.

I rode mine the other day when it was 24 degrees out.
The choke started it and it ran fine.

I really wasn't looking for a true sport bike seating position myself.
The ninja is almost an upright seating position, the feet are a little high on the pegs for cornering but the bars are not clip ons down on the forks.
The only standard motorcycle I found out there left in the world was the triumph bonneville for around $8000.00. everthing else is cruiser or sport cept maybe a few big touring bikes.

I found a very nice set of sport saddle bags and a matching tailbag that fit perfectly. I am ready to go. http://members.aol.com/extant666/ninja.jpg

And dressed for touring http://members.aol.com/extant666/ninjatour.jpg

[Jim T.]

The local dealer here in Tampa FL has three leftover 2006 Ninja 250's for $2,495. each. One silver, one red, and one black.


Jim