What should I know or find out? It has an aftermarket rear shock and aftermarket exhaust on it. The rear tire is a race take-off that looks brand new, and the front tire needs to be replaced. There's some scratches on it, nothing major. This would be my first motorcycle, never driven one before.
Thinking about buying a Kawasaki Ninja 250
- Thread starter KingNothing
- Start date
Good price and a good beginners bike if you ask me, you will enjoy it.
[edit] and a nice price too [/edit]
[edit] and a nice price too [/edit]
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
- 25,284
- 1,997
- 126
The Ninja is a crappy beginners bike. The riding position is a little too agressive for slow and careful riding, the fairings are easily broken and expensive to replace and worst of all, the engine is peaky. The powerband is like a racing bike, it delivers all it's oophm abruptly when it gets on the pipe. The fact that this has an aftermarket pipe only makes it worse as nobody adds a new pipe to make the powerband safer, it's done to increase horsepower.
And the price is only average, especially in light of the fact that it needs a new tire.
Just got back from test driving it. Picked up how to drive a motorcycle really quickly, I'd feel comfortable taking it out on the streets now, which is more than I can say for the first time I drove a car with a manual. The only thing I don't like is the handlebar position, I'm 6'3" so unless I'm in an upright position it's kind of uncomfortable. My friend showed me these clip-ons I can get that will make the bar position more comfortable though. So I guess I'm thinking pretty seriously about this bike now.
The Stigenator
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
- 3
- 81
The Ninja 250 is an awesome starter bike.
If the bike has been rejetted with the pipe modifications, its worth it, adding aftermarket pipes can affect the leaner jetting that these bikes come with (even leaner in CA market).
As for tires, I hate race take off's they are cheap but they dont last. They are sold after a few heat cycles but in generally they are great for hard riding, but they will wear out fast. I prefer the Bridgestone Battleaxe BT45 series (if they got it for your wheels). I use BT 45 SpecH for my 2001 GS500.
The Ninja 250 stock shock IMHO is a peice of crap, so anything better than the 250 stock shock. Chances its got a Olhin's shock in the back. You might want to consider progressive springs up front for later on.
As for pasttic replacement and stuff, its expensive for any bike, not just the 250 ninja.
I woudl say get the bike.. its a sweet bike. Yes the power comes on suddenly, but i guess some ppl havent ridden higher powered bikes. Even my GS500 power comes on suddenly after 7K. The only thing you got to remember about hte baby 250 is that its power kicks in after 9K.
Take the MSF course and invest in some good gear.
If the bike has been rejetted with the pipe modifications, its worth it, adding aftermarket pipes can affect the leaner jetting that these bikes come with (even leaner in CA market).
As for tires, I hate race take off's they are cheap but they dont last. They are sold after a few heat cycles but in generally they are great for hard riding, but they will wear out fast. I prefer the Bridgestone Battleaxe BT45 series (if they got it for your wheels). I use BT 45 SpecH for my 2001 GS500.
The Ninja 250 stock shock IMHO is a peice of crap, so anything better than the 250 stock shock. Chances its got a Olhin's shock in the back. You might want to consider progressive springs up front for later on.
As for pasttic replacement and stuff, its expensive for any bike, not just the 250 ninja.
I woudl say get the bike.. its a sweet bike. Yes the power comes on suddenly, but i guess some ppl havent ridden higher powered bikes. Even my GS500 power comes on suddenly after 7K. The only thing you got to remember about hte baby 250 is that its power kicks in after 9K.
Take the MSF course and invest in some good gear.
It's hard to tell. If I'm hunched over like my friend is when he rides on the highway, then it's awkward. Not uncomfortable as such, but my elbows are close to my hips. Just for riding around an upright position seems fine though. If I can get him to come down a couple hundred, I can ride the bike for a season and then sell it for about the same price in the summer if it becomes uncomfortable.
Pliablemoose
Lifer
- Oct 11, 1999
- 25,195
- 0
- 56
With your height, you should prob look @ a 500cc starter bike, you'll literally outgrow the Ninja pretty quickly...
Buy the 250 use it this season till you are comfortable then look into something like a Suzuki SV650 or a used older 600.
nothing wrong with that 250 at all..
nothing wrong with that 250 at all..
Good for you ralli now buy some saftey gear and get into that MSF asap =-) otherwise get in that parking lot and practice!
Rallispec
Lifer
- Jul 26, 2001
- 12,375
- 10
- 81
yep, i'm signed up for the next available class (first week in oct)
until then, i'm staying off the roads -- i'm getting my dad to teach how to ride in the mean time-- gonna be spending a bunch of time in the parking lot over the next few weeks learning to ride.
i'll post pics of it later --, but man, i am so pysched about this bike-- i love it.
thanks so much for all the advice and tips everyone gave me.
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