- This topic has 42 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 7 months ago by Andrew.
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September 24, 2008 at 7:49 pm #12675WeaponZeroParticipant
The Ninja 250 will be all the bike you need in the beginning but if you do a lot of stuff on the highway (especially on that toll road that goes out from West Mifflin to WV) you will begin to see the bike’s limitations and will want to upgrade to something bigger and more powerful eventually. However, if you do “light/occasional” highway riding, you’ll probably never feel the need to upgrade. A ninja 250 tops out at just above 100mph but really doesn’t like maintaining speeds above 80 for extended periods of time.
September 24, 2008 at 8:24 pm #12679BuddParticipantWow, thanks Weapon Zero. I thought my bike was doing fine on the freeway at consistant speeds over 80mph, but after reading your post I realized that it is indeed too small of a bike. I must have just been imagining the last few months of my life.
I have to know, how long did you ride your ninja 250 before you traded up. I would like to know so I can stay on schedule and ride with the big boys when I grow up.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
September 24, 2008 at 8:33 pm #12680ilnamParticipantI’ve noticed this several times on the site. Many of us are newbies and listen to what others have to offer, but we also like to give advice too. Unfortunately, our opinions aren’t always justified. Since I don’t have personal experience with the Ninja 250, I’d choose to accept the authority of someone who does. In this case it’s Budd. But since I’ve heard WeaponZero speak of this several times, I’m curious if he has had some experience with one himself besides his SV650. Perhaps he has a friend or read this in a respectable magazine or website. He has formed this opinion somehow, so what’s up, WZ?
September 24, 2008 at 9:33 pm #12683WeaponZeroParticipantActually I’ve never ridden one. My understanding of the ninja 250 comes from other posts by forum members here, which there seems to be some discrepancy about. Some Ninja 250 owners claim that their bike is all they’ll ever need, others say that it doesn’t like being on the freeway for extended periods of time. I choose to go by the pessimistic view. You may be happy with it and not feel the need to upgrade, but apparently a lot of people do. I’m playing it safe and assuming that anyone looking into one probably falls into that category.
September 24, 2008 at 9:39 pm #12684WeaponZeroParticipantThough I haven’t ridden a Ninja 250 specifically, I have ridden a couple 250cc cruiser/standard style bikes, and I can describe the experience as “scary” when moving at highway speeds. I understand that the Ninja 250 is like a 250 on steroids, but still…
Bikes I’ve ridden so far: My SV650, 1976 Kawasaki KZ400, Suzuki GZ250, Honda Rebel 250, Yamaha TW200,1980 Kawasaki KZ440LTD. Maybe it’s just because I learned on my SV650, but i like having “headroom”. I like knowing that I’m not pushing my bike for all that it’s worth to keep up with traffic on a highway where traffic is moving at 85mph. I like knowing that it can “cruise” at that speed should I be in for a long (5 hours, lets say) trip on said highway. And hopping on a bike that makes significantly less power than I’m used to, well, that scares me enough to make my face turn white…
September 24, 2008 at 9:40 pm #12685WeaponZeroParticipantIt needs pink tassels and a Rainbow Brite sticker on the side fairing.
September 24, 2008 at 9:49 pm #12686WeaponZeroParticipantAnyway, MY WHOLE POINT IS this: Motorcycling is a hobby, something you do out of a passion for it. It’s not something like a car that you buy because you need it to go thru daily activities, you do it because you WANT to. And for a lot of people, the “bare minimum” which really is all you get out of a 250, isn’t enough to fuel that passion that brought them to motorcycling in the first place after a year or two of riding it. If it was, they wouldn’t make anything bigger than 250s and 600s wouldn’t be the best selling class of motorcycle worldwide.
September 25, 2008 at 1:32 am #12692Bianca30Participanthelp, all of your input is more than wonderful. I’ve learned alot these past few days becuase of all of you. I’m sorry ilnam I didn’t mean to call your bike cute(big hug). WZ, ooooh I understand now. I was drooling when I was looking at the 2008-2009 250’s esp the red one. My co worker is getting a triump sprint something. It’s really nice but it cost 12k!
Ms.Bianca
September 25, 2008 at 1:38 am #12694Bianca30ParticipantI just wanted to say thank you again. So WZ, will I be able to be in biker group if i decide on the 250? Like will I be able to keep up? I want to ride with you and everyone else.
Ms.Bianca
September 25, 2008 at 1:41 am #12696bob250ParticipantI kinda see where WeaponZero is coming from. A 250 is not going to be able to do what a 650 can in terms of available power at speed (if I’m wrong, please don’t crucify me). A Ninja 250 is all I’ve ridden, albeit a short while, and I already want to upgrade to a 500 or 650 for the highway. The 250 will do 85mph all day long with no problem (Budd got that one) but I would hate to need more power in a hurry if the occasion arose. I’ve had no problems riding highways but I wouldn’t go on any interstate on a 250. So Biannca, whatever bike you get enjoy the heck out of it and be safe.
September 25, 2008 at 1:47 am #12697megaspazParticipanti think there’s a disconnect on what people mean about highway speeds. my buddy geoff had a ninja250 for months and his perspective is from riding the highways of the bay area california which is basically a track meet. it will cruise 80 mph all day long. the ninja actually likes being in the upper/high rpms. the problem he noted is when he needed to pass a slower vehicle. it takes time for the ninja250 to get to a usable passing speed. ie. if you’re in the slow lane cruising at 70 and there’s a car in front of you going slow, it takes the ninja time to wind into the left lane’s flow of traffic speed to change lanes and pass the slower car on the right. Also, he noted on his trip to spokane, that going up past 6000 feet in elevation, the ninja strains – he could only go 45 mph fully rev’ed in highest gear. It all really depends on where you wanna ride.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 25, 2008 at 1:49 am #12698megaspazParticipantif you have twisties, after some time, you’ll be able to keep up. some of them 600 super sport riders have no idea how to turn.
on the open highway where everything’s straight, you’ll have no chance of keeping up if they decide to lose you…
Basically, get the basics down, become a better rider and on the fun roads, you’ll keep up just fine with them super crotch rockets.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 25, 2008 at 2:03 am #12706WeaponZeroParticipantyou most certainly will in fact ive never even done 100 on mine, fastest ive done is about 95. i just like having headroom. as far as im concerned anyone on a bike that they can trust to make it all the way in one piece is welcome (sorry you hyosung guys )
i dont know what the instructors are like where you plan on taking your MSF test but i hope theyre like mine! you know, i seriously honestly thought id never meet someone else named bianca other than my niece
September 25, 2008 at 2:05 am #12707Bianca30ParticipantThank you mega and bob.
Ms.Bianca
September 25, 2008 at 2:07 am #12701megaspazParticipantmysterious double post….
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now… -
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