[i_m_jughead]

Hello everybody! I have just finished my BRC and am ready to buy my first motorcycle. But as every beginner has i have a dilemma. I am pretty tight on budget and am confused if I should settle with 2006 or 2007 Ninja 250R which are selling at 2300$ (do you guys think this is a good price) or should i wait and save another $750-$1000 and buy a 2008 or 2009 ninja 250R? Also, what do you guys suggest a good place would be to buy gear such as helmet/jacket and what would be a not too expensive but still adequately protecting gear for a beginner.
Thanks in advance.
M

[gitchy42]

I wouldn’t really say that you would be settling for an older Ninja, really they are good bikes. The older bikes have good power, are nimble and get awesome fuel mileage, also I believe they have a little more room. The newer one’s do look better (I think at least), have a stiffer suspension and (according to Kawi) have more ‘usable’ power, however they cost more and don’t get the same mileage.

It depends on how you are built, how much you want to spend and how you are going to ride it. If you are never going to push the bike hard, the ’07 and older will be great, however if you plan on taking it to the limit every chance you get maybe the ’08s and newer are a better option. If you are a ‘heavy’ rider you may want to consider the newer model, but the older model can handle it. It you are tall, maybe the older model will fit better than the new.

$2300 for the ’06 or ’07 isn’t a bad price, but if you are willing to go a little older, like with an ’04ish I wouldn’t be surprised if you can find a gently used one for around $1500, but I have seen ’99s going for that on craigslist here…..

For gear, it depends. For the helmet I would suggest going somewhere local that has a decent selection or two or three different local shop. I don’t care what anyone else says, you have to try on a helmet to see how it fits. For the rest of the gear, you can get it online (Motorcycle Superstore, among others), at a local Cycle Gear (if there is one near you), or at a local motorcycle dealership. I got all of my gear locally, mainly because it is my first set of gear and I wanted to make sure that I got stuff that fits how I want it to. You can save a lot of money buying closeout merchandise.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Unless you are racing, the differences between the 2007 and 2008 250cc Ninjas are mostly looks and comfort. One looks older and is more comfortable, and the 2008+ has a more modern look, a stiffer stock suspension better for racing, and is less comfortable, especially for someone at least 6 feet tall.

The older one will save you a lot of cash, and you can put extra money into making it look and handle better if you want. If you hire out all maintenance and repair, you might be better off with a newer bike, because an older bike starts needing more and more work and new parts to keep it going and safer.

Here is a part I found for the newer 250cc Ninja, that makes the footpegs higher and further back for racing, or you can switch sides for them and flip them upside down to make the pegs lower and further forward, a better fit for a taller rider, but you will scrape the pegs earlier at higher race cornering speeds (there is a photo of them on the 250 Ninja at the bottom left of the page):

http://cyclecontrol.com/index.php?page=products/rsa

[i_m_jughead]

Thanks folks for your feedback

I am 5 feet 6 inch, 141 lbs and i mostly would be using it going around the town, prolly a half and hour drive to downtown via interstate and some times a 2.5hr ride to surrounding places….one of the things that is would like to do is ride with my wife….how are ninja 250R’s with pessanger…she is 5 feet 5 inch and 120lbs

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Both are a little low powered for a passenger at 75 mph, and I have seen that the newer one is less comfortable with a passenger. Either are better with a passenger at 60 mph.

The top right of this page has some recommended reading, including more about the 250cc Ninja, since it is so often recommended for beginners.

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