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8 Posts
well i was wondering if anyone else on here has a new or older type ninja 250..? have you ever had problems with it? how much do you like this bike?
does anyone have new or older ninja 250? how do you like it?
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6 Posts
I have a 2008 Ninja 250, and I just love my little bike. It fits me so perfectly (5'3'' & 115lbs). Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a little more power, for when out riding and the group takes off on a straight stretch, but then once we get into the curves and my inexperience starts showing, then I know that until I can master this bike, I don't need to be moving up.
Do you have specific questions about the 250?
Do you have specific questions about the 250?
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6 Posts
I think that it could take awhile to outgrow the 250...just my opinion. But to each his/her own.
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48 Posts
with someone your size i couldnt agree more. My GF is 98 pounds and only 5' 2" and i wouldnt even dream of putting her on anything bigger than a ninja 250 right now. Im half afraid to even buy her a 250.
But i am curious as to what other people think of them. I see a lot of them around, seem to be a popular bike. Im specifically looking at a 08+. Any issues with them since they changed styles?
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6 Posts
Well, I've really loved my bike. The only problems I've had with it were due to my own riding errors. And I love that it actually looks like a sportbike, as opposed to the old 250s.
I used to have an '07 250. I loved learning to ride on it. My positives were: good height and weight for learning on; good weight for "paddling around" if you had to; set into a curve and held it well; good "flick-ability"; would GO if you needed it to; had a centerstand.
My negatives were: wind really did a number on it; carburated; too high-strung (revved and cruised at too high an rpm for my tastes); wanted a more upright sitting position; lots of vibration in the grips.
I ended up buying a 650 last year. But I know the 250 was a good first ride for me. They have a real following. Some folks have done Iron Butts on them. And they are perfect for smaller riders.
My negatives were: wind really did a number on it; carburated; too high-strung (revved and cruised at too high an rpm for my tastes); wanted a more upright sitting position; lots of vibration in the grips.
I ended up buying a 650 last year. But I know the 250 was a good first ride for me. They have a real following. Some folks have done Iron Butts on them. And they are perfect for smaller riders.
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6 Posts
That is so true. I get blown around by any little gust of wind, and I'm not light, 5'7" 155lbs.. and the thing revs really high at hwy speeds.
But to be positive, it's really light and handles really well. When you crack the throttle you don't go flying... which is a great thing when you're just starting off!
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8 Posts
yeah i like my 250 it is an 07 but i love them styles of the 08 and 09's!!! but i have been having prob with my carb getting all clogged up and its hard to get mine started but other than that i like my bike! the 250's are fun to drive and a really good starter bike. i know i cant handle a 600 yet. i dont weigh enough to really hold one up for a good period of time. im only 5'5 and weigh 103...so the 250 is a perfect weight for me to handle!
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11 Posts
I looove my 250. I got it last year for 450 bucks. I got a bike and a box if anyone knows what i mean. It didnt run forks where tweaked all plastics destroyed. I got it running for this season and i cant get enough of it. I live in schenectady and i even rode it to lake george for the americade. I rode upand around sacandaga lake and what a blast it was. Shes an 01 and its just turned 5,000 miles
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I owned a 2004 Ninja 250 for two years. It was a great riding bike. I got great gas mileage, insurance was cheap. I could go over 200 miles on a tank of gas. The reason I sold it was that the bike was a little too light in crosswinds. I could be riding and catch a gust that would push me sideways about a foot. Other people may not have the same problem, I am 120 lbs.
I have heard that the newer Ninja design has a bigger front wheel which adds stability. I'll say this, if I had a new 250 to try out and I found it didn't give me the problem with the crosswinds, I'd probably buy it.
I also have been able to ride a friend's Ninja 500 and of the two, I like the littler one better.
My current bike is a 2003 Vulcan. It handles great. I miss the gas mileage, tachometer, and center stand that I gave up with my Ninja.
I have heard that the newer Ninja design has a bigger front wheel which adds stability. I'll say this, if I had a new 250 to try out and I found it didn't give me the problem with the crosswinds, I'd probably buy it.
I also have been able to ride a friend's Ninja 500 and of the two, I like the littler one better.
My current bike is a 2003 Vulcan. It handles great. I miss the gas mileage, tachometer, and center stand that I gave up with my Ninja.
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1,614 Posts
I had a 1994, 2007 and 2008. Two things I noticed about going from 2007 to 2008...aerodynamics must be better, as it didn't get blown around on the highway nearly as bad as my '94 and '07. Also, the engine isn't 100% new, but the heads were re-designed for 2008, yielding better low-rpm grunt. You'll notice a bit more power down low in the RPM range, and it really comes in handy around town. And as far as looks go, the 2008 is a beauty queen compared to the previous generation. The fuel guage addition for 2008 is a definite plus, but you'll have to learn to live without a reserve....there is none.
I only found one disadvantage of 2008 versus 2007. There's no center stand. You'll have to buy a stand & store it in your garage if you plan to do any of your own maintenance that involves a wheel being off the ground. Other than that, I loved them all in their own way, but the 2008 was my favorite 250.
I only found one disadvantage of 2008 versus 2007. There's no center stand. You'll have to buy a stand & store it in your garage if you plan to do any of your own maintenance that involves a wheel being off the ground. Other than that, I loved them all in their own way, but the 2008 was my favorite 250.
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43 Posts
I have an 09 ninja 250 and I absolutely love it! I don't get to ride it as much as I'd like to because I go to school in MA and my bike is at home in NJ and with the winters here you dont get as much time to ride as you'd like. Pros are the awesome looks of the 08 models and later, the gas mileage is amazing (~50-60 mpg, it costs me about $9 to fill my tank), and it handles beautifully. Cons are having trouble starting it after a long time like you said and being really cold-blooded (I've actually had to take it to the dealership one time after a winter and pay $400 to fix the clogged carbs), and it's weaker compared to other bikes but faster than most cars. The funniest thing is when people think it's a really fast sportbike and they ask me how fast it goes and I tell them 95 mph. I think its one of the best or if not the best starter bike to start on.
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I just bought a 2011 Ninja 250 two months ago and I gotta say I absolutely love it. I paid a little extra for the green Special Edition but it was so worth it. The bike just looks sick. It handles well on the roads too. Turning on it is really fun. I get several compliments on it when I go to gas stations. Another user mentioned this above but there have been several people say "Is that a 600?" and when I tell them it's a 250 the look on their face is priceless. Only costs 12-14 dollars to fill up and I usually get at least 200 miles out of a tank. Definitely the best starter bike compared to the Honda CBR 250. In my opinion the Honda just plain and simple looks more like a scooter than a sportbike. I also like the looks of the 08-newer better than the older models but still wave to fellow riders even if they do have the older models. Maintenance is cheap and insurance is cheap. The only con I've had with it is cold starts due to it having a carburetor. I took it to a lake vacation and after letting it sit for 2-3 days it backfired when i went to start it up. I read somewhere that that could have been because it was parked in an area with a lot of water vapor. Still an amazing bike. Worth every penny.
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