2008 Kawasaki GPX 250 / Ninja 250

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

It only took them 20 some odd years to make this thing look decent! Might look into one of these come spring as a starter bike :jiggy:
http://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2007/12/25/bikepics-1126577-full.jpg

[Timberwolf]

wow, they finally updated the little one!

[Rome]

Nice! Why even bother with a 250 though? Just start out with a 500 and call it good.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

Nice! Why even bother with a 250 though? Just start out with a 500 and call it good.

Simple, the 500 still looks like crap :lol: The 250 retails for $3,499 and the 500 is $5,099. 650 is $6,499 and the zx-6r is $9,099. And if things go like their supposed to, I can get one new for $2,700 or so in TN. We'll have to see about that though.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

Also, I don't feel like hurting myself :)

[Becca_007]

They were talking about that a while ago on another board. Very nice that they decided to give it an updated look. Now they just need a naked version!

[rod442]

I would have to say dont waste your time with a 250 cc bike. starter or not. it wont be enough oomph at highway speeds, and the resale will suck.

if the new 600's aren't in your price range, look into a well cared used bike. Unless cutting edge looks and no performance is your thing.

a zzr600, yzf600r, or something from around 99-2002 should fit the bill in the 3-3500 range. and will be worth almost than in a year or 2.

unlike 250's that no one can ever sell unless then loose 1/2 or more on a resale. IF however, you have a S/O that wants to get into riding, then it might be ok.

[Becca_007]

Another advantage to the smaller displacement is gas mileage.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

I've heard they top out at 105mph or so and get 55-75 mpg

[rod442]

I wasn't thinking top speed in terms of freeway riding.

I was thinking 5 speed, and no power. (at least in the old version). IIRC the bike is at best a 14 sec ride, which means that anytime you need a bit of extra oomph to get away from the car that just started to cut you off, your gonna be stuck next to it. cause the damn thing dont get outta its own way.

as for mileage, I get 42-45mpg in a litrebike. how many miles a year to you have to ride to take advantage of say 55-60 mpg to really make it worth it?

Ill throw out some numbers. 5000 miles a year, which is a fair amount. if your really hardcore or have a long commute, then you can easily double my numbers.

with my bike 5K a year at 40mpg = 375 in gas @ 3.00/gallon

a 250 that probably only gets 55mpg = 272. a whopping 150 bucks a year.

I'm not trying to sound jerk-ish; but I know too many people that buy too little bike and have to upgrade. IF your sensible, AND this is a big one; the insurance guy says you can get a midsize bike. do it.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

No worries Rod, you didn't come off jerk-ish.

My other options are a new(er) Yamaha WR or an 01 R6...I like the WR but its so fricken expensive to put on a supermoto setup. R6 is purpose built for handling and speed which I'll never use to its full potential. Most of my riding would be around town, and if the WR comes into play I can sell my YZ250 and still trial ride. :dunno: just playing around with some ideas

[ITSSLOW]

Wow, thats a HUGE improvement over the dated Ninja 250!

[ITSSLOW]

No worries Rod, you didn't come off jerk-ish.

My other options are a new(er) Yamaha WR or an 01 R6...I like the WR but its so fricken expensive to put on a supermoto setup. R6 is purpose built for handling and speed which I'll never use to its full potential. Most of my riding would be around town, and if the WR comes into play I can sell my YZ250 and still trial ride. :dunno: just playing around with some ideas

I've had a GSXR and rode dirt bikes for years. Currently I own nothing as far as two wheeled toys go but if I go to purchase a bike again I'd look into a dual sport like a DRZ or WR. I rode a friends Suzuki 450 enduro last summer and it was a blast! He told me a trip to take on it. I rode through my town and rode through a corn feild and some mild trails on it and had a f'n blast. Only downside was that if you tried to ride it hard like a YZ/CR/KX/RM you'd start to get a bit squirly because of the tires. Woudl of been better if it had knobbies on it but then I'm sure it would of sucked on the pavement.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

What I like about the WR is that it can be changed in an hour from something like this:
http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2006/11/08/bikepics-718711-800.jpg
To this :
http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/05/05/bikepics-580082-800.jpg

[NovaMan]

It's cool that they updated it. You'd have to be a nut like me to like the looks of the old one. I wonder if this will drive down the old-style prices?

[ITSSLOW]

What I like about the WR is that it can be changed in an hour from something like this:

http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2006/11/08/bikepics-718711-800.jpg
To this :

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/05/05/bikepics-580082-800.jpg

Well that's the same with a Suzuki DRZ450

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

I think the Suzuki Endero and SuperMoto bikes still have the 400, 450 are in their supercross bikes. Besides, I'm a die hard Yamaha fan...except when it comes to Kawasaki sport bikes.

[phantomta]

I LOVE the new 250. Im trying to get Amber interested in getting one. :)

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

I'm a big fan of Kawasaki sport bikes, I've been debating for a while now. My YZ250 needs to be finished first and if I sell...well its either a WR450F or a newer Kaw.

[skife]

I'm a big fan of Kawasaki sport bikes, I've been debating for a while now. My YZ250 needs to be finished first and if I sell...well its either a WR450F or a newer Kaw.


sad thing is the YZ250 is probably a faster ride than the 250 ninja.

[rod442]

I'm a big fan of Kawasaki sport bikes, I've been debating for a while now. My YZ250 needs to be finished first and if I sell...well its either a WR450F or a newer Kaw.

friend of mine has the new kaw KLR650, or whatever model it is. he loves it a lot. it could use a 6th gear for xway riding, but thats not what its really made for. and on the street it has plenty of power. and all down low where you would use it the most.

[phantomta]

friend of mine has the new kaw KLR650, or whatever model it is. he loves it a lot. it could use a 6th gear for xway riding, but thats not what its really made for. and on the street it has plenty of power. and all down low where you would use it the most.

Rod.. sent you a PM yesterday...

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

sad thing is the YZ250 is probably a faster ride than the 250 ninja.

My YZ250 tops around 65-70

The 450 can be though. A stage 2 Hot Cam, pipe, an sprocket change could get you 110+mph...I wouldn't do it without a steering stabalizer.

[skife]

My YZ250 tops around 65-70

The 450 can be though. A stage 2 Hot Cam, pipe, an sprocket change could get you 110+mph...I wouldn't do it without a steering stabalizer.


i'm sure its got the power to hit 110+ with a gearing change though.

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

True, which I wanted to do, but due to the close ratio on YZ's make them impractical for street use :( Stop-go traffic would be hell on the clutch.

[skife]

True, which I wanted to do, but due to the close ratio on YZ's make them impractical for street use :( Stop-go traffic would be hell on the clutch.


Would make for a hell of a ride on the street thought wouldn't it?

[HoogiesNgrinderz]

Cops wouldn't like it but I sure as hell would :)

[AL SS590 M6]

friend of mine has the new kaw KLR650, or whatever model it is. he loves it a lot. it could use a 6th gear for xway riding, but thats not what its really made for. and on the street it has plenty of power. and all down low where you would use it the most.

I think that's the same as what Tom Nevai (local bud of mine) got to commute to work and play in the woods with.

[ws6transam]

The Ninja 250 wasn't that much of a slouch, and they are nice machines. I used to have it's competitor: a Honda VTR250 and owned it for ten years. 60 MPG, and it cruised on the highway just fine. I used to commute to Milford down I96 in the mid-nineties on it at 80 MPH. It did 106 MPH flat-out at 12,500 RPM.

I sold it to RRRR, and kind of wish I'd kept it, now that fuel prices are what they are. Insurance was dirt cheap, like $60 a year, and so was Michigan registration.

That Ninja looks really good.