technine

I am currently looking for a bike due to the rising gas prices and due to the fact I just want a bike.

I stumbled across many Ninja 250's mainly late 80's to early 90 models and they look the same through to the new models.

First question is, is it gonna be fast enough to drive 80mph everyday on the highway (commute)? And second question is are the parts interchangable to this years ninja 250 (or just the later years)?TIA

smokee

I dont think the bike has changed since like '86, so most parts should be interchangeable. It will do 80, it's not the fastest getting there, but it will do it. Great first bike, and awesome gas mileage IMO.

technine

Thanks smokee. I've seen some great prices for these bikes like $1000 and under is not hard to find. Saw a few for $650!! I might just go ahead and get one because these gas prices are killing me and it sounds like a great bike to start out on without having too much power for anything stupid.

Thanks again smokee

tegG2

Great bike to start out on. Dont be too conserned with outgrowing a bike as alot of noobs are. Move up as you gain more experience.

Mentat Ghola

im glad that i started on one. Its fun to ride, 80 mph no problem. 60-70 miles to the gallon.
My jetted Sv650 gets only 35-40

sup gurl

I also started on one, very glad I did, I would have killed myself on my F4i.

genetsang

im starting out on a Kawi 250 ninja. couldnt be happier. I think its a good bike to start out on. even though my expierenced friends that ride insisted that i should of picked up a 600. but i didnt.
great bike to learn all the basics on. good enough to be on the highway. light enough to be picked up if dropped. Decent enough power so that i dont do wheelies if i accidently put too much trottle....... over all a 250 is perfect for beginners lik me

BoostedGSRBubble

Couldnt agree more, thats why i pick mines up on Sunday. I figure ill ride it for the rest of the season and use my tax return next spring to get my f4i. Ill prob break even on the ninja too

1bar

i have one right now. I love it. Ive commute to school everyday and thank god my unversity has parking spaces just for motorcycles

q.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by technine &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I am currently looking for a bike due to the rising gas prices and due to the fact I just want a bike.

I stumbled across many Ninja 250's mainly late 80's to early 90 models and they look the same through to the new models.

First question is, is it gonna be fast enough to drive 80mph everyday on the highway (commute)? And second question is are the parts interchangable to this years ninja 250 (or just the later years)?TIA</TD></TR></TABLE>

If this is your first bike you're not going to be doing 80mph every day right away.. I got a 02 CBR 600 it's my first bike i've owned and 70mph feels insane You will probably be disappointed with a 250 anyways once you get better you will wish you got something with more power..

rusted_eyes

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by q. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

If this is your first bike you're not going to be doing 80mph every day right away.. I got a 02 CBR 600 it's my first bike i've owned and 70mph feels insane You will probably be disappointed with a 250 anyways once you get better you will wish you got something with more power..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Then he can get a new bike, you won't ever be dissapointed in any motorcycle you get, it's just an incredible feeling being on any motorcycle!

I got a 600 as my first bike, I too was thinking of getting a 250 but found a great F2 so I picked that up instead. As long as you take it easy and have respect for the bike then a 600 should be fine, but a 250 would be great as well. Good luck, and make sure to get gear for what ever size bike you decide to get!

Crack Monkey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by q. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> once you get better you will wish you got something with more power..</TD></TR></TABLE>

I still don't get that mentality. A 250 bike is going to be as fast as, if not faster than, most cars on the road.

Ninja 250s are to Miatas as 'Busas are to 911 Turbos

Not everybody needs, wants, or can properly handle a 911 Turbo.

Apocalypse

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Coach Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I still don't get that mentality.</TD></TR></TABLE>

He's 18... make more sense now?

Racerage1

im probably going to get flamed for stating this but... get what you think you can handle.

i mean, if if u think you're mature enough to handle a liter bike than go for it. a 250 isnt a bad bike to learn on, but it sucks on the highway. IMO i think you need enough power to accelerate out of trouble on the freeway. i learned how to ride on a 250 way back when but i would've been fine if i started with my current bike(sv650). i would look at the ninja 500 if i were you...

-Rage

genetsang

well you have to looks at it in this perspective (probably going to be flamed.. owells)... if you had a 1200 hp race car lying around. and an inexperienced driver wants to drive it. but doesnt have the knowledge of how to control a 1200 hp monster. odds are he/she will damage the machine. not utilize its full potential. worse case scenerio... injure himself or others around him.

until he gets all the basics down. it will be a stepping stone and will move on up the ranks...

but for a bike.. i think a lot more danger is involved. clutch is a lot stiffer than a 250. bike is higher/bigger than a 250. and weighs a bit more.. and harder to ride.

at a dead stop. if and inexperieced rider. like myself, puts a little too much throttle. letting off the clutch too fast... odds are.. im popping a wheelie. not that i want to, but just the brute power of the bike..... and down goes the bike. on the floor.... lifting it up.. will def be a bitch.. and def. something that i dont want to do..... enough of this hahaha i can go on.... thats just my opinion...

250 is a wonderful bike... heck master it.... then sell it for a 600....

Crack Monkey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by genetsang &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">250 is a wonderful bike... heck master it.... then sell it for a 600....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Also, the Ninja 250 (and most of the other 250s) hasn't changed much (if at all) in a decade or more. So, buy an old one, ride it, and sell it for the purchase price when you feel the need for a bigger bike.

Personally, I'm seriously considering a Yamaha XT225. It's a tiny dual sport, gets 60+mpg, 6-speed transmission (so it will reluctantly go 60+mph). Toss the off-road rims for some 17s with street rubber and have fun.

da'ee

I plan on getting a bike once the fall semester is over and was looking into getting a ninja 250. Ive searched a lot and it sounds like its a very good beginner bike but normally how long does it take to learn how to ride on it? Some people say they got bored of it in a month. And once i learn how to ride on it and become confident, will I be able to go straight to a 600RR/R6/etc?

Crack Monkey

Anyone who gets "bored" with a small bike in a month is probably just doing high speed runs up and down the local freeway.

You're in school. Probably a fairly dense urban area. Parking sucks. Drunk people vandalize ****. Do you really want an expensive bike that people will want to knock over, steal, etc? A 250 sounds almost perfect for a college student - small, nimble, low insurance, high gas mileage, and nobody wants to steal it. Will a 600 get you across campus any faster? Not without risking running over some clueless co-ed or getting bent over by the man.

Apocalypse

mmmm co'eds

da'ee

I commute to school and its not populated at all where i live. Typical suburban area with lots of singe family houses. Once I learn how to ride on a 250, will I be able to move up straight to a 600RR/R6? What about up to a 1000RR/R1? Or will I have to move up to a SV or F41 first? Thanks.

Apocalypse

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by answerx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I commute to school and its not populated at all where i live. Typical suburban area with lots of singe family houses. Once I learn how to ride on a 250, will I be able to move up straight to a 600RR/R6? What about up to a 1000RR/R1? Or will I have to move up to a SV or F41 first? Thanks. </TD></TR></TABLE>

There's no rule or magic progression. You could start on an R1 and not kill yourself but whether or not you're "ready" is entirely up to you, your ability, your maturity and your respect for the machine.

Crack Monkey

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by answerx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I commute to school and its not populated at all where i live. Typical suburban area with lots of singe family houses. Once I learn how to ride on a 250, will I be able to move up straight to a 600RR/R6? What about up to a 1000RR/R1? Or will I have to move up to a SV or F41 first? Thanks. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm perfectly happy with my Miata and have no desire to get a Porsche, so I'm probably not the person to ask. The biggest bike I'm considering is an SV650 - and that's unlikely given my budget. I fully expect to end up on a 250 or 400 of some variety and be perfectly happy with it.

genetsang

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by answerx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> but normally how long does it take to learn how to ride on it? Some people say they got bored of it in a month. And once i learn how to ride on it and become confident, will I be able to go straight to a 600RR/R6/etc? </TD></TR></TABLE>


considering that it looks like you never rode on a bike... a 250 isnt bad idea. its pretty easy to learn on. Considering the fact that its one of the smaller, lower stance, and least powerful bikes out on the market.

THis is my rule of thumb. if you know how to drive a manual car. the same logic applies when riding a bike... at least getting the bike moving is concerned. the hardest part of riding a bike is the "what do i do if......"

if you are stopped. what to do if you are at a light.... how to make turns on low entry speeds..... i think the basics are the most important.. and most challenging aspects of riding a bike. Im not saying its "hard" but... after 3 days of riding... youll master the basics....


and as for you moving up to a bigger bike. only you can answer that for yourself. remember, a 600-1000cc bike will be a 2x as difficult when compared to a 250...
i rode my friends 600rr and gsxR. the CLutch was so much stiffer than the 250. the bike weighs a lot more. more importantly it has so much more ***** than the 250. and i cant flat foot the 600 either. its scary tippy toeing a 340+ pound bike on your toes at a light......... but if you are not scared and you think you can handle that type of machine than... go for it

Khmai_guy

Start on a 600cc bike!

sup gurl

I bought my `01 Ninja 250 for $1800 and sold it for $2250 a few months later