I just contacted my dealer and am heavily thinking about purchasing the new 2008 ninja 250. Unfortunetely you are not aloud to test drive any of the bikes, so I'm not sure if I'm making the right move.

I originally started on a 93 cbr 600 and loved it. The only problem was since I'm a short rider I could only touch on one foot. I put about 500 miles on her before I sold her and was somewhat comfortable enough using the one cheak sneek. However I wasn't very confident on steep hills or inlcines, or in parking lots (people at college like to cut you off). I also always had to plan ahead and get their early so I could get a pull through spot, etc because I couldn't back it out. Another thing to note was I never shifted above 9-10k, it was plenty fast and just never needed to.

The bike will also be used for mainly commuting, to school, work, or the gym. No twisties, no excessive speeding, no real hard driving. Is it better to have a bike you can push to its limits or a bike that pushes the rider to his limits? I'll admit I'm addicted to the speed of the 600, it was a blast but I wasn't entirely comfortable riding everywhere I could have. Is it better to just get the 250? Or stick it out with another 6? With the 250 I will lose the power of a 6, but since it's a smaller and lighter bike would be more comfortable riding everywhere, and realistically riding is what I love to do. I just don't want to get it, finance it, and realize it isn't what I wanted...

 

I have been personally dissapointed with my 250, as far as acceleration is concerned. I have put about 3k miles on it, I would look in to a Ninja 500/GS 500 etc...before a 250 ninja. That is my personal opinion though, I just feel the bike is very underpowered.

 

You'll be surprised how much difference there are between models. Some of the newer bikes tend to have narrower seats which on paper isn't lower but gets your feet a lot closer to the ground. For example, the newer Suzuki GSXR's and Yamaha R1's have narrow seats so I can even bend my legs on them. Not so with my '04 R6. I say take your time and sit on every bike. Then go from there. To tell you the truth, if you already know how to ride comfortably, than the 250 is going to be buzzy at highway speeds and feel underpowered while passing. Ofcourse I'm not talking about the yet to be released ninja.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ...rohit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have been personally dissapointed with my 250, as far as acceleration is concerned. I have put about 3k miles on it, I would look in to a Ninja 500/GS 500 etc...before a 250 ninja. That is my personal opinion though, I just feel the bike is very underpowered.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, that's the main thing I'm concerned with, even though it's the 2008 I believe it's basicly the same engine (right?). I absolutely hated where the kickstand was placed on the 500, and up close I'm not a big fan of the gs500. Plus for the $4000+ price tag I might as well get a used 600.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You'll be surprised how much difference there are between models. Some of the newer bikes tend to have narrower seats which on paper isn't lower but gets your feet a lot closer to the ground. For example, the newer Suzuki GSXR's and Yamaha R1's have narrow seats so I can even bend my legs on them. Not so with my '04 R6. I say take your time and sit on every bike. Then go from there. To tell you the truth, if you already know how to ride comfortably, than the 250 is going to be buzzy at highway speeds and feel underpowered while passing. Ofcourse I'm not talking about the yet to be released ninja. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'll have to check those out(the 6 not the litre lol), they may be out of my price range but maybe I can pick up a used one. That's what i'm afraid of on the 250, just not being happy with it lol...and like I said they don't allow test rides so I won't even be able to tell until I brought the thing home

 

I'd shop for a pre-2008 250. The prices may come down a little bit because of the new 250. Even if they don't, the prices should still be relatively low. Then you can pick up an '08 250 later on for cheap, if you really want one.

Use this beater/cheap 250 to gain confidence in the odd situations you've described. And if you drop it, no big deal!

You can always get a 600 for cheap later on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd shop for a pre-2008 250. The prices may come down a little bit because of the new 250. Even if they don't, the prices should still be relatively low. Then you can pick up an '08 250 later on for cheap, if you really want one.

Use this beater/cheap 250 to gain confidence in the odd situations you've described. And if you drop it, no big deal!

You can always get a 600 for cheap later on.</TD></TR></TABLE>this is good advice! I believe the 08 ninja weighs more and has less TQ? If so, I would think it would be slower....on the highway, I am not confident at all, the bike is wobbly and hates high speeds. I would get a beater bike and practice until I feel confident enough to get a newer 600. I would suggest a F2/3 or maybe a yzf600r

 

Well I started out on a 600 and could ride it well enough around town and get to where I needed to go. I just don't know how everyone always says even if you can't touch you're fine, because I found in a lot of emergency situations one small lean to the wrong side and it could end in a drop. Other than that it was no problem, but I feel if I had a smaller bike or could touch with two I'd be more confident and inclined to go more places(there's not always a pull through spot and getting off the bike to push it into a space isn't practical). The older 600's are great, but the newer ones like someone said are more narrow, lighter, but also more expensive.

That's why I figured I could take a hit in the power department and buy a brand new 08 as my commuter...but if it's bad on the highway that would really blow

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by leeminho86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well I started out on a 600 and could ride it well enough around town and get to where I needed to go. I just don't know how everyone always says even if you can't touch you're fine, because I found in a lot of emergency situations one small lean to the wrong side and it could end in a drop.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I don't know anyone who says if you can't touch you're ok...maybe you're referring to only being able to touch one foot down? If you are finding yourself in a lot of emergency situations, I'd reexamine the route you take. The point is to avoid those.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by leeminho86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's why I figured I could take a hit in the power department and buy a brand new 08 as my commuter...but if it's bad on the highway that would really blow </TD></TR></TABLE>
How long of a commute do you have on the highway?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ...rohit &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have been personally dissapointed with my 250, as far as acceleration is concerned. I have put about 3k miles on it, I would look in to a Ninja 500/GS 500 etc...before a 250 ninja. That is my personal opinion though, I just feel the bike is very underpowered.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm with you. I personally found the 250 to be very hard to ride. I initially thought it was my lack of experience but even when I sold it and had ridden my F3 for 6+k I still had a really hard time riding it even when I had not problem with my F3. I dont know if it was the actual bike or if the are all the same but they are tricky to ride smoothly.

 

Why not get a 600 and, dare I say, lower it?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by leeminho86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> No twisties, no excessive speeding, no real hard driving</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dropping the bike an inch or so is really not going to damage the ride. I bought mine lowered, and recently raised it back up. I didn't really notice a difference cruising around town, although the rear shock felt smoother.

 

I'm short as hell and tip toe on my 600, you get used to it.
Lowering a sportbike is like a sin, the handling gets thrown off, etc.
Depending on what type of roads you ride, I'd suggest starting on a 500.
You seem like you don't have enough experience to start on a 600 sportbike, but a 500 would be a compromise.
Sometimes you need the extra power, especially merging onto highways, etc.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't know anyone who says if you can't touch you're ok...maybe you're referring to only being able to touch one foot down? If you are finding yourself in a lot of emergency situations, I'd reexamine the route you take. The point is to avoid those.


How long of a commute do you have on the highway?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh sorry yeah I'm referring to being able to touch with only one foot. I'd commute to my gf's college and it's pretty much on a huge hill, so I would get nervous at stop signs lol. Leaning and holding the break is the same, but the fact if I stopped wrong and that bike went down there would be no way for me to stop it lol. Honestly my commute on the highway might be a mile lol...my gym is right off the first exit I come to, and then school I take a straight away back road. So not a lot of highway driving, but everywhere else is still 55mph and I go above that.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fatboy01 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not get a 600 and, dare I say, lower it?

Dropping the bike an inch or so is really not going to damage the ride. I bought mine lowered, and recently raised it back up. I didn't really notice a difference cruising around town, although the rear shock felt smoother. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah I was debating this as well. I was talking to a mechanic and he said you can go up to 1.5" lower without majorly affecting the bike. I may end up doing this, I'm just heavily debating the 250 because it's brand new and still cheaper than most I'd find used...just underpowered I guess.

 

How do you get around in parking lots? That was my major problem Riding in the streets was fine, just parking sucked.

 

Parking lots? Go slow. Keep your brakes covered and the revs up. There are a lot of idiot cagers who back out of spots without looking.

Sounds like a 250 is good for you. You'll be fine with lowering the bike, but 1.5" seems to be a lot. You could probably get away with shaving down the seat a little bit, and then lowering the bike just a little bit if you still need some more.

As for power, you can buy sprockets to change the gearing, yeah? Just bump up teeth in the rear so that more of that usable power (hah!) is available to you.

 

Thanks, I kinda looked at my finances as well and the only thing I can really afford is the 08 250 lol...the dealership near me is offering it for $3299 starting in January. I figured for the 2 year loan, that will be enough time to get some heavy mileage under my belt and then move up.

I could move around in parking lots fine, it was parking itself. I always had to find a pull through spot because I couldn't back it in or back it out of any spots unless I physically got off the bike (and looked like an idiot lol).

Interestingly enough I was thinking if I got the 250 I could just mod it lol...maybe I could at least be in the 13's

 

You could always do the kickstand flip too.

So you're dead-set on the '08? $3299 is just the selling price, right? You'll be paying more than that since you're financing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You could always do the kickstand flip too.

So you're dead-set on the '08? $3299 is just the selling price, right? You'll be paying more than that since you're financing.</TD></TR></TABLE>werd, for that kind of money you could pick up a sv650

 

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

Lowering a sportbike is like a sin, the handling gets thrown off, etc.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

If your not tracking your bike or hitting some nice curves, lowering the bike ~1inch is not going to mess it up. I say this from experience. I think a lot of people to say lowering a bike will ruin it have never ridden a bike lowered vs. stock for comparison. Or maybe my bike was an exception...

Now slamming it down 3", stretching it, adding a big tire... all these will hurt the handling of the bike considerably

 

qucik solution: break your shins stretch them out.
Viowla! your no longer short

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jasman18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">qucik solution: break your shins stretch them out.
Viowla! your no longer short </TD></TR></TABLE>

I vote for metal legs, I hear it's a risky operation, but it'll be worth it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jasman18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">qucik solution: break your shins stretch them out.
Viowla! your no longer short </TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha what was that South Park where Kyle was operated into a tall black basketball player...that's what I need <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladedad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You could always do the kickstand flip too.

So you're dead-set on the '08? $3299 is just the selling price, right? You'll be paying more than that since you're financing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm not dead set on it just weighing it as an option. Yeah it will be $3299+250 for a travelling charge+tax, other fee's, financing, and 8.9% for 2 years with payments of $180 a month. I would consider buying a used bike but the only option I have right now is to finance and used bikes have an apr of like 17%...and I wouldn't get approved for a new 600 over 6 grand.

 

I liked my 01' 250 back when I had it, I kinda miss it actually. I say go for it, I used mine on the highway all the time. Even had a passenger on some long trips. I couldn't complain about 65+mpg either.

I'm currently selling my zx6r as I have bought a cb350 to mess with.

 

Haha yeah on my F2 I was pissed when I was only getting like 50mpg lol...desperetaly needed a tune up though.

 

That sounds about right actaully, my 95' zx6r gets about 45-50mpg

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AlbaGoBragh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I liked my 01' 250 back when I had it, I kinda miss it actually. I say go for it, I used mine on the highway all the time. Even had a passenger on some long trips. I couldn't complain about 65+mpg either.

I'm currently selling my zx6r as I have bought a cb350 to mess with.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have an 06 250 as my first and only bike, and from what it sounds like, a USED 250 sounds like the ideal option for you.
- They are cheap cheap cheap! You can find used ones for 2k or less in excellent condition. Also, insurance is crazy cheap too. I have diesel full coverage and it's only $250 a year! An 08 250 insurance will probably be more expensive.
- They have excellent riding position for shorter people. I'm 5'10" with an inseam length of 30" and I can flat foot it with plenty of room for it to be higher.
- Very light and very easy to ride (In my opinion). Many people have started on the 250 and I want to say it's proven to increase your skills faster than if you started on a larger bike. I can't prove it, but for example, I've been riding since May, and I've already gotten my knee down.
- A lot of people complain about the lack of power (including myself) but they still have about a 14 sec 1/4 mile time. That's faster than the average car. When I'm commuting, I'm rarely at WOT. Also, they top out at around 100mph, which is way faster than you'll ever need to go while commuting.
- I average 60mpg on the 250. This hurts the pockets very little.

Cons: It's ugly as hell. The 08 definitely looks 100x better. Also, acceleration is slow for a bike, but still faster than most cars.

I hope this helps. Good luck in finding a bike that fits you.