Ninja 250R owners?/

[jgcable]

Are there any current Ninja 250R riders here??
If so.. whats your opinions of this bike? The reviews on it are outstanding.

[Firebird V]

Hey John I had a friend that had one of these a few years ago and he loved it. He had/has quite a few bikes (FLH, Chpooer, F3, F4, A Buell) and thought it was a lot a fun for little money. I rode it a few times and it was a lot of fun. Very easy to handle and picked up nice for such a small cc. I would get one to go cruizing around town or to the store but on the highway I would feel a bit under powered. For a first bike I would say go for it because you can get a new one fairly cheap and they are very easy to ride.

[jgcable]

Hey John I had a friend that had one of these a few years ago and he loved it. He had/has quite a few bikes (FLH, Chpooer, F3, F4, A Buell) and thought it was a lot a fun for little money. I rode it a few times and it was a lot of fun. Very easy to handle and picked up nice for such a small cc. I would get one to go cruizing around town or to the store but on the highway I would feel a bit under powered. For a first bike I would say go for it because you can get a new one fairly cheap and they are very easy to ride.

Thanks Chris, I was looking at the Suzuki SV650 but it is a little out of my price range for a first bike. I would hate to have to buy a new one.
Ninja 250R's are all over the place around here used for around $2000 tops.

[Psh511]

A 250 ninja was my first bike...it had adequate power at first...but I soon wanted something bigger...anyway it handled well, was great on gas and was overall fun to ride. THe best part...I bought the bike on ebay for 1200 and sold it 3 years later for 1500..they do keep their value as there is always someone who wants a "starter bike"

[Trypp Powell]

I rode one for a while and then moved to a ZX6. They are great bikes, and if I were to get back into riding I would buy another one. I wouldn't recommend one for long trips or driving in serious traffic (the downtown connector in Atlanta during rush hour-for example). But for back roads, suburban riding, up and down lonely stretches of road, a 250 is great. I rode mine from Augusta to Athens, GA plenty of times with no problems or excessive fatigue.

[Trypp Powell]

I just realized you aren't in Georgia (for some reason I thought you were). So, basically what I am saying in my previous post is I wouldn't recommend the 250 for heavy traffic, but it did great for me on a 75 mile trip that was part interstate and part rural highway.

[thetroy]

Are those things 2-strokes? They seem pretty cool for the price

[jgcable]

Are those things 2-strokes? They seem pretty cool for the price

I am going bike shopping tomorrow. I will let you guys know what I get!!!

[Drsracing]

The 250's aer great BUT if you're serious and want to move up get a ex500

You'll love the 500

[Endrik]

My brother has a Ninja. 600 ccm. Upgraded for racing. He got it gor about 2000 bucks. Great bike.

[Inazone]

A former co-worker of mine rode a 250 as his day-to-day bike for years. He sold it and almost immediately wished he hadn't, even though he had several other bikes.

[mattsmusiccenter]

Small but plenty fast. My brother got a ticket on his doing 120 mph... sold it a few days later after realizing he didn't belong on a bike!

[jgcable]

I went and checked out a bunch of bikes. The problem I have.. and maybe this is just me... is that most of the sport bikes I sat on I can't reach the ground. I am a hair under 5'8" but my inseem is only like 28.
on a Ninja 250R I could barely get the tip of my foot on the ground. I have an "issue" with my right foot only being a size 6 while my left foot is a size 10. This causes an unstability on my right foot unless my foot is almost flat on the ground.
The only bikes that I feel comfortable on are the low cruisers but then I have the issue with the bike feeling way to big. I really feel like I need something small to start out on. I am a total newbie. I am an avid mountain bike and road bike rider but NOTHING that is heavy or that has a motor.
One bike that felt really comfortable is the Buell Blast with the low seat option. Its small.. it doesn't feel heavy and its comfortable. The problem is that everybody says its underpowered.. especially for the highway. I am almost 200lbs and they told me it will barely get to 75 topped out.

Would it be a better idea to get a Ninja 250R used and have a lower seat installed on it or should I go for a Buell Blast?
My dad who is 68 just got his first bike ever. He got a Honda Rebel 250 and he loves it. He told me I should look at something small like that.
I really do like the Buell. I like the look of it. Unfortunately.. I wouldn't be able to ride with my Harley friends because they ride Fat Boys and Screamin Eagles. They always talk about speeds over 100-120 at some points and long highway rides with blistering acceleration.

What should I do???

Help!!!!!

[scotty]

I would buy a 250 to get started with. That is a really good size to start on. No matter how quickly you pick on it never forget to ride defensive. People just don't see you. Once you become more experienced you may want a bigger bike for the highways.
Since you are a mountain biker you may want a bike with foot pegs more centered. You have better control of the bike. Which you are use to already. I know with the forward pegs of a cruiser you are more along for the ride with less control.
I remember reading an article about a single cylinder Buell and it had bad reviews. Lots of mechanical problems, but I don't remember for sure what model it was. But I am sure a jap bike would be better on the budget and give you an idea of what you really want in the future.
I would definatley start with the 250cc bike. You will want something later but that is the place to start. As far as riding with your Harley friends get some experience first. Just because these guys have been riding for awhile doesn't mean they know what they are doing.
Good luck,
Scotty

[Thrust]

I went and checked out a bunch of bikes. The problem I have.. and maybe this is just me... is that most of the sport bikes I sat on I can't reach the ground. I am a hair under 5'8" but my inseem is only like 28.
on a Ninja 250R I could barely get the tip of my foot on the ground. I have an "issue" with my right foot only being a size 6 while my left foot is a size 10. This causes an unstability on my right foot unless my foot is almost flat on the ground.
The only bikes that I feel comfortable on are the low cruisers but then I have the issue with the bike feeling way to big. I really feel like I need something small to start out on. I am a total newbie. I am an avid mountain bike and road bike rider but NOTHING that is heavy or that has a motor.
One bike that felt really comfortable is the Buell Blast with the low seat option. Its small.. it doesn't feel heavy and its comfortable. The problem is that everybody says its underpowered.. especially for the highway. I am almost 200lbs and they told me it will barely get to 75 topped out.

Would it be a better idea to get a Ninja 250R used and have a lower seat installed on it or should I go for a Buell Blast?
My dad who is 68 just got his first bike ever. He got a Honda Rebel 250 and he loves it. He told me I should look at something small like that.
I really do like the Buell. I like the look of it. Unfortunately.. I wouldn't be able to ride with my Harley friends because they ride Fat Boys and Screamin Eagles. They always talk about speeds over 100-120 at some points and long highway rides with blistering acceleration.

What should I do???

Help!!!!!

I'll give you my opinion later this evening. I'm going for a group ride today with a guy (competent rider) who just bought a Ninja 250. He actually had a Ninja 500 but traded it (his 500 was beat). I, of course, ride a 1000rr, another guy is riding an r1 and there may be an r6 or two. One of the last group rides on his Ninja 500 he kept up pretty well--but we kept straight away speeds in the 100-115 range.