Going the distance on 250 Ninja [Archive]

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CRM

18th July 2009, 08:29

My daughter has just bought a 2nd hand 2009 250 Ninja and I'm thinking of flying to Wellington to pick it up. I'd be riding to Hamilton the first day and Whangarei the next. Do you think that's feasible or would I be sorry? Apparently they can cruise at 120 okay but what is the seat/ riding position for doing seven hours in a day? :crazy:

Thanks

Murray

18th July 2009, 08:33

Pretty comfortable for average Joe Blo but depends on your height, weight etc. yes they will easily cruise at 120 so should be a good ride weather dependent.

entro

18th July 2009, 09:10

I had no issues doing long trips on mine, im 6'1 100kg seat and riding position are comfy.

Cheers

Taz

18th July 2009, 09:34

They will do trips like that all day everyday. Enjoy.

CRM

18th July 2009, 10:59

Great thanks for the feedback just what I needed to know - looks like a go - I'm 85kg and 5'10'' so should be a good ride but I guess they get blown around a bit in the wind being pretty light - starting the trip next Thursday so hopefully no blizzards, tornadoes or earthquakes...:baby:

Murray

18th July 2009, 11:02

CRM

18th July 2009, 11:09

Do you need somewhere to stay at Hamilton. I can do a deal at a Hotel for $60 bed & breakfast.

Staying with my bro in law - thanks for the offer though

CookMySock

18th July 2009, 11:18

The Ninja 250s are plenty capable on the open road. Take it up through taranaki - a great ride through there.

Steve

Dealer

18th July 2009, 11:25

Shouldn,t be a problem. I was comfortable on my ZZR250, and i'm a big man.
Only problem i can foresee is the weather, it will be cold coming up through the heartland. I would avoid the desert road.

mynameis

19th July 2009, 00:55

Does she need looking after while you're away :innocent:

CookMySock

19th July 2009, 09:48

Does she need looking after while you're away :innocent:Hey! Go play with your avatar! :p

Steve

mynameis

19th July 2009, 13:50

Hey! Go play with your avatar! :p

Steve

You don't know who she is ?

CookMySock

19th July 2009, 14:43

You don't know who she is ?No.. sounds mysterious.. PM? Pic?

Steve

Duke girl

19th July 2009, 15:28

When we picked up our 250 Ninja from Gisborne and rode it to Waikanae never had any problems with it at all.
We were only able to sit on 100ks all the way as we had to run it in as it was brand new.

ynot slow

19th July 2009, 16:51

Go up via SH3,through Taranaki,great views of coast north of New Plymouth,and desert rd can be dodgy,nothing worse than getting to Waiouru and road closed.Hamilton about 3&1/2 hours from Hawera,and Hawera about 3hrs from Wellington.

CRM

19th July 2009, 20:20

Sounds like lots of votes for Taranaki. I did the ride from Palmy through Wanganui around the mountain to New Plymouth in March and it was really windy and wet - not pleasant at all. Hopefully will be nicer this time.

I'm off in the morning (flying) doing some business along the way in Wanganui and Hamilton and eventually picking the bike up in Wellington on Wednesday night.

Just looking at the forecast says rain in the West - maybe would be better going up through Ohakune and Taumarunui? Or even do the East side through Napier and Taupo? What do you reckon?

ynot slow

19th July 2009, 20:44

Bypass the coastal route to NP,can be windy,and takes an extra 40 odd kms distance wise.And if you have done it won't matter missing this time.Or head up the Forgotten Highway to Taumaranui onto Te Kuiti via SH4.

ready4whatever

23rd July 2009, 13:12

ninjas are awesome 250's

CRM

23rd July 2009, 18:51

Well I picked it up last night and rode up to Hamilton today and they are a sweet little bike. This one has a Yoshi pipe which apparently perks them up a bit - sounds great too. It also can with some nice saddle-bags that got well tested today. It was fine in Welly - I left about 7am. Went to Wanganui - quite windy on parts of that road then up SH4 to Raetahi the Taumaranui. The first part was nice - good twisty corners to try out the handling. It got a bit cold through National Park so I sped up (friction from greater windflow warms you up). Cruises great even at 130. After Taumarunui it rained :cold: :crybaby:. less than ideal conditions but it could have been like that all the way so I'm thankful it was only the last two hours...

So totally agree with what you've all said - a handy lightweight touring bike! Adequate power and good position - seat a little hard after six hours :crazy: but fine if you do regular stops. Got about 240km on $20 of premium and that included some prolonged 9-10k rpm bits.

Lucy

20th January 2010, 19:22

Nice pic of the bike in Raetihi! Can recognize Clowns (r.i.p.) from the thumbnail.