Ninja 250's

[Genie]

Hi KB world,

I'm just after some info on these delicious little bikes.

Please tell me what you think of them...the good, the bad and the ugly.

I'm thinking that I shall buy one of these but want more info from the knowledgable ones.

Thanking you.

Genie :sunny:

[tigertim20]

as I understand it, they are just an old GPX with cooler fairings. If I was after one of them for any reason other than cosmetics, I would buy an old GPX instead, cos hey its a learner bike right?
I have ridden both briefly, and as a learner bike couldnt see much of a real difference, of course the newer bike has a few technological advances, but IMHO, after a learner 250, I would go GPX over the new ninja, cos theyre about a third the price, and you could use that extra cash for rego.... and the GPX aint a bad bike.

[Maki]

I had one for a year and loved it. Don't worry too much about the price, if you treat it well you will get most of it back when you sell it. I sure did when I sold mine.

It's a fantastic learners bike, no more and no less.

[Genie]

as I understand it, they are just an old GPX with cooler fairings. If I was after one of them for any reason other than cosmetics, I would buy an old GPX instead, cos hey its a learner bike right?
I have ridden both briefly, and as a learner bike couldnt see much of a real difference, of course the newer bike has a few technological advances, but IMHO, after a learner 250, I would go GPX over the new ninja, cos theyre about a third the price, and you could use that extra cash for rego.... and the GPX aint a bad bike.

hey thanks....type of advice i've been looking for. though your are talking to the ignorant who knows nothing of cooler fairing (wtf). I was going for a new one...no history, blah blah blah.

shall go investigate this GPX you talking about.

again..thank you

[vindy500]

shall go investigate this GPX you talking about.



http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-234419035.htm

[crash harry]

Good bike. Get one! You won't regret it. Way better than most of the other 250 options out there at the moment.

Edit: or a GPX, they're just about as good. ZZR250 shares the same engine as well, they're a pretty reasonable learner bike too

[Genie]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-234419035.htm

xxx....Thank you....now to find one down here...don't fancy riding that all the way home....my arse would seize up!!!!!

[grusomhat]

From what I've seen, they hold their value well. They are also extremely expensive to repair the fairings when they have been dropped. Keep it serviced, clean and not broken and one should do you well.

[jackie]

They're not pretty but they do have a nice, easy power delivery which make them good learner bikes.

Having decent power at lower revs means they're especially good for navigating stop-start traffic as in a city.

[tigertim20]

hey thanks....type of advice i've been looking for. though your are talking to the ignorant who knows nothing of cooler fairing (wtf). I was going for a new one...no history, blah blah blah.

shall go investigate this GPX you talking about.

again..thank you

the fairing is the plastic part surrounding the bike.

[tigertim20]

xxx....Thank you....now to find one down here...don't fancy riding that all the way home....my arse would seize up!!!!!

heres a couple for you a bit closer
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-248676784.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-248504365.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-246270613.htm in nelson

[Genie]

heres a couple for you a bit closer
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-248676784.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-248504365.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-246270613.htm in nelson

thanking you very much....had noticed a couple of those ones. Not buying until after christmas as i MUST get my gear first and well, christmas presents for the children. by the time they get back to school I shall be cruising the roads of the Nelson district and beyond......

again I thank you!

[marine0089]

Love my 07 GPX.

Very easy to learn on and has enough power to be fun at the learner level.

Having said that, the new ninjas are tuned to have more power and generally be a bit more user friendly at the lower band level making them even easier to ride (the GPX acts like a grandma until ~6k revs).

Both great bikes and really it just came down to money for me. 8k for a 09 Ninja or 4k for a 07 GPX.

Also helped that I'm not much of a fan of the "new look" ninja and love the older GPX style :2thumbsup

[jrandom]

Having said that, the new ninjas are tuned to have more power and generally be a bit more user friendly at the lower band level making them even easier to ride (the GPX acts like a grandma until ~6k revs).

I've heard the same thing from someone who should know (works at a Kawasaki dealer, etc).

If you don't mind paying the extra, the new Ninja 250 is probably a better bike than the old GPX.

And you can get one straight out of a showroom complete with the new bike smell. There ain't anything quite like the new bike smell.

[Slyer]

Having said that, the new ninjas are tuned to have more power and generally be a bit more user friendly at the lower band level making them even easier to ride (the GPX acts like a grandma until ~6k revs).
Naw the new ninja is tuned for LESS power up high but better mid range, which makes it quicker when you are just cruising around, but a bit slower 0-100. :) The suspension is also a little bit better on the new one, firmer.
The GPX really does fly once you get up above 9000, sedate and easy to ride below then, which is great for me. Of course the new ninja is much more stylish. :P
Go the GPX!

Whichever you choose they are great bikes and if you look at other brands definitely go for a twin for your first bike.. Make sure you get someone in nelson to check the bike out for you first when buying to make sure there's nothing obviously wrong with it. :)

[marine0089]

Naw the new ninja is tuned for LESS power up high but better mid range, which makes it quicker when you are just cruising around, but a bit slower 0-100. :)

Ha, pretty sure that's what I said :P

The new ninja would win out of the blocks but if the road is long enough (if), the GPX should take it in the end.

Not that a learner is really to worried about that.

Yeah go the twin! Nice simple engine.

[Genie]

I've heard the same thing from someone who should know (works at a Kawasaki dealer, etc).

If you don't mind paying the extra, the new Ninja 250 is probably a better bike than the old GPX.

And you can get one straight out of a showroom complete with the new bike smell. There ain't anything quite like the new bike smell.

always nice to know someone in the 'know'. One of my friends sells bikes and i've asked him and he says if i want to spend then go for it. Would be awesome bike for me. Plus, it's only an about extra $1500 to go new. In for a penny in for a pound!

i'm thinking of brand new....can pick colour i want (red) and you know the history (none) plus the bike shop is only 2 mins walk from my front door.
and they'll look after me....been super helpful so far. :banana:

[Genie]

Ha, pretty sure that's what I said :P

The new ninja would win out of the blocks but if the road is long enough (if), the GPX should take it in the end.

Not that a learner is really to worried about that.

Yeah go the twin! Nice simple engine.

for what i'm wanting to do...cruise around the district not long distance, i'm feeling it's just what i need. a gf has one and she just loves it for cruising around our fair countryside

[marine0089]

You also get the full experience of breaking it in and nursing it from the word go. Ownership value +1

Then again... it just makes it that much harder when you drop it ;)

[Genie]

You also get the full experience of breaking it in and nursing it from the word go. Ownership value +1

Then again... it just makes it that much harder when you drop it ;)

please stop with all this 'dropping it' talk.....jinxing.

It could happen and just might but i'd hate to scratch it, or hurt myself. Only once had a nasty fall.....there's a reason not to drink and ride but that was years ago and my body suffered more than the bike!!!!! I have no desire to do that again!!!!

[jrandom]

please stop with all this 'dropping it' talk.....jinxing.

There is no 'jinxing'.

Every moment on the bike, you make the decisions that will keep it upright. You're in control. Learn to ride it properly and no dropping need occur.

That said, it probably still will at some point; nobody's perfect. So make sure you're properly insured - Dave at Kiwibike Insurance Brokers (http://www.kiwibike.co.nz/) is the man to talk to.

[Slyer]

Ha, pretty sure that's what I said :P
Oh right, just the way you worded it.

[Genie]

There is no 'jinxing'.

Every moment on the bike, you make the decisions that will keep it upright. You're in control. Learn to ride it properly and no dropping need occur.

That said, it probably still will at some point; nobody's perfect. So make sure you're properly insured - Dave at Kiwibike Insurance Brokers (http://www.kiwibike.co.nz/) is the man to talk to.

thank you...yes have been informed of Kiwibike Insurance....in fact i was ordered!!!!!!!

Just wishing time would go by and i was out there NOW! So much to do first.....patience is a virtue I sometimes lack!!!!

[ducatilover]

Both the GPX and the shiny new EX250 are good learners bikes, both are not "fast" at the end of the day they are only a small bike, but, in saying that, both will get along happily at the speed limit with a little bit extra to pass slower vehicles [gn250's] and have a giggle. The EX250 ninja will probably hold value quite well too. :2thumbsup Just enjoy it and keep safe



Kiwibike insurance are awesome.

[dblancer]

I found on a hill racing my mates 08 model that I was pulling away both of us hugging the tank. A few more kw, although I weigh more than him

But thats why the old GPX was considered a little peaky, its all up in the 10K plus...

I love at about 9K RPM where the exhaust pitch changes, its almost daring you to wind her out..

I haven't ridden any other bike, but I do like how the new Ninjas look

my GPX? 2000 dolllars, for a 250 it was a steal, in excellent nick to ( once cleaned up and given love..)

The 87 model only has single disk front while an 88 has twin disks

[SPORK]

Apparently the 08/09 was detuned or whatever to improve on emissions/mileage? I've heard a re-jet gives it a bit more oomph.

there's some good stuff on ninjette.com/org or whatever it is - amongst all the MoDz bullshit, that is.

[Slyer]

The 87 model only has single disk front while an 88 has twin disks
There was a special edition that had 2 disks, but there wasn't many of them.

[Genie]

I found on a hill racing my mates 08 model that I was pulling away both of us hugging the tank. A few more kw, although I weigh more than him

But thats why the old GPX was considered a little peaky, its all up in the 10K plus...

I love at about 9K RPM where the exhaust pitch changes, its almost daring you to wind her out..

I haven't ridden any other bike, but I do like how the new Ninjas look

my GPX? 2000 dolllars, for a 250 it was a steal, in excellent nick to ( once cleaned up and given love..)

The 87 model only has single disk front while an 88 has twin disks

at this stage...i'm not into the power as such, just want a nice little cruiser to play around on and learn. Will keep it for a couple of years and then move on up the ladder. thanks for your advice....muchly appreciated.

[vindy500]

at this stage...i'm not into the power as such, just want a nice little cruiser to play around on and learn. Will keep it for a couple of years and then move on up the ladder. thanks for your advice....muchly appreciated.

comparing the new ninja to the old is like comparing a toyota corolla to a civic. One may be slightly faster but there both pretty gutless

[Slyer]

comparing the new ninja to the old is like comparing a toyota corolla to a civic. One may be slightly faster but there both pretty gutless
Yes, but 250's are faster than any corolla or civic. ;)

[ducatilover]

There was a special edition that had 2 disks, but there wasn't many of them.

The r-11 ;) [or r-2]

[ducatilover]

Yes, but 250's are faster than any corolla or civic. ;)

Not really. An ek civic type R will beat any 250 [four stroke] past 140km/h :lol:

[Slyer]

Not really. An ek civic type R will beat any 250 [four stroke] past 140km/h :lol:
Pfft! Who speeds on the road anyway? ;)

[ducatilover]

Pfft! Who speeds on the road anyway? ;)

I don't anything over 110km/h and accidents happen, it heats the pie too much.:lol::banana: