Kawasaki Ninja 250 2007? (or 2006 whatever)

[bobsmith]

Kawasaki is bringing in the new ninja250 this year (my local dealer said august and $6999 + on road)

Now, I thought, hell they must be mad! that's such a great deal! (since the hyobag gt250r is 7299+on road these days) so I had a look at their american website for the specs and pics and now I'm thinking... WTF

Ok. So it's a in-line twin, and all the other usual mild 250 stuff... except that the wheels are... 100/80-16 and 130/80-16... now why the hell would anyone build a motorcycle with 16 inch wheels these days!!! (less range of tyres to choose from, etc...)

and I can't get over how ugly it is..... look at the pics... I mean, did they really have to dig out the designers that designed their early 80's bikes from the grave?



SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Type: 4-Stroke, Liquid-Cooled, DOHC, 4 Valve Cylinder Head, Parallel Twin
Displacement: 248 cc
Bore & Stroke: 62.0 x 41.2 mm
Maximum Torque: 18.1 lb-ft @ 10,000 rpm
Compression Ratio: 12.4:1
Carburetor: Keihin CVK30 x 2
Ignition: TCBI with Digital Advance
Transmission: 6-Speed
Final Drive: O-Ring Chain
Rake/Trail: 27°/3.3 in.
Front Wheel Travel: 5.5 in.
Rear Wheel Travel: 5.1 in.
Front Tire Size: 100/80-16
Rear Tire Size: 130/80-16
Wheelbase: 55.1 in.
Front Suspension: 36mm Hydraulic Telescopic Fork
Rear Suspension: Uni-Trak with Aluminum Linkage
Front Brake Type: Single 260mm Disc with 2-Piston Caliper
Rear Brake Type: Single 230mm Disc with 2-Piston Caliper
Fuel Tank Capacity: 4.8 gal.
Seat Height: 29.3 in.
Dry Weight: 304 lb.
Color: Candy Persimmon Red, Ebony, Candy Thunder Blue, Bright Yellow

[Karma]

Ugly as man...

[poorbastard]

Just looks like a ZZR with a few alterations and Ninja stamped on the side

[Ixion]

But look at the fuel tank size!

That will be a DAMN nice little commuter, with more than enough power for weekend riding.

It exactly mirrors the EL-6 twin.

I feel very positive about some of the trends starting to develop in motorcycling

We are seeing manufacturers bring out new models which are sensible and practical, instead of just a procession of race replicas.

Perhaps that means that the motorcycling fraternity is becoming more real world and less boi-racer, which is a good thing, because such riders will stay the course, not wander off after a year or so in search of the next thrill.

Back in the 90s I really thought that motorcycling was doomed , and that numbers would continue to wither away until it was finally banned. I don't think this will happen now. I am very pleased about this.

Now, gentlemen, if you could just crank up your drawing boards, and pay attention to the next two words. "Two strokes". I'm sure you can come through with the goods if you try.

[bobsmith]

Just looks like a ZZR with a few alterations and Ninja stamped on the side

I don't know.

I just signed a purchase agreement for a zzr250 today. The rear of the bike and the side look similar I admit, but hell zzr's front looks much much better.

hell and it's got 17 inch wheels so it will be easier to find tyres.

[Madness]

I think Kawasaki America label absolutely everything they sell without knobblies a Ninja. Pity really but perhaps indicative of the marketing required to sell over there??

It might not be everyone's cup of tea but none the less it does represent choice, something we all appreciate.


I just signed a purchase agreement for a zzr250 today. Congratulations!!!

[justsomeguy]

That's not a new bike.

It's a very early 90's bike called the GPX250. http://images.google.co.nz/images?q=gpx250&hl=en

A great learners bike i.e - cheap, reliable and safe. Remember a bike is only as fast as its rider, so don't be too quick to label it.

[Lazy7]

i dont mind them making practical purposeful commuters...

but that bike is screaming 80's all over.

at least the hyosung looks good.

[poorbastard]

I don't know.

I just signed a purchase agreement for a zzr250 today. The rear of the bike and the side look similar I admit, but hell zzr's front looks much much better.

hell and it's got 17 inch wheels so it will be easier to find tyres.

Yea I think you mite be right there with the front more like the older GPX.

Congrats on the bike too

[Ixion]

Hey, it's a REAL bike. It's got a centre stand!

And the low seat height will be popular with chicks. A very practical, sensible bike. I think Kawasaki will be on to a winner with this and the ER-6. If they go on like this I may have to revise my opinions of them

And correlating the US price with that of the ER-6f , and the latter to NZ prices, looks like the $6k figure would be about right. Jolly good value.

[justsomeguy]

Jolly good value.

Huh?? Why not buy a decentish mid nineties one for 3K??? This bike, the ZZR250 and the EX250 (which looks soooo similar to the GPX) and the GPX250 all share similar mechanical bits - so there's parts-a-plenty everywhere.

As for dem donuts, for 99% of learners a pair of Pirelli Sports Demons would be more than enough, these can be had fitted for around $300-$350 for a set, the rear tyre will last around 9-10K's and the front at least 12-15+K's.

[justsomeguy]

Here you go:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=60005002&key=450808

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=60424827&key=450808

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=61191753&key=450808

[R6_kid]

As said, its a GPX250, been made since atleast 1986, handles good and has good power considering the type of donk it has.

Has always been there to buy as it wasnt affected by the 1993 horsepower cap for 250's that stopped production of the ZXR/CBR/FZR 250 ranges. Thing is up until recently bike shops didnt think that people would seriously pay $5,000+ for a new learner sports bike.

Then along came the VTR250 and more recently the GT250, and lets not forget them shafting every last cent out of the pretty looking 'plastic fantastic' CBR's and ZXRs... its amazing what a new paint job and a 'full service' can do to the price of a bike.

Anyway, if you didn't know, Kawasakis other evil twin, the ZZR250 has also been in production since about 1986/89... the look pretty nice new, almost identical to the ZZR1100 model but without power of an inline 1.1 litre donk.

But money speaks volumes, and if you can look good on a ZZR/GPX/GT-R/VTR/CB and can afford the price tag, then the fuel savings even it out quite nicely, and if you keep it shiney side up and look after it you will probably get a sweet deal come trade in time when you have you're full licence.

[James Deuce]

JSG, some people want a new bike, not a thrashed, bodged, 11 - 18 year old that's had 32 owners, none of them in the least bit mechanically sympathetic.

Until very, very recently there were sod all new 250s sold in NZ. A couple of low spec trail bikes, the GN, and the VTR were it for about 5 years. With the petrol price coup (it ain't a war - we lost before it started), Kawasaki are trying to capitalise on a boom time for all things two wheeled. As someone has mentioned, Japan Inc stopped making super sports 250s in the mid '90s so this actually ends up being one of the quicker new 250s around, despite being a more than 20 year old design.

You could do worse for $7k.

[NhuanH]

at least the hyosung looks good.
what, you want the bash? and I don't mean no UNIX shell either :bash:

Just stay off the pipe bro :doobey: :weird:

[James Deuce]

Grep this :motu: N-man - some people like the Hyosung R styles.

[NhuanH]

2 >/dev/null

[James Deuce]

Don't make me cronjob your arse.

[bobsmith]

Hey, it's a REAL bike. It's got a centre stand!

And the low seat height will be popular with chicks. A very practical, sensible bike. I think Kawasaki will be on to a winner with this and the ER-6. If they go on like this I may have to revise my opinions of them

And correlating the US price with that of the ER-6f , and the latter to NZ prices, looks like the $6k figure would be about right. Jolly good value.

I agree the low seat height will be popular with a lot of female riders... but have you noticed how visually oriented they are? (most of the time) besides, you can get the same seat height from older ZZRs with a little more style, etc...

[zeocen]

Hey! That's my bike! :P

*hugs gpx250 and takes it to bed*

[SPman]

They sell shit loads over here in Perth - GPX 250's and the ZZR 250.

Got quite a shock to walk into a Big K dealer and see rows of these things for sale....

[Jamezo]

Grep this :motu: N-man - some people like the Hyosung R styles.
Are you kidding? The GT250R is a stunner!

Sharpest new learner bike out (*cough* unless they're still selling KR150s :))

[EroSamnin]

I have a yellow Hyofun GT250 naked BEAST. Have to ride it for learners and restricted so may have well have something that looks and goes sweet and sounds like a proper bike.

I agree with Jim2, it's great to have a new bike. At least I know how much it's been thrashed lol.

I reckon it's good there are a few more 250s coming out. I dreaded having to learn on a GN250. Reminded me of my farm thrashed DT175 of doom. :blip:

[James Deuce]

Are you kidding? The GT250R is a stunner!

Sharpest new learner bike out (*cough* unless they're still selling KR150s :))

That's what I meant (he has a broken wrist, so he can't answer BACK! YEAH! Oops. Sorry James). Read the whole conversation. Crasher.

[gamgee]

It's a great looking bike :rockon: for a late 80's design... :sick:
you'd think they would have taken the ever popular zxr shape, and slapped the reliable twin cylinder zzr engine in it, altho it will sell either way, hey it's a brand new sports bike for roughly the same price as the 16-20 year old 4 cylinder's are selling for, and best of all it's a kawasaki, just that style, man are the lazy or whats going on???

[SPORK]

That's what I meant (he has a broken wrist, so he can't answer BACK! YEAH! Oops. Sorry James). Read the whole conversation. Crasher.
Brun. No mercy from the welly corps :)

[Jamezo]

That's what I meant (he has a broken wrist, so he can't answer BACK! YEAH! Oops. Sorry James). Read the whole conversation. Crasher.
I know, I just thought what you said was an incredible understatement.

Show me someone who doesn't appreciate the GT250R and I'll show you someone who's dead inside....

[James Deuce]

I know, I just thought what you said was an incredible understatement.

Show me someone who doesn't appreciate the GT250R and I'll show you someone who's dead inside....

Jeez he wot communication said was bad

[skidMark]

Kawasaki is bringing in the new ninja250 this year (my local dealer said august and $6999 + on road)

Now, I thought, hell they must be mad! that's such a great deal! (since the hyobag gt250r is 7299+on road these days) so I had a look at their american website for the specs and pics and now I'm thinking... WTF

Ok. So it's a in-line twin, and all the other usual mild 250 stuff... except that the wheels are... 100/80-16 and 130/80-16... now why the hell would anyone build a motorcycle with 16 inch wheels these days!!! (less range of tyres to choose from, etc...)

and I can't get over how ugly it is..... look at the pics... I mean, did they really have to dig out the designers that designed their early 80's bikes from the grave?

it's a gpx mate....the style has not changed since the first year of production which i think was '86.. the only thing different if the indicators...fronts are different...and the rear indicators are no longer intergrated in the same block as the tail light anymore

from what i hear the 07 model is actually going to be redesigned but hell i dunno ....

will be looking into this

i find it strangely humourous that the "o so holy great ZXR 250 never kept in production but well would ya look at that they still make the trusty gpx (Ninja 250) **GPX THE ORIGIONAL NINJA** pawns all cus zxr 250's all leak like sives

gpx oi gpx oi gpx gpx gpx oi oi oi

[skidMark]

Hey! That's my bike! :P

*hugs gpx250 and takes it to bed*

woohoo another gpx rider in auckland! i'm not alone !!!!!!!!!!

[MattRSK]

I am a little bit disappointed with the looks of the new Kawasaki. Hopefully this will inspire Honda to bring out a new sports 250. One that is better than a Kawasaki (as they always seem to do). :yes:

[N4CR]

it's a gpx mate....the style has not changed since the first year of production which i think was '86.. the only thing different if the indicators...fronts are different...and the rear indicators are no longer intergrated in the same block as the tail light anymore

from what i hear the 07 model is actually going to be redesigned but hell i dunno ....

will be looking into this

i find it strangely humourous that the "o so holy great ZXR 250 never kept in production but well would ya look at that they still make the trusty gpx (Ninja 250) **GPX THE ORIGIONAL NINJA** pawns all cus zxr 250's all leak like sives

gpx oi gpx oi gpx gpx gpx oi oi oi

Because of this bullshit mark - I'm going to post. You should feel great that this is the only post I have done in the past week or so, because I felt it was worth it.

The zxr/cbr/fzr/gsxr il4 250's etc ceased production by around late 1995 or so (where production was moved to malaysia of ZXR's just before that), due to the fact that power restrictions came in around 1993~1994 and they would get similar power (after the IL4's were restricted) from vtwins and allmost p-twins like the GPX etc. But In saying that the supposed 40ps crank of the gpx and the 45ps crank of the zxrs and cbrs ... zxr/cbr etc flattens a gpx/zzr by a long way. I think the power figures are overstated but yeah.. more to that another day. So anyway therefore making a complicated Il4 engine design for just a bit more power was uneconomical money wise, they also wanted to focus on the production and expansion of the 600cc market.

Hence why the gpx that that link is about is what is referred to as the EX250 in USA... they have been around for ages. People call them gutless and get 600's as first bikes... if they made unrestricted IL4 250s the 600 market would suffer a bit.. hence why the EX250 as linked before is gutless and cheap and easy to make for kawasaki, but not tooo 'interesting' for a first time rider when you can get a 600 with a fuckload of grunt for 2x the price.

A 250 is not cool in the land of 'displacement'.

I wish they still made 250 IL4's without the restrictions.. i'd probably buy one. They'd be good to 19k crank now with the tech advancements.. not 17500 or so like they do now :) prob 45-50rwhp too.. would be stonking if they had good shocks too.

And FYI since changing the oil and actually connecting the breather hose my bike has not leaked a drip in a thousand and a bit k's... nuff said.


I am a little bit disappointed with the looks of the new Kawasaki. Hopefully this will inspire Honda to bring out a new sports 250. One that is better than a Kawasaki (as they always seem to do).
Still ain't had a cbr250rr go past me yet when going for it..... corner or in a line, Nuff said. Ridden them multiple times too found them lacking a bit of top end, low end and not as good suspension. Better midrange though.

[NSR-Dan]

its hideous, i sell body kits for older bikes to make them look modern, hopefully this will make me more business.

[NhuanH]

I wouldn't even ride one in my cheapest riding jandals.

[marty]

they've certainly done a *lot* of r & d in 19 years.........

although i don't think suzuki can talk with their new improved gn250.

here's the 1988 vs 2007 gpx:

[placidfemme]

Kawasaki is bringing in the new ninja250 this year (my local dealer said august and $6999 + on road)

Now, I thought, hell they must be mad! that's such a great deal! (since the hyobag gt250r is 7299+on road these days) so I had a look at their american website for the specs and pics and now I'm thinking... WTF

Ok. So it's a in-line twin, and all the other usual mild 250 stuff... except that the wheels are... 100/80-16 and 130/80-16... now why the hell would anyone build a motorcycle with 16 inch wheels these days!!! (less range of tyres to choose from, etc...)

and I can't get over how ugly it is..... look at the pics... I mean, did they really have to dig out the designers that designed their early 80's bikes from the grave?

Eh... thats the same crap one they release in the states... looks like a ZZR... :sick:

[skidMark]

its hideous, i sell body kits for older bikes to make them look modern, hopefully this will make me more business.

body kits for a gpx??? now your talking my language...

do you only make/design to order? :blip:

[Sketchy_Racer]

gpx oi gpx oi gpx gpx gpx oi oi oi

Well that confims my conspisions.....

That you really ARE gay.....

[MattRSK]

Well that confims my conspisions.....

That you really ARE gay.....
Haha Big call there RG. Haha

[Sketchy_Racer]

maybe....

But you were thinking it.....

[MattRSK]

Im not going to lie about it. :yes:

[UrbanMyth]

wow that looks the same! as my mates gpx250.

[skidMark]

Well that confims my conspisions.....

That you really ARE gay.....

thats right i must be gay you know i mean i have a girlfriend at all but lets call me gay... or not do you have a girlfriend or did you put a tiny peashooter exhaust to your bike other than for performance

FAG

[SPman]

Eh... thats the same crap one they release in the states... looks like a ZZR... :sick:
The ZZR looks different - more modern, like a ........ZZR.
They sell both models over here-dont know who would want a GPX over a ZZR!

[Sketchy_Racer]

thats right i must be gay you know i mean i have a girlfriend at all but lets call me gay... or not do you have a girlfriend or did you put a tiny peashooter exhaust to your bike other than for performance

FAG

Nope im not gay.....

If i were i would be saying

"gpx oi gpx oi gpx gpx gpx oi oi oi"

and WTF are you on about your pea shooter?

[FilthyLuka]

I have a yellow Hyofun GT250 naked BEAST. Have to ride it for learners and restricted so may have well have something that looks and goes sweet and sounds like a proper bike.


Gn250 sounds like a proper bike if you add a hacksaw and an emgo trumpet muffler...

[NSR-Dan]

body kits for a gpx??? now your talking my language...

do you only make/design to order? :blip:

only made kits for honda's so far. NSR, CBR, VFR, RVF.

there is the Yamaha R! race kit though

check my website www.dsracing.co.nz

[accuratelifestyle]

does anyone have parts for this bike, i wana buy some
ie right bracket and peg
021 727 321

[accuratelifestyle]

1988 kawasaki gpx 250R

[accuratelifestyle]

i need parts for a gpx 250
got some txt us
021 727321
ie right bracket wif peg...cheers