A sad sad day... But also a happy one!!!

[FkNAmerican]

Well, the time has finally come.......tommorrow my beloved Ninja 250 and I part ways... In memory, I want to say these words:

You were my very first....well sorta....but hell lets just leave it at that. I can still remmember the day I picked you up from the factory like it was yesterday. There you sat in a place of honor at the stealership...all shiny and brand spanking new just waiting for somebody, me, to ride you off the lot to your new home. You even had a full tank of gas in you for good measure. It was such a special day for me. You had less then one mile on your odometer and I was the first person to ride you.....well sorta but hell lets just leave it at that.

That first ride home I had a smile on my face the entire time. I can still remmember the first weekend I brought you to Michaels and was amazed when a crowd formed around you. These were guys with MV Agustas and Ducati's and Harleys and KTM's and they were all circling around YOU taking pictures and asking questions. I'd gone up there feeling a little embarrassed about being on a 250 but instead you and I got the royal treatment and a great welcome into the biker community.

I can still remmember our first trip up to the Blue Ridge PKwy with its endless miles of twisties through the Blue Ridge mountains. I laugh at how I rode the entire way up going highway speeds (and maybe a bit faster) with the tach pinned at 12,000 rpm without a single problem. The way you took those corners so easily and the beautiful scenery of the parkway still put a smile on my face. Its all just so much better on a motorcycle with the wind in my face. I can remmember all the little near misses that your handling and braking power saved me from: The dear running out into the road, the idiot on the cell phone, the moron in the SUV, the gravel truck, the massive pothole. I still laugh at the look on the dealers face when I brought you in for your first service after a few days with 1,044 miles on the clock. I will be forever proud that I never dropped you or layed you down (that I saved for another bike....but hell lets just leave it at that) and that you will be going to your new owner in mint condition.

But alas, it is time to move on and that new bike is already here! But not to worry for I give you into the capable hands of my best friend in the world. I look forwards to watching him learn how to ride on you just as I did. I cant wait to show him around all the secret little back roads I discovered while riding you. I cant wait until we take that first ride together up into the mountains for some fresh air, great scenery, endless corners and the camaraderie that comes only from two friends riding together. I will always remmember you as my first motorcycle. Thanks for the memories.

Some crappy cell phone pics....sadly its all I got at the moment as my digital is WIA.

Me, day one, Ninja 250 and then my new ride...and Honda CBR 600 :)

[MSTRS]

Those little Ninja's are very under-rated. An excellent bike to learn the dark art on. And a pretty good choice with the Honda too. Enjoy!!
PS - get yourself some proper pants and boots.

[Sniper]

Well done mate. Sad to lose your first isnt it

[Hitcher]

A "Ninja" 250? Only in America, eh. Kawasaki here refer to these more modestly as a GPX250, reserving the "Ninja" moniker for models with a bit more whoosh.

Good choice in the Honda. I suppose you'll be heading up Deals Gap way soon?

[Chickadee]

Congrats on the new bike, and at least your first beauty has gone to a good home. Always nice when you can see her again from time to time.

Enjoy the new bike you lucky bugger

[Storm]

Congrats on the upgrade mate. Heres hoping you have many trouble free miles on it :D

[Lteejay]

Enjoy the new CBR. I can only imagine its sad to see your first bike go. Happy hunting for twisties on the new bike :rockon:

[FkNAmerican]

LOL, thanks all.

Oh and yeah, jeans are just soooo much more comfortable then leathers. I've got some Icon pants on order now so cut me a little slack!!! :) As for the boots......I cant quite bring myself to walk around work in motorcycle boots all day so those are my daily driver boots. I've got some decent boots I wear when Im just out for a ride. Keep in mind I got this thing on my lunch break so it was jeans and work boots all the way!!!

In the meantime......Im enjoying getting to know my 600RR. Its just an entirely different beast. The motor is just so smooth....the power seemless. The acceleration is just on a dofferent order of magnitude above the 250. Its amazing. I've actually been back on my 250 since and I was amazed at how comfortable and easy to ride it was (I was also amazed at how SLOW it felt hehe). That Ninja 250...and yeah we laugh that it gets the "Ninja" name too guys (we call it the "baby ninja" here is the states), really was a GREAT bike. I will recommend that thing to people forever. Im really gonna miss that thing!!!

I've already found fault with the CBR though. The brake and clutch levers dont really fit my hands well no matter what I do so Im gonna have to go to the aftermarket or something to try and find some better levers. Other then that its great for me.

[FkNAmerican]

One more problem.......Im itching to get the 07 CBR600RR..........Im thinking ounce my friend learns on my old Ninja 250R and is ready for a 600 (which will be in about 2 months knowing him) I will sell him my 600RR.........at that point Im gonna have to spend awhile considering:

07 600RR
07 1000RR
07 GSXR 750
07 Triumph Daytona 675
07 YZF R-6
07 R-1

Or if Im really really feeling it......a Ducati 1098.....in black with the red frame.....ohhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh. I can always ship it over to NZ right? RIGTH?!?!?

[MSTRS]

...in black with the red frame.....ohhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh. I can always ship it over to NZ right? RIGTH?!?!?

Not the red frame one. :nono: Due to the badtaste laws here, those are illegal. Rightly so. Now, the red one with the black frame....

[Sanx]

If you want something that feels just like the 600RR, but has more oomph, go for the '07 Blade. Might not be the fire-breathing, tendon-ripping, pant-staining monster the '07 GSXR-1000 is, but it's a bloody good bike for the money.

And unlike the Gixxer, it wasn't styled by Mr Ugly and his ugly stick.

The Daytona's a good bike though. Maybe not up to the '07 600RR but a different type of ride. More torque lower down, and a broad spread throughout the range. Great handling, and the engine sounds sweet especially once allowed to breath a bit more. Looks nice too.

But ... you've just got your new bike. Ride it. Enjoy it. And think of all the fun you'll have test-riding every possible replacement when the time comes.

[deeknow]

Well, the time has finally come.......tommorrow my beloved Ninja 250 and I part ways...

Ahhh... the mighty GPX... was my first bike as well. I kept it as a commuter as I went on to a 600ss Duke and then a ZX7R Kwaka and the little 250 always bought a smile to my face when I threw a leg over and cranked it full throttle over roads I used to thrash on it when I 1st got my license.

They really are an awesome little machine aye?, a little pricey new maybe, especially considering they dont look quite as sexy as some of the imports and 2-stroke machines, but they make a perfect learners bike.

I sold mine on to a young fellah from the coast, he seemed stoked as he handed over his hard-earned cash and launched off down the road. Almost bought a tear to my eye :love:

[avgas]

A "Ninja" 250? Only in America, eh. Kawasaki here refer to these more modestly as a GPX250, reserving the "Ninja" moniker for models with a bit more whoosh.
Yeh dont forget the little electric quad in the 80's with the theme song "Kawasaki Ninja's Rule"
HA

[deeknow]

A "Ninja" 250? Only in America, eh. Kawasaki here refer to these more modestly as a GPX250, reserving the "Ninja" moniker for models with a bit more whoosh.

Actually, they did have the "Ninja" logo along the side of the bottom fairing on the NZ models (see attached)

[Colapop]

PS - get yourself some proper pants and boots.
Holy shit!! Don't be too harsh. That's one of the first Merkins I seen wearing any aorta protective gear...

[Waylander]

Holy shit!! Don't be too harsh. That's one of the first Merkins I seen wearing any aorta protective gear...
Ahem.....:shutup:

[Hitcher]

That's one of the first Merkins I seen wearing any aorta protective gear...

?? Aorta make it compulsory.

[FkNAmerican]

hehe, yeah.....Im gonna miss that Ninja 250. I put 500 miles on her in one day(more specifically...in 6 hours). It was great. I came into work, noticed it was a perfect day for riding, called out sick at about 10:00 AM, got home and walked the dog, then went off to the Blue Ridge Parkway up in the mountains. It was 11,000-12,000 rpm (indicated 105 mph) all the way just blasting past people. I was surprised how well the little thing did up in the mountains. Then it was 80-90 mph for mile after mile after mile on the Blue Ridge......only slowing for the views. No traffic, perfect roads, excellent views of the mountains.....endless twisties....just perfect. I will never forget that day on the 250.

Now all I need is to do the same trip on the CBR. Cant waite.

[zeocen]

Actually, they did have the "Ninja" logo along the side of the bottom fairing on the NZ models (see attached)

Yeah, mine says Ninja, with no sign of GPX.
The ninja stickers make it 2kmph faster !

[FkNAmerican]

lol!!! the only thing that ever bothered me about my 250 was the red "flame" stickers. I always thought they looked a little bit childish. If I'd had the bike longer I woulda removed them. I actually prefer alot of the older paint schemes I've seen around over the new one....at least in the states. I dont know what color options you guys get over in NZ for 06/07.

[Nutter34]

.at that point Im gonna have to spend awhile considering:

07 600RR
07 1000RR
07 GSXR 750
07 Triumph Daytona 675
07 YZF R-6
07 R-1

Or if Im really really feeling it......a Ducati 1098.....in black with the red frame.....ohhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh. I can always ship it over to NZ right? RIGTH?!?!?

Nice 600.

I'd have thought after enjoying the little Ninja you'd consider either the ZX6R or ZX10R. The new ZX6R is supposed to be one of the sweetest handling 600's.

Have fun and take it easy on the new bike for the first few twisty rides...

[owner]

Well done, Good choice nice pipe too. I see your on tippie toes too. haha
mines at the dealer waiting on parts after a slight off. Have you test ridin a thou yet? I wish I didnt! I think that power upgrade thing is addictive. I ve learnt my lesson dont test ride what you cant afford.

[Macktheknife]

Those little Ninja's are very under-rated. An excellent bike to learn the dark art on. And a pretty good choice with the Honda too. Enjoy!!
PS - get yourself some proper pants and boots.

He stole my words, so I stole them back!
Good luck with the 600, enjoy the power but take it easy for a week or two to get the hang of it.
All the gear, All the time.

[zeocen]

lol!!! the only thing that ever bothered me about my 250 was the red "flame" stickers. I always thought they looked a little bit childish. If I'd had the bike longer I woulda removed them. I actually prefer alot of the older paint schemes I've seen around over the new one....at least in the states. I dont know what color options you guys get over in NZ for 06/07.

Yeah the new ones here say GPX and have the gayballs flames too.. and some of them are in atrocious colour schemes. I like the oldschool retro decals, they fit the bike.. tribal flames on a retro looking bike = fail.

[FkNAmerican]

yeah I took a long hard look at the Kwak ZX-6r. Im a bit of a shiny new kit fanatic anyway so I was almost sold on it being a new model alone. Add in the high redline, slipper cluch, track bias, excellent displays, great chassis, and the look of the thing........I still might get me one.

The only thing I dont like about almost the entire Kwaka lineup is the somewhat underwhelming paint......they all just all seem a little dull to me when sitting there next to the competition.

I think my next motorcycle is gonna be a GSXR 750 or a Daytona 675.....