Going the distance on 250 Ninja

**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

. 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

but fine if you do regular stops. Got about 240km on $20 of premium and that included some prolonged 9-10k rpm bits.