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

[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-Mo...-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-Mo...-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-Mo...-248676784.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-248504365.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-246270613.htm in nelson

[Genie]

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

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-248504365.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-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

[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.