Prolite 250 Ninja

[scott411]

run out new 2010 Ninja 250R are $8295 RRP, and the new injected 2011 Ninja 250R is $8995

good second hand 08's can be had for around $5000-5500 on trademe, and there are a few coming up though the damaged bikes auctions as well even cheaper,

now these do not take much converting to a race bike as mentioned above,

now these prices are cheaper than a new 125 MX bike, and much cheaper than a 250F's, these are what most 14-16 years olds would be racing if they were on MX tracks, if what is said about tyre wear above is right then the running costs would not be to much different either,

also i think if you keep the road gear they will hold their value much better than a MX bike as well,

how much cheaper do they need to be??? i know they are not around bucket pricing, but i think if the lid is kept on the class it will continue to grow, i can see 20-30 bikes on the line in the next couple of years, I know of another kid around our area is looking at this class, and we will try to help him out with it as well.

[The Chow]

run out new 2010 Ninja 250R are $8295 RRP, and the new injected 2011 Ninja 250R is $8995

good second hand 08's can be had for around $5000-5500 on trademe, and there are a few coming up though the damaged bikes auctions as well even cheaper,

now these do not take much converting to a race bike as mentioned above,

now these prices are cheaper than a new 125 MX bike, and much cheaper than a 250F's, these are what most 14-16 years olds would be racing if they were on MX tracks, if what is said about tyre wear above is right then the running costs would not be to much different either,

also i think if you keep the road gear they will hold their value much better than a MX bike as well,

how much cheaper do they need to be??? i know they are not around bucket pricing, but i think if the lid is kept on the class it will continue to grow, i can see 20-30 bikes on the line in the next couple of years, I know of another kid around our area is looking at this class, and we will try to help him out with it as well.

Mate exactly , 250 Proddie welcome back. Man don't forget not only the Championship winning Kawasaki , but also the Hyosung and maybe even the New Honda CBR250 will be eligible next season(needs a rule change , and my understanding this could be coming). Man they so cheap New let alone second hand ones and the racing should be fantastic like the old days. Cheap to crash and cheap on Rubber.

[SWERVE]

Agree Scott it is a cheap class........ but streetstock is cheaper/faster and has been for a number of years now.
One of the reasons that Streetstock was not given the status/class it deserved (correct me if im wrong) was that due to the age of the machines and the fact that they weren,t industry relevent it wasn,t in the interest of the importers/bike dealers to become involved.
However Kawasaki ninja 250 - Hoysung 250 - and poss Honda next year have VERY relevent machinary (ninja one of worlds current best sellers i think)
So add a lot of very talented young riders...... lots of meetings throughout the country....... you have an industry relevent race series.

Not saying they should give the bikes away....... but join forces with tyre supplier / racewear distributor / frieghting company etc to create a good ol fashion 250 proddie series for young and old (but with an emphasis on young talent)
Grids soooooo big ya have to qualify........ oh sorry just woke up

[Billy]

Yep he does work at Can-Am dealer in Rangiora............. soooo true about his riding philosophy Budda One set of tyre for 5 nat rounds...rain or shine......... 13 wins from 14 starts........ at least 3 lap records.
A geniune talent......and entertaining too

Yip,Couldnt agree more Merv,The kids a real talent with a big future and the right attitude,Pushed him for a couple of laps at HD round of the Nationals and boy did he respond,He had that thing tied up in knots,A real pleasure too watch and so humble with it,Spoke too him yesterday and he was of the opinion hed only won cause his bike was the fastest,Bwahahahahaha! I passed him on the start/finish straight on an RG125,Definitely wasnt straightline speed that won him that championship,Pyre talent and commitment

[Billy]

I know which brand they are Budda......... same as many 150,s run too now (is there a tyre/size for the 250,s available from other suppliers)
And yes it is fantastic that you can be a champion/record holder on one set of tyres . My point was that Seth had set a new record at manfield on very secondhand tyres ..... imagine what his times might have been with the confidence of fresh rubber........ but saying that he will probebly do the sth is winter series on the exact same set and win
Pity the bikes arent more affordable for a 13/16 yr old........... but im sure as more road riders crash them the prices will fall. I refer to kawa ninjas......... as lets face it the "ho-bags are cheap but no match for the ninja on a track (sorry Billy)

With these bikes getting there own WSBK support class this year and 2 of our youngsters competing its a shame that we cant jump on the bandwagon and find a way with the importer or other funding to make a grid of these bikes (that kids/parents) can afford to fially showcase nz,s incredible junior talant .

I know .......... we already tried......... dont want to start another junior debate.
But it is a shame

No need to apologise too me mate,I dont make the things,All we're doing is providing an affordable hassle free avenue for those wanting to give this exciting new class a try without risking their day to day transport.

Having said that I'm sure Seth would have won that championship on a Hyosung,Theres nothing in it performance wise,All our riders were relative newbies and clearly lacked Seths talent and Im sure that was evident in his placings overall in the combined class where he managed to see off all but a small amount of the 150 feilds as well

[budda]

I know which brand they are Budda......... same as many 150,s run too now (is there a tyre/size for the 250,s available from other suppliers)
And yes it is fantastic that you can be a champion/record holder on one set of tyres . My point was that Seth had set a new record at manfield on very secondhand tyres ..... imagine what his times might have been with the confidence of fresh rubber........ but saying that he will probebly do the sth is winter series on the exact same set and win
Pity the bikes arent more affordable for a 13/16 yr old........... but im sure as more road riders crash them the prices will fall. I refer to kawa ninjas......... as lets face it the "ho-bags are cheap but no match for the ninja on a track (sorry Billy)

With these bikes getting there own WSBK support class this year and 2 of our youngsters competing its a shame that we cant jump on the bandwagon and find a way with the importer or other funding to make a grid of these bikes (that kids/parents) can afford to fially showcase nz,s incredible junior talant .

I know .......... we already tried......... dont want to start another junior debate.
But it is a shame

Merv - there are numerous options available for the wheel sizes on eligible bikes, thats why the rules are worded the way they are mate ! My point is that there is considerable bovine excrement being bandied about about costs, tyres especially. Tyres SHOULD be replaced when neccessary, which is when they are past it - there is far too much emphasis on "new tyres = performance", and Seth and Jared have both proved the point beautifully

Put decent tyres on, get the pressures right, look after them and they LAST.

And as for the pricing of the bikes - how many kids started off on brand-new 150's ?

For those that can afford it, a new bike is a fantastic way to go - for those on a more restricted budget, there ARE other ways of skinning a cat. Look forward to meeting you at Methven and discussing a few things with you .........................

[CHOPPA]

The production 250 racing of old was completely different cause the bikes were replicas of race bikes not commuter bikes.

Its a good class and I would like to be able to help put a young rider on one in the near future. There is no alternative out there thats new and cheap so its perfect choice for a start off class but we aint gonna get any riders from MX that have real talent to start on them

[budda]

The production 250 racing of old was completely different cause the bikes were replicas of race bikes not commuter bikes.

Its a good class and I would like to be able to help put a young rider on one in the near future. There is no alternative out there thats new and cheap so its perfect choice for a start off class but we aint gonna get any riders from MX that have real talent to start on them

Forgot how young you are mate - the old 250 proddy bikes WERE Commuter bikes, albeit dressed up as RepliRacers. Funnily enough, the lap times and speeds are pretty comparable to the RG's, TZR's etc, and to mid pack RGV's .

Already HAD Jumping Bike pilots hop on 'em and go good - Seth is a pretty handy Dirty Boy, Jared was a damn fast MXer, Johnny Small was known to be a bit dirty too ...... the physical skills and the mindset are pretty much the same, its how thay are applied that makes the difference, no matter what you're riding

As I've told all the youngsters I've "guided", its only the bit above the eyebrows that actually races, the meaty stuff is just there to apply the plan .............

[Billy]

Forgot how young you are mate - the old 250 proddy bikes WERE Commuter bikes, albeit dressed up as RepliRacers. Funnily enough, the lap times and speeds are pretty comparable to the RG's, TZR's etc, and to mid pack RGV's .

Already HAD Jumping Bike pilots hop on 'em and go good - Seth is a pretty handy Dirty Boy, Jared was a damn fast MXer, Johnny Small was known to be a bit dirty too ...... the physical skills and the mindset are pretty much the same, its how thay are applied that makes the difference, no matter what you're riding

As I've told all the youngsters I've "guided", its only the bit above the eyebrows that actually races, the meaty stuff is just there to apply the plan .............

Jeez young fella,

Forgot how young YOU are!!I raced in the first 250 proddy race back in 79 on an X7,Im positive the laptimes were considerably slower than Jared and Seth have been around there,Bearing in mind the 410 production lap record that year was held by a slightly younger Bob Twoomey at a blistering 1.26 and the outright lap record set by Dave Hiscock at the Shell two wheeler that same year on a GS1000HN was only a mid 1.19,Id be confident we were in the mid 1.30s although I dont remember anybody mentioning a specific laptime for that class in that year.In comparison Seth clocked a mid 1.27 at the National round this year and both he and Jared were in the low 1.27s last year but it didnt count as it wasnt a championship class.

[budda]

Jeez young fella,

Forgot how young YOU are!!I raced in the first 250 proddy race back in 79 on an X7,Im positive the laptimes were considerably slower than Jared and Seth have been around there,Bearing in mind the 410 production lap record that year was held by a slightly younger Bob Twoomey at a blistering 1.26 and the outright lap record set by Dave Hiscock at the Shell two wheeler that same year on a GS1000HN was only a mid 1.19,Id be confident we were in the mid 1.30s although I dont remember anybody mentioning a specific laptime for that class in that year.In comparison Seth clocked a mid 1.27 at the National round this year and both he and Jared were in the low 1.27s last year but it didnt count as it wasnt a championship class.

Yeah, fair enough call Methusela ...... actually broke my own rule, and mentioned bloody laptimes ........ if more young fellas FORGOT about laptimes, and just rode to beat the man in front, we'd have some more good RACERS.

Convince me I'm wrong ( it'll take some doing ) but thats what the leading young guys have in common ( other than roots in good ol' STREETSTOCKS ) , the application to just plain going faster than the next guy. Its not about your laptimes, its about who you BEAT - or am I just plain old-fashioned ?

You are correct, my OWN laptimes were usually taken with a sundial, but thats the great thing about racing in the dark - no-one knew how slow I was ...................

[puddytat]

........ if more young fellas FORGOT about laptimes, and just rode to beat the man in front, we'd have some more good RACERS.

Convince me I'm wrong ( it'll take some doing ) but thats what the leading young guys have in common ( other than roots in good ol' STREETSTOCKS ) , the application to just plain going faster than the next guy. Its not about your laptimes, its about who you BEAT - or am I just plain old-fashioned ?

....

Some wise words that are also very appropriate for us old fellas too

[Billy]

Yeah, fair enough call Methusela ...... actually broke my own rule, and mentioned bloody laptimes ........ if more young fellas FORGOT about laptimes, and just rode to beat the man in front, we'd have some more good RACERS.

Convince me I'm wrong ( it'll take some doing ) but thats what the leading young guys have in common ( other than roots in good ol' STREETSTOCKS ) , the application to just plain going faster than the next guy. Its not about your laptimes, its about who you BEAT - or am I just plain old-fashioned ?

No argument here on that count,I mentioned somewhere how much fun I had at Ruapuna this year on the old 150 superbike,There were battles going on all through the feild and then we come back to the North Island and its back too the same old story,Just Mat Hoogie,Seth and La Salle Carr who has also done a series in the South Island and then me and every body else was miles back,On the (very)odd occasion to get close enough to Seth or Mat too cause them concern they just rode harder.
You are correct, my OWN laptimes were usually taken with a sundial, but thats the great thing about racing in the dark - no-one knew how slow I was ...................

Yeah they did,When they lapped you LOL

[budda]

Yeah they did,When they lapped you LOL

Be careful what you wish for, you old bastard - only another 3 of you to lose, and my leathers will zip up again - watch out mate !!!!!!!!!!!

[Billy]

Be careful what you wish for, you old bastard - only another 3 of you to lose, and my leathers will zip up again - watch out mate !!!!!!!!!!!

Any more threats from you and I'll drive all the way to Invervegas and smash your fist in with my face !!!!

[CHOPPA]

Forgot how young you are mate - the old 250 proddy bikes WERE Commuter bikes, albeit dressed up as RepliRacers. Funnily enough, the lap times and speeds are pretty comparable to the RG's, TZR's etc, and to mid pack RGV's .............

hahaha your dreaming!!! I just watched a 250 proddy race from back in the day and if you think 10 secs is comparable you must be on drugs Id like to see someone do that on a hyosung 250

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRz6H...layer_embedded