Opinion - 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250 vs The Rest

[The Pastor]

yeah you can't say shit unitll you ride one.

if it puts out 45hp i'd be keen (if i were in the market for a 250)

hyobags do have an amazing fuel range tho. that almost out weighs the performance loss.

[delusionz]

The ZXR250/CBR250 etc are sportsbikes, they are a proper thrash on a racetrack and open road go balls to the wall sportsbike, just with a smaller engine than the big toys. clip on handle bars, twin floating brake discs etc etc.


The GPX/Ninja....(it's the same bike just with pretty panels and some changes,same suspension riding position high up bars instead of "clip-on's", just admit it)

• single disc brakes.....
• crappy forks...

I mean cmon...they arnt even upside down forks (USD's for short)

View this attachment...

[Rosie]

I think Kawasaki has priced them very well, and they should sell a lot of them.

I agree that learners need experience on the open road, but there probably aren't many 250's out there that would be thoroughly unsuitable for riding on the open road. My Sherpa is a dolled up farmbike, and it's a hell of a lot of fun on the open road. The Ninja would have better open road manners, making it more than adequate for one's formative years on the open road.

[jrandom]

Everyone else moves on, or takes their 250 to a track...

Mark took his 250 to a track, but forgot to check the engine oil level before thrashing it to the redline...

[Harry33]

mmm when I get back to Nz I might buy a new 250 ninja. I like the price and the fact it's brand new. Damn should hurry up and get a full licence I really want a R6. lol

[rwh]

Mark took his 250 to a track

But only because he's not allowed to ride it on the road, right?

And that's the answer to everybody telling him to test ride them. It's as useful as telling schoolboys to testdrive Lamborghinis and Ferraris before they compare them ...

Richard

[FilthyLuka]

if it puts out 45hp i'd be keen (if i were in the market for a 250)

"32 HP @ 11.000 rpm"

of kawasaki NZ website

I highly doubt a zxr puts out 45hp at the wheel though (you didn't say it does, im just pointing it out)

a zxr puts out 40 hp the same way an aprilia rs250 puts out 70, at the crank maybe

I like this new GPX, its gonna be a good one, even if it is a tad underpowered.

And markie, twin discs aren't all that shit hot on a 250, one suffices just fine.

That and gimmie the money and some time and im pretty damn positive i can make a DR250 donk put out more ponies than a ZXR. At the end of the day, they are just 250's, we learn on them, we crash them, we have pissing contests because of them, but thats it. It REALLY doesn't matter for your average road rider whether it puts out 30 horses or 38 horses or if it has one disc or two, as long as it does what its designed for well, which i think the kawasaki should be able to manage.

Hmm, i should go test ride one for fun Does Mt. Eden have 'em in stock?

[99TLS]

dont really like them and would rather spend the same amount on a old cbr or rg250 probly the latter

[cowpoos]

The GPX/Ninja....(it's the same bike just with pretty panels and some changes,same suspension riding position high up bars instead of "clip-on's", just admit it)

• single disc brakes.....
• crappy forks...

I mean cmon...they arnt even upside down forks (USD's for short), the ZXR has the ZXR250, where as the origional CBR250 did not. and ive ridden a few CBR250's's and they are rubbish suspension wise in comparison to the ZXR250.

The Gpx is a different bike than the new baby ninja..crappy forks?? how do you know?? just becuase they are not USD does not make them less good!! they can be cartridge forks no matter what way up they are..and whos to say they are worse than whats on your zxr250?? you wouldn't fricken know..be cause you ride like a homo and have no idea what the hell your talking about!!

The Hyosung GT250R was infact origionally designed by Kawasaki but for some reason the plans were sold.

How the hell do you know??? because you dont!!!

If you want to simply pull girls that think because it says ninja it's really fast! and just north shore sure to score girls. then go the new ninja 250. fact is the new ninja 250 is a sports styled commuter.


It's the equivelent of a Suzuki GN250 with fairings...

Sorry i lie a Suzuki GN250 with moto-x bars actually corners better.

So you have ridden one??

Hope that helps in some new riders decision making.

skidMark.

I doubt its done anything but make you look like a fuck idiot...you have tryed to knock the reputation of kawasakis latest learner bike..based on nothing?? you actually have nothing to base it on?? you have not ridden the machine!!
You also in my opinion DO NOT have the experience or skill..maturity too test a motorcycle to a point where you can give a worthy opinion...Just think before you type/talk Mark!! and it maybe pay to get this thread removed...as people who work for companys like Kawasaki NZ browse here all the time..and see these dumb shit reports/reviews..and thats how KB is getting a bit of a named for its self these days as a Shark pit full of naysayers and bullshit artists...and sadly...I have to agree it is going this way!

[ital916]

Hear hear for comprehending the stupidity of this thread.

[skidMark]

Mark,

This isn't just a GPX, infact I think you'll find that if you want to compare it as a successor to a bike, it is actually much more closer to the zzr250.

which was a gpx with pretty fairings.

[skidMark]

The Gpx is a different bike than the new baby ninja..crappy forks?? how do you know?? just becuase they are not USD does not make them less good!! they can be cartridge forks no matter what way up they are..and whos to say they are worse than whats on your zxr250?? you wouldn't fricken know..be cause you ride like a homo and have no idea what the hell your talking about!!


ummm it's the same forks.

i ride like a homo?

hang on who totalled thier gixxer?

How the hell do you know??? because you dont!!!

see above



So you have ridden one??

why would i bother it's the same as the old one. same components new cover



I doubt its done anything but make you look like a fuck idiot...you have tryed to knock the reputation of kawasakis latest learner bike..based on nothing?? you actually have nothing to base it on?? you have not ridden the machine!!

as i have said there is no need to ride the machine. i have ridden enough bikes to owned an old gpx. it's the same god damn components.

and it is being sold as what they are advertising it as....the new ninja. as in a prettied up version on the old one. and when did i knock it? i gave a comparison to give learners some relevant points, they can take from it what they wish.



You also in my opinion DO NOT have the experience or skill..maturity too test a motorcycle to a point where you can give a worthy opinion...Just think before you type/talk Mark!! and it maybe pay to get this thread removed...as people who work for companys like Kawasaki NZ browse here all the time..and see these dumb shit reports/reviews..and thats how KB is getting a bit of a named for its self these days as a Shark pit full of naysayers and bullshit artists...and sadly...I have to agree it is going this way!

never said my opinion was worthy, was just giving it.

And i am kawasaki true to the bone, just voicing my opinion my next new bike will be a kawasaki zx6r or zx10r.

this does not mean i have to like everybike they make.

it's like i won't buy an 08 zx10r cus it's fucking ugly.

would rather have 06/07

and this is an open forum, i do not care what kawasaki nz reads they still have my business.

i voiced an opinion. i did not make a full blown testride review so do not try make out like i did because i most certainly did not.



i like you poos but you can be a cunt.

SM

[skidMark]

it was never designed to be a ZXR250, and to be honest for most learners (the 250 market) these are horrible with no useable power down low,

as for USD forks, they are a marketing crap, just cause they work on Motogp does not make them better for the average bike, usd forks are more comman to blow fork seals and it is more likely to damage fork sliders, on this sort of bike the conventional forks are a better choice, Hyosung usd forks are more show than purpose,

who the hell rides a zxr in down low revs?

i ride between 14k rpm to 19k everywhere.

the only time i drop below that is round town...and why do you need grunt to putter round...if i need to move in a hurry i wind it up to 19k redline and fuck off.

i am talking about the USD's as a more adjustable setup the non usd's in the other bikes i mentioned have little to no adjustment where as the zxr and GT250R do.

fact is the new ninja is designed like the gpx.

to be a sports styled commuter.

never intended as a sportsbike.

i was just trying to get across to new buyers that just because it has pretty fairings. it doesn't make it a flash sportsbike....which is how it looks.

but it is not mechanically designed to match it's pretty sportsbike racer looks.

[skidMark]

"32 HP @ 11.000 rpm"

of kawasaki NZ website

I highly doubt a zxr puts out 45hp at the wheel though (you didn't say it does, im just pointing it out)

a zxr puts out 40 hp the same way an aprilia rs250 puts out 70, at the crank maybe

I like this new GPX, its gonna be a good one, even if it is a tad underpowered.

And markie, twin discs aren't all that shit hot on a 250, one suffices just fine.

That and gimmie the money and some time and im pretty damn positive i can make a DR250 donk put out more ponies than a ZXR. At the end of the day, they are just 250's, we learn on them, we crash them, we have pissing contests because of them, but thats it. It REALLY doesn't matter for your average road rider whether it puts out 30 horses or 38 horses or if it has one disc or two, as long as it does what its designed for well, which i think the kawasaki should be able to manage.

Hmm, i should go test ride one for fun Does Mt. Eden have 'em in stock?

it's not so much the twin discs...they do help a shitload though.

the fact is they arnt even a folating disc they are a solid one piece disc. yuck.

zxr 250 is 45 hp at the crank.

35 at the wheel.

mine remains at 35hp to this day...dynoed...

with exhaust and rejetting it wasn't re dynoed.

but estimated aty 38hp-40hp. at the wheel.

yes 250's are absolutely gutless....ive ridden zx10r's....hop back on a 250 and it's like a scooter.

which is why 250's need to make up for it in the suspension department.

the ZXR achieves this.

these 250's you are on one for 2 years until you can legally upgrade right....

so you are learning all your base riding skills on one.

i'm sorry to say but when i sold my gpx and got on a zxr.

it was like starting over.

ride a gpx...or the new ninja.

then ride a zxr. (with susp etc properly adjusted...not straight off the boat for some 50kg japanese guy)

and get back to me

SM

[skidMark]

.

There's nothing much more to say, all your talk of USDs and single disc brakes are irrelevent, the bike isn't made to need to utilise twin disc brakes, maybe if it was a screaming inline4, but it ain't. It's just a good commuting bike that has....

I'll need to put this by itself, so you read it..



That has never once claimed to be a race bike, only a good solid new bike with plenty of low down grunt for a 250 for new riders/riders who would like a stylised 250 as a commuter.



You can defend your precious ZXR till the cows come home but the fact of the matter is, no one compared them in the first place, you were the only one. So to end this nice big speil of mine, I will finish with one last sentence.

You are full of shit Mark, let the riders choose what is most comfortable for them.





(/disclaimer: I personally don't like the new Ninja250's looks, I thought the retro style was great and the bigger back end made for better luggage space, but each to his own!)

they can choose whatever they please i am just offering an opinion and i said at the start of the very first post that i was not saying go buy a zxr...just using it as a base reference point as it is a bike i know every inch of, so i could form a much better comparison.

and you just said it right there.

it's a good COMMUTING bike.

which is why i made this thread, to point out it is a commuting bike.

so that people in the market for a new bike could making a decision from that.

yes i do like the looks of the bike but what i am saying is that the mechanicals are alot more important for open road...it doesn't look so prewtty after you slide it off the road.

and i have ridden zzr's in the past. still wallowed all over the place.

in this i am comparimng 250's to 250's leaving big bikes out of it beacuse if you are a learner you can only have a 250 legally

i know 250's are shit i know they are slow.

and straight up the only reason i havn't upgraded is lack of funds.

to be honest i have reached the zxr's limits.

and it bores me.