If you can keep your 250, DO IT.

[zeocen]

This is a story about me, zeocen.
I bought my first 250 off a fellow kb'er after joining this site, a GPX Ninja 250r 1990, FireFight gave me a damn good deal on a damn good bike, I would firstly like to thank him for that. I did not have much money, and he was generous with the price.. this allowed me to get into biking with appropriate gear, and get into biking as not only a hobbie, but a lifestyle change.

I now have my full license, I got it without hassle about 3 weeks ago. Before that I bought a ZZR600 1990 (I like my old bikes, what can I say?), so I had my gpx 250 and ZZR600 before I got my full, of course temptation would take it's course and I would ride the 600 up the road to the dairy (less than a minute, literally) before I got my full, but never further.. no insurance. So I stuck to my 250 and I was damn happy to do so.

But I could not keep both, I took a small loan out to buy the 600, and the 250 had to go. I felt sad, as this was my first bike, quite like a first guitar it has sentimental value.

These two videos below are me riding my 250 to the new owners house. The end is cheesey as hell, because I made it that way. But at the same time, when I left it there, and when I reviewed it, I actually was sad. It was like giving your pet to someone else.. you want to tell them everything, how to feed it, what food it likes, how it likes to be scratched...

When I have the funds to buy another 250 I will, I had the best time of my life on one and even though I do admittedly have more fun on the 600, the 250 is the revitalisation of my youth that started everything. I may even try track down the same 250 and see if the current owner is willing to sell. It was very hard to give up.

So I put this to you, if you have the space and the money to keep your 250, do it, you won't regret it.. having two bikes is a blessing. Having a 250 that can run 400km+ on a tank of gas and the flickability of a paper plane is blissful. I love my 600, but 250's will always be in the back of my mind.

So long, Black Beauty, gone but not forgotten, not by a mile


Part 1 (6 min)

Final Ninja 250 Ride. Part 1 of 2.

Part 2 (6 min)

Final Ninja 250 Ride. Part 2 of 2.

yeah It's cheesey, but shit, it's a memory worth keeping. The vehicle that changed my life

Now - bring on summer and long, LONG tours on my 600.

[xwhatsit]

I'll definitely be keeping my 250. My little RS is mine for life. It's got more than a few faults, but nothing I've ridden really is quite the same. It's lots of fun in its own quirky little way.

In addition, who can fault the economics of it? To be sure, I'll definitely have a big bike or two, but am I going to ride a Goldstar (I wish ) to the shops/work every day? A CB1300 would be overkill for the same thing.

27kms/litre, tyres that last forever, brake pads/shoes go a decade, and if I do something stupid and crash, it's not going to be expensive to fix.

I think everybody should own a 250 of some description, just for shits and giggles.

Zeocen -- buy a GPX250 in 20 years for too much money when you're old and sentimental for your youth

[Donor]

Mine can fuck RIGHT off.

Roll on the new bike!

HUZZAH!!!

[deanohit]

Will either be keeping my rattler for a Bucket Motard or to pass onto my younger brother to use. I love 250s as well, the only time I want a bigger bike is on the long open stretches of road when I hate it, on gravel and through the twisties, I love my bike.

[sidecar bob]

I still have the '81 Katana 1100 i bought in 1984 because it would be similar to selling one of my children, although i have only had the oldest one of them for 8 years, not 23.
Had to smile at you refering to a 1990 bike as old. To me, old starts at about 1978 & goes back from there.

[duckaddict]

I have the photo of my 1988 CBR250R framed on the wall, plus lots of photos and videos, they are something special those 250s.

However, I won't want to hang on to them, simply cause I know nothing about fixing them (cost more too) and the newer ones feels so much better

p.s. just noticed, check out the post count! haha...

[gijoe1313]

Hehe well as everyone that knows me, I'm keeping my little ol'hornet for ever and ever. Even when I get my full, I'll still be riding my machine and won't be upgrading immediately (as everyone is wont to do).

I can recall the posts others have made with that wistful nostalgia and regret about selling off a cherished bike ... I'm determined never to let that happen to me! (And I am also a bit daft like that, 'cause apparantly you have to be a fruit loop to hold onto a small cc bike!)

And oh, yes, Daisy will be mine forever and ever as well until Donor comes to his senses one day and demands her back!

When I can no longer keep them running, I will set them up as majestic full scale models for me to ooh and ahh at!

Though I think my little ol'hornet should keep ticking along for a wee whiles yet!

[yungatart]

I have already sold my 250, but it has gone to a kb mate and sometimes ends up in our shed over night. I guess I could ride it if I wanted to?

[Coyote]

I would've hung onto my old Purple Fury, RG150, to race, but my stupid bigger bike needed to consume money without adding any value to it. Hate the fucker, high maintainence bitch. So now Koba is happily racing it, good to see someone using it at least.

I love getting on 250s. They're so much more forgiving, like the other day I rode a mates VTR250 and I was locking up the front wheel no problen. Last time the VFR lost front wheel traction it sent me hard into the ground (due to wet paint, not me being a hoon). Plus the girlfriend is in the market for a 250 which has meant I've had the excuse to ride several of them

[JimO]

my first bike was a ts185 suzuki back when almost everybody had a road legal trail bike as a first bike, one old mate had a suzi 750 waterbuss

[DMNTD:Me]

my first bike was a ts185 suzuki back when almost everybody had a road legal trail bike as a first bike, one old mate had a suzi 750 waterbuss

Ha! My first bike was a Waterbus,good ol' GT750! In fact I learnt how to ride on it which was a bit exciting
No regrets selling it as I had(have) no mechanical aptitude plus I like to try all the lollies in the store and try them I have!
Most fun I ever had on one particular bike I've owned was a old Z1000.

[sidecar bob]

Ha! My first bike was a Waterbus,good ol' GT750! In fact I learnt how to ride on it which was a bit exciting
No regrets selling it as I had(have) no mechanical aptitude plus I like to try all the lollies in the store and try them I have!
Most fun I ever had on one particular bike I've owned was a old Z1000.

Yup have to agree, youre one of the most out there lolly tasters ive met, This guy comes to my workshop on all manner of cool stuff while most of us are working. Bastard!!!

[DMNTD:Me]

Yup have to agree, youre one of the most out there lolly tasters ive met, This guy comes to my workshop on all manner of cool stuff while most of us are working. Bastard!!!

Hahahaha! Hey Life's short...eat lollies while ya still have your own teeth

[delusionz]

hmm, I plan to customise mine with different decals, windshield, indicators & tail lights and then put it in a good home at the end of my restricted. Hopefully someone that will let me ride it again..

[xwhatsit]

Mine can fuck RIGHT off.

Roll on the new bike!

HUZZAH!!!

Ah, but the ZZR was just a quickie fling after your real first -- who will always be just around the corner waiting for you to kickstart (and get a flaming footpeg in your leg, whoever the fuck designed that I will punch on the nose)!

Have you posted a thread yet? I want to see photos of the shiny goodness