I just started riding the bike again this week after a year and a half hiatus. It's underpowered for sure, but damnit if I don't love the light weight. Stark contrast to my brother's old 400lb CBR 900RR or my dad's GSX-R 1000.
The 600cc bikes aren't too bad on weight but most of them are just too uncomfortable for my tastes. They have stiff seats, rock solid track suspensions, and the akward foward leaning posture that I'm just not a big fan of. The 250R lets me sit upright.
There is one 600cc sportbike that fits just like the 2008+ Ninja 250.....that's the Honda CBR600 F4i (especially the 2001-2003 models -- which have a slightly lower seat height). The F4i has clip-ons above the triple clamp (which is pretty much unheard of with other 600cc supersports). The Ninja 250 and the F4i are THE MOST comfortable sportbikes to sit on (the 2004 ZZR600 is also good too).
dude watching this video makes me miss riding my 250r so bad. its a wonderful bike and id reccomend it to anybody, even to ride double. 68 mpg too. and it sounds like an indy car at WOT
I just got an SV650S two days ago and all I had taken was the MSF course. I haven't had any issues, the first day I put 90 miles on it back road/freeway mix. The power has never been too much, just take it easy to start out.
I was searching YouTube for videos of this bike being ridden around and was creeped out by how familiar everything looked; then I noticed you live in Houston also. You probably just live a mile or two down the road from me, hahaha.
It was actually a pretty crude system. The camera is a Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 and it was mounted to the side fairing with a series of zip ties that made it very secure.
you dont have to do the break in of 500miles under 4k rpm, you can do it that way and take for ever or you can take 1 day to break it in simple, just find a clear strech of road and say 1st gear go to 4k rpm and let the bike slow back down to a slow coast then still in 1st speed up to 6k rpm and leting it slow down. do this up untill you get red line going 2k rpm higher every time. leting the bike speedup and slow down{not useing clutch when slowing}lets you put the loads on the motor.will cont
doing this in every gear but like in 2nd dont down shift back to first just slow each gear down to 4k rpm and get back on it. motor will be boggie coming up threw higher gears till rpm comes up, but this loads the motor like i was saying. your 1st 2nd and 3rd gear should be broke in good in just normal riding so you should be ok with just going threw there roation once. do 4th 5th and optional 6th 2-3 times. 6th you dont have to do becouse you are not breaking in gears you are breaking in{contu}
i just seen you have to read my post backwards last to first.. you are not breaking in the gears you are puting the rpm loads on the piston rod cyclinder and the cyclinder walls. any question drop me a line and be riding in a day. not after 500 miles, you know if you stay under 4k rpm going threw gears on the 250 when you got to 6th you would be doing only 32-40 mph. lol i dont see anyone wanting to do that, and thats what kawaski says to do for 500 miles. yea right. let me know how things went
whoa, i'm not feeling that brave... however, this bike will primarily be driven on the freeway when i commute to work... nothing major, just a 20-minute drive...
i've just read a few people express some concern about riding a 250 on a windy day or simply keeping up with traffic on a freeway, so i wondered if the next step up was the way to go... btw, i've pretty much made up my mind to go with a kawasaki sport, ss is definitely out of my league for a starter bike right now...
i learned to ride on a zx6r 2007.. it really isnt as bad as people make it out to be, just have respect for the machine and it will love you back. yeah, i dropped it at first, getting used to the 400lb, im only 135-140 but it has been an awesome bike and one i am glad i learned on. took a 250r on a ride, and i think i'd outgrow it really quick.
best of luck to all the people getting bikes, i've only been riding a month but the zx6r was the best decision i've ever made
I learned on a 2004 R6. At first I was a little harsh on the throttle and would accelerate wayyyyyyyyyy more than I wanted to.
I still haven't dropped it/dumped it. I've done about 2500 miles on it or so.
If you look at the specs, the 250r is only about 20-30 pounds lighter than most 600 supersports. That's pretty significant for a bike, but the 250 is still a heavy machine.
The biggest problem with learning with a 600 is overconfidence. Like you said, respect the machine :)
Dry weight on a 2009 Ninja ZX-6 is 368lbs. Older ZX-6's are heavier. The weight on a 2006 Ninja 250R is about 305lbs. 2009 Ninja 250R's are about 330lbs.
on the zx6? you can run through first on the freeway legally.. lol otherwise it's an inline 4, the power band is up high and the gears are tall tall tall... now i don't know about the 09 but the 07/08 first gear probably tops out @ 60+ to be honest i never really looked cause if i am ever running 1st all the way up, im not really looking @ anything but the road and the shift light blip im gonna see
I accidentally removed the comment from nasausaf2:
"I got mine. breaking it in. I'm up to 225 miles. I have kept it below 6k rpm so far. Kawasaki wants me to go another fucking 750 miles at 6k rpm. It would take a month. when do you other 250 owners think i can start cranking this bitch? should i get the oil changed right now? thx."
My response: When the bike is cold give it a 5 minute warmup and keep it under 6k til warm. Then whale on it to get the rings settled in. ;)
yeah i want one... but its not the greatest sounding engine... maybe if it was more of a purr or a louder rumble... its pretty much in between which is not pleasing to the ear
This video brings me back to the days when I rode my little 80cc ad that feeling I had of those vibrations and the first time stress in my stomach. The thought of having that old style bike and just the visions brings back so many memories. I just hope when I finalyl start riding one of those things I get those old feelings back. Not much longer now : ) Love this video. Probably commented it already 3 times xD
I am 16 in CA. I am planning to get a bike as my first vehicle once I turn 18. I was thinking of getting a Katana 600 but insurance might be a lot because I am starting my own policy. I think im just gonna get a ninja 250r like that or the newer version one.
In the 80's there are were a few 2-speed auto transmission bikes made, but they're probably rust buckets now. If you want auto transmission at highway speeds, get a maxi scooter. At least then you get the benefit of a CVT, which will greatly boost your gas mileage.
There is a reason that bikes with auto transmissions (like the Honda Goldwing and some BMW touring bikes) cost so much. Automatic transmissions for motorcycles are expensive. Using the traditional motorcycle dog box is one of the reasons the cost of bikes is kept so low.
I way 270, would the 250r be ok for me? All the guys at work say i should go with 600 but Im new to riding and feel this would be a good bike to start on. Any thoughts? Would it be good on the highway with a guy my size on it? I have 30 mile ride to work. Drop me line tell me what you think. Thanks.
I've said it many times before but the 250R is a great starter bike. Some guys that I know have gone out and gotten 600cc+ bikes as their first bikes and do fine. Of those guys a few of them have wiped out because they were over confident in their riding abilities. One of the most important factors in riding a bike is riding inside of your own limits. Larger and more powerful bikes make it harder to stay in those limits when you first start out.
I would recomend the 500. I have a 250 and I only weigh 170 and though it is a great bike, I wish I had a little more go juice on the highway. The 500 is a little bigger in size and has more power.
Still loving my 08!!! Great vid. bro... watched it like 4 times :-) Im a noob, so im loving it more than all you guys <<<< lol lol... Thanx again for the vid.
And I apologize to the guy who commented after this one, I mean to reply to you but I accidentally clicked "Remove." The "BOV" type sound is most likely the throttle closing between gears as I was shifting w/o a clutch.
Dude...you live like 20 mins from me. You can take 1464 all the way till Bissonnet and i'm there. Nice lil vid...i'm seriously considering picking up the new 08 250R. Looks badass!
I think it's lame that so many people say that 250s are slow, when they'll blow the doors off a lot of new cars generally considered to be fast. They can't go 200mph, so what? I can't wait to get one.
personally i wouldn't buy the lil ninja with the intentions of 'blowing doors off new cars', but i hear ya. they are great little bikes perfect for beginners. im saving up right now for one, once i complete the MSF safety course and get my bike license.
I think it's lame how people say 250 motorcycles are for beginners. I recommend that someone start on something much more stable like a 650 cruiser. But as a second bike, there is no better option. Riding this bike is like flying. It does everything I ask and so much more.
The reason I say this is I started on an '85 Honda Nighthawk cb650sc. The bike would stay up-right, no hands, when idling in third gear, and wouldn't even flinch in gusting crosswinds, and was straight as an arrow on interstates. The Ninja 250 requires constant balancing, and is very twitchy in gusting crosswinds. I have been riding nothing but a motorcycle for 3 years now, and still find it stressful to corner the Ninja in strong gusts. With the Cb650, such a maneuver was trivial.
Yes a 650's throttle is a little twitchy in first gear, and they can easily top 125+ MPH, but as a beginner I'd much rather have to learn to deal with a twitchy throttle at low speeds, than learn how to control a drifting bike at high speeds. Also, with a 650, you don't have to wory nearly as much about shifting, and can focus on the traffic around you instead.
All in all, a 650 standard is like a luxury car. They go exactly where you point them, will keep going in a straight line if you let go of the steering wheel, and require little foresight on how to operate the vehicle. A 250 is like towing a camper. You need to focus a lot on the engine and transmission to maintain speed, and you constantly have to keep working to make the vehicle go in a straight line, especially in inclement weather.
And one final disclaimer: I love my 250, which is what I have now. It has amazing range and mileage, and it's light weight and maneuverability is good for winding dirt roads. But it's this same light weight and maneuverability that I think can potentially be over-whelming for someone who's completely new to motorcycle riding. And with any motorcycle, take the MSF, and then putz around in a parking lot for a while whatever you ride. To many beginners die trying to learn to ride in traffic.
convential wisdom would agree with you on that, but when I did my test, the instructor recomended I do it on a 500cc (I wanted to do it on a 125cc), since "most people find 500cc bikes easier to handle than a smaller bike".
Not saying he's right, but there is that point of view floating around out there.
So you dont think a 650 would have to much power and get a newbie in trouble. Im new to riding and have beed debating weather to get the 250 or the 650. I feel the 650 would have too much power and the 250 would be easier to handle. Also do you feel it would be better to start on a cruiser rather than the bike you plan to ride once you learn? Just wondering cant decide what to do.
I learned on a 1985 Honda Nighthawk cb650sc. Yes, this motorcycle was a little twitchy in 1st gear when I started, but I learned by not even touching the throttle and just using the idle power. A cruiser wants to stay up right, an keeps going straight in cross winds. The 250 is much more versatile, but also dives in turns and sensitive to gusting cross winds.
If I were starting again I'd choose the 650. It does exactly what's asked, and has a forgiving amount of torque, allowing you to focus on keeping the bike between the lines, without additional concerns of winds, gear and RPM position, and balancing the bike through turns. As long as you're not a speed demon, and have no desire to speed, the extra power of a 650 allows you to stay in the same gear over a greater range of speeds.
If you are referring to the Kawasaki Ninja 650 I would advise against it. That bike sits much higher than the 250R and requires a larger degree of control. To be quite honest I sat on a Ninja 650 and I didnt like the feel of it very much. I still very much prefer the Ninja 250R for the riding position and comfort.
However, once you feel comfortable on the 650, I'd highly recommend moving to the Ninja 250. It's highly versatile, handles dirt roads like a dream, turns on a dime, easily maintains 90+ MPH on interstates, gets 55-70 MPG depending on the riding, and has a range of 200+ miles (I recently rode it non-stop on the Interstate for 210 miles at 90MPH, and still had gas left in the tank). I love the 250 as a second bike, and can't imagine switching soon, except maybe for a shaft drive :-).
Still riding that 250? Found this vid a long time ago and felt like watching it again. Didn't get bored of it yet did you? :p I still gotta get myself one.
Actually I haven't ridden it in over a year. I lost the keys and just havent put forth the effort to get a locksmith or a new ignition. Once I get that taken care of the bike will need a tune up. I do miss riding it however.
The pistons would be incredibly tiny to maintain the 250cc displacement. The engine would rev really high but wouldn't have enough torque to move the bike anywhere.
That's because at low speeds there's not much air blowing through the radiator like there is at high speeds. But that certainly doesn't mean that they engine will burnout.
ey bro im from the land down under and i used to drive a rare 1992 ford laser all wheel drive turbo and now i'm going to buy a ninja 250R. worlds apart and yet very similar.
don't know how old u are bur if u'r willing to get a bike , a 250 is good enough. u'r way to tall!!! just kidding. i'm 5'6. if u'r responsible & are looking for bike at on long term, get a 600 cc, otherwise u'll fell frustrated pretty soon regarding lenght, more than power, but start carefully, ok!!!
I would definately recommend this bike to a beginner due to it's light weight, predictable power and handling, comfort, and riding position. All of these accomodate new riders to help them get oriented with riding a motorcycle while at the same time not sacrificing a very enjoyable ride. The 250RR is not for the Super Sport enthusiast, it is for the new motorcycle enthusiast.
if you crack the throttle will the bike come up easy? i only weigh like 140lbs so im pretty light i just want a good power bike to start off on before i move on to a cbr 1000 repsol
The bike lacks quite a bit of the low end torque seen in larger engines and fuel-injected engines. This is a benefit to new riders because you won't get a jerky response from the bike. Just smooth, predictable acceleration. Once you learn the ropes and you open the bike up it performs well for such a small engine. The 250 was designed to help familiarize yourself with riding to the point where it be comes 2nd nature to you like driving. Then you can move on to more powerful bikes.
my mistake, the zxr250 isnt a ninja, but it has the sportsbike body. they stopped manufacturing zxr's in the late 90's, and this bike is very similar, the only difference is that the zxr's power kicked in at very high revs, it redlines at 19,000!
How did you get the microphone to do so well with the recording? Wind noise was tooooooo a minimum? Could hear the engine well! I have trouble getting my vintage 250s to trigger the green lights, have to wait for cars to come by trigger the sensors.
Nothing was changed for the camera's mic setting. My guess would be that much of the wind moved past the camera because of the aerodynamics. I also have trouble triggering some lights but not others.
Just here. My 250 has been down for a while and I haven't had the money to fix it. I lost my keys so I have to get a locksmith to make me a new one and also my carbs need to be synced from the bike sitting for so long.
well when i ride sportbikes i should be able to look at my clipons and see how much fuel i have. i shouldnt be busy calculating how many more miles i have to go on a tank. im suppossed to be watching the road lowellers
can all ninja 250R use no clutch? the fuckkkkkkkkkkk
David20931 5 months ago
pods? or removed snorkel?
carsnwomen91 1 year ago
The 250R Might be underpowered, but it is only a 250cc i guess. It is a great bike to learn on I am getting 1 as soon as i get my license.
Svendogga 2 years ago
@Svendogga Nah the 250 has great acceleration unless your a goon like this guy and don't learn how to properly use the clutch.
hyperactivecalvino 9 months ago
I just started riding the bike again this week after a year and a half hiatus. It's underpowered for sure, but damnit if I don't love the light weight. Stark contrast to my brother's old 400lb CBR 900RR or my dad's GSX-R 1000.
The 600cc bikes aren't too bad on weight but most of them are just too uncomfortable for my tastes. They have stiff seats, rock solid track suspensions, and the akward foward leaning posture that I'm just not a big fan of. The 250R lets me sit upright.
TurboLaserAWD 2 years ago
There is one 600cc sportbike that fits just like the 2008+ Ninja 250.....that's the Honda CBR600 F4i (especially the 2001-2003 models -- which have a slightly lower seat height). The F4i has clip-ons above the triple clamp (which is pretty much unheard of with other 600cc supersports). The Ninja 250 and the F4i are THE MOST comfortable sportbikes to sit on (the 2004 ZZR600 is also good too).
AceNinja2112 2 years ago
lol start watching at 4:22 those cars looked like they were street racing
advancedl00l 2 years ago
I'm pretty sure they were, that's what it looked like from my point of view. One of them also almost hit that Camry in front of me.
TurboLaserAWD 2 years ago
yea lol!
ShuddupChip 2 years ago
i watched this in fullscreen =)
damyne77 2 years ago
how you put your cam on your bike?
A7XBilly 2 years ago
Using very well placed zip ties.
TurboLaserAWD 2 years ago
glue
xDarkSniper101x 2 years ago
you should start this vid at 4:27
im gettin my 08 ninja 250 this summer.
22givuhcky 2 years ago
is this in austin texas?
gta4drpepper 2 years ago
Houston.
TurboLaserAWD 2 years ago
are you in brake in period..??? shifting quite early..
terjer6 3 years ago
Shifting early? I take it to redline. It's a small engine, it redlines quick when it hits the powerband.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
At 4:27 its amazin'
AgusRollsurf 3 years ago
nice forester :P
bikerboomer 3 years ago
dude watching this video makes me miss riding my 250r so bad. its a wonderful bike and id reccomend it to anybody, even to ride double. 68 mpg too. and it sounds like an indy car at WOT
75novacaine 3 years ago
how fast can this bike go?
Could you take a road trip on it?
Rskin4life21 3 years ago
hm, i think that place wasn't the best to show ability of this bike
Shamanchec 3 years ago
The SV650s and Ninja 650 are both capable of 3.8 second 0-60 times. Do you guys think these bikes are too powerful for a brand new rider with MSF.
AceNinja2112 3 years ago
I just got an SV650S two days ago and all I had taken was the MSF course. I haven't had any issues, the first day I put 90 miles on it back road/freeway mix. The power has never been too much, just take it easy to start out.
Lopez1337 3 years ago
i love that on ramp onto the free way part =] sexy sound
Vilmann26 3 years ago
I was searching YouTube for videos of this bike being ridden around and was creeped out by how familiar everything looked; then I noticed you live in Houston also. You probably just live a mile or two down the road from me, hahaha.
travishenrichs 3 years ago
is this the k8?
metbandit1 3 years ago
Please tell me about the camera and mounting system you used. I love the side mount view.
Winterstick549 3 years ago
It was actually a pretty crude system. The camera is a Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 and it was mounted to the side fairing with a series of zip ties that made it very secure.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
Those are fun little bikes, dont think they are for beginners only.
Winterstick549 3 years ago
you dont have to do the break in of 500miles under 4k rpm, you can do it that way and take for ever or you can take 1 day to break it in simple, just find a clear strech of road and say 1st gear go to 4k rpm and let the bike slow back down to a slow coast then still in 1st speed up to 6k rpm and leting it slow down. do this up untill you get red line going 2k rpm higher every time. leting the bike speedup and slow down{not useing clutch when slowing}lets you put the loads on the motor.will cont
eastwood6686 3 years ago
doing this in every gear but like in 2nd dont down shift back to first just slow each gear down to 4k rpm and get back on it. motor will be boggie coming up threw higher gears till rpm comes up, but this loads the motor like i was saying. your 1st 2nd and 3rd gear should be broke in good in just normal riding so you should be ok with just going threw there roation once. do 4th 5th and optional 6th 2-3 times. 6th you dont have to do becouse you are not breaking in gears you are breaking in{contu}
eastwood6686 3 years ago
i just seen you have to read my post backwards last to first.. you are not breaking in the gears you are puting the rpm loads on the piston rod cyclinder and the cyclinder walls. any question drop me a line and be riding in a day. not after 500 miles, you know if you stay under 4k rpm going threw gears on the 250 when you got to 6th you would be doing only 32-40 mph. lol i dont see anyone wanting to do that, and thats what kawaski says to do for 500 miles. yea right. let me know how things went
eastwood6686 3 years ago
I like your style man - real proffesional.
Pawciak2000 3 years ago
i wanna get a bike bt im afriad of the whole leaning thing feels like your gonna fall off the bike how do you get used to it
ladiezman247 3 years ago
start out slow and then you do it over and over
zontelfonzo 3 years ago
Start small...Seriously!
Get something like a EX250 or a small Dual sport bike(light and REALLY easy to throw around)
Just dont get a SS bike(ZX,GSX,etc)
something like a EX250 or SV650 are good newbie bikes
fixed14 3 years ago
what about the 650r?
MooMofo 3 years ago
The EX650r?
I think it has a bit more of an aggressive power range...So i don't think it would make a GREAT newbie bike...
What i was told before i bought a bike.
*The higher the CC you go for a first bike the more time it will spend on its side*
But hey, dont let that stop anyone from going out and getting a Gixxer or Busa for a first bike.
fixed14 3 years ago
whoa, i'm not feeling that brave... however, this bike will primarily be driven on the freeway when i commute to work... nothing major, just a 20-minute drive...
i've just read a few people express some concern about riding a 250 on a windy day or simply keeping up with traffic on a freeway, so i wondered if the next step up was the way to go... btw, i've pretty much made up my mind to go with a kawasaki sport, ss is definitely out of my league for a starter bike right now...
MooMofo 3 years ago
i learned to ride on a zx6r 2007.. it really isnt as bad as people make it out to be, just have respect for the machine and it will love you back. yeah, i dropped it at first, getting used to the 400lb, im only 135-140 but it has been an awesome bike and one i am glad i learned on. took a 250r on a ride, and i think i'd outgrow it really quick.
best of luck to all the people getting bikes, i've only been riding a month but the zx6r was the best decision i've ever made
saadatorama 2 years ago
I learned on a 2004 R6. At first I was a little harsh on the throttle and would accelerate wayyyyyyyyyy more than I wanted to.
I still haven't dropped it/dumped it. I've done about 2500 miles on it or so.
If you look at the specs, the 250r is only about 20-30 pounds lighter than most 600 supersports. That's pretty significant for a bike, but the 250 is still a heavy machine.
The biggest problem with learning with a 600 is overconfidence. Like you said, respect the machine :)
captain150 2 years ago
Dry weight on a 2009 Ninja ZX-6 is 368lbs. Older ZX-6's are heavier. The weight on a 2006 Ninja 250R is about 305lbs. 2009 Ninja 250R's are about 330lbs.
TurboLaserAWD 2 years ago
hows the gearing? I have a buell and have been considering a 600 but don't really want a bike I can't legally run through first gear on...
stratwarrior 2 years ago
on the zx6? you can run through first on the freeway legally.. lol otherwise it's an inline 4, the power band is up high and the gears are tall tall tall... now i don't know about the 09 but the 07/08 first gear probably tops out @ 60+ to be honest i never really looked cause if i am ever running 1st all the way up, im not really looking @ anything but the road and the shift light blip im gonna see
saadatorama 2 years ago
It sounds much better when you're on it, especially at high RPM.
I'm in my late 30's, single, clean driving record, and my insurance is $150 PER YEAR for full coverage.
nocalsteve 3 years ago
I accidentally removed the comment from nasausaf2:
"I got mine. breaking it in. I'm up to 225 miles. I have kept it below 6k rpm so far. Kawasaki wants me to go another fucking 750 miles at 6k rpm. It would take a month. when do you other 250 owners think i can start cranking this bitch? should i get the oil changed right now? thx."
My response: When the bike is cold give it a 5 minute warmup and keep it under 6k til warm. Then whale on it to get the rings settled in. ;)
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
Why don't you just ride it man. Two or three days of riding and you should be able to put 750 miles on it.
dthudon 3 years ago
yeah i want one... but its not the greatest sounding engine... maybe if it was more of a purr or a louder rumble... its pretty much in between which is not pleasing to the ear
32deej 3 years ago 2
i think ur talkin about the exhaust, get a yoshimura if you dont like the stock exhaust >_> dont express your hate
iGoHardMang 3 years ago 3
awesome ride
iGoHardMang 3 years ago
at 4:40 how fast do you think you got to tops?
nasausaf2 3 years ago
probably 80-95. Depending on how much he weighs.
AnaboliX 3 years ago
Awesome video.
nasausaf2 3 years ago
this bike sounds like shit. I still want one though.
zm5431 3 years ago 2
hows it act on the highway? why did your front tire twist a bit when shifting?
MikSane 3 years ago
I think it was actually the Cammera shaking because the whole bike shook as well....
boost250i 3 years ago
This video brings me back to the days when I rode my little 80cc ad that feeling I had of those vibrations and the first time stress in my stomach. The thought of having that old style bike and just the visions brings back so many memories. I just hope when I finalyl start riding one of those things I get those old feelings back. Not much longer now : ) Love this video. Probably commented it already 3 times xD
Seth6Strummer 3 years ago
Hehe, picked up the chick at 2:30 eh?
nativebrother 3 years ago
LOL, no. I dropped by a friends house to show him how the camera was mounted.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
I am 16 in CA. I am planning to get a bike as my first vehicle once I turn 18. I was thinking of getting a Katana 600 but insurance might be a lot because I am starting my own policy. I think im just gonna get a ninja 250r like that or the newer version one.
AsianzUnited 3 years ago
Sorry bro I meant to respond to your last comment and I clicked remove, DOH! Anyways, yeah that is a chick laughing, that's my friends wife. :)
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
is dere a way to buy it with an auto transmission or i have to get dat seperate?
nycdemonz173 3 years ago
lol...who rides with an auto transmission? Do they even make auto transmissions for bikes?
nativebrother 3 years ago
In the 80's there are were a few 2-speed auto transmission bikes made, but they're probably rust buckets now. If you want auto transmission at highway speeds, get a maxi scooter. At least then you get the benefit of a CVT, which will greatly boost your gas mileage.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
There is a reason that bikes with auto transmissions (like the Honda Goldwing and some BMW touring bikes) cost so much. Automatic transmissions for motorcycles are expensive. Using the traditional motorcycle dog box is one of the reasons the cost of bikes is kept so low.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
my stock pipe sounds like crap cant wait 4 my magnaflow
jdubmill 3 years ago
I way 270, would the 250r be ok for me? All the guys at work say i should go with 600 but Im new to riding and feel this would be a good bike to start on. Any thoughts? Would it be good on the highway with a guy my size on it? I have 30 mile ride to work. Drop me line tell me what you think. Thanks.
littleguy136 3 years ago
I've said it many times before but the 250R is a great starter bike. Some guys that I know have gone out and gotten 600cc+ bikes as their first bikes and do fine. Of those guys a few of them have wiped out because they were over confident in their riding abilities. One of the most important factors in riding a bike is riding inside of your own limits. Larger and more powerful bikes make it harder to stay in those limits when you first start out.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
I would recomend the 500. I have a 250 and I only weigh 170 and though it is a great bike, I wish I had a little more go juice on the highway. The 500 is a little bigger in size and has more power.
nickah90 3 years ago
Thanks.
littleguy136 3 years ago
Still loving my 08!!! Great vid. bro... watched it like 4 times :-) Im a noob, so im loving it more than all you guys <<<< lol lol... Thanx again for the vid.
6speedlover 3 years ago
i love the sound of the ninja OMG!!! i cant wait to get one!!!
o and i like the little subdivision haha
nice houses
yogijimi101 3 years ago
Nice performance...
It's a little bit slower than the old RD350 right ?
vitaobatera 3 years ago
Hello , your bike have a special modification ?? turbo ??
vikenman 3 years ago
No modifications made.
And I apologize to the guy who commented after this one, I mean to reply to you but I accidentally clicked "Remove." The "BOV" type sound is most likely the throttle closing between gears as I was shifting w/o a clutch.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
you shift with out your cluch?
thorracing160 3 years ago
Dude...you live like 20 mins from me. You can take 1464 all the way till Bissonnet and i'm there. Nice lil vid...i'm seriously considering picking up the new 08 250R. Looks badass!
mbh427 3 years ago
love it at 4:25
zoslond 3 years ago 6
I think it's lame that so many people say that 250s are slow, when they'll blow the doors off a lot of new cars generally considered to be fast. They can't go 200mph, so what? I can't wait to get one.
SakoTGrimes 3 years ago 2
personally i wouldn't buy the lil ninja with the intentions of 'blowing doors off new cars', but i hear ya. they are great little bikes perfect for beginners. im saving up right now for one, once i complete the MSF safety course and get my bike license.
bananabis420 3 years ago
I think it's lame how people say 250 motorcycles are for beginners. I recommend that someone start on something much more stable like a 650 cruiser. But as a second bike, there is no better option. Riding this bike is like flying. It does everything I ask and so much more.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
Everyone should start on a 250cc or an equivalent small bike. It allows a beginning rider to learn much more about cornering.
Recommending a beginner to ride a 650cc cruiser is a bad idea. Period. Your the only person I've found who disagrees.
LifeIsGood269 3 years ago
The reason I say this is I started on an '85 Honda Nighthawk cb650sc. The bike would stay up-right, no hands, when idling in third gear, and wouldn't even flinch in gusting crosswinds, and was straight as an arrow on interstates. The Ninja 250 requires constant balancing, and is very twitchy in gusting crosswinds. I have been riding nothing but a motorcycle for 3 years now, and still find it stressful to corner the Ninja in strong gusts. With the Cb650, such a maneuver was trivial.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
Yes a 650's throttle is a little twitchy in first gear, and they can easily top 125+ MPH, but as a beginner I'd much rather have to learn to deal with a twitchy throttle at low speeds, than learn how to control a drifting bike at high speeds. Also, with a 650, you don't have to wory nearly as much about shifting, and can focus on the traffic around you instead.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
All in all, a 650 standard is like a luxury car. They go exactly where you point them, will keep going in a straight line if you let go of the steering wheel, and require little foresight on how to operate the vehicle. A 250 is like towing a camper. You need to focus a lot on the engine and transmission to maintain speed, and you constantly have to keep working to make the vehicle go in a straight line, especially in inclement weather.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
And one final disclaimer: I love my 250, which is what I have now. It has amazing range and mileage, and it's light weight and maneuverability is good for winding dirt roads. But it's this same light weight and maneuverability that I think can potentially be over-whelming for someone who's completely new to motorcycle riding. And with any motorcycle, take the MSF, and then putz around in a parking lot for a while whatever you ride. To many beginners die trying to learn to ride in traffic.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
convential wisdom would agree with you on that, but when I did my test, the instructor recomended I do it on a 500cc (I wanted to do it on a 125cc), since "most people find 500cc bikes easier to handle than a smaller bike".
Not saying he's right, but there is that point of view floating around out there.
geoffart 3 years ago
So you dont think a 650 would have to much power and get a newbie in trouble. Im new to riding and have beed debating weather to get the 250 or the 650. I feel the 650 would have too much power and the 250 would be easier to handle. Also do you feel it would be better to start on a cruiser rather than the bike you plan to ride once you learn? Just wondering cant decide what to do.
littleguy136 3 years ago
I learned on a 1985 Honda Nighthawk cb650sc. Yes, this motorcycle was a little twitchy in 1st gear when I started, but I learned by not even touching the throttle and just using the idle power. A cruiser wants to stay up right, an keeps going straight in cross winds. The 250 is much more versatile, but also dives in turns and sensitive to gusting cross winds.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
If I were starting again I'd choose the 650. It does exactly what's asked, and has a forgiving amount of torque, allowing you to focus on keeping the bike between the lines, without additional concerns of winds, gear and RPM position, and balancing the bike through turns. As long as you're not a speed demon, and have no desire to speed, the extra power of a 650 allows you to stay in the same gear over a greater range of speeds.
llamaero1234 3 years ago
If you are referring to the Kawasaki Ninja 650 I would advise against it. That bike sits much higher than the 250R and requires a larger degree of control. To be quite honest I sat on a Ninja 650 and I didnt like the feel of it very much. I still very much prefer the Ninja 250R for the riding position and comfort.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
However, once you feel comfortable on the 650, I'd highly recommend moving to the Ninja 250. It's highly versatile, handles dirt roads like a dream, turns on a dime, easily maintains 90+ MPH on interstates, gets 55-70 MPG depending on the riding, and has a range of 200+ miles (I recently rode it non-stop on the Interstate for 210 miles at 90MPH, and still had gas left in the tank). I love the 250 as a second bike, and can't imagine switching soon, except maybe for a shaft drive :-).
llamaero1234 3 years ago
Still riding that 250? Found this vid a long time ago and felt like watching it again. Didn't get bored of it yet did you? :p I still gotta get myself one.
Seth6Strummer 4 years ago
Actually I haven't ridden it in over a year. I lost the keys and just havent put forth the effort to get a locksmith or a new ignition. Once I get that taken care of the bike will need a tune up. I do miss riding it however.
TurboLaserAWD 3 years ago
Psst..can I have it? : )
Seth6Strummer 3 years ago
the thing sounds like it has a blow off valve the way it shifts.
chadly1616 4 years ago
100 mph?
or less?
haroulisv1 4 years ago
105
nickah90 4 years ago
Very good demo. So what part of H-town r u from...u r close to beltway 8 or Sam toll right? Then again I could be mistaken.
thernamatooba1 4 years ago
No, more like around Hwy 6.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
My ninja 250 top speed is under 120 mph
domukass 4 years ago
yeeeess... of course.....
deskiciau 4 years ago 2
i wnt to know the max speed?
haroulisv1 4 years ago
Finially someone who knows how to shift gears and not to cruise in low gears.
NinjaFreakk 4 years ago 5
Cool video. I have to make one of those types of videos too. For some weird reason, it kind of relaxes me!
If you dont know how to change the oil in your Ninja 250, I made a video of my changing my oil.
The oil change video is in my profile. Pretty simple.
FlyRobDog 4 years ago
i wish they would make a new 4 cylinder model of the 250
dpar957 4 years ago
The pistons would be incredibly tiny to maintain the 250cc displacement. The engine would rev really high but wouldn't have enough torque to move the bike anywhere.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
thats what made the cbr250rr and zeal etc so much fun , revving the clackers off them lol
dpar957 4 years ago
I have heard a lot of people say that you can't ride this type of bike slowly because the engine burns out, but it sounds ridiculous, is it true?
ramseph 4 years ago
That is completely rediculous. This bike can be ridden like any other bike.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
I was in a parking lot, practicing my tight U-turns, like in the MSF course (the course is great, BTW). I can do pretty tight figure 8's now! wee!
Anyways.. the temp gauge is usually near Cold, but after all the slow manueuvers, about 45 minutes worth, it was close to Hot.
I just ran it fast around the block and it was back to cold.
i have an '06 250R
FlyRobDog 4 years ago
That's because at low speeds there's not much air blowing through the radiator like there is at high speeds. But that certainly doesn't mean that they engine will burnout.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
cool this is
hristian999 4 years ago
Is this Yoda speaking??? ;)
cobratraxxas 3 years ago
ey bro im from the land down under and i used to drive a rare 1992 ford laser all wheel drive turbo and now i'm going to buy a ninja 250R. worlds apart and yet very similar.
vtec4liferitz 4 years ago
Why don't you ride to somewhere interesting like a strip joint for instance?
pbmax 4 years ago
i really want to ride a bike, but dont know which to get, im 6 ft and around 200lbs, dont know if that has anything to do with it. any suggestions?
rocksadf 4 years ago
Not really. Almost all bikes will accomodate 6ft unless you've got a reaaaaaaaally long torso.
GotCoconuts01 4 years ago
a car
kaboosha 4 years ago
don't know how old u are bur if u'r willing to get a bike , a 250 is good enough. u'r way to tall!!! just kidding. i'm 5'6. if u'r responsible & are looking for bike at on long term, get a 600 cc, otherwise u'll fell frustrated pretty soon regarding lenght, more than power, but start carefully, ok!!!
damkenstein 4 years ago
my mistake
"but" not "bur"
"for a bike on a ling term" not
"for bike at on long term"
sorrry jajaja
greetings
damkenstein 4 years ago
"long" damn it
damkenstein 4 years ago
Ninja 500
Seth6Strummer 4 years ago
is this michigan
nicoj36 4 years ago
no, Texas.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
looks really fun. ive never ridden a bike b4, would u recoment the 250r for a beginer? i eventually wana get a haybusa :)
FlyingAce1717 4 years ago
lol hayabusa, hell no, that things too fast for a beginner. 250 is ok for beginner
nicoj36 4 years ago
he said eventually
kaboosha 4 years ago
I would definately recommend this bike to a beginner due to it's light weight, predictable power and handling, comfort, and riding position. All of these accomodate new riders to help them get oriented with riding a motorcycle while at the same time not sacrificing a very enjoyable ride. The 250RR is not for the Super Sport enthusiast, it is for the new motorcycle enthusiast.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
if you crack the throttle will the bike come up easy? i only weigh like 140lbs so im pretty light i just want a good power bike to start off on before i move on to a cbr 1000 repsol
metallicahockeyplaya 4 years ago
The bike lacks quite a bit of the low end torque seen in larger engines and fuel-injected engines. This is a benefit to new riders because you won't get a jerky response from the bike. Just smooth, predictable acceleration. Once you learn the ropes and you open the bike up it performs well for such a small engine. The 250 was designed to help familiarize yourself with riding to the point where it be comes 2nd nature to you like driving. Then you can move on to more powerful bikes.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
would you know how this bike compares to the good old Kawasaki Ninja ZXR-250?
kaboosha 4 years ago
this one has more lower & midrange power and has a new body (like a sport bike) which looks like the other ninjas
Atoweha 4 years ago
my mistake, the zxr250 isnt a ninja, but it has the sportsbike body. they stopped manufacturing zxr's in the late 90's, and this bike is very similar, the only difference is that the zxr's power kicked in at very high revs, it redlines at 19,000!
kaboosha 4 years ago
haha cool... im just starting to look for bikes so im just trying to see whats out there
Atoweha 4 years ago
awesome :)
kaboosha 4 years ago
How's the acceleration on the ninja? ^^
NinjaZX14ROXX 4 years ago
ah, i see now... I just got my ninja for $500 and with only 7k miles
gsxrkidd 4 years ago
ahah near the end it looks like to dump the clutch a bit? i could be wrong
gsxrkidd 4 years ago
I went over a large bump and the rear wheel skipped.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
How did you get the microphone to do so well with the recording? Wind noise was tooooooo a minimum? Could hear the engine well! I have trouble getting my vintage 250s to trigger the green lights, have to wait for cars to come by trigger the sensors.
jorkjica 4 years ago
Nothing was changed for the camera's mic setting. My guess would be that much of the wind moved past the camera because of the aerodynamics. I also have trouble triggering some lights but not others.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
Great bike, but I agree with the choke and the adjustments, especially if the weather is a bit cool, but, its still a great bike.
joemrf 4 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I think i'll buy one.
SAMPLE13 dot COM
sample13 4 years ago
I was happy to have found this video, it's a lot clearer than most you find. Thanks for posting!
mechanicgrrl 4 years ago
Is this a good bike to have for my first bike????? Im 16 and I really want a motorcycle more then a car haha. Just wondering.
ryanisfunny 4 years ago
NICE!
i am going to post a video soon,
i hate two things, the choke, and the idle adjustment!
michaelwoodcock 4 years ago
What city do you live in? Looks alot like my part of houston...
chasebarnett 4 years ago
It is Houston. It's actually the border of SW Houston and Richmond.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
Gotcha. Your in Richmond? Im in Cypress...
chasebarnett 4 years ago
Nice video! Sorry about your bike. I've got a Ninja 250 just like yours and I love it to death! Truly a brilliant motorcycle!
McQueenpst 4 years ago
Yup, 250 would be fine, doesn't look or sound like you need much more than that. Especially not for your first bike!
mjavor 4 years ago
nice bike guy! I like how you got on the throttle at that take off onton the highway there
drewlavallee 4 years ago
Thanks for posting. I'm thinking of getting a 250r as my first bike. This video was helpful.
Kaguyua 4 years ago
its a great first bike, lots of fun
drewlavallee 4 years ago
smaller cc like lower than 500
pedandskate 4 years ago
at 70 mph how many rpms is it at my friend has a duel sport dont no what size and it is revin a little high at 70
pedandskate 4 years ago
Wtf does dual sport have to do with ninja 250?
delusionzxz 4 years ago
Wtf are you talking about? Dual sport? The Ninja 250 is an awsome twisties race bike, period. Dual sport...ppsshh...
joserodriguez520042 4 years ago
I don't remember because it's been a while since I've ridden and gotten to 70 but I believe it was somewhere around 9k RPM.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
Hey dude, what websites do you post other vids?
neomorphic805 4 years ago
Just here. My 250 has been down for a while and I haven't had the money to fix it. I lost my keys so I have to get a locksmith to make me a new one and also my carbs need to be synced from the bike sitting for so long.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
bikes pretty damn quiet it seems like the perfect beginner bike but i still dont get why kawi doesnt put a fuel gauge on it
bananabis420 4 years ago
Thats what the odometer is for.
delusionzxz 4 years ago
dont need a fuel gauge, odometer works perfect for that. duh.
joserodriguez520042 4 years ago
well when i ride sportbikes i should be able to look at my clipons and see how much fuel i have. i shouldnt be busy calculating how many more miles i have to go on a tank. im suppossed to be watching the road lowellers
bananabis420 4 years ago
The 2008 and 2009 models have a fuel gauge.
cobratraxxas 3 years ago
Go to wikipedia dot com and type in ninja 250r. It lists the 0-60 as 5.75 seconds.
HONDADFW 4 years ago
So it does, sorry I was too lazy to look it up. That's actually quicker than I expected.
TurboLaserAWD 4 years ago
dont know where you got that bs, but the 250R can run 0-60 in 4.6sec. A bit faster with the right upgrades.
joserodriguez520042 4 years ago
at 4:40.what speed was reached?what's the 0-60?
bobbyd7085