Review: 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R

[Betty Rage]

All my ducati buddies make fun of my bike until they ride it, then they step off, wipe their brow and say "GOD that is a FUN bike!!!"

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

The 2008 Ninja 250's are so popular dealers are able to get a lot for them.  My fiend was shopping for a 2008 Ninja 250 and was able to take his choice of Ninja 650 OTD for less than MSRP.  All said and done the OTD cost between the 250 and 650 was less than $1,000.  He bought the Ninja 650.  The new 250 looks like a lot of fun but is so popular right now it may not be a good buy until next year.

Just sharing my friend's experience.  YMMV.

[swerdna]

I concur with the original review. Good post.

I think our 250 is a 2005 (don't really remember). Runs great. Great for commuting. Lots of fun to go WOT on the onramps.

The engine braking always seems very abrupt and harsh to me... In that respect the Monster is much more forgiving.

[Popeye the Sailor]

msincredible, how tall are you?

She's 5'4".

[somegirl]

She's 5'4".

My inseam is a bit over 28" and that is the important measurement.

[Popeye the Sailor]

My inseam is a bit over 28" and that is the important measurement.

There are *way* more important measurements than inseam. 

[LA]

I've got a beautiful15 year old daughter (120lbs.) who is rabid to get the one that's about to be delivered to my local bike shop.

One she saw the bike and read the recent articles in Motorcyclist and CycleWorld  she was hooked. She's got a really nice Yamaha 230 dirt bike now that cost just as much as the Ninja.

I can't, in good conscience, let here have it though.

LA

[Popeye the Sailor]

I've got a beautiful15 year old daughter (120lbs.) who is rabid to get the one that's about to be delivered to my local bike shop.

One she saw the bike and read the recent articles in Motorcyclist and CycleWorld  she was hooked. She's got a really nice Yamaha 230 dirt bike now that cost just as much as the Ninja.

I can't, in good conscience, let here have it though.

LA

Why not?

[swerdna]

Why not?

I was thinking the same thing... but afraid to ask.

[Gearhead_42]

Question for you on riding position... would you say the 250 puts more or less weight on the wrists vs. the Monster in the "normal" riding position?

[695LAM]

Question for you on riding position... would you say the 250 puts more or less weight on the wrists vs. the Monster in the "normal" riding position?

I would say less than the Monster.  At least for me it was.  No changes to the 250.  For me I am more leaned towards the tank on the monster than the 250.  So less for me.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Question for you on riding position... would you say the 250 puts more or less weight on the wrists vs. the Monster in the "normal" riding position?

I found it very upright, more so than the monster.



Keep in mind my arms are terribly long (think close to three feet).

[fwtcc]

I rode a Ninja 250 first and that was a great little bike.  I honestly wouldn't have stepped up if the bike hadn't been so ugly.  It did absolutely every thing I needed it to do and did it well, and I barely ever put gas in the thing and I rode it a lot (and that is a run-on sentence if I have ever seen one).

Great write up.  Its a shame the dealerships are putting such a mark up on the new ones.

[somegirl]

I also found the Ninja more upright than the Monster, and my arms are considerably shorter than someguy's.