Talk about a blast to ride. I used to own an 02 Ninja 250 and it was the blandest piece of **** on the road... (I felt like a piece of late 80's **** riding that thing around) Handling was horrible, the preload was so soft on the rear that any rider over 150 lbs bottoms the suspension out. Well since Kawasaki introduced the completely redesigned Ninja 250R since 08', the reviews have been spectacular and, with my eyes set on a bigger bike such as the Yamaha FZ6R, I went to KC Powersports only to find a true red 09' Ninja and the ugly mutigen green color... I preferred neither, but the styling is excellent, and the bike had a very balanced feel to it. Well fast forward one week and I went to Longshores' and they had a new 09' Ninja 250R in the most desirable color offered, (Resale values testify to that) Thunder Blue.

So far I have clocked 150 miles on my bike, and their are many noticeable difference aside from just aesthetics. The newer bike has a much firmer ride to it than compared to the old ninja 250's, and having the adjustable preload on the rear shock is definitely an improvement over the previous fixed rate shock/coil assembly. This eliminates the noticeable squat. The exhaust is not nearly as loud as the previous generation; A BIG PLUS for riders like me. When Kawasaki was re-engineering the engine, they put further emphasis on mid-range torque and so the bike has a much broader power band than the previous engine. The bike also features Enkei 17 inch alloys; a nice touch there. Whereas the 1988-2007 model Ninja 250's felt like bland commuter bikes, the new 08-09 model definitely is a sport bike. Average fuel economy is 60mpg and my full coverage insurance with a 500 dollars deductible is a little over 25 dollars a month. Top speed for a 190 lbs rider is 105 mph; hopefully I will lose another 20 pounds soon.

 

Why is this is DIY turbo discussion?

congrats on the bike anyways...

 

Wrong section. GREAT bike. Just in time for summer. Congrats

 

Nice crotch rocket, dont kill yourself <--- im not kidding.

 

My buddy has a 500r with exhaust. Sounds AMAZING. Rode it last weekend a bit around the neighborhood...really easy to ride for someone with as little experience as myself. I cannot own a motorcycle, i'll kill myself.

Your bike looks great. I suspect it'll look better without the fairing (or however you spell it)

 

doesn't look like a 250 at all! Nice bike

 

I'm used to the 700cc bike that's my avatar, and test rode an '09 250r the other weekend. It was great fun in the city, but then I got on the freeway. Even revving it to 8 or 9k and nearly dropping the clutch, it barely felt like I was on a sport bike and not in my 3000+lb Lancer. That being said when I finally did look down, I was at 70mph, quicker than I thought I'd be, but it was still obviously not a kick in the pants.

The salesman said he's owned a few of the older 250's and they had a little more punch than the current '08-'09 models, although sounds like they took that punch and put it in the mid range.

Great, awesome, beautiful starter bike. My friend that bought a black '09 two weeks ago just traded it in earlier today for a '08 gsxr 600, once she went from a buell blast 'harely' seating position and got used to the sportbike ergos, she was immediately in want of more power.

 

Great choice Cody. I have been nothing but impressed by Kawi's redisign of their 250. It looks sharp and is so light it doesn't need big hp numbers to be fun.

It's design is so slick that if you slap some race plastics on it, the only main thing that gives away it's displacement is the size of the rear tire. Peep this:

 

doh!!!!
105mph 190lb rider what that in kilo's

 

86 kilo im 96kilo so would barely get a ton out of it

 

I put it in the turbo forums cause we know nobody gives a damn about the general discussions forums...

 

Take it to a track day and really see what the fun is all about.

 

Like the looks of those new 250s. Turbo it.

I'm building a megasquirt for my 93 Ninja 600, planning on turboing it.

 

What does this have to do with DIY Miata stuff??

 

My brother started on one when they first came out, he actually resold it when he stepped up to a ZX-6R for about $500 more than he paid.

Great great bike, and an incredible starter bike for anyone. Now making a good choice on a learning bike doesn't carry the horrible stigma of ugly, slow and outdated technology.

I rode a 500R at the time he got his, and I would have swapped him anyday! The looks and lightweight more than make up for the small displacement, and the mileage is spectacular (although not quite as high as claimed).

Enjoy, and please be safe, there are lots of idiots out there.