Two wheels, lot's of fun
Written: Apr 18 '06
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Pros: Reliability, economy, bang for your buck, resale value
Cons: Front nose dive under braking, sounds so tame!
The Bottom Line: Perfect bike for the beginner, still enough fun for 'old pros'
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| funkdaddysmack's Full Review: 2000 Kawasaki Ninja 250R |
This is my second motorcycle. I had bought a heavier, faster, louder motorcycle a few years ago and it met an untimely demise on account of my inexperience. Two years later I had the desire and the funds to get back into motorcycling, this time starting off with a better platform. I bought a 2000 250r with 6500 miles on the odometer from a co-worker.
The more I ride the bike, the more impressed I am that Kawasaki hit the mark enough back in '88 to not have to change a thing till today. This isn't uncommon for motorcycle manufacturers, there is a lot of old technology running around because it works and it’s profitable. I'm continually impressed by my bike (in green and purple), and all the thought that has been put into it.
This will probably be a record year for motorcycle/scooter sales with our countries gas situation. How does 70+ mpg sound to you? Sounds plenty good to me.
Why the Ninja 250
Starting on a smaller motorcycle is important for many reasons. Since the Ninja 250 is very light (comparative to other motorcycles), it’s easy to maneuver at slow speeds. It doesn’t have a lot of power, so grabbing a handful of throttle isn’t going to lift the front wheel and/or make a newbie panic. It’s also said that smaller motorcycles can teach you better bike control than larger bikes, where you can make up for lack of technique with lots of horsepower. Safety is still paramount. You may not have the prestige of your friends riding R6s and GSX-Rs, but staying safe should be the most important thing when starting out motorcycling.
Walk around
Ok, so this isn't the greatest looking bike out there. It's styling hasn't changed since it was introduced almost 20 years ago. Though while I didn't think I'd like my Green/Purple color combination, it's grown on me.
If you're a short person like myself (5'8", 29" inseem) you'll appreciate the low seat height. I couldn't flat foot my first bike, but I feel right at home on the Ninja. Shift your weight and put up the sidestand you'll immediately notice just how light the bike is, again about 100lbs difference from my first motorcycle. The controls are all within reach and the ergonomics aren't bad at all, it's a very upright seating position that you'll appreciate the longer you ride.
On the road again
Hit the starter and the engine quickly comes to life. I haven’t had any problems with cold starts yet, even down in the 30s. Give it a little choke and let it run for a bit while I put on my helmet and gloves. If it won’t run without choke I’ll ride it a block or two before turning the choke off, I’ve never had any issues yet, the engine warms up fast. The engine sounds about how you’d expect a 250cc machine to sound. That’s certainly one thing I really miss about the larger, inline 4 bikes. They have a mean snarl, this bike does not.
The clutch is nice and light, it’s easy to operate and find the ‘friction zone’ – now I’m starting to sound like my MSF instructors. Kick it into gear and you’re off. I immediately noticed in the lower gears it did have more than enough torque to scoot myself around town. The higher the gear and the higher the speed you’re really going to need to rev the engine, though.
Turning is a breeze, it’s so light and maneuverable. I haven’t had much desire to start railing the corners, but from what I hear the bike (even stock) is quite capable.
I’m closing in on 1000 miles so far on the bike (about a month of riding) and I appreciate it more and more each time I get on it. The gas mileage is great, I get 55mpg with all-town driving, and I’ve gotten as high as 70mpg with backroad riding. I've been primarily using it to run back and forth to work and the gym, but my roomate just bought a bike so we're doing a lot of leisure riding.
The little things
It’s the little things that make this bike great. For instance, the great gas mileage paired with a 4.8 gallon tank (very decent size) means at least 200 miles per tank. I’ve gone 240+ miles on the current tank and still haven’t hit reserve. The tiedown hooks are extremely handy. Get a set of bungees and you’re set! A stock centerstand is very helpful for chain maintenance. There are many other examples of how thoughtfully this bike was put together, these are just a few.
Not all fun and games
All that said, the bike isn’t without it’s flaws. Front nose-dive while braking is very noticeable (owners usually alleviate this by putting Ninja 500 springs in the forks). Low-end torque in higher gears is non-existant. The mirrors are hard to adjust to get a good look behind you, my arms seem to be in the way no matter what I do. Wind protection isn’t that great, and I’m short. While I haven’t had any problems, some people complain about the buzzyness on the highways. I’ve done some recent highway travel and the bike was fine at an indicated 65-70mph (probably 60-65mph actual).
In the end
I can’t think of a better bike to begin riding on if you like the sportbike-type bikes. For a 250 the mileage and performance is as good as you’re going to get. The bike is very reliable and very well put together, it’s no wonder Kawasaki continues to sell these bikes without change. Even while thinking ahead to my next bike, I think I’m leaning towards still keeping the little ninja. It’s very good at everything it does, and you really can’t beat it zipping around town.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1800
Condition: Used
Model Year: 2000
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Epinions.com ID:
funkdaddysmack
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Member: Dan Dreese
Location: Williamsport, PA
Reviews written: 49
Trusted by: 10 members
About Me:
24 years old, Database administration
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