Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Summary:
The Ninja 250R is the perfect learners bike for people who don’t want the world to know that they’re on a learners bike.
Engine Size: 249cc
Price (new): $4,550 CDN/$3,999 USD
Comparable bikes: Honda CBR125R, Yamaha WR250X, Suzuki DR200SE
Our Kawasaki Ninja 250R Review:
The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is the kind of bike that most onlookers would look at and say “ooh… pretty”, never knowing that it’s “only” a 250cc motorcycle. For this reason many people find the Ninja 250R to be an attractive first motorcycle. Aside from its sporty appearance, the Ninja 250R is also quite popular due to its sporting handling, excellent fuel economy, and surprising road manners.
Like its bigger brothers, the Kawasaki Ninja 500R and Kawasaki Ninja 650R, the 250R strives to maintain the perfect balance between ease of use, aggressive sport bike appearance, and exciting performance.
Fitted with 290mm disc brakes in the front and 220mm disc brakes in the rear, the Ninja 250R will stop as soon as you give the command, and its 249cc motor is surprisingly good at getting the bike moving and up to speed. It’s important to note that the 250R is not the ideal highway bike, as while it may be able to achieve highway speeds its engine will be revving hard to do it.
If you plan on using your Ninja 250R primarily as a city commuter bike, or a weekend toy to bomb around town, the 250R is a great choice. It has no problem keeping up with traffic, and it can outrun most cars to 40mph. Its excellent city performance, combined with fuel economy in excess of 45mpg*, make it an excellent alternative for someone who needs a commuter vehicle but doesn’t want to purchase or pay for a car.
One concern that many people have with the 250R is longevity, and with good reason. The bottom line is that it is a 250cc bike and you will more than likely want something bigger once you’ve got the hang of this one. It’s lightweight, chuckable chassis is great for flogging around in the city or on the track, but the engine lacks the power necessary to take the bike comfortably to higher speeds. As well, taller or larger people may find the bike to be a little on the small side.
However, when it comes to a terrific bike to learn on, the Ninja 250R is one of our favorites. Aside from its appearance, the 250R also has limits that are higher than expected. We always encourage 250R riders to try to achieve the maximum performance it will allow before moving on to something bigger- a challenge that is not as easy as you may think.
If you are an experienced rider, chances are that you will be underwhelmed by the power produced by the engine. That being said, 16lb-ft @ 9,500rpm is more than adequate for comfortable city riding.
The Bottom Line:
Of the 250cc’s out there, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R definitely has the most curb appeal. It’s low, fun, sporty, good looking, and incredibly efficient. Its small size makes it ideal for smaller people, but its lack of weight also makes it one of the best motorcycles out there to learn on.
Related posts:
- 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 400R Review
- Kawasaki Ninja 500R
- Kawasaki Ninja 650R
- Kawasaki Gives Canada and Japan the Ninja 400R
- 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom
Category: Kawasaki, Under 500cc
Great bike to learn on! SO easy to control and ride. Anyone can learn on this bike. It’s not good for highway riding though cause the engine is only 250cc.
I made the mistake of buying this before doing my homework. I was expecting since it was a Ninja that it would be fast as hell. Unfortunately, I figured out pretty quickly that this bike is pretty slow.
I suppose I should have figured that out considering it is a 250… But I guess I am just not that smart lol. I am not saying it is a bad bike, and I can see that it would be ideal for beginners. However, for someone experienced like me, this bike certainly has limitations.
I do like the way it handles. It can turn rapidly and handles perfectly under almost any conditions. I have yet to have any problems with my 250R, and I have had it for a while now, so they are reliable. They also don’t use much gas, so that helps… I do think this is a great bike, but if you are looking for speed, go for a more powerful Ninja or an entirely different bike.
I have always been a fan of the Ninja series, and this is my favorite model (the 250CC), because I can handle it! The 650 is far too much for me and my tiny little body LOL! Maybe if I start hitting the gym I could handle something bigger!
Anways this is one of the fastest bikes in its class, so if you’re a speed demon you will be happy. Plus, it looks pretty snazzy, so if you want to look good, you will
I think it is priced very well too… Only $4k for a brand new bike that is FASSTTT! Plus, it handles like no other bike I have ever ridden. It is a great buy for anyone, even if you are brand new to riding. Of course it may be a little too weak for more experienced riders, but I love it and I have been riding for 8 years now!
My favorite bike by far. I have ridden all of the Ninja’s, and the 250 is the best one. Of course, it is not as fast as the more powerful ones, but I think it is the best. I love the way it handles, hitting every curve at any speed. You literally don’t have to slow down to turn a corner… but it may be a good idea to slow down anyways! That has actually been a problem with me… I don’t know how fast I am going when I ride my Ninja, and then when I look down I’m going like 80 in a 60 zone… so be careful about that. The bike is really quiet and runs great, so unless you look at the speedometer, you won’t know how fast you’re going.
It also has phenomenal gas mileage to. I used to have a Suzuki and it was a gas guzzler, so I upgraded to a ninja. It was a very good decision.
Yes, I was the sucker who looked at it and said “Oooh pretty!” and didn’t realize it was only 250… I have since learned my lesson and have stepped up to the 650, but yes, it is pretty.
NINJA!!!!
I love this bike. It is by far one of the best motorcycles ever created, and on top of that, it is really cheap. It is fast as hell and runs smooth and handles great. If you don’t own a Ninja, get the 250 or the 650 and you will not be disappointed.
You gotta love the Ninja! Personally I prefer the 250. the 650 is far too big for my needs. If you are a casual rider a 250 is perfect, especially because it is very affordable.
Bought this bike for my girl as a learner bike. Awesome handling and looks great. Also I hear many people complain about the power of this bike. It is true that although it is not a great bike for passing people on the highway or just cruising at 80mph it will allow you to take sweepers with the throttle fully pinned and doing 60 all day long. It is a great fun little bike. I do ride it often myself over my gixxer if the trip is short since its such a blast. Also, the bike maintains its resale value extremely well.
Absolutely fantastic, my wife and i both have one, and since we bought them in 08, the only thing we’ve had to replace is the fuel – they are very addictive rides! While most people whinge about the power, or lack thereof, its all you need unless you go to track days, as most world wide speed limits are 100-140, and the Ninja handles this perfectly. My only complaint is that you never want to get off at the end of the trip!
Bottom line: This is a superb bike, from beginners to experts, everyone can have a blast hooning around on this sensational piece of engineering.
I really like this bike. I am 17, and my family decided that it was the most affordable way forward with a bike. I did not want a car. So we got it. At first, I thought I would need the 500cc, but for somebody like me, who doesn’t ever do more than about 80, and not cruising at 80, peaking at it, this bike is perfect for me. I love it.
I am 17 and my parents decided to get this bike because it is not too expensive and will do good in the city. I did not want a car. So I got it, thinking maybe I would be better off with the 500cc. I stay around the 60′s. 70 is like full speed, and 80 is like a thrill ride to me) so I have done pretty good. My speed habits leave some room for sudden acceleration, if I need it. I love the price, I love the gas mileage, and I just love my Ninja 250R
Fantastic bike, corners like nothing I’ve been on before. Just an absolute blast to ride, great mileage, makes riding FUN. Absolutely the best learner’s bike in the world, or for an experienced rider who loves to ride the heck out of his bike and doesn’t need to compensate for a tiny… brain.
I dont have 250R yet. Im planning to buy…anyways I will see if all of the comments are true.
Hey there,i just bought a 250r 2009 model and im used to riding bigger bikes but i have only just got my licence so this is a legal bike for me,i was worried at first about it but since riding it i cant get enough of it so anyone thinking of the 250 ninja get it you wont regret it!!!!
Awesome beginner bike just like everyone else is saying Ur gonna want to step
Up to a bigger bike real quick. I’ve been riding for 3 months and want something bigger then again I’m a speed demon. But it’s slow I like fast
It’s not fast enough for me haha I want a Cbr 100rr
I’m really thinking of getting one it looks nice I don’t go more then fourty miles all city? But I rode a 600 and I liked it but this one cheap hope I didn’t like the speed two much going on a finance of three two four yrs for it
Great bike for the beginner and more experienced rider. I own a 08 250 and 07 R6. Track and street ride them both. Mostly I track the R6 and street ride the 250. For those of you that think that an R6 or ZX-6 is a beginner bike all I can say is, see you in the emergency room. As for the 250, a full exhaust, jet kit and a new rear sprocket and it will zing to an honest 100 mph+ no problem. (Who needs to go faster than that anyway? If you said “me” hope you have bail money and a bus pass) Check out ninjette.org for 250 info. Great site with tons and tons of DIY’s on all the performance mods. I have tracked my 250 and rode it all the way up thru Intermediate group. You will be suprised at how slow most 600cc riders (Who THINK they can ride) are in the twistys. They are heros on the straights but when they have to turn they get left in the dust by a 250 with a good pilot. To sum it up the 250 is a great motorcycle that wont break the bank in fuel insurance or maitenece and will allow you to keep your licence where it belongs, in your wallet.