Kawasaki Ninja 250

[Tev62]

My lad has done "his time" on a 125cc motorcycle here in Ireland so with a full years no claims he can move up a notch without too much of an insurance hit.

So the wonderful 2021 Honda CB125F is making way for an 18 year old Kawasaki Ninja 250, originally imported to Ireland by a Jersey City US resident when she emigrated here. The bike even comes with her old title.

250cc bikes are hard to come by second hand and new ones are out of his budget range so this was what could be had. They used to be everywhere in the UK and Ireland when 250cc was the learner legal limit but now it is a pretty dead class.

11HP to 30HP upgrade (albeit at some extraordinarily high RPM) and a low 5,000 mile history has this bike looking well and will suit him down to the ground. I have to say though I am gutted that the CB125F is going, I loved that little thing and loved taking it to work on occasion. A really easy 150 MPG+ (Imperial) wringing its neck.

Valve clearances to be checked by me before he sets off on the Ninja but wonderfully old fashion screw and locknut adjustment - hooray! Same as my 1952 MG TD :huh:

 

[the Ferret]

Should be able to see him coming.

Geesh 18 years old and 5,000 miles... a whopping 278 miles per year. Crazy.

Be sure and check the tires.

 

[Tev62]

Should be able to see him coming.

Geesh 18 years old and 5,000 miles... a whopping 278 miles per year. Crazy.

Be sure and check the tires.

It was a USA colour, not available in Europe. Yes, tyres good brand and not too old, a 1000 of those miles were recent enough. Brake lines replaced, caliper seals and pistons replaced, new fork seals and a good few other bits and bobs replaced. 10 minutes from my work which is handy. The owner is a Honda fan with a Fireblade, CBR600 and a VFR750 all in good order.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Hey ya Tev: Wouldn't know at first look that the Kawi was a 250.

 

[Cormanus]

Maybe you should buy the CB125 for commuting, Tev.

 

[LouA_imp]

Had one. That bike is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. :biker: Oh God, I've just po'd the ASPCA :huh:

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

this is the last one i had.

far from stock. lol. (got it with a blown motor due to PO leaving the drain plug loose.)




but in stock form they are fantastic commuters and handle like they are on rails.

Market share could (if not already) get a boost in the new world of gasoline prices.

 

[Tev62]

those ex250s are bullet proof. great bikes.

Oh good, I have no experience of them.

Hey ya Tev: Wouldn't know at first look that the Kawi was a 250.

Yes, it is unfashionably large for its cc. That suits the lad, he is 6'4".

Maybe you should buy the CB125 for commuting, Tev.

I would love too but with three bikes on the go already I think the missus would shoot me!

Had one. That bike is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. :biker: Oh God, I've just po'd the ASPCA :huh:

this is the last one i had.

far from stock. lol. (got it with a blown motor due to PO leaving the drain plug loose.)




but in stock form they are fantastic commuters and handle like they are on rails.

Looks great, hearing a lot of good things about these bikes. You're exhaust looks like a two stroke expansion chamber in those pictures.

 

[Tev62]

It had a 50 HP RD motor in it. But again, i do appreciate the stock ones as well.

50HP must of REALLY made that lightweight chassis a Ninja

 

[Lord Popgun]

What are those latch looking things on the tail section? Does it just pop off or open or something?

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

What are those latch looking things on the tail section? Does it just pop off or open or something?

"Pop-up" tie-down hooks?

 

[Tev62]

Yep, pop up tie hooks, very cool looking things. Rear indicators built into the rear light cluster too which is a bit retro.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Top speed of the 2012 Ninja 250 is about 105 mph. That is pretty amazing.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

... yeah, stiff headwind aside, the little mill will hold 75 to 80 mph pinned at 10 to 11000 RPM.

 

[Tev62]

can confirm the older ones will hold over 100 mph for extended periods. Lived in Manhattan, Kansas for a while, local bike shop owner (Larry Briton) and his kids would go on rides, long ones. His daughter, in particular, would ride everywhere, she didn't own a car. Only thing she had a was a fairly worn out.. 87 i think, ex250. would peg it and hold it there for like, hours. Kansas long roads. lol. more than once we'd see her pulled over after an extended ride (when we caught up to her), bike would be puking oil. shed wait till it cooled down, get back on it and wide open again. Good times. she never killed it either. This was in the mid to late 90s.

Reading up on the bike it seems Kawasaki reduced the peak revs twice to try and increase the motors longevity. The super high revs might of had a tendency to froth the oil a little on earlier ones.

Edit - in the above post I talked about the built in indicators. I'm wrong of course, I meant the split tail/brake light layout.:huh: