I love my 250, I don't care what anyone thinks. They can call it a "baby ninja" all they want. I don't have a problem with that. It's the smallest ninja and it is my baby so technically it's true.
The funniest one I heard was when some idiot who doesn't even ride called it a lawn mower... He didn't even know what it was until I told him. Its always the show-off wannabe's and non riders that hate on ninja 250's. Show-offs need to start on bigger bikes to stroke their ego. They want to look cool in front of their friends, it's like a penis measuring contest. Maybe they have too much testosterone from all the steroids.
Another thing I notice is that a lot of riders that start on bigger bikes just to look cool seem to crash within the first few weeks riding.
It's not only an issue for you guys, they pick on us girls too.