Who's keeping their current Ninja?

[Fappy]

I think it looks awesome, and I'd love to ride it, but... I won't buy new. It's a waste of money in my opinion. I might consider trading in for a used 2013 NEXT year, though.

[00NissanNinja]

I thought about it. At first I was like aww yeah getting a 300, but now I think I'll be hanging onto what I have. I'm waiting to see if kawi is just going to make the 400 a sleeved down 650. They probably will but who knows they might surprise us. In any case I'm still paying on my bike so I won't be getting another for awhile, and my bike has almost 16000 miles which scares people for some reason when it comes to bikes

[ninjaone]

If you just want more power you can save money by "upgrading" to the 1987 Ninja 250. Same power as the 300 with less weight.

[Alex]

/merged with similar thread

(trying to keep the number of duplicate "300!" threads to a manageable amount)

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by ninjaone

If you just want more power you can save money by "upgrading" to the 1987 Ninja 250. Same power as the 300 with less weight.

Please, someone elaborate/ tell me more.

[Compooky]

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

Please, someone elaborate/ tell me more.

It has the same amount of power as the 300 since it was before emissions restrictions turned it into what we have now.

[ninjaone]

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

Please, someone elaborate/ tell me more.

The Ninja 250 was originally rated at 38 PS, the Ninja 300 is rated at 39 PS.

[Alex]

Right, but it's not all about emissions. The earlier engines had weak oiling systems, and were unreliable when run at high rpms (where they made that 38 ps) for any extended period of time. Kawi dialed things back not only to meet tightening emissions standards, but also to make it a more reliable mill no matter what level of care is applied.

But even if the general idea is correct (hey, the 86/87 bikes had 38 ps!), thinking that a 27 year old bike is going to provide like-new performance compared to one rolling out of the factory in 2013 is not quite on the level. Let alone the difficulty in scoring one of those few thousand bikes (if that) that are still in salvageable condition.

[bdavison]

I like the new bike, however I probably wont be getting one.
Now the new 2013 ZX-6R with the new 636 engine....um...thats a whole other story. ;-D

[hirubhaiambani]

What I really want = Duc Streetfighter 848
What I really need = Kawasaki Ninja 250R

I have what I need. I'm satisfied and happy with it.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by 00NissanNinja

I'm waiting to see if kawi is just going to make the 400 a sleeved down 650.

There was a 400 listed on the same EPA document that listed the 300 so it's certainly possible although slotting in a 400 in between the 300 and 650 might make it look like an out of place middle child. A 400 has been listed in previous EPA documents but of course you guys in the US did not get one but in Canada we did. It was essentially sleeved down from the previous gen 650 and made 44 PS. Interestingly enough, it is noticeably absent from the Canadian 2013 model lineup.

[Chuffmonkey]

I won't be getting one. I really like the look, and I like the list of upgrades but it's not enough of an upgrade in the engine department for me. By that I mean that I'm doing a lot of freeway riding and my 250 is struggling on the hills, and I'd like some more power to be able to get out of the way of trouble more quickly.

What I really want is a Street Triple, but I suspect that may be too much of an upgrade right now (and the insurance would set me back $1200 a year). I'm also somewhat tempted by the Honda NC700X, the Yamaha FZ6-R and the Ninja 650. No SS for me, though I suspect the Triumph comes close, performance wise.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Chuffmonkey

I won't be getting one. I really like the look, and I like the list of upgrades but it's not enough of an upgrade in the engine department for me. By that I mean that I'm doing a lot of freeway riding and my 250 is struggling on the hills, and I'd like some more power to be able to get out of the way of trouble more quickly.

So what you're saying is you need better brakes

[Chuffmonkey]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

So what you're saying is you need better brakes

Ha - yeah, possibly. I say more power to get myself out of trouble when I probably mean more power to get myself into trouble

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Chuffmonkey

Ha - yeah, possibly. I say more power to get myself out of trouble when I probably mean more power to get myself into trouble

[Joshorilla]

It would be really daft for me to "upgrade" to essentially the same bike "only uglier imo", the difference in the upgrades for us europeans is even less given we have FI, has FI been confirmed for the USA then or just a prediction?

[thisisbenji]

Originally Posted by Asspire

The new ones don't come in red, so it's not worth buying.

[00NissanNinja]

Originally Posted by Boom King

Interestingly enough, it is noticeably absent from the Canadian 2013 model lineup.

That's what got me curious. It doesn't make sense to have both a 300 and 400 but it seems like they might do something with a 400 especially with the KTM 350 coming in the future. It will really fail if its just a 650 with a sleeved motor. The 13th can't come soon enough so we know what they really have up their sleeves.

[choneofakind]

I need to test ride one before I decide. I need to be very impressed before I start pulling out loans from my family and committing myself to another summer full of 60+ hours of work...

[ninjaone]

The Ninja 400 always seemed like a pretty pointless exercise. All the weight of the 650 with all speed of a 250.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by ninjaone

The Ninja 400 always seemed like a pretty pointless exercise. All the weight of the 650 with all speed of a 250.

ummmm it has more hp and torque?

[ninjaone]

The Ninja 400 was almost 100 pounds heavier then a 250 with only about 10-12 more horsepower. You could get double the horsepower in the bike the engine was designed for for only about 1 grand more. I'm not surprised the Ninja 400 didn't last long.

[choneofakind]

But, your comparing hp and weight. Torque and good suspension make you fast through turns. HP makes you fast in a straight line. Having never ridden a 400, I really have no idea how it compares to a 250, but it's definitely going to be faster in a straight line

[ninjaone]

Yes, and weight makes you slow in a straight line AND in corners

I'm sure it was marginally faster in a straight line then the 250, but the price premium was huge, the weight penalty was huge, and it was only a stone's throw away from the properly designed 650.

IMO a 400 only makes sense if the weight is reasonably between a 250 and a 650, being one pound lighter then the 650 wasn't really good enough.

[Alex]

The 400 was always a niche bike intended for areas where that particular cc limit mattered. Since it doesn't in the US, it never made sense to offer it here. Can't imagine that logic would change as long as the regs don't change.

[2012NewRider]

I saw the new style and liked it but had I known that Kawasaki was developing a bigger bike than the 250, I would have waited to purchase. I wanted to buy a brand spanking new bike and the 250 is what I could afford. After I bought my 2012 back in October, I got attached and can't see myself getting rid of it, but I do see myself adding another bike like a ZX-6R, GSX-R 600 or a Harley.

[2012NewRider]

Isn't the 400 with the single long seat that makes it look older?

[ninja250r81]

im keeping mine.

i think upgrading to the hype of 300 over 250 is pppppfffffffff!!!!!!!!

[LoD575]

I like the styling and technological upgrades but not enough to buy one.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by 2012NewRider

Isn't the 400 with the single long seat that makes it look older?

The entire body is essentially the same as the previous gen 650R. Slightly different colour schemes.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

... has FI been confirmed for the USA then or just a prediction?

I don't think its been confirmed. It just said "In selected markets". But its highly probable. It looks like all versions of the 250 will be getting the new dash which has an electronic speedometer. On Kawi EFI controllers, the digital speed is one of the input variables.

From the Kawasaki.com website:

Ninja Times Square Takeover
The 2013 Ninja Times Square Takeover
The Next Chapter in the Ninja Sportbike Legend Has Begun
Live Streaming Thursday, September 13th.
<<Countdown Clock>>

So it looks like its something big. I don't think they did all this the last time when they just changed the colors.

[mike12]

My 2006 Pregen just sold tonight looks like I'm gonna be in the market for the new version come spring time. Either that or go back to a 600 maybe a ninja 636

[kevheads]

Keeping mine, just about got it modded where I want it.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by kevheads

just about got it modded where I want it.

ha.

You're never done modding. I'm forever finding nit-picky things to buy and mod

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

I don't think its been confirmed. It just said "In selected markets". But its highly probable. It looks like all versions of the 250 will be getting the new dash which has an electronic speedometer. On Kawi EFI controllers, the digital speed is one of the input variables.

From the Kawasaki.com website:

Ninja Times Square Takeover
The 2013 Ninja Times Square Takeover
The Next Chapter in the Ninja Sportbike Legend Has Begun
Live Streaming Thursday, September 13th.
<<Countdown Clock>>

So it looks like its something big. I don't think they did all this the last time when they just changed the colors.

The european ninja 250's have analogue speedo's and EFI, so I wouldn't extrapolate anything from that.

I'm still placing my money on you gets still getting carbs, I hope not for all the guys that want efi, but why else would they put *for selected markets only* if they do choose to put FI in the american one? They have already switched australia to FI, so USA & Canada are the only two left with carbs, it wouldn't make sense for them to still include the selected markets bit if they rollled out FI in the americas.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

The european ninja 250's have analogue speedo's and EFI, so I wouldn't extrapolate anything from that.

I'm still placing my money on you gets still getting carbs, I hope not for all the guys that want efi, but why else would they put *for selected markets only* if they do choose to put FI in the american one? They have already switched australia to FI, so USA & Canada are the only two left with carbs, it wouldn't make sense for them to still include the selected markets bit if they rollled out FI in the americas.

I took another look at the specs I have for the UK model. Seems I was mistaken about the electronic speedometers in the UK models. However, they do have digital speed sensors that run the EFI. At first glance, it appears that these sensors are located in the engine block somewhere - possibly near the chain sprocket. It was an easy jump to assume it had an electronic speedometer since it does have a digital speed pickup.

But one thing for sure is that if you have a digital speedometer, you will need a digital pickup to run it.

Anyhow, I do hope they don't screw us again and omit EFI from the North American 250 market. Sadly, from the tone of the whispers I am hearing, its starting to look like there will be a Ninja 300 with EFI and a Ninja 250 without. That way, they can justify the added cost of EFI.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

I took another look at the specs I have for the UK model. Seems I was mistaken about the electronic speedometers in the UK models. However, they do have digital speed sensors that run the EFI. At first glance, it appears that these sensors are located in the engine block somewhere - possibly near the chain sprocket. It was an easy jump to assume it had an electronic speedometer since it does have a digital speed pickup.

But one thing for sure is that if you have a digital speedometer, you will need a digital pickup to run it.

Anyhow, I do hope they don't screw us again and omit EFI from the North American 250 market. Sadly, from the tone of the whispers I am hearing, its starting to look like there will be a Ninja 300 with EFI and a Ninja 250 without. That way, they can justify the added cost of EFI.

I agree with all you're saying, it wouldn't surprise me if they simply took the analogue cable feed they have already and hook it up to a digital converter in the speedo housing.

I have the sneeky suspicion the facelift will only be for the 300 and the 250's will remain the same in the US and UK, who wants a 300 that is more expensive, hardly any power difference for a higher price, keeping the 250 the same design will give greater product diversity, that or they will axe the 250 entirely in the US and just replace it with the 300! After all, who would want a honda cbr250 over a ninja 300 unless you are hyper concious about economy and you'd have brought the cbr250 over the ninja anyway.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

I agree with all you're saying, it wouldn't surprise me if they simply took the analogue cable feed they have already and hook it up to a digital converter in the speedo housing.

I have the sneeky suspicion the facelift will only be for the 300 and the 250's will remain the same in the US and UK, who wants a 300 that is more expensive, hardly any power difference for a higher price, keeping the 250 the same design will give greater product diversity, that or they will axe the 250 entirely in the US and just replace it with the 300! After all, who would want a honda cbr250 over a ninja 300 unless you are hyper concious about economy and you'd have brought the cbr250 over the ninja anyway.

That's another thing. I haven't heard a thing about fuel economy. The pregen, when its running right, gets about 70 mpg. The US newgen took a step backwards. So I'm hoping that with EFI, they are going to get it back to 70 mpg.

I do believe that if they don't finally give us a 250 with EFI that they are going to drive a lot of people to the Honda CBR 250 - especially those that don't care that much about top speed and performance.

[Boom King]

Originally Posted by Joshorilla

so USA & Canada are the only two left with carbs

FWIW, the 2013 Canadian model lineup includes a 300 with EFI and an ABS option. Looks like the 250R is no longer available along with the 400R. I would guess this will be the same for the US but who knows. Guess all will be answered soon enough.

[Joshorilla]

Originally Posted by Boom King

FWIW, the 2013 Canadian model lineup includes a 300 with EFI and an ABS option. Looks like the 250R is no longer available along with the 400R. I would guess this will be the same for the US but who knows. Guess all will be answered soon enough.

Yep, looks more likely that they are to axe the 250 in USA! They won't axe it in indonesia, uk and most of europe because a 250 is the learner legal limit in lots of places and often the only reason people buy them, if the 300 is simply a bigger bore 250, that could be very interesting for engine swaps... So to boil it down, 300 may be the new 250!