coming to grips with reality

[subxero]

late last year I had high ambition and dreams of buying another bike in spring 2014 just to have another bike for funnzies (not sell the 250)

Best laid plans never seem to go that way and I am slowly ditching the idea for a few reasons.

^that being said I have just decided to throw away more money into the 250

I really like the 250 so fine tuning it is totally worth it to me, i never plan on selling it and since there are only a handful of other bikes that even tickle my fancy, most are out of my price range, and few other used ones I like as project bikes will require a fair amount of additional time and money on top of purchase price to get to a desirable point/setup and it is just not that realistic for me right now.

A lot of people think it is crazy to put money into the ninja250 but they just don't get it. Common response "just buy a bigger bike"

I don't want a bigger bike, 99% of the bikes out there don't do anything for me that the ninja doesn't already do and besides even if I bought a bigger bike I would still throw money at it with mods anyway so why not just mod the bike I have now if I like it?

So I figure I will continue to tweak the ninja with a few things here and there until there is nothing left to tweak and in the end have a feeling of accomplishment and joy to go along with my sweet 250

Things set into motion

gsxr shock swap
tire hugger
digital gauge
ss brake lines
bar ends for my clip ons
new springs + emulators for front end
fender elim kit


Things looking into

smaller chain/sprocket kits ?
front brake/rotor mods
preload adjusters, aftermarket or DIY IDK?
LW lito battery
maybe new levers
master cylinder swaps?
various engine mods

Things I already have

WC clip ons, rearsets
full exhaust
pod filter mod
block off plate
manual cct
brt-tis ignition timing programmer

I'm sure in my searching I will come across some mod I never heard of or thought of that will get added to the list but for now that stuff should tickle my tinker itch for a while

[csmith12]

Fork caps $70-$90 (preload adjustment) YES!!!!! You can cut spacers too (DIY), I guess.
Levers - YES!!!! I personally like the lighter feel but it's a personal thing and you have plenty of options.

[subxero]

Definitely want to do the caps/adjusters, the levers I want more for cosmetic and cosmetic is not high on my list.
I say levers are cosmetic because I am so used to riding busted/chopped bent levers on my dirtbikes plus the pull on the yz250 clutch can be considered exercise that the stock 250 levers seem like high end luxury levers to me

[Han Solo 1]

Great logic, subxero.

I was going in the same direction until my 250 got stolen. I'd already ordered a bunch of parts that I had to return.

I think first things on your list, if you don't have them already, are:

1. Kryptonite heavy duty bike chain/lock

2. Solid, high-end disc lock with loud alarm

And maybe throw in a cover alarm while you're at it.

I never thought to spend money on security until it was too late.

[rasta]

Slow bike fast ftw!

[kdogg2077]

Oh well you can always look at bikes next year. All the mods you mention should keep you entertained until then. You can turn your ninja into a premium made machine.

Plus who knows, maybe the RC390 will come out next year. Then you'd be glad you waited.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Han Solo 1

Great logic, subxero.

I was going in the same direction until my 250 got stolen. I'd already ordered a bunch of parts that I had to return.

I think first things on your list, if you don't have them already, are:

1. Kryptonite heavy duty bike chain/lock

2. Solid, high-end disc lock with loud alarm

And maybe thrown in a cover alarm while you're at it.

I never thought to spend money on security until it was too late.

Almax Series IV through a Y Anchor should keep it exactly where you park it.

[Han Solo 1]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Almax Series IV through a Y Anchor should keep it exactly where you park it.

How do you anchor the second item? Do you have to pour some concrete?

[ForceofWill]

Good choice. I know I'm not gonna sell mine so all the money I dump in mods is worth it to me.

Start ordering parts!

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Han Solo 1

How do you anchor the second item? Do you have to pour some concrete?

Dig a hole, place the anchor, (if you wan to be really thorough hammer some rebar in above the tines at the bottom) and pour concrete around it.

If you add the rebar they'll want a digger to get at your bike.

It's fairly discreet if done cleanly

[Han Solo 1]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Dig a hole, place the anchor, (if you wan to be really thorough hammer some rebar in above the tines at the bottom) and pour concrete around it.

If you add the rebar they'll want a digger to get at your bike.

You know, I thought about doing this, but getting concrete, mixing it, and pouring it seems like a lot of work/expense.

Do they sell any ready-mix concrete, like a "just-add water" type deal?

I just have no idea.

[csmith12]

Yep, its called sakrete.



It's about 6 bucks a bag at homedepot. That, a shovel and a bent piece of rebar and your set. for under $20 and about an hours worth of work.

[Han Solo 1]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Yep, its called sakrete.



It's about 6 bucks a bag at homedepot. That, a shovel and a bent piece of rebar and your set. for under $20 and about an hours worth of work.

Wow, nice!

That's going to be this week's weekend project!!

[Whiskey]

I'd presume so, if not get a small bag of cement, a small bag of builder's sand, a sheet of plywood, a shovel & a tupperware tub.

1 tub of cement to 2 tubs of sand, build a pile on the plywood, put a dent in the top & add a pint or so of water, shovel from the sides into the middle & keep adding small amounts of water until it's all wet through.

[subxero]

So just to update, I am finally finishing up all my late winter/spring work on the bike.

this is what I ended up doing

gsxr shock swap
CBR250 tire hugger mod
ss brake lines
bar ends for my clip ons
new springs + emulators for front end
hot bodies undertail fender elim kit with integrated LED signals
320mm floating front rotor and 4 pot brembo axial caliper
DIY preload adjusters
LW lito battery
voltmeter for battery
5v 1A charging system
05' R6 throttle tube
DIY hack up right passenger peg into exhaust hanger
new sport demon front tire, stock size

Things previously done

WC clip ons, rearsets
full exhaust
pod filter mod
block off plate
manual cct
brt-tis ignition timing programmer

All in all I am happy with the way everything worked out but then again I haven't ridden the bike yet

Getting my tire put on wheel today, then i start putting everything back together and finish wiring in some switches and fuses for my voltmeter and charging system.

will have to fine tune both front and rear suspension over next couple weeks but other than that I don't want to mess with the bike much. Want to do a dyno test just for funnzies and to give me some numbers to see how close my jetting really is so that is about the only thing I will touch other than general maintenance.

Time will tell can't wait to get back on the road

[corksil]

pictures of mods or i will report your post and have you banned instantly.

[SMman]

Mind me asking about the R6 throttle tube? Does it allow less movement of the throttle for a given opening? Thanks

[Klondike1020]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Dig a hole, place the anchor, (if you wan to be really thorough hammer some rebar in above the tines at the bottom) and pour concrete around it.
It's fairly discreet if done cleanly

THAT IS AWSOME ! HOW DID I NEVER THINK OF THAT!!!!

Originally Posted by corksil

pictures of mods or i will report your post and have you banned instantly.

Yes Pics or it didn't happen

[subxero]

Originally Posted by SMman

Mind me asking about the R6 throttle tube? Does it allow less movement of the throttle for a given opening? Thanks

the search function holds all the answers

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/show...=throttle+tube

[mgentz]

Pics?

[subxero]

Originally Posted by corksil

pictures of mods or i will report your post and have you banned instantly.

might be a while, i broke our decent camera the other day and my phone takes the worst pictures ever as the lens cover is cracked and beat to ****

We will get a new camera soon though. There are some pics of my shenanigans floating around in the new gen section. But i will snag some when i get a chance

[subxero]

Some pics of my bike after all is said and done. Some pics of fender elim, my DIY exhaust hanger hack job, you can kind of see gsxr spring, and cbr hugger, my new front brake rotor set up, SS lines, prob can't see the preload adjusters in these pics but they are else where.

Obviously some things can't be seen. Throttle mod, springs, emulators ect...

Took it for a quick spin today fairly easy ride, new tire, brake pads on top of some DIY stuff = take things easy Everything felt pretty good other than my front brakes being a little soft MC probably to small. Front end suspension feels great, need to play with my gsxr shock a bit yet, especially high speed dampening.

Cleanest my bike as been in a while, and probably for a while

[csmith12]

[Sirref]

looks nice, just add some tires since you don't have much more tread left on your rear maybe 20% or so left on the center

[alex.s]

looks good, it's time to go bin it at a track i think.

[subxero]

i have a take off rear stock IRC laying around that has a little bit more tread than my rear. Ill throw that on soon and it should get me through the rest of the season. Next year ill get a sport demon on the rear to match the front.

Definitely getting close to being done futzing with it, I guess ill have to crash it to give me something to do

[kdogg2077]

What are your thoughts on the r6 throttle mod?

[mgentz]

[rojoracing53]

No matter how much money I spend on my ninja250 it has still saved my at least 3x as much in fuel cost by not using my truck. I just wish saving $6k felt the same as someone handing me $6K to put in my pocket

I don't think I'll sell 250 for a very very long time because the thought of not getting what I've put into in the resale turns me off.

Next bike I purchase will most likely be a large travel Enduro Bicycle to work the other end of the spectrum from my hard tail single speed race bike. I'm just to practical to own a true sport bike of the street where you can't use it and I hate doing trackdays on a big bike.

So spend away on your 250 and we can both share the pain of never selling it because well lose so much money.

[subxero]

Originally Posted by kdogg2077

What are your thoughts on the r6 throttle mod?

nothing crazy but an improvement. and for just a few bones and 2 minutes of work worth it in my book

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by rojoracing53

I don't think I'll sell 250 for a very very long time because the thought of not getting what I've put into in the resale turns me off.

Next bike I purchase will most likely be a large travel Enduro Bicycle to work the other end of the spectrum from my hard tail single speed race bike.

Let us know when you hit 100k, should be another year or two. Maybe.

How much travel enduro? 150? 160? In a perfect world, I want a trail bike with 140 on front and like 120 on rear. I don't need all that extra mushy suspension travel!

[rojoracing53]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Let us know when you hit 100k, should be another year or two. Maybe.

How much travel enduro? 150? 160? In a perfect world, I want a trail bike with 140 on front and like 120 on rear. I don't need all that extra mushy suspension travel!

Think Santa Cruz nomad, specialized Enduro, or
niner WFO type bikes. I could use a rather larger handicap against me on the climbs for my poor riding buddies.