February 18th, 2013, 11:46 PM | #1 |
King Hamfist
Name: Cameron
Location: NorCal East Bay
Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Crf 150R, 2011 Hypermotard 796 Posts: 940
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I finally "get" my Ninja 250
I have a confession. Last week if someone came up to me and said I'll give you my CBR 600 but you can't keep the 250 I would've done it in a heartbeat.
@Manimal was talking to me about the ninja 250 during the BARF ride this Saturday. I was pretty negative about the whole thing. Mostly, I was complaining about its short comings compared to other bikes. I really wanted to sell it in a year and get something else. Yesterday I was hanging out with my dad and we decided to take the Miata out to the coast. I haven't really driven it since I started riding the 250. The Ninja 250 is the motorcycling equivalent to the Mazda Miata. I learned how to drive with the Miata, autocrossed it, and semi-recently did a Laguna Seca trackday with it. I still have a blast driving the car in a spirited manner after all these years. Let me describe the Miata. It's a 2300lbs car that makes 112 rwhp at almost its 7000 rpm redline. Hence, it's slow as balls. Like a mini van will pull on you at 60mph slow. It's easy to drive up to 8/10ths or up to the point where the stock suspension is pretty wallowy. It has really short gearing, 4k plus at higher freeway speeds; pretty buzzy. It's a great learning tool at the track and everyone and their mom will blow by you on the straights. Yet at an autocross course I can put in a faster time than an amateur driver in a corvette. There is a spec class for it and a lot of great racers start there. It gets ok mpg, but not as good as it should, 28-30 generally. The motor isn't really anything exciting or sporty, although it loves to rev. Everyone who hasn't driven one usually calls it a fag mobile, everyone who has driven one is surprised how fun it is. It doesn't equal the sum of its parts. There are better sport cars but the Miata can be totally wrung out on the streets. The connection finally hit me. Funny, sounds just like a Ninja 250... I finally love this slow, small, "gay" motorcycle. I guess it just took me a long time to finally find it's charm. |
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February 18th, 2013, 11:54 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
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Get a 300.
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Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
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February 19th, 2013, 08:26 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Jason
Location: Mississauga
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r Posts: 634
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”Any man dies with a clean sword, I’ll rape his f***ing corpse!”- The Hound |
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February 19th, 2013, 09:09 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
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With suspension, tires, brakes, rearsets and clipon upgrades, its a great bike.
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Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
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February 19th, 2013, 09:28 PM | #5 |
Fast-Guy wannabe
Name: Jason
Location: Brentwood, Ca
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jan '13
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Uh so is there a point to this rambling disguised as a story
I think I want the 60second it took me to read this back |
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February 19th, 2013, 10:15 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: D
Location: Arizona
Join Date: Oct 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (sold), 2006 Triumph Daytona 675 Posts: 20
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Favorite...
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When I looked up "Ninjas" on Thesaurus.com it said, "Ninja's can't be found."...Well played Ninjas, well played. |
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February 19th, 2013, 10:19 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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February 19th, 2013, 10:32 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Jason
Location: Mississauga
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250r Posts: 634
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That video is ****ing awesome!! I just watched the first 3 minutes but that's all I needed to see. I was so surprised how far behind he left those supersports coming out of the corners...
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”Any man dies with a clean sword, I’ll rape his f***ing corpse!”- The Hound |
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February 20th, 2013, 08:24 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Daren
Location: Milpitas
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 Ninja 300 SE Posts: 106
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The video says it all.
Another comparable perspective..... You almost gotta think of the Ninja 250 like the YSR of sport bikes. And you've been there, done that. So you understand that the bigger displacement bikes owns the straights. But! with the right rider, and set-up, the rewards are awesome and fulfilling. You know and understand the limitations of the 250. As you put it, it's short comings. Like the YSR, you just need to embrace it for what it is and make the most and best of what it has to offer. What I'm trying to get to, it's about the FUN factor. And you can't beat the gas mileage neither! I totally hear what you are saying, and at times, I feel the same. But once I throw a leg over and hit the twisties, the 250r always puts a smile on my face. Last futzed with by Manimal; February 20th, 2013 at 09:35 AM. |
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February 20th, 2013, 08:51 AM | #10 |
Knee-dragger in Training
Name: Manny
Location: Buford, GA
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250R (Sunbeam Red) Posts: 319
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How dare you call my 250 gay!
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North GA Riders |
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February 20th, 2013, 09:51 AM | #11 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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To the OP:
You've nailed the way I've always felt about cars and bikes. Any idiot can open a throttle. That kind of thing is fun, but it's not what moves me. I LOVE small, light, nimble, efficient machines that work better when wound up. Vehicles you can actually lean on hard in the real world. The 250 is all of that. I'd love to own a supersport once in my life, but I really wonder if I'd ever get that 8/10ths experience -- the point where the bike really starts singing -- without the going to the track. I suspect not but I freely admit I don't know. I've ridden a ZX6R at a demo day and really liked it, but it didn't tell me anything. It was just idling along. I'm a longtime Honda (car) owner, and in between two 89 Civic hatchbacks and my current Fit, I've put nearly half a million miles on them. They're just like the 250 in spirit. Not fast, but when you wring their little Japanese necks they're a hoot. I love 'em. I'd rather go for a ride on the 250, push it to the best of my ability and come back grinning ear-to-ear than go out on a supersport and come back frustrated that I could never let it do what it does best. |
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February 20th, 2013, 10:36 AM | #12 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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Starting to really understand that the bike is an extension of the rider.... Welcome to level 3 riding Cameron.
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Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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February 20th, 2013, 01:26 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Eric
Location: Iowa City
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawmeracchi 350 2010 Project X Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 54
MOTM - Sep '18, Feb '16
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This is a conversation you won't hear.
I just bought a Miata. Hay cool car is it a v8? No it's a Miata they have a 4 . Oooo . Will you up grade to a mustang or a Camaro soon. No why would I . Well a Miata is a beginners car. Everyone knows you need at least 6 cylinders to drive on the highway.
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Top speed 123.369mph. Ohio mile Worlds fastest 250 ninja |
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February 20th, 2013, 01:46 PM | #14 |
Bass Master General
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If I brought a "Miata" or MX5 as they are called here, people would probably say "you don't need a 1.8 litre car! Get a nice 1ltr Cleo or a Fiat 500" i've got a Hyundai i10, I don't think they even sell them in America I can imagine they are too small.
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February 20th, 2013, 02:42 PM | #15 | ||
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
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