my first year with my 2012 250

[wardie]

I've had a 2007 with 31,000 miles and sold it in 2013. I happened across a crated 2012 in June of 2014. Over the course of a few months I switched out the seat to a Corbin, changed the gearing, added a DB Sport Touring shield and replaced the rear seat with a 32 L top case giving me the ability to hold 3 days worth of clothing plus cold weather and rain gear. From mid June through October I managed 7,300 miles and everything ran well. The highlight of the year was the trip to Barber Motorsports Park in October for the Vintage Festival then on to Daytona for Bike week. 11 great days and I put about 2,700 miles on the trip. My BMW buddies had problems one of them so cheap ran the tire down to nothing then had a flat... no ones laughing at the Ninja.
I also made trips to the Moto GP, the MSTA's Mail Pouch Fly By and the Moto Guzzi National Rally.

I've since added a KLR 650 that is set up for Adventure Touring but I'll never get rid of the 250 has to be one of the best bikes out there.

I just completed 7,500 mile check up. Adjusted valves, carb synch, coolant change she's ready to go,go,go!

[csmith12]

[BlackNinja8]

Love it

[Somchai]

[NevadaWolf]

Cool!

[LittleRedNinjette]

[Roark]

Outside of mileage and age difference, do you have any preferences for pre vs new gen, now that you've owned both? Specifically from a touring and comfort perspective.

[wardie]

Roark the body work on the pre gen lends itself to soft sided bags a lot easier than the new gen. I'd say my one piece double seat from Corbin on the Pre gen was more comfortable and when I installed a Gustaffson windshield I pretty much cleaned up the air around me and the touring was great.

I did Daytona once and Moto GP once on the bike Pre gen and before I got rid of it. I used RKS saddlebags a tank bag and Twisted Throttle rear top rack for my expedition gear bag. I had my Gerbing heated clothing plugs wired in and everything worked as it should.

On the other hand there's absolutely no comparison between the two on the following;

Looks and style , everyone thinks its a 600 and I just love the new gen's big boy looks plus the standard 17" tires allows me several options on rubber compounds.

I absolutely believe the bikes handling overall is better..by that the turn in is quicker with less input on the bars and there's a feel of tightness across the platform very solid.

My gearing is 15/41 and if I would to change anything on my bike now it would be 15/43 which would give me a little more acceleration in 5th and 6th. As it is now I top out between 93-95 on the big end because of the tall gearing.

I've ridden the 300's and that's another bike altogether really not much to compare. Different chassis mostly different motor parts and the biggest bang is fuel injection but I couldn't find let alone buy a new bike for the $3900 I spent on my Red Ninja.

Hope that helps. Wardie

[JohnnyBravo]

May the wind be ever in your favor... Great write up!

[greenaero]

Well done! Great report!

[250rr]

Thanks for the post! 👉👍

[wardie]

Because of the weather and my tight work schedule I think I'm loading my bike on a trailer (yes on my god) and safely heading to DB. Friend offered his trailer and other friend offered his Z71 something Blazer and we're all set.

Man I do not know if I can wait out this weather in Ohio. Whomever made the bumper sticker "Stuck in Ohio" was right on!

[wardie]

Had a blast in Daytona one of the best ever! Did many new things like the Daytona 200 Monument Day. I am one of many who contributed to have the Daytona Memorial built on the boardwalk. If anyone visits Daytona go through the Hilton onto the boardwalk and check out the Monument its fabulous!

My buddy road a 50CC Piaggio scooter and it wa sterrible No get up and go even at 35 mph speeds. He managed to U turn infront of some Harleys who hit him busting his little scooter plastics and the Harley guy low sided his bike. What a day.

Headed home on Sunday taking a different route. usually its 95 to 26 to 77 to Youingstown, Ohio this time because I bought a 67 Honda S90 we had to go up I 95 to Dunn, N. Carolina. Big mistake...traffic jams going North caused many delays. Picked up bike Monday am only to find my friends are math challenged and the owner who thought my Honda would fit..well it didn't. I pulled my Ninja put the Honda in and geared up for the 650 mile ride home.

Uneventful slabbing is a PITA flattens rear tire etc.. 65 degrees all the way home except nbear Berlin Lake where my old neighborhood welcomed me back with a drizzle

Good trip hate absolutely hate trailering hard to sit in a truck for that many hours..