Should i or should i not

[GREY NINJA]

I am considering getting an 2012 ninja 250 and saying goodbye to my 2002 ninja. I guess it's time for a change (might even go for the 300cc)
QUESTION: DO THE 300 HAVE ANY ADVANTAGE OVER THE 2012 NINJETTE 250(other then power) or is it still in it's test stage and please no nonsense answer

[Joshorilla]

Yes

[Alex]

[Rugby Winger]

The advantages aren't worth the price difference for me. I'm sure you can get a good used 250 for cheap. The 300 isn't worthy of my money. God it is hideous. It looks like it is trying way too hard.

[JohnnyBravo]

When I bought mine I went to the stealer ship, rode a 250, then the 300... I came home with the 300, I def felt a difference.
Get what you can afford and see if you can test ride both

[GREY NINJA]

Originally Posted by Alex

LOL

[Sirref]

the 300 is significantly better, the only real question is whether or not you feel it is worth the price difference. for me it was as I feel like I can ride a 300 for years as my main mode of transportation while a 250 doesn't feel anywhere near as comfortable to use for the same purpose. the fuel injection alone had me sold then I noticed the midrange power difference which was substantial. beyond that the abs is a good bonus, albiet as an extra, for daily riding as I have engaged it on the rear tire multiple times in the rain. The 300 is smooth, very smooth. gone are the jerky tendencies of the carbs in favor of a much more consistent throttle response. the brake pads and stem bearings need to be replaced but that's no different than a 250. the ecu can easily be remapped when you put on a full exhaust instead of spending hours and hours re-jetting carbs to get it just right. I can't speak for the stock tires on a 250 but the stock tires on the 300 are good enough to warrant wearing down before replacing. both bikes could use suspension upgrades, rearsets and clip on handlebars. overall though you could build up the perfect 250 for a little less than a stock 300 but it would then be roughly the same as a stock 300 with nowhere left to go. I'm looking forward to building up my 300 with a power commander, upgraded suspension, diablo rosso 2 tires, clip on handlebars, rearset footpegs, full exhaust (area P, arrow, ???) and so on. I believe I can break 40hp easily and make it the ideal bike for a person with no self control when it comes to opening up the throttle. it only really lacks one thing for me, an I4/I3 engine config but that's only for the sound lol

[rasta]

I'll be getting a 300 once the used market lowers its price a little bit. Hopefully sometime during the winter, all the "cool kids" will begin to feel the need to upgrade to a super sport.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by rasta

I'll be getting a 300 once the used market lowers its price a little bit. Hopefully sometime during the winter, all the "cool kids" will begin to feel the need to upgrade to a super sport.

good way to do it, avoiding the dealers fees and such, don't expect the price to lower that much though as it is a new model and the market isn't saturated yet

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Sirref

good way to do it, avoiding the dealers fees and such, don't expect the price to lower that much though as it is a new model and the market isn't saturated yet

Yeah, if I can get one for less than $4500 around here, that'd be ****.

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by rasta

Yeah, if I can get one for less than $4500 around here, that'd be ****.

hmm, the going rate around here seems to be 4400 for the reg and 4900-5000 for the abs used but thats all low mileage

[rasta]

Originally Posted by Sirref

hmm, the going rate around here seems to be 4400 for the reg and 4900-5000 for the abs used but thats all low mileage

I wish! Here in the Bay Area, I haven't seen any non-ABS for under $5000 on Craigslist

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by rasta

I wish! Here in the Bay Area, I haven't seen any non-ABS for under $5000 on Craigslist

I get the feeling by the time I sell the going rate will be around $3500, well at least with the amount of miles I'll have on it by then

[Aggrotech]

just look for a 300. what the 250 """"lacks"""" the 300 makes up for.

[GREY NINJA]

I notice the 300 weights almost as much as the 600cc (if you change out the exhaust on the 600)

[subxero]

If I was in your position there is no way I would not consider the 300 over the 250.

You already have a 250, spice things up and get a 300, it will be just different enough to give you that warm fuzzy feeling when you ride it.

[GHill762]

Originally Posted by Rugby Winger

The advantages aren't worth the price difference for me. I'm sure you can get a good used 250 for cheap. The 300 isn't worthy of my money. God it is hideous. It looks like it is trying way too hard.

the 300 is sexy.. 250's look like turds.. I think that's why my favorite 250's are the ones chopped up for cafe bikes..


if you're looking for another small displacement bike, get the 300.. it's worth it..

[Rugby Winger]

Originally Posted by GHill762

the 300 is sexy.. 250's look like turds.. I think that's why my favorite 250's are the ones chopped up for cafe bikes..


if you're looking for another small displacement bike, get the 300.. it's worth it..

What was the point of that? You like the way a 300 looks? I don't care. You didn't need to quote me on it lol. The look of the bike looks much nicer on a ZX-6R or ZX-10R. They have the power to justify the look.

The 300 is like a chihuahua to me. Acts tough and tries to look tough. When it comes to you wanting it to leave you alone. You just ignore it and you're fine despite its desperate attempts to get your attention or to stop you in your tracks. At least the 250R knows its place and doesn't have such a tough guy act which makes me bust out laughing when I see a 300. So yes to me the 300 is much more of a turd than the 250R could ever hope to be.

This is all just my opinion though. At the dealership the salesman tried to push me towards a 300 and even let me test ride it. I didn't feel much of a difference and I told him that it would be a cold day in Hell before I waste my money on a 300. I'll save 3 stacks and get the 250R which is a bike that I would actually like. He was not a happy camper. They aren't really selling around here he said. At least not like the 250R was.

[MR2Aaron]

Originally Posted by rasta

I'll be getting a 300 once the used market lowers its price a little bit. Hopefully sometime during the winter, all the "cool kids" will begin to feel the need to upgrade to a super sport.

This.

I'd have a hard time justifying the price of a new one, but I have a hard time believing they'll be that much more expensive than a newer 250 once they start to show up on the used market in significant quantities.

[subxero]

the 300 is sexy looking compared to the new gen 250's.

[TonyKZ1]

I was kinda wondering the same question as the original poster, I think the Ninja 300 has many features/upgrades over the previous models. Still haven't test rode one yet though.

I wonder how many people here have "upgraded" from the pre-gen 250s to the 08-12 250s, and maybe then onto the latest Ninja 300. It seems like a lot of people started out on the 08-12 250s?
Hmmm..
Tony

[Alex]

We've owned all versions.

[GREY NINJA]

Originally Posted by Alex

We've owned all versions.

Well, which one seems to be more fun

[Alex]

They are all fun!

Here's a good thread that compares the pre-gens to the new-gens:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10111

And here was my take on upgrading from the new-gen to the 300:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=115561

They are all fun. Each generation performs better than the last, and to my eyes they keep getting better looking. Would be nice to be able to buy a new one for $2500 again, but if you look at what $2500 is in constant dollars from 10 or more years ago, it's pretty great that you can get a new 300 for ~ $5K.

[IdRatherDrum]

It's fuel injected, and from what I hear that extra power boost makes it worth it. Unless you are perhaps ready for a 600cc :P

[GREY NINJA]

Well my 2002 ninja is sold ($1700).....I took the first step toward my new ninja

[rasta]

Nice dude

I've been soooo tempted to sell my Ninjette and upgrade to the 300. But I paid the DMV up the ass in registration/use tax, I feel like I have to keep it around for longer than 2 months

[GREY NINJA]

Originally Posted by rasta

Nice dude

I've been soooo tempted to sell my Ninjette and upgrade to the 300. But I paid the DMV up the ass in registration/use tax, I feel like I have to keep it around for longer than 2 months

Well the tax you will not get back but the registration fee they might send you a check (after pro-rating it) or credit it to your new reg.

[rasta]

Originally Posted by GREY NINJA

Well the tax you will not get back but the registration fee they might send you a check (after pro-rating it) or credit it to your new reg.

Really? Nice, I didn't realize that. The larger fee was the use tax though. Because when filling out the title transfer, I was a chode and put the actual price I paid ($3200), instead of putting down some bogus amount like $800 or something.

[ninjamunky85]

I love my ebony 300. You can have it when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. Wouldn't even consider going back to the 250 after owning the 300.

I think the haters are just jealous.

[GREY NINJA]

Originally Posted by ninjamunky85

i love my ebony 300. You can have it when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. Wouldn't even consider going back to the 250 after owning the 300.

I think the haters are just jealous.

have you own the 250 ninja before

[ninjamunky85]

Yes, my first bike was an'04 250. I put 20k miles on that bike before getting my 300. The 250 will only see track duty now. The 300 is a better bike all around, and is a really great street bike.

I saw someone say that the 300 weighs almost as much as a 600. The 300 only weighs a couple pounds more than the '08-'12 250. No where near the weight of a six hundred.

I never rode a '08-'12 model. I kinda look at them as a downgrade over the pre-gen 250 (30 lbs heavier, less top end power, and still carburated).

[GREY NINJA]

Well my ninja 250 has been sold. Now it's time to look into the newer ones