Debating on upgrading to a new gen

[Renner]

So I have had my pre gen for about 3 months now and have been seeing a lot of new gen bikes on the road and was thinking of ditching the pre gen and upgrading to a new gen.

I have a 2006 with 3400 miles on it and it is in great shape, so I was thinking of selling it and getting a 2008 with 10,xxx miles on it and it would only cost me about $700 +TTL

What benefits beside the obvious cosmetics are worth the upgrade to a new gen from a old one?

I am primarily doing it for these reasons:

No banana seat
Better looking headlights
Better selection of aftermarket parts to play around with
Just looks like something from this age and not from the 90's (Even though mine is a 2006 I feel it looks older)

Looking for your input....thanks

[Alex]

Iron Ninjas!! Battle of the 250s!

[Renner]

Originally Posted by Alex

Iron Ninjas!! Battle of the 250s!

LOL Awesome...thanks man!!

[highpsiguy]

I can't figure out why you would want to spend $700 on a bike with 3x more miles.... and only 2 years newer? No way. Nobody sees your "nanner" seat good when you are riding it. Don't ride to impress others, ride to have fun. People that REALLY care about what you ride...well they dont REALLY matter. Don't be fickle, go ride your purdy 2006 motorsickle.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by highpsiguy

I can't figure out why you would want to spend $700 on a bike with 3x more miles.... and only 2 years newer? No way. Nobody sees your "nanner" seat good when you are riding it. Don't ride to impress others, ride to have fun. People that REALLY care about what you ride...well they dont REALLY matter. Don't be fickle, go ride your purdy 2006 motorsickle.

I understand where you are coming from but I really don't give a crap abut what other people think of my bike....it's me that I want my bike to impress when I look at it

[Countersteer]

Originally Posted by Renner

....it's me that I want my bike to impress when I look at it

Brutal honesty, man! I love it!

[Luvninja]

It's ultimately your choice. Me, i wouldn't do it, the newer one has more miles on it, and why give up a perfectly good bike?

I too was kind of tired of looking at the block headlight of my pregen and just like you i considered buying a new gen. BUT another of my issues was having a bike that looked like 20000 other ninja's, I like making my things different from others. So I fixed my problem...

TADAA!

[Jono]

Speaking of unique pregens...


All you gotta do is crash so you can 'fix it' the poor mans way. Lol.


But seriously. I am kinda in the same boat as you. I love the looks of the newgen but don't like some things about it. For example: the valve adjustment on newgens looks much harder than the pregens. Deal breaker for me because I do all my own maintenance and love that the pregen is so easy to work on. And I love the center stand on the pregen. But most bikes today don't have those.

I am considering getting a CBR250 because most of my riding is short commutes in the city/suburbs. But I also kinda want to branch out and try out a dual purpose or supermoto. I am lost right now. Hopefully I will have figured something out by the end of the summer when I have the money to actually buy another bike.

[Renner]

Just realized after reading these posts...new gen doesn't have a center stand and where I park my bike every night right now requires it as I only have less then 2 feet of black top in front of my apartment parking space....well I guess that small detail knocks it out for now until my house is built

[highpsiguy]

Keeping 700 dollars in my pocket and having 6000 miles to put on would definately impress myself. That is alot of gas money. I LOVE my centerstand and use it almost everytime I park. Not to mention it really helps when servicing the chain.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by highpsiguy

Keeping 700 dollars in my pocket and having 6000 miles to put on would definately impress myself. That is alot of gas money. I LOVE my centerstand and use it almost everytime I park. Not to mention it really helps when servicing the chain.

Yep...without a center stand right now I am screwed so I guess that means no new gen for me right now.

Now the big question....what to do with the $700
Posted via Mobile Device

[Jim Moore]

I haven't ridden a new gen, but I can't believe that it is a whole lot different from an old gen. It looks cooler to be sure, performance-wise I can't believe it's much of a jump. If you have a couple hundred bucks to blow, upgrade your front suspension. If you have a few grand, spend a few more months on the Ninja then upgrade to a different bike.

[CalvinAmI]

Originally Posted by highpsiguy

... Don't be fickle, go ride your purdy 2006 motorsickle.

I friggin' LOVE this quote

But, I too bought a pregen (pre-wrecked and zip-tied together.) and decided after fixing it up that I would like the newgen style better.
So now I have two bikes until I sell one =)

[Renner]

Originally Posted by CalvinAmI

I friggin' LOVE this quote

But, I too bought a pregen (pre-wrecked and zip-tied together.) and decided after fixing it up that I would like the newgen style better.
So now I have two bikes until I sell one =)

So give me your thoughts on the new vs pre....beside the much better looks

[Renner]

Originally Posted by Jono

I am considering getting a CBR250 because most of my riding is short commutes in the city/suburbs. But I also kinda want to branch out and try out a dual purpose or supermoto. I am lost right now. Hopefully I will have figured something out by the end of the summer when I have the money to actually buy another bike.

I like the cbr 250 also....just can't find one under 3000 which is my max

[alex.s]

do what you love man. if the new gen makes your pants tight, drop the dough and make yourself happy.

[CalvinAmI]

Originally Posted by Renner

So give me your thoughts on the new vs pre....beside the much better looks

My thoughts?
Here's my mods on both bikes from stock.
Pregen: 2006
Tires = Kenda 671's
Airbox = removed and replaced with K&N 0991
Crankcase = hose capped with breather filter
Needles = shimmed with 2 washers
Jets = rejetted to 110's main & 40's pilot
Exhaust = stock
2010 newgen rear shock with low miles (the stock pregen was to springy)

Newgen: 2009
Tires = stock
Airbox = stock with snorkel removed
Needles = shimmed with 2 washers
Jets = stock
Exhaust = stock

RESULTS

Pregen not breathtakingly gorgeous, but some people actually like the sharp squared design (my father being one... he is old school and likes the look of the pregen better than newgen ) PG is VERY strong low, mid, and high range. Strong acceleration through all gears to top end. Gearing from 1st through 3rd is a bit short and I use each gear to 10k revs between shifts. VERY satisfied with the speed performance. Suspension is MUCH better than the stock pregen rear shock. Handling and grip is great. I would track this bike in a second.

Newgen IS SEXY AS HELL and that means a lot to my wife... and me NG and feels almost as strong as my pregen in the low range, but is every bit a strong in mid to high range. Strong acceleration through all gears but I have found I can actually take off in 2nd to redline, switch to 4th and redline, then switch to 6th and top it out without a bit of sluggishness. In a race I would use each gear properly with close to the same results. In traffic, 1st gear has such a small range but that is just the nature of the 250's. (the pregen has a little bit more range in 1st though)

My daily driver = Newgen hands down. When I get around to rejetting the newgen I'll reassess my results. I plan to keep stock exhausts on both bikes.

My every couple weeks driver = Pregen. I ride it like I stole it with NO regrets.

Why have both bikes? Because I bought the Pregen first for cheap and modded it. THEN I saw a deal I couldn't pass up on my Newgen.. and got it for INSANELY cheap. I am not sure what I want to do with the pregen yet. I don't need both, and the wife doesn't want to drive one... just to ride . I have a couple body mods in store for the pregen eventually. (IE: aftermarket / DIY new body fairings) ... time will tell.

[Renner]

Thanks for the info man much apprciated ..if you come across another insanely cheap new gen...shoot me a PM

[Malicious Logic]

Originally Posted by Renner

Just realized after reading these posts...new gen doesn't have a center stand and where I park my bike every night right now requires it as I only have less then 2 feet of black top in front of my apartment parking space....well I guess that small detail knocks it out for now until my house is built

I don't understand this part. Are you parking it infront of your car in the apartment parking space? If so, I don't see why the centerstand is a must have. I park my bike infront of my car just so I'm not rude and taking up 2 spots and it fits just fine.

[akima]

I'd stick with your 2006 ninjette if I were you. I haven't ridden one before, but I think they look loveable and people in here say that they perform similarly to the 2008+ ninjettes.

This is the most amazing looking pre-2008 ninjette I've seen:
profilepic1261_1.gif.jpeg

You can do some amazing things with them.

Originally Posted by Luvninja

TADAA!

That's awesome!

[Renner]

Originally Posted by Malicious Logic

I don't understand this part. Are you parking it infront of your car in the apartment parking space? If so, I don't see why the centerstand is a must have. I park my bike infront of my car just so I'm not rude and taking up 2 spots and it fits just fine.

I am parking in front of my car, but with my SUV I actually have to park the bike in front of the concrete stopper in my parking space where my car goes and on the other side of the concrete stopper there is only about 12" before the pavement drops off 6". So I can not use the side stand as the amount of space it takes up is to wide compared to the actual space I have.

So right not it goes... my SUV, then the concrete stopper on the ground, then the bike and then a 6" drop to the neighbors driveway. I need the center stand to fit in between the concrete stopper and the drop off...this is where my problem is with getting a bike without a center stand

[Felipe the Ant]

Originally Posted by Renner

I am parking in front of my car, but with my SUV I actually have to park the bike in front of the concrete stopper in my parking space where my car goes and on the other side of the concrete stopper there is only about 12" before the pavement drops off 6". So I can not use the side stand as the amount of space it takes up is to wide compared to the actual space I have.

So right not it goes... my SUV, then the concrete stopper on the ground, then the bike and then a 6" drop to the neighbors driveway. I need the center stand to fit in between the concrete stopper and the drop off...this is where my problem is with getting a bike without a center stand

Throw a cinder block in the dirt or whatever the drop off is for your side stand

[Renner]

Originally Posted by Felipe the Ant

Throw a cinder block in the dirt or whatever the drop off is for your side stand

Not my property....but good idea

[darrell85]

Originally Posted by Luvninja

It's ultimately your choice. Me, i wouldn't do it, the newer one has more miles on it, and why give up a perfectly good bike?

I too was kind of tired of looking at the block headlight of my pregen and just like you i considered buying a new gen. BUT another of my issues was having a bike that looked like 20000 other ninja's, I like making my things different from others. So I fixed my problem...

TADAA!

Luvninja, do you have writeup on that front headlight and windscreen? Looks great!!

[Felipe the Ant]

Originally Posted by Renner

Not my property....but good idea

Find a big rock then? Log? Not as intrusive

[Toper]

Originally Posted by Luvninja

It's ultimately your choice. Me, i wouldn't do it, the newer one has more miles on it, and why give up a perfectly good bike?

I too was kind of tired of looking at the block headlight of my pregen and just like you i considered buying a new gen. BUT another of my issues was having a bike that looked like 20000 other ninja's, I like making my things different from others. So I fixed my problem...

TADAA!

that looks like Master Chief's bike, haha...very nice.

[bdavison]

I say go for it.....the biggest difference is in the suspension. And the new gens are FAR better in that aspect. Almost reason alone to upgrade in my opinion.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by darrell85

Luvninja, do you have writeup on that front headlight and windscreen? Looks great!!

+2

[Luvninja]

Originally Posted by darrell85

Luvninja, do you have writeup on that front headlight and windscreen? Looks great!!

I don't yet. I hope to have something written up sometime soon. School takes a lot of my time. I'm actually going to be working on another set of fairings for it, that fits the same style headlight. Hopefully this time I will eliminate any imperfections that happened the first time. If it all comes out right I plan on making a mold to reproduce it.

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by Luvninja

I don't yet. I hope to have something written up sometime soon. School takes a lot of my time. I'm actually going to be working on another set of fairings for it, that fits the same style headlight. Hopefully this time I will eliminate any imperfections that happened the first time. If it all comes out right I plan on making a mold to reproduce it.

Wait, you can make fairings?! I plan to get the Airtech one that covers the headlight and make a custom shape cut out over the stock light with some vinyl outlines around that, but perhaps I should hold off.

Lemme just ask: Would you be able to mold the windscreen shape into the fairing? I ask because I want a smooth front so I can use vinyl to outline a false windscreen in the shape I want.

[flynjay]

Originally Posted by darrell85

Luvninja, do you have writeup on that front headlight and windscreen? Looks great!!

+3

It's amazing how much changing the headlight and surround changed the look of the front of the bike.

[gitoy]

Originally Posted by Luvninja

It's ultimately your choice. Me, i wouldn't do it, the newer one has more miles on it, and why give up a perfectly good bike?

I too was kind of tired of looking at the block headlight of my pregen and just like you i considered buying a new gen. BUT another of my issues was having a bike that looked like 20000 other ninja's, I like making my things different from others. So I fixed my problem...

TADAA!

that looks great...with no decals your ninja looks like a ninja...stealthy

i specially like the headlight treatment...is that photoshopped, how did you do it?...

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by Luvninja

It's ultimately your choice. Me, i wouldn't do it, the newer one has more miles on it, and why give up a perfectly good bike?

I too was kind of tired of looking at the block headlight of my pregen and just like you i considered buying a new gen. BUT another of my issues was having a bike that looked like 20000 other ninja's, I like making my things different from others. So I fixed my problem...

TADAA!

Whoah, whoah, whoah, whoah. Of all the times I looked at that pic your bike in this thread and the older ones before it, I always thought that those were those triangular flat LED signals that @CThunder-blue sells. Now it looks exactly like what I was planning to do and already ordered: EX650/ZX14 or Euro-style signals. I ordered some with smoke lenses days ago. Anyway, I plan to mount them along the front edge where they always go on OEM bikes (probably DOT requirement; can more easily be seen from side + front). Any reason why you chose to mount there instead? Will I have issues mounting where I want?

Originally Posted by flynjay

+3

It's amazing how much changing the headlight and surround changed the look of the front of the bike.

A lot of that was adding a dash of fairing between the windscreen and the headlight (she mounted the windscreen underneath).

[Luvninja]

Originally Posted by CZroe

Wait, you can make fairings?! I plan to get the Airtech one that covers the headlight and make a custom shape cut out over the stock light with some vinyl outlines around that, but perhaps I should hold off.

Lemme just ask: Would you be able to mold the windscreen shape into the fairing? I ask because I want a smooth front so I can use vinyl to outline a false windscreen in the shape I want.

Originally Posted by darrell85

Luvninja, do you have writeup on that front headlight and windscreen? Looks great!!

Originally Posted by flynjay

+3

It's amazing how much changing the headlight and surround changed the look of the front of the bike.

Originally Posted by gitoy

that looks great...with no decals your ninja looks like a ninja...stealthy

i specially like the headlight treatment...is that photoshopped, how did you do it?...

Originally Posted by CZroe

Whoah, whoah, whoah, whoah. Of all the times I looked at that pic your bike in this thread and the older ones before it, I always thought that those were those triangular flat LED signals that @CThunder-blue sells. Now it looks exactly like what I was planning to do and already ordered: EX650/ZX14 or Euro-style signals. I ordered some with smoke lenses days ago. Anyway, I plan to mount them along the front edge where they always go on OEM bikes (probably DOT requirement; can more easily be seen from side + front). Any reason why you chose to mount there instead? Will I have issues mounting where I want?


A lot of that was adding a dash of fairing between the windscreen and the headlight (he mounted the windscreen underneath).

Alright guys, I finally wrote something up! Check it out!

Oh CZroe I think it may be better the way you plan on doing it. The place I put it hit stuff at first.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...640#post512640

[Renner]

Sold the 2006 Ninjette about a hour ago....BUT, I am picking up a 2010 Blue Ninjette in 2 hours

[dirty nasty]

For me, about the only thing I liked about the new gen was the suspension and looks. Otherwise I hated everything about it compared to the old gen. The seat, the ergos made it so I couldn't ride more than twenty miles without feeling in excruciating pain in my knees, I don't like the new instrument cluster, less power and more weight. Plus, the rear cowl was a PITA for me to work on the new gen.

Ride both and decide what is for you. The pre gen is my weapon of choice.

Like others have said. Looks only matter at stop lights. When you're going others should be wondering "who/what the hell just passed me!?".

[Renner]

Bought a Red New Gen and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT! :thumb up:

[NJ Ninjette]

Originally Posted by Renner

Sold the 2006 Ninjette about a hour ago....BUT, I am picking up a 2010 Blue Ninjette in 2 hours

Originally Posted by Renner

Bought a Red New Gen and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT! :thumb up:

LoL....What happened? At least you figured it out.

[Renner]

Originally Posted by NJ Ninjette

LoL....What happened? At least you figured it out.

The blue one didn't work out, the guy was taking forever to get back to me, so I jump on Craigslist and 2 min later I was talking to a guy who wanted $3600 for a 2009 Red 250...I got him to go down to $3000. Included a double bubble, and K&N air filter so that was a added bonus.

I am really happy I got the red one, as I was parked next to a blue one yesterday and I really liked the red better, but maybe its because she is mine thats why