The 2011 Kawi EX-250 with Fuel Injection

[g21-30]

Received the announcement from Kawasaki today. Maybe the Ninja 250 will be next (FI that is). Check out the factory site:

http://tx.mail01.kawasaki-news.com/t...0.242427_244_H

[kkim]

wanna bet? Kawasaki has to FI the dirt bikes to stay competitive with the competition in that particular segment of the market.

what competition, thus incentive, does Kawi have to FI the 250nija?

[ztrack157]

I still think it will be 5 years if ever in the US unless Hyosung comes out with a completely dominant bike next year.

[mrlmd]

Suzuki has the fuel injected TU250 in competition with the carbed GZ250, so who knows what's in the future for all the Ninjas.

[Flashmonkey]

Real men ride carb'd bikes

[Apex]

I like carb's, but FI is nice because you just flick the starter and it comes to life.

I have always been on a bike that has carbs. It would be really weird to have a bike that doesn't have a choke on it.

[Snake]

The nice thing about FI is the ability to tune it with a programed chip as you mod the bike.

[HKr1]

They have to sell all the 09's setting at the dealers first.

I was surprised to see them sitting there last weekend........

[2WheelGuy]

I seriously doubt Kawasaki will introduce Fuel Injection on US model 250s.

The only reason I can see changing to Fuel Injection would be to meet emissions. Tougher motorcycle emission standards were introduced for the 2010 model year. (250 Ninjas were excluded as the new standards only applied to 280cc and bigger motorcycles.) There are no new emission standards for 2011.

Fuel Injection can be used to increase performance of a motorcycle but starting in 2008 Kawasaki has chosen to DECREASE the performance of the 250 Ninja to make it more new rider friendly.

Fuel Injection is expensive and does not fit with a low price, entry level motorcycle.

[karlosdajackal]

The 250k9 model (with fuel injection) already exists in Europe and has done since 2008. If you want one, import one. Like has already been said its not cheap. I think when you look at the cost of a fuel injected ninja 250 you will find you could get something else with FI way cheaper.

FI is necessary in Europe for emissions, as is a 3rd Cat (more cost) in the exhaust system, so the power gain from FI is lost to emissions control.

US market wants a cheap starter bike so carbs make sense, also US emission regs are way softer that European ones, so they can get away with carbs.

Euro market wants a bike that meets license restrictions (25kw/33bhp for 2 years) can't be sold unless it passes emission. I don't think any Carb'd vehicle has passed in the last 10 years.

Is it really that much hassle to use a choke lever? Oh if you do import a euro model we don't have those silly yellow side reflectors so you'll have to sort them yourself.

If I had the option of a €1000 cheaper 250 with carb's I'd take it, but I have to live with expensive Fuel Injection

[sofo]

Stop whining and let it warm up while you gear up.

Jeez... all this drama over fuel injection when we North Americans have a perfectly good bike as is.

[demp]

Originally Posted by sofo

Stop whining and let it warm up while you gear up.

Jeez... all this drama over fuel injection when we North Americans have a perfectly good bike as is.

I agree, love my carb'd ninjette

[addy126]

I dunno... picked up my FI Kawi Cruiser in Dec 09 and love it! Don't mind the carbed N-250 but its great to just flick the switch on the Cruiser once and it comes to life! Don't hold up anyone on group rides now

[petiteninja]

i believe it's the 'KX 250', not the 'EX 250'...

fuel injection is da bomb...if kawasaki released a fuel injected bike back in 2008 (in all countries), and never released a carbureted version, then we would better off. rather, they marketed it's affordability and style.

i wonder if they'll ever re-release the 500...maybe that'll be FI

[Guinss]

With FI you need to invest in a powercommander, to be able to do any performance mods, thats the downside. Once you got that its better than a carb'd bike in my opinion. Autochoke, change fuel/air mix in 1 sec with 10 different throttle positions etc

[BlueRaven]

I don't mind the carb version but it's pretty stupid for Kawi to raise the price of the 250 a $1,000 since 2008 in Canada without any changes. I would prefer the FI since our closest competition has it for almost the same price.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by sofo

Stop whining and let it warm up while you gear up.

Jeez... all this drama over fuel injection when we North Americans have a perfectly good bike as is.

I ride close to 11 months out of the year in New England and only twice has the bike stumbled due to being cold - and I could have let it warm up one more minute. Only once was it hard to start - and that was the first week I had it. To me the FI is not a big deal on a low priced bike like the 250.

[afronamasaki]

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

I don't mind the carb version but it's pretty stupid for Kawi to raise the price of the 250 a $1,000 since 2008 in Canada without any changes. I would prefer the FI since our closest competition has it for almost the same price.

agreed, when I first saw the current msrp prices at 4500 bucks, I asked if we got the european fuel injection. Thats insain glad I got mine back when it was only 3500.

[Greg_E]

Considering my current bike is EFI... I would not like to go back to a carb.

[Guinss]

Originally Posted by afronamasaki

agreed, when I first saw the current msrp prices at 4500 bucks, I asked if we got the european fuel injection. Thats insain glad I got mine back when it was only 3500.

The FI bikes also got a higher price in 2009. So it was a price-up on all 250r in general. Also glad i bought mine in 2008

[tjkamper]

Originally Posted by HKr1

They have to sell all the 09's setting at the dealers first.

I was surprised to see them sitting there last weekend........

In 2008 the Ninjas were flighing out the doors faster than the dealers could get them. The new body style, and $4+ for gas really drove people to buy the 250.

In 2009 gas prices were cheaper so there weren't a lot of people buying bikes thinking, "I can save money" (not a true statement).

I doubt that the ninjette will be FI in the US anytime soon.

[FrugalNinja250]

The reasons I would want fuel injection, most important to least important, are:

1. Less maintenance 75%
2. No choke, simplicity 20%
3. Fuel efficiency 5%, or less

I grew up during the transition from carbs to injection in cars. Aside from initial technology glitches (Crossfire, anyone?) the change was wonderful. My mileage is better, yes, but most important to me is that every time I start the car and drive off it works the same way, every time.

In the car, I like the fact that I don't have to pump the gas pedal to reset the choke, the fact that the fuel injection system automatically adjusts fuel mixture for any starting condition whether hot or cold, and that in the long run the fuel and ignition parameters are tuned to compensate for changes in the engine as it wears.

If I ever run across a set of injector/throttle body assemblies like Greg did I'd convert my '06 in a heartbeat.

[izmail1215]

Originally Posted by 2WheelGuy

I seriously doubt Kawasaki will introduce Fuel Injection on US model 250s.

The only reason I can see changing to Fuel Injection would be to meet emissions. Tougher motorcycle emission standards were introduced for the 2010 model year. (250 Ninjas were excluded as the new standards only applied to 280cc and bigger motorcycles.) There are no new emission standards for 2011.

Fuel Injection can be used to increase performance of a motorcycle but starting in 2008 Kawasaki has chosen to DECREASE the performance of the 250 Ninja to make it more new rider friendly.

Fuel Injection is expensive and does not fit with a low price, entry level motorcycle.

you are 100% right
the reason they don't have FI is b/c of the price

[Alex]

Originally Posted by BlueRaven

I would prefer the FI since our closest competition has it for almost the same price.

What competition, I thought we were one of a kind?

[BlueRaven]

They are selling the hyosung gt250 for the same price as the ninja 250 here for 2010 models give or take $200 depending on the dealer.

[Reswob]

At the rate they're going, the 2011 250R will already be $5,000 with carbs. Add FI and the price jump will put you in Ninja 650R and 2-year old 600 supersport territory.

[ninja250]

FI>Carbs

[Pizzaboy]

Here in Brazil the fuel injection is since the models 2009 - 2010

[Johnnyscoots]

My Vulcan 900 has FI, it's great to just peck the starter and have it boom to life in the dead of winter (I ride year round, put over 15,000 miles on the Vulcan the first year). Although there is the wait for the Ninjette to warm up, I still like it. The Hyosung needed to go FI because some reviews have not been favorable, I believe MCN reviewed the Ninjette and GTR250 head to head and they said there was a noticeable difference in quality between the Ninja and the Hyosung. The Ninja is in a class of its own, and apparently the other manufacturers don't want to challenge that dominance (as far as sales)
Suzuki's TU250X is FI, but it is only a thumper, some youtube reviews peg its max speed at about 80 indicated (and it takes a loooooonnnngg time to get there) and there's not much aftermarket support for it yet. I was thinking about the TU because of the 5 year, 1.99% financing on a bike with a similar price to the Ninja, but the Ninja's superior performance, track record, and parts support is second to none. And if I bought the TU, I wouldn't have met all of the collective knowledge (we are the Borg...we all ride Ninja 250r...resistance is FUTILE!!!) here on the forum.
It is eye opening to dance around traffic on this wee bike, it's EASY to park, I can basically dead lift the bike by grasping the rear wheel if I need to move it around to make room in a parking spot! Can't do that with a 640lb Vulcan LOL.
I kinda wonder if price really was a reason for Kawi not to FI the 250, because the '09 bikes went over the $4k threshold without FI. If they do eventually FI the 250, I might have to have another Ninjette in the household!!!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by Johnnyscoots

(we are the Borg...we all ride Ninja 250r...resistance is FUTILE!!!)

[sofo]

If it is a matter of cost and that were to somehow be adjusted, I'd rather see more stock suspension adjustability like front preload instead of fuel-injection.

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by Johnnyscoots

...And if I bought the TU, I wouldn't have met all of the collective knowledge (we are the Borg...we all ride Ninja 250r...resistance is FUTILE!!!) here on the forum...

I changed to synthetic oil because the Borg nanites prefer it.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by CZroe

I changed to synthetic oil because the Borg nanites prefer it.

*Ahem* The nanoprobes would probably prefer the contents of your radiator, or just salt water.

[WebMasterP]

I haven't started modding my bike (yet), but the fact that I can't put an exhaust and intake on without rejetting or shimming (super inaccurate) is a major turn-off. With EFI, I could just reprogram my injectors at different RPMs and Load Levels to run the proper AFRs for each mod and I don't have to strip the bike down every time and do it. Obviously I could run out of injector if I modded the crap out of the bike, but an injector size swap up is straight forward and will work with multiple different mods afterword.

The choke doesn't bother me, I couldn't care less. It's the lack of accuracy and "easy tune-ability" that I hate about carbs.

As a side note, I wonder how much power a Ninja could make with variable valve timing. Hrmmmmm...

[ninja250]

Lol vtec ninjettes?
Posted via Mobile Device

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by WebMasterP

I haven't started modding my bike (yet), but the fact that I can't put an exhaust and intake on without rejetting or shimming (super inaccurate) is a major turn-off.

A really simple way to achieve very accurate results, instead of experiementing with shimming, is to either purchase a Factory Pro (FP) or Dynojet (DJ) jet kit and only use the needles with the included washers installed per the instructions (usually 3rd groove from the top). Keep the OEM .098 jets and set the idle mixture screws to 2 1/2 turns. You can then use the OEM exhaust system (slightly rich) or an aftermarket exhaust.

If you use a JIS screwdriver or be very careful with a #2 phillips screwdriver, you can replace the needles without damaging the screws on the carbs. Of course, you will need to remove the caps (use a MOS described elsewhere to do this with the carbs installed on the bike!), in order to adjust the idle mixture screws (with the MOS).

Try it, you WILL like it!

[almost40]

Carbs are easy to mod. Many moons ago when I turned 16 only rich people in expensive cars had FI.

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by WebMasterP

I haven't started modding my bike (yet), but the fact that I can't put an exhaust and intake on without rejetting or shimming (super inaccurate) is a major turn-off.

I agree that tuning carbs is a pain and I love my fuel injected bikes. Remember the 250 Ninja is a low cost entry-level sport bike. You can tune the carbs with a $70 jet kit. Adding fuel injection would add about $500 to the price of a bike plus $370 for a Power Commander to tune the fuel injection. You just paid $800 to avoid tuning carbs.

[2WheelGuy]

Originally Posted by ninja250

Lol vtec ninjettes?
Posted via Mobile Device

And you guys hate adjusting valves now.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Was on a ride with the owner of my dealership and one of his mechanics, and they both think only government regulation will force FI onto the bikes. They are selling strongly without them, and no one has walked away from a sale over it. Of course government regulation, or over-regulatoin is coming. Before you know it I will pay a tax on my favorite drink - mtn dew.