sat on an 2008 250

mikedabike64 · July 31st, 2010, 11:19 AM

What a difference in suspension. less pogo stick like. you feel on top of the bike and less in the bike. feels more solid stable. sweepers must feel more stable with the bike leaned over. real real nice.

spooph · July 31st, 2010, 11:43 AM

time for a trade-in?

00NissanNinja · July 31st, 2010, 01:16 PM

Yeah they said the new 250s have better handling and damping. It's also much harder to get the suspension to bottom out. I haven't really rode the old ones, just sat on them and looked at them, but I can feel the difference in damping just from that.

adri99an · July 31st, 2010, 05:42 PM

Mike- sounds like the new gen is calling your name!

Sailariel · July 31st, 2010, 06:08 PM

I do like the way the pre-08 250s look---again, it is in the eye of the beholder. The older 250s feel faster and feel more "twitchey". I like that trait because it is similar to the racing bicycles that I like to ride. I had a friend try out my prize bicycle--an Eddy Merckx Premium. His response was that he had never ridden a bike as "squirrly". Yes, the response to any input is there--instantly. Ditto the pre 08s. I like that sort of response. Kawasaki probably felt that they needed to tone down that effect somewhat. I would suspect that the 17 inch tyres had something to do with that. I also suspect that the fork angle on the 08+ is less radical, giving the bike a more forgiving feel--again, these are all suppositions on my part based on a ride on a pre-08 250. I do plan to look for a well cared for older 500 that I could fit with a sidecar.

bdavison · August 1st, 2010, 05:39 AM

Having ridden both the pre-gen and owning a 2009 model. There is NO doubt that the new version has a MUCH improved suspension.

Sailariel · August 1st, 2010, 07:57 AM

I fully agree with you. They are TOTALLY different bikes. The 08+ bikes are quite forgiving and are very comfortable for long rides. The pre gens are a great value for someone with limited funds who wants performance and reliability.

austexjg · August 1st, 2010, 08:49 AM

The pre-gens are more comfortable in my opinion for longer rides. The rear shock on the new ones is pretty stiff for someone who weighs 155 lbs. - I know I am constantly shifting in my seat while my brother on his '01 never complains about racking himself on a bump or shifts around on his seat while we ride.

bdavison · August 1st, 2010, 09:21 AM

Ill have to agree with you on that one...the pre-gen seat is more comfortable. The church pew they call a seat on the new-gens isnt very comfortable for long distance....But Ill still take the nimble, road carving, no dive suspension of the newer models over that saggy, soft, front forks of the pre-gen.

Everytime I grabbed some front brake on the pre-gen, I had this overwhelming desire to yell "Dive,Dive,Dive", fully expecting it to plummet below the pavement like a submarine.

July 31st, 2010, 11:19 AM	#1
mikedabike64 ninjette.org guru Name: mike Location: jackson, nj Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 ninja 250 Posts: 271	sat on an 2008 250 What a difference in suspension. less pogo stick like. you feel on top of the bike and less in the bike. feels more solid stable. sweepers must feel more stable with the bike leaned over. real real nice.

July 31st, 2010, 11:43 AM	#2
spooph ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Spooph Location: Golden, CO Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '15	time for a trade-in? __________________________________________________ My therapist has 2 wheels and a seat. If you are ever in doubt to my tone, please refer to my avatar.

July 31st, 2010, 01:16 PM	#3
00NissanNinja I hate driving... Name: S Location: SW Ohio Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 13 Triumph Street Triple R, 09 Ninja 250r (Sold 4/20/12) Posts: A lot.	Yeah they said the new 250s have better handling and damping. It's also much harder to get the suspension to bottom out. I haven't really rode the old ones, just sat on them and looked at them, but I can feel the difference in damping just from that. __________________________________________________ 09 ninja 2fiddy SE Driving slow things fast

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ninja 250 sat for a long time	Cz93	General Motorcycling Discussion	5	April 6th, 2015 06:30 PM
NY,CT crews Sat 9/7	eddiekay	Ride Reports	4	September 6th, 2013 05:49 PM
Sat on a 300	vman1313	2013 - 2017 Ninja 300 General Discussion	15	September 23rd, 2012 07:23 PM
Bear Mtn II Sat 6/23	eddiekay	Ride Reports	51	June 29th, 2012 03:39 AM
Sat on a Monster	mcteague	General Motorcycling Discussion	21	May 8th, 2009 06:12 AM

July 31st, 2010, 05:42 PM	#4
adri99an ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Donger Location: So CAL Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): "Is that a Ninjer 1000?" Posts: A lot.	Mike- sounds like the new gen is calling your name!

July 31st, 2010, 06:08 PM	#5
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I do like the way the pre-08 250s look---again, it is in the eye of the beholder. The older 250s feel faster and feel more "twitchey". I like that trait because it is similar to the racing bicycles that I like to ride. I had a friend try out my prize bicycle--an Eddy Merckx Premium. His response was that he had never ridden a bike as "squirrly". Yes, the response to any input is there--instantly. Ditto the pre 08s. I like that sort of response. Kawasaki probably felt that they needed to tone down that effect somewhat. I would suspect that the 17 inch tyres had something to do with that. I also suspect that the fork angle on the 08+ is less radical, giving the bike a more forgiving feel--again, these are all suppositions on my part based on a ride on a pre-08 250. I do plan to look for a well cared for older 500 that I could fit with a sidecar.

August 1st, 2010, 05:39 AM	#6
bdavison Wartown, USA Name: Bryan Location: Warner Robins, GA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2007 Ninja 650R, and assorted other bikes Posts: A lot.	Having ridden both the pre-gen and owning a 2009 model. There is NO doubt that the new version has a MUCH improved suspension.

August 1st, 2010, 07:57 AM	#7
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I fully agree with you. They are TOTALLY different bikes. The 08+ bikes are quite forgiving and are very comfortable for long rides. The pre gens are a great value for someone with limited funds who wants performance and reliability.

August 1st, 2010, 08:49 AM	#8
austexjg ninjette.org sage Name: J.G. Location: Austin Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 zx6r Green/Black, (ex-)Diablo Black '09 Ninja 250r Posts: 959	The pre-gens are more comfortable in my opinion for longer rides. The rear shock on the new ones is pretty stiff for someone who weighs 155 lbs. - I know I am constantly shifting in my seat while my brother on his '01 never complains about racking himself on a bump or shifts around on his seat while we ride.

August 1st, 2010, 09:21 AM	#9
bdavison Wartown, USA Name: Bryan Location: Warner Robins, GA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2007 Ninja 650R, and assorted other bikes Posts: A lot.	Ill have to agree with you on that one...the pre-gen seat is more comfortable. The church pew they call a seat on the new-gens isnt very comfortable for long distance....But Ill still take the nimble, road carving, no dive suspension of the newer models over that saggy, soft, front forks of the pre-gen. Everytime I grabbed some front brake on the pre-gen, I had this overwhelming desire to yell "Dive,Dive,Dive", fully expecting it to plummet below the pavement like a submarine.