Looks like I may be able to buy a 2007 ninja 250r ...

[Davis937]

I apologize if this isn't the right spot for this post ... Anyway, I have an opportunity to purchase a 2007 ninja 250r. Was wondering if any of you have any opinions / comments (positive or negative) regarding the 2007 model. Yeah, this will be my first ninja. Appreciate your assistance with this ... and ... thanks in advance for your comments ... and time!

[Xoulrath]

Dude, it's a Ninja 250 and this is a Ninja 250 forum! We may be biased! Great bikes. I have only ridden the new-gen (08-up) but from what I know about the pre-gen (07-earlier) they are every bit as a great a motorcycle. You really can't go wrong with these bikes.

What is the price of the bike? Mileage and general condition of the vehicle? It all matters when deciding if you are making a good purchase, regardless of what you buy.

Have you ever ridden before? If so, how long? It is more than likely a good idea to take an MSF if you haven't yet.

[Yasko]

Welcome...

It's a Ninja...

[utahninja]

I love my 2007! I hope it is a silver one, as they are fastest.

Give more details on the bike so everyone here can give you advice on if it is a good buy.

[Jinx250]

A lot depends on the mielage, maintenance and condition of the bike. While fully modded may seem best, closer to bone stock is actually better. They also tend to have a lower "value" in the mind of a seller.

[nakedhunter]

I just sold my 2002 and bought a 2009. As far as riding the gen 3 pretty much rides the same as the gen 4, but for cosmetic enjoyment the gen 4 is pretty sweet - I don't know if that was worth the 2 and a half times the price I paid for 2009. 2007 was last of the gen 3 and would typically be fairly less expensive from gen 4 2008, well over a 1 year depreciation value normally but still would ride like a ninja. If the price and condition is good and you just want to riiiide I would suggest having fun on the 2007 250. If you are wondering more about size... I started off with an interceptor 500 back around 1985-86 moved up to a ninja 600 and now I ride a 250 - I learned my lesson after crashing both of those and the 250 does great for me and I feel much more comfortable on it.

[M]

The '88-07 models are essentially the same for twenty years. There have been a few minor changes, that are interchangeable between model years except for the wiring harness/ECU changes in '94.

The 250 is a reliable bike that can withstand a lot of abuse. They're easy, and inexpensive to maintain.

[bluepoof]

I love my 2007...in my *ahem* totally unbiased opinion, it's the best Ninja!

[Jesse8931]

Originally Posted by bluepoof

I love my 2007...in my *ahem* totally unbiased opinion, it's the best Ninja!

I'd have to agree

[Davis937]

Hey ... just want to shout out a warm and appreciative "Thank You" for all of the comments and suggestions! Well, I picked up the bike today (... sellers were really nice!). I saw the ad on Craigslist ... they were asking $2,300 for the 2007 ninja 250r and listed the mileage as 1,121. Well, the bike was in even better condition than I anticipated ... owners took good care of the baby. I guess the husband bought the bike for his wife, but she no longer is interested in riding (gets freaked out in traffic ... don't we all). I ended up paying $1,900 for the bike which I thought was a pretty fair price. Some background on myself: took the MSF course this past December (... damn box was a killer, no?) and got my license the day after I received the MSF certificate. My current bike is a 2007 Yamaha Virago 250 (which I will need to sell). One of the reasons I switched over to the ninja is because of all of the mechanical problems I was experiencing with the Virago (carburator, fuel valve, fuel line, etc). Bike spent more time in the shop than in my garage. Also, the Virago was really straining at 50 mph ... very slow off the line (although the 75 mpg was certainly appreciated). Someone mentioned the silver 2007 ninja -- yeah, I have the same bike (with the red flame). I didn't realize that the silver model had a little more power. Anyway, my little ninja baby is awesome ... it "handles" a lot better than the Virago and is much more nimble, brakes are more responsive, up-shifting and down-shifting has been really smooth, and it takes corners much more nicely than the Virago (man, cornering on the ninja is loads of fun). I like the added horse power (Ninja is at 37.4 HP vs. Virago at 21). The ninja doesn't really whine and strain until 65 mph (vs. 50 mph for my Virago). Essentially, the Ninja is a bike that's a lot more fun for me, and I definitely feel more comfortable on it. Hey, I'm getting more looks from the ladies with the ninja ... Thanks again, everyone! I'm really happy to be part of the ninja community!

[Mekkakat]

hope it's a black 07'.... not cause I own one too and am totally biased as well or anything.. Cough cough.

[Yasko]

Look into a 15t sprocket... It makes a world of a difference...

[GeorgiaHooligan]

I likes mine too. I love the Muzzy setup, stock pipe sounds weak.

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by Yasko

Look into a 15t sprocket... It makes a world of a difference...

Hey Yasko ... I'm pretty clueless technically / mechanically ... what will the 15t sprocket do for my bike? Can I get my mechanic to do the switch? Thanks!

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by utahninja

I love my 2007! I hope it is a silver one, as they are fastest.

Give more details on the bike so everyone here can give you advice on if it is a good buy.

Hey Utah ... were you just joking about the silver 2007 ninjas being the fastest? Initially, I didn't like the silver color ... but ... it's grown on me. Unfortunately, not too crazy about the red flame design on the fairing!

[kkim]

Originally Posted by Davis937

Hey Utah ... were you just joking about the silver 2007 ninjas being the fastest? Initially, I didn't like the silver color ... but ... it's grown on me. Unfortunately, not too crazy about the red flame design on the fairing!

Of course he's joking... the green ones are the fastest... everyone knows that.

flames on the fairings can be removed easily. heat them up with a heat gun set on low and just peel them off. any decals on the tank cannot be removed as they are clear coated.

btw, your ninja doesn't put out 37.4 HP, no matter what you've been told or read.

[JeffM]

Of course he's joking... the green ones are the fastest... everyone knows that.

Kelly, the new-gen green ones are the fastest, of the new-gens. Silver pre-gen 250's are obviously faster

Rollo, welcome to the club. Enjoy your new bike.

Taking the stickers off equates to at least one or two horse power.

Jeff

[kkim]

Originally Posted by JeffM

Kelly, the new-gen green ones are the fastest, of the new-gens. Silver pre-gen 250's are obviously faster

no... no... I'm sure the green pregens are the fastest, too.

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

Of course he's joking... the green ones are the fastest... everyone knows that.

flames on the fairings can be removed easily. heat them up with a heat gun set on low and just peel them off. any decals on the tank cannot be removed as they are clear coated.

btw, your ninja doesn't put out 37.4 HP, no matter what you've been told or read.

Hey Kim ... Aloha ... and thanks for the information. So, in your estimation how much HP does the 2007 250r get (I'm sure it's still more than I was getting on my Yamaha).

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by JeffM

Kelly, the new-gen green ones are the fastest, of the new-gens. Silver pre-gen 250's are obviously faster

Rollo, welcome to the club. Enjoy your new bike.

Taking the stickers off equates to at least one or two horse power.

Jeff

... thanks, Jeff! And, yes, I could use an extra one or two HP!

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

Of course he's joking... the green ones are the fastest... everyone knows that.

flames on the fairings can be removed easily. heat them up with a heat gun set on low and just peel them off. any decals on the tank cannot be removed as they are clear coated.

btw, your ninja doesn't put out 37.4 HP, no matter what you've been told or read.

... sorry, Kel, I called you Kim. My oldest daughter's name is Kelley ... so ... I'm partial to your name!

[kkim]

a stock 250 gets about 24-25HP at the rear wheel, according to the dyno charts I've seen... or roughly 30-32 hp at the crank, as Kawasaki measures it, anyway.

there are ways to make the bike a lot more user friendly if you think you need a bit more torque off the bottom end.

I hope you're fully geared up and have taken the MSF course? Oahu traffic is just a nightmare.

ride safe, have fun.

[ungluck]

you should be making roughly 24 horse power at the rear wheel :]

i would honestly do the rear sprocket instead of the front, go with a 45 rear..it will look cool and do the saem as the 15 front :]

[kkim]

Originally Posted by Davis937

... sorry, Kel, I called you Kim. My oldest daughter's name is Kelley ... so ... I'm partial to your name!

np... I'm used to it.

much better than some other names I've been called!

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

np... I'm used to it.

much better than some other names I've been called!

... whoops ... no disrespect intended when I mentioned that my daughter is named Kelley ... it just dawned on me that you're a guy! I have the same problem with the names: Loren/Lauren and Robin ... sorry!

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

np... I'm used to it.

much better than some other names I've been called!

Kelly: you seem like a pretty experienced rider. What's the protocol or correct practice ... some riders use low beam ... others ... use high beam to get the attention of car drivers. What do you recommend?

[kkim]

Originally Posted by Davis937

Kelly: you seem like a pretty experienced rider. What's the protocol or correct practice ... some riders use low beam ... others ... use high beam to get the attention of car drivers. What do you recommend?

That question came up the Advanced Rider MSF course I took a few years ago. The instructors recommended to always use your high beams during the daytime for more rider visibility to the cars around you.

I cannot stress how important it is that you keep attentive when you ride a bike, but you should already know that as you've been riding a bike on Oahu prior to the ninja, correct? Excuse me if I asked this already, but have you taken the MSF course? If not, sign up for one ASAP. I rode for over 40 years before I took my first MSF course and although I thought I wouldn't learn much taking it, I was wrong. The course really helps to put your head in the correct frame of mind before each and every ride on a bike. Highly recommended.

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

That question came up the Advanced Rider MSF course I took a few years ago. The instructors recommended to always use your high beams during the daytime for more rider visibility to the cars around you.

I cannot stress how important it is that you keep attentive when you ride a bike, but you should already know that as you've been riding a bike on Oahu prior to the ninja, correct? Excuse me if I asked this already, but have you taken the MSF course? If not, sign up for one ASAP. I rode for over 40 years before I took my first MSF course and although I thought I wouldn't learn much taking it, I was wrong. The course really helps to put your head in the correct frame of mind before each and every ride on a bike. Highly recommended.

Thanks Kelly ... good information. Yes, took the MSF course this past December and got my license a couple of days after that. Yeah, the course was outstanding. I'm definitely a newbie so I'll keeps my ears open and receptive to good information and tips from experienced riders like yourself. Mahalo!

[kkim]

great! think back to what you learned during that course and try to apply it to your riding now.

One of the best things you can do to gain more confidence with your bike is to find a big empty parking lot and rerun the drills they had you do during the course until you feel comfortable doing them. Learning to control the bike is key. Confidence and speed will follow once you learn how to control the bike and are comfortable doing it.

also, learn to work on your bike and do try to do your own maintenance and checks.Once you learn how things work, they don't seem so mysterious anymore, plus you'll save money.

[Davis937]

Originally Posted by kkim

great! think back to what you learned during that course and try to apply it to your riding now.

One of the best things you can do to gain more confidence with your bike is to find a big empty parking lot and rerun the drills they had you do during the course until you feel comfortable doing them. Learning to control the bike is key. Confidence and speed will follow once you learn how to control the bike and are comfortable doing it.

also, learn to work on your bike and do try to do your own maintenance and checks.Once you learn how things work, they don't seem so mysterious anymore, plus you'll save money.

... thanks for the sound advice. Mahalo!

[utahninja]

Originally Posted by Davis937

... thanks, Jeff! And, yes, I could use an extra one or two HP!

I think Jeff meant that you will lose one or two HP if you remove the flames. The red flames are good for two HP, one HP for each side of the bike with the flame decals.

Enjoy the bike and practice, practice, practice!