Used Kawasaki Ninja 250R First Ride | Reviews
Kawasaki Ninja 250R redesign plans to continue the best seller and newbie-friendly status of its predecessor. Redesign exercise is completed, Kawasaki Ninja 250R in 2008 and plans to continue the best seller status of newbie-friendly predecessor.
Zipping past an unexpected checkpoint near Tecate Border Patrol, California, we lean into a turn pinned in fourth gear tilt with tach hovering near redline on Kawasaki's best-selling sportbike. But that's not what you think. No border agents or other government officials are scrambling to run us down with a flash light because, lucky for us, Kawasaki's best-selling sportbike is the Ninja 250R.
Yes, it's not a typo. In fact, little Ninja is not only the biggest-selling sportbike for Kawasaki - it is the best-selling bike period of Japanese firms. Experiencing steady double-digit sales growth year after year, the reliable little Ninja has achieved cult status as a beginner sportbike in the U.S. of A. And as we found in the press release of San Diego recently, a redesigned 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R isn 't just a "little Ninja that could," was "little Ninja that do things better than the way they should. "
Ninja unexpected success story began 250 years when entering the U.S. market in 1986 - with the design has not changed since the 1988 model year. Now, although not per se a bad year, 1988 saw Phil Collins' Groovy Kind of Love top the music charts. The point that could change the taste in the past two decades. On that note, the weakness of one of the most striking Ninja 250 is the styling that date.
We are happy to report that the 250's ancient old line has been eliminated - much like Phil Collins's career '. All-new bodywork decorate the little Ninja, and like a good fake ID, it looks like removing a larger sibling to the ZX at first sight. The fairing bodywork swept back to the tail of a clean, like a brother SupersPort and Superbike. A hood accessory seats, available for $ 99, can replace the standard passenger seat, further enhancing the 250's sporty appearance. Also tied to the sporty lines are single-side upswept 2-into-1 exhaust, which replaces the dual cans 98-07 models. And if you missed its intention to imitate the bigger Ninjas, "250" is absent from the logo of the new bodywork graphics.
A glance at the little Ninja and easy to mistake for a bigger brother who SupersPort.
A glance at the little Ninja and easy to mistake for a bigger brother who SupersPort. The all-new bodywork and styling on the '08 bike is a significant improvement over its predecessor dates.
Year 2008 far from the only cosmetic changes, however, with some revisions Ninja 248cc sports for a liquid-cooled Parallel Twin. Although still have a 62 x 41.2mm bore and stroke, Kawi reps claim changes to 70% of the machine. Internal modifications include reshaped intake and exhaust ports, a more compact combustion chamber, thinner valve heads in addition to new camshafts and tensioner camchain. Other enhancements are a more efficient cooling system, with a redesigned Denso radiator and reduces fan noise fixed-cold 250 runs.
fuel injection will be included on the European version of the '08 Ninja 250 to meet Euro 3 emissions, but to keep the cost down U.S. models retain a pair of Keihin carbs CVK30. Kawasaki Research Open "price / deal offered" as concerns over an American rider's decision to buy 250 small - only bicycles Kawi's lineup where price is a major concern. Without FI, a choke lever in the leftside switchgear.
In terms of real world performance, the little Ninja engine is a scrapper. Far from calm to 250, Kawi claims internal mods increase low and mid-range pop. From what we remember from the old 250, this is true, but the extra juice in lower revs not destroy the earth and more often than not the rider is wringing the throttle to stop the Ninja, hovering near the 13k redline indicated. In fact, we can not recall a bike we rode so often pinned to full throttle since, well, the old Ninja 250. Although there is no horsepower figures are released, spec sheet claims in torque show the new Kawi dipping 1.9 pounds-ft in peak production at 16.2 lb-ft at 9500 rpm.
Turning the 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R is easy.
The new Ninja 250R is powered once again by the high-revving Twin, with riders winding out the throttle to the redline 13,000 from end to end.
In urban settings, high-revving Twin is more than enough and is a good commuter. Winding country backroads are also suitable for Ninja 250's tastes. To run a task on Interstate, however, we did not find one area of concern. Accustomed to the raw passing power of 600 or 1000, cracking the throttle open at 250 does not provide a direct blast to get through the 18-wheeled laggard on these superslab. When we ventured out of San Diego on I-5 toward Highway 94, it is necessary to shift to keep the revs high and get the acceleration of the fastest route changes. The Ninja can still scoot around slower obstacles, but motorists need to use more than usual warnings by planning ahead and bringing momentum to slingshot past.
On the positive side of the equation, throttle diluted keep motorists out of trouble. Stable acceleration more than acceptable for most situations and maybe even ride better for beginners - which, after all, the real target for this bike.
As we said earlier from the Ninja 250 when we won in 2006 Newbie Comparo, this bike riders do not give enough rope to hang themselves. Of course, up 250 does not remove the danger inherent in the motor, but a very forgiving mount. When newb who hit a hole on the 250 and slips the throttle to full blast, they will get a scare, but fine. Compare this to / stupid who hop on a brave ZX-10R, or ZX-14 as their first motorcycle and accidentally blip the throttle only to end up picking them yourself from the asphalt to wonder a) where their bike went and b) where they could change their pants.
At the same speed of 250 Ninja welcome. In the things that tight winding super light and compact bike is a scalpel in which larger machines broadswords.
If you want a rough rule, stick with 1000cc, but if you want fun ride where you actually ride bikes maximally, the Ninja 250R is perfect.
While power delivery on the Ninja is tolerant, the new 6-speed gearbox which is lighter than Britney Spears chaperoning Vegas bachelorette party. Even when we tried to confuse an idiot-proof system with some intentionally ludicrous downshifts, the transmission gear changes Ninja's handle with extreme care reprimand rather than rear-wheel restrictions. The new, more durable clutch provides smooth engagement - one would have a difficult time transmission pregnant better to submit to a green rider.
The idea is often held that much more fun riding a bike slower faster than a fast bike slow is often mocked. But there is a statement of truth, especially on public roads. Unless you want the license revoked and cut into a million pieces, the ZX-10R can not be mastered to its limits anywhere other than horse racing, and even then, unless your last name Hacking or Hayden, you do not get it all bike. However, almost everyone can ride the Ninja 250R has the potential, which makes it an absolute blast.
Handling on the Ninja is a revelation. Although the new model has added a surprising 29 pounds to the weight of 333 pounds claimed dry, Ninja is still super slender and feels quite light. The ride is our last Kawasakis ZX-14 and Concours, so believe us when we say the Ninja a little easier to navigate in the parking lot. For beginners wiping feet, 250 would be a treat.
At the same speed of 250 Ninja welcome. In this case, tight winding super light and compact bike is a scalpel where larger machines are broadswords. Side-to-side transitions are ridiculously quick and our journo test crew has about 250 out of throwing the ball California Highway 94 just north of the Mexican border. Like a swarm of killer bees, our 250 hoard mobbed the desert valley with a mischievous, buzzing exhaust notes bounce in our ears.
Changes to the ride including the handlebars raised position and ergos high chair but will not be difficult for shorter riders.
Changes to the position including the handlebars raised up and the chairs, but high ergos will not be difficult for shorter riders.
Lightweight, slim and low on the ground, Ninja 250R sports a redesigned chassis with all new suspension components. 37mm Showa fork, which replaces the 36mm unit, has revised settings but is still non-adjustable. A single KYB rear shock is now five-way adjustable for preload, replacing its predecessor non-adjustable. New units do an effective job, but at 210 pounds I feel about 30 - 40 pounds too heavy for the front end. That said, my non-ideal BMI never bottomed out the fork, which we recall occurred on an older machine. So, overall, the suspension changes is a definite improvement.
Steering geometry has been altered, with rake angle decreased from 27 to 26 degrees even. But the most important improvement for the Ninja is moving upward for 17-inch wheels, which replaced the old 16-inch unit. With wider rims the six-spoke wheels just supports a lower profile modern tires and is a major contributor to improving the handling. Yes, it was still a small engine, but the new Ninja feels like a big bike on the road, less any skittishness in the corners.
Ninja 250 riding position has been tweaked, a little sporty than '07 but still provide good upright stance. Stang has been raised high, and reach to the bar fit for us. The footpegs felt cramped for this tester's 6'1 frame ", but the neutral ergos figure to be right on par for entry-level riders - Kawasaki research indicates 62% of Ninja owners are first time buyers, with one third of the owners that come from sex fairer.
The front single 290mm petal-style rotors with two-piston caliper effective enough to carry 333-lb Ninja admitted stopped.
The front single 290mm petal-style rotors with two-piston caliper effective enough to carry 333-lb Ninja admitted stopped.
Although raised by 1.2 inch, slim 30.5-inch seat still allows easy reach to the ground. Even the shortest in our test group can tip-toe around without trouble. Established a 32-inch flat-footed inseam had us straddling perched slightly forward-sloping with a few inches to spare. One small complaint is that after 100-mile ride behind us stiff. On the plus side, however, the protection provided by the new windshield is a pleasant surprise.
Also new for 2008 is a single 290mm front and 220mm petal-style rotors rear with dual-piston calipers. Join together the new brakes are quite effective and Ninja several simulated emergency stop further enhance our confidence in the little Ninja efficient braking performance.
250's new instrument console now features an analog speedo in the middle of a larger position, flanked by an analog tach and fuel gague (previous models had been taking center stage tach). However, major changes to display an indicator of the new fuel, which replaces the old temperature gauge and track the 4.8-gallon tank. We seem to go through the tank fast enough during our trip in the intro to '08 bikes, but the fuel economy figures somewhere in the 50-60 mpg range we observed during our previous Ninja 250 test, which covers more than 200 miles range. Quality mirrors complement the impressive view behind the controls and even a large rider's elbow was blocking half the inside view, they are better than the previous unit.
One of the greatest aspects of the previous 250 is an amazing value. At $ 2,999 it is the best deal out there. The new and improved Ninja has raised the asking price by 500 dollars, but still an incredible offer of 250 when compared with rival companies.
Is playbike city commuter or cheap weekend fun yet trackbike - 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R is a great bang for the money.
Is commuter town, weekends or cheap but fun playbike trackbike - 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R is a great bang for the money.
With little direct competition and a package, attractive smooth, we see no reason why Ninja 250R will not continue such a huge success. Kawasaki is hoping as much, with the enthusiastic response of dealers in 250's September debut. In fact, Kawasaki admitted having trouble getting enough of the Ninja-Thailand built on the shores of the United States to meet the demand of dealers.
The only surprise about the Ninja 250 would be if it does not continue its reputation as the best-selling book. Too often we want bigger, faster and more powerful over practical, affordable and simple. Press equal guilt, if not involved in prejudice, but the point is that if you are riding Ninja 250R and not having fun, the problem lies with the rider, not a machine.
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Official Photos
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Sports Touring Bikes
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm New Motorcycles
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm First Image
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Side View
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm First Look
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm 
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Pictures
2011 Triumph Thunderbird Storm Front Angle View2011 World Superbike Championship Preview
The 2011 World Superbike Championship kicks off Feb. 27 at Australia’s Phillip Island circuit, with 21 riders representing seven manufacturers vying for the title.
Leading the way with the #1 plate is 2010 WSBK Champion Max Biaggi of the Aprilia Alitalia team. Thanks to Biaggi, Aprilia captured the rider and manufacturer championships in just its second year of competition with the RSV4 Factory superbike. Biaggi will be teamed once again with Leon Camier who scored three podium appearances and eight top-five finishes in 2010.
Aprilia Alitalia is the team to beat with defending champion Max Biaggi (right) and Leon Camier riding the RSV4 Factory.Noriyuki Haga will add a fourth RSV4 Factory to the grid in his first season with the Pata Racing satellite team. Haga had a disappointing 2010 season by his standards, finishing sixth for his lowest placing since a seventh-place showing in 1999. Haga still managed to win two races and score an additional four podium appearances for the now defunct factory Ducati team, but it remains to be seen how he’ll perform after switching to a different Italian bike.
The Bologna-based manufacturer may have shuttered its factory WSBK effort but there will still be at least four Ducati superbikes on the grid. Carlos Checa presents Ducati fans their best hope for the title this season, coming off a third place finish last year with the Althea Racing satellite squad. Checa set the fastest lap at the final pre-season test at Phillip Island, with his 1:30.578 time breaking the circuit superpole lap record by half a second. To provide some perspective, Casey Stoner’s fastest lap at last year’s Phillip Island MotoGP round was 1:30.4, making Checa an early favorite for this weekend’s round.
Ducati may not have a full factory team this season but that won't mean the 1198R won't be competitive. Carlos Checa had an impressive Phillip Island test on the Althea Ducati bike. Also riding Ducati machines are Sylvain Guintoli and Jakub Smrz on the Effenbert-Liberty team and Maxime Berge on the Supersonic team. Guintoli was second to Checa at the Phillip Island test while Smrz was fourth, showing the Ducati 1198R still has the potential to win.
Kawasaki will be looking to challenge with the new 2011 version of the ZX-10R with a three-rider line-up of former MotoGP racer Chris Vermeulen, Tom Sykes and Joan Lascorz. Vermeulen will miss the opening round as he continues to recover from knee surgery last July and isn’t expected to return until the fourth round at England’s Donington Park in late March. Sykes showed some improvement through the 2010 season with top ten finishes in the five of the last six rounds while Lascorz set a faster lap than Biaggi at the Phillip Island test.
The much-hyped Kawasaki ZX-10R will make its World Superbike racing debut at Phillip Island. Tom Sykes will be part of a three-rider Kawasaki team riding the new 2011 ZX.As the newest machine on the grid, the 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R will draw a lot of attention. Besides the threesome on the works machines, Kawasaki will be represented by Team Pedercini riders Roberto Rolfo and Mark Aitchison.
BMW will have four S1000RR superbikes on the grid with Troy Corser and Leon Haslam on the factory team and James Toseland and Ayrton Badovini on the BMW Motorrad Italia team. BMW entered the WSBK championship the same year Aprilia did, but without the Italian manufacturer’s motorcycle racing heritage, BMW’s progression hasn’t been as quick. The addition of Haslam to the team will help. Haslam finished second in the 2010 championship with three wins and 14 podium finishes, but his best results came in the first half of the season.
Ayrton Badovini handily won the World Superstock championship last season. He'll move up to the World Superbike class this year with BMW Italy's squad.Toseland will be looking to regain his form on the BMW Italy team. The two-time WSBK Champion will be joined by Badovini who dominated the 2010 World Superstock Championship, winning all but the final race of the season.
Yamaha will have two entries in Eugene Laverty and former MotoGP racer Marco Melandri riding the YZF-R1. Laverty finished second in the 2009 and 2010 World Supersport Championships while Melandri, the 2002 250cc Grand Prix World Champion, will be making his WSBK debut this season and he is still not 100% after off-season shoulder surgery so it may take several rounds for him to find his form.
There will only be two full time Honda racers this season, with Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus racing in the iconic Castrol Honda red, white and green. Rea had a scare at Phillip Island, with a 130 mph crash sending him to the hospital with hand and wrist injuries. X-rays revealed no fractures in the wrist and Rea says he hopes to compete in the season opener. Before the crash, Rea was setting fast lap times and if healthy, will pose a threat for the world title. Xaus will be trying to rebound from a disappointing two years with BMW.
The iconic Castrol Honda team is back for the 2011 season.Michel Fabrizio will be the lone Suzuki regular on the 2011 WSBK tour. The former Ducati factory racer and the Suzuki Alstare may appear to be underdogs this season, but both Fabrizio and the team have provent rack records.
Michel Fabrizio will be the lone regular this season on the Suzuki GSX-R1000.Fabrizio won’t be the only GSX-R1000 rider at Phillip Island however as Yoshimura Suzuki and former Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters will race as a wild card entry.
Motorcycle Helmets
Motorcycles are becoming increasingly popular with the current economy today. They have the ability to navigate through traffic fast, costs less, and is very easy to store. For these reasons, the motorcycle is a choice that many decide to go with. When you decide to get a motorcycle, the most important thing is the helmet. There are numerous reasons why the helmet is important.
The first obvious reason for owning a helmet is for head protection. Getting a motorcycle helmet is significant due to the fact that it protects your head from injuries you may get into. The nature of the motorcycle itself already makes it very dangerous if you get into an accident, so additional protection is needed. The motorcycle is vulnerable because it is moving so fast while having little mass compared to the cars. For this reason, the motorcycle is almost a guaranteed death if a car hits it; the motorcycle will go out of control as well as the person as the car has a lot of mass. By having a motorcycle helmet, you reduce the chance of death or serious injuries that may occur during any type of accident.
Another reason for having a helmet is the wind. When you are riding the motorcycle, the wind coming towards you will be strong. The motorcycle helmet will usually have a shield that covers your face so the wind does not bother you while you are riding the motorcycle. This is important as having another factor such as the wind bother you will be dangerous when riding the motorcycle.
In addition to these 2 features of the motorcycle helmet, the helmet can be stylish. Many people like to shop and buy a helmet that matches their style. They can show this off anywhere they ride to. Some people like to match the motorcycle while others choose to just make it unique to their personality.
The price of these helmets varies greatly, so make sure you look around before purchasing a helmet. The average motorcycle helmet will range anywhere between 30-600 dollars, so make sure you compare the prices. Some places will be a lot cheaper than another, but you also have to watch for the quality. The best thing to do is compare all the helmets you like with great quality and then pick the lowest one. This way, you will get a great helmet for a cheap price.
The first obvious reason for owning a helmet is for head protection. Getting a motorcycle helmet is significant due to the fact that it protects your head from injuries you may get into. The nature of the motorcycle itself already makes it very dangerous if you get into an accident, so additional protection is needed. The motorcycle is vulnerable because it is moving so fast while having little mass compared to the cars. For this reason, the motorcycle is almost a guaranteed death if a car hits it; the motorcycle will go out of control as well as the person as the car has a lot of mass. By having a motorcycle helmet, you reduce the chance of death or serious injuries that may occur during any type of accident.
Another reason for having a helmet is the wind. When you are riding the motorcycle, the wind coming towards you will be strong. The motorcycle helmet will usually have a shield that covers your face so the wind does not bother you while you are riding the motorcycle. This is important as having another factor such as the wind bother you will be dangerous when riding the motorcycle.
In addition to these 2 features of the motorcycle helmet, the helmet can be stylish. Many people like to shop and buy a helmet that matches their style. They can show this off anywhere they ride to. Some people like to match the motorcycle while others choose to just make it unique to their personality.
The price of these helmets varies greatly, so make sure you look around before purchasing a helmet. The average motorcycle helmet will range anywhere between 30-600 dollars, so make sure you compare the prices. Some places will be a lot cheaper than another, but you also have to watch for the quality. The best thing to do is compare all the helmets you like with great quality and then pick the lowest one. This way, you will get a great helmet for a cheap price.
Jonathan rides motorcycles and has owned most every brand. A motorcycle helmet has saved my life more than once. Motorcycle helmets have improved greatly over the 40 years I have use them. I am not picky about the style helmet I wear. Choose one, half helmets, full face helmets, Harley helmets, full face motorcycle helmet, carbon fiber helmets, 3/4 helmets, Daytona helmets, Harley helmet, half motorcycle helmets, half motorcycle helmet, discount helmet, HCI helmets, Shorty helmets. However, sometime there is a difference in cheap motorcycle helmets and discount motorcycle helmets. Cheap helmets some times are built poorly where discount motorcycle helmets are discounted from the base price and could be high of quality. Discount Helmet Factory at http://nichecycle.blogspot.com/
MotoGP
Mania MotoGP - MotoGP 2011 official test session begins today, February 1st, 2011 at the Sepang circuit, Malaysia. Seventeenth rider who entered the 2011 MotoGP line-up took part, plus three test rider (two from Yamaha, one of Honda).
10 2011 Repsol Honda Stoner Fastest On Day Sepang Test Session PertamaPada first session rider team San Carlo Honda Gresini, Hiroshi Aoyama emerged as the fastest with a time of 2:02.483 seconds. Followed by his team-mate Marco Simoncelli (+0005) and the Repsol Honda rider, Casey Stoner (+0406). Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo only occupies the 8th position with a record time of 2:03.644 or adrift 1161 from Aoyama.
Dani Pedrosa who has not been able to perform optimally because it is still in the stage of healing became the fastest to-5. While the rider of the most eagerly awaited action that is Valentino Rossi, only able to score the 11th-fastest time behind Hector Barbera, Ducati rider from team Aspar.
The situation changed drastically in the 2nd session. Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner scored the best time to meet another one another. Lorenzo had the lead and end the first day test session early. As the defending champion was not there on the track, the record could be exceeded by Stoner's time.
Test will continue tomorrow (2 February) and ends on Wednesday, February 3 next. Here are the results of the first test day at Sepang circuit, Malaysia (source: crash).
1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 2m 1.574s (52 laps)
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 2m 1.977s (44 laps)
3. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 2m 2.024s (61 laps)
4. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2m 2.295s (52 laps)
5. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 2m 2.332s (29 laps)
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2m 2.422s (65 laps)
7. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 2m 2.483s (65 laps)
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2m 2.507s (57 laps)
9. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2m 2.514s (60 laps)
10. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing Team 2m 3.152s (63 laps)
11. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider 2m 3.224s (49 laps)
12. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team 2m 3.365s (30 laps)
13. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team 2m 3.508s (65 laps)
14. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team 2m 3.695s (63 laps)
15. Hector Barbera ESP Aspar Team 2m 3.767s (59 laps)
16. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2m 4.009s (62 laps)
17. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda MotoGP 2m 4.238s (64 laps)
18. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 2m 4.470s (52 laps)
19. Bike #T1 JPN Yamaha Test Rider 2m 4.717s (58 laps)
20. Bike #T2 JPN Yamaha test Rider 2m 5.235s (48 laps)
Aksesoris Kawasaki Ninja 650R
Trendy Modification Suzuki Thunder 250cc
Specifications Suzuki Thunder 250 cool extreeme (dodo menthok) :
Honda WAVE-X Razing style.