RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice

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RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice

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RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/1/2007 7:09:18 PM

baileyjn

Posts: 182
Joined: 6/10/2007
Status: offline

The Ninja 250 is around 300 lbs. Just about every 600 is less than 400 lbs. The lightest are around 340, with a whole range of them between about 340 and 370. Anyway, the 300 lb Ninja is super light, bur the 600s are pretty darn light themselves.

Yeah, the 600s are way way way more powerful than the 250. However, they really are safe. Someone said on this forum on another thread that the difference between the 600 and the 1000 is that while both are stupid fast, in order to get stupid fast, you have to ride the 600 like you stole it. With the 1000 you don't. And when you do ride the 1000 like you stole it, your life expectancy is markedly shorter. Anyway, enough about the 1000 and back to the 600. If you DON'T ride the 600 like you stole it, it's actually a pretty well-mannered bike. It definitely is not something to be afraid of. I am not trying to convince you to go for the 600, as I truly believe you could have fun for a long time on the 250. Just trying to expand your range of suitable buys seeing as you seem to be working hard at your shopping. In other words, you might be having a hard time finding a nice deal on a 250, but Kawasaki also makes a Ninja 500 as well. Then you might find a deal on a 'tame' 600 like a Katana or something. There are also some V-Twin motorcycles out there that have larger cylinder displacements but because they are twins, have a lot less overall power and are quite safe, with enough torque to be really fun. The model I am thinking of is the Suzuki SV650, known for a nice engine and fantastic suspension and is generally thought of as an excellent beginner bike, with MUCH less power than any of the inline four cyclinder race replica 600cc sportbikes, though the actual displacement is 50cc's greater.

Anyway, I am not trying to convince you to buy a heavier or more powerful bike because I think you will outgrow the 250 (which is the usual reason people discourage purchasing that bike), but rather trying to ensure that you are not afraid of the possibility of looking at 500 and 600 cc bikes in order to help yourself find a good deal. There just might not be any suitable 250s in your area for the right price. I'd hate to see you come home with a less than ideal bike that you payed too much for because you were afraid to look at 500s.

(in reply to leelee)

Post #: 16

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/2/2007 10:24:25 AM

leelee

Posts: 12
Joined: 7/30/2007
Status: offline

I'd really like to get a sv650 but most of the ones I find are over my budget. I will look at some 500cc bikes right away and see what I can find. I'm still looking for 250's and the older cbrs. Most of them are within my budget but shipping just rapes the hell out of the deals I find.
I am now unable to travel to the US cause University is coming closer and need to save even more money for communiting.

(in reply to baileyjn)

Post #: 17

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/2/2007 6:31:46 PM

baileyjn

Posts: 182
Joined: 6/10/2007
Status: offline

You're Canadian French?

You don't have friends or family with a Pickup? Or a car and the willingness to drive you to a neighboring town to pick up a bike and follow you home? Or are you conerned that you are too novice to handle the ride home? If you end up with a 250, you could get a couple blankets and some bubblewrap and just lay it in the back of a friend's pickup without causing any damage I bet. You wouldn't have to have any special straps or knowledge of securing the bike for treansport. If you were concerned, you could take off the fairing, bubble wrap and blanket the bike, throw it in the back of a pickup, and head home.

(in reply to leelee)

Post #: 18

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/2/2007 7:36:36 PM

leelee

Posts: 12
Joined: 7/30/2007
Status: offline

No, I'm not french canadian. I have one friend that I know of, but I wont bother asking cause he keeps it in showroom condition and calls it his hot rod. I'm positive that I could be able to ride it home if I had some practice with it. But yes I'll see what I can find yet..
Thanks again for the advice we have tons of bubblewrap I could use if I can find someone with a truck.

(in reply to baileyjn)

Post #: 19

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/3/2007 2:27:09 AM

woot

Posts: 785
Joined: 7/24/2006
From: NS, Canada
Status: offline

DO NOT USE THE BUBBLE WRAP ADVISE PLEASE.

Here is a wordy explanation: http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_can_I_haul_my_bike_on_a_truck/trailer%3F

The way to haul a bike is ON ITS WHEELS. This will mean the suspension, and not the plastics will absorb the bumps as you drive home.

I do know the ninja 250 will fit in the back of a van if you remove the rear seats... and I also know that their are Uhaul trailers are available that would do the trick nicely as well. Or a rental truck.

Anyhow - please do not think about using bubble wrap and blankets as you will almost certainly damage your new bike.,

_____________________________

2000 CBR 600 F4
Full M4,
-1,+2 520,
Speedohealer (-11.4%), AutoCom Pro, Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS/MP3, Cobra FRS/GMRS , Vortex sliders, mirrored windscreen, Cortech bags and Aux Fuse box.

Safety wired and ready to go

(in reply to leelee)

Post #: 20

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/3/2007 2:31:16 AM

woot

Posts: 785
Joined: 7/24/2006
From: NS, Canada
Status: offline

Also - the FAQ page from Ninja 250 has some good general info about bikes... have a read if you are interested.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page

My other concern - if buying the bike is going to stretch you too thin financially. Not to be a spoil sport but consider the cost of gear ($400 to $1000 for your first set), insurance (~$200 for just PLPD ranging to ~$2000 for full which you may NEED on a new bike), plus registration and taxes... just numbers to be aware of when you are bike shopping.

Cheers,
Woot.

_____________________________

2000 CBR 600 F4
Full M4,
-1,+2 520,
Speedohealer (-11.4%), AutoCom Pro, Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS/MP3, Cobra FRS/GMRS , Vortex sliders, mirrored windscreen, Cortech bags and Aux Fuse box.

Safety wired and ready to go

(in reply to woot)

Post #: 21

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/3/2007 10:47:20 AM

leelee

Posts: 12
Joined: 7/30/2007
Status: offline

Thanks alot woot I'll make sure the bike is on the wheels!
I do have all my gear. I spent $600 at the end of june for everything. I had to have it for the MS course here cause they only provide the bikes. I still need riding pants, I wouldn't feel safe wearing jeans without any armor etc. Insurance isn't a big deal right now, I'm probably going to get a 30 day sticker for the bike since insurance here is absolutely killer.

(in reply to woot)

Post #: 22

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/3/2007 4:09:28 PM

baileyjn

Posts: 182
Joined: 6/10/2007
Status: offline

Woot's reaction is typical of someone who knows how to transport a bike. Longime bike hobbysists and professionals cringe if motorcycles are not transported properly, and since they don't deal with that regularly, tend to have nightmarish visions when the subject comes up. If you do have suitable straps and a truck with acceptable anchors, then by all means transport the bike upright. Be sure to strap it down at the right places, though, or you risk damaging the bike. However, my answer was for someone with limited knowledge and resources. I would still recommend transporting the bike yourself, even if you did not have all the transport gear and vehicle. If all you have is a friend with a grand laredo and a set of wrenches, I would still recommend taking off the mirrors, fairing, possibly signals, and anything else that seems fragile, folding down the seats, throwing down LOTs of cardboard, blanket, and/or bubble wrap padding, anchoring with rope, pillows, and anything else you can find, and driving home very slowly and carefully over good roads. I mean it's a used Ninja 250 we're talking about, right? Not a Victory cruiser or a BMW Langtourer.

Anyway, my answer was to give you options other than paying for shipping by a moving company (that will probably damage your bike anyway, like my shipping company did to my Shadow). It's not like I don't know how to transport a bike. I already have the trailer picked out that I will use for my move next year. But I am not a college kid trying to save a buck on getting a 250 home. With a little common sense, you can transport a bike with readily available items.

(in reply to leelee)

Post #: 23

RE: 91 CBR / Ninja 250 need of some advice - 8/7/2007 7:58:58 AM

woot

Posts: 785
Joined: 7/24/2006
From: NS, Canada
Status: offline

With that context I don't feel so bad about that plan... I was fearing someone laying it in the car with plastics on and smashing the hell out of it.

As for used 250 condition prices - here is a pretty reasonably priced bike with some cosmetic damage.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-KAWASAKI-NINJA-250-MINOR-DAMAGE-94-MILES-CHEAP_W0QQitemZ160145077917QQihZ006QQcategoryZ50019QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

_____________________________

2000 CBR 600 F4
Full M4,
-1,+2 520,
Speedohealer (-11.4%), AutoCom Pro, Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS/MP3, Cobra FRS/GMRS , Vortex sliders, mirrored windscreen, Cortech bags and Aux Fuse box.

Safety wired and ready to go

(in reply to baileyjn)

Post #: 24