Thanks to everyone that participated on the 2009 mileage contest this year! M has beat everyone with 22,563 miles!! What a greatyear for him. Lets all get out there and plan on beating him next year ;)
'05 Ninja 250: 18,656 miles
start: 20,470
end: 39,126
'07 Ninja 650R: 3,907 miles
start: 11,239
end: 15,146
Here's my latest farkle guys(and girls), I just polished the lip of the
rim, but saying just polished it is an understatement, it took almost 2
full days to strip the paint and polish it! I started using the
instructions on the 250
page,http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_want_to_remove_the_paint_from_my_wheels_for_a_polished_look,
but after ten coats of paint stripper on the same surface, I came up
with something better. I used a high speed grinder with a scotch brite
pad to remove the paint, then used Mother's billet polish with fine
steel wool, then used the Mother's Power-Ball to finish it up.
Here we go, finally worked...
Oh, I also did the gas cap rim...
Well, it's actually a pad designed for use with a high speed grinder. Here's a pic...
a few days ago i read a thread here where somebody was about to pay the
dealer to change thier front sprocket and as i think this is probably
one of the best and cheapest mods you can do to the late model 250s i
thought id change one out and take a few pics to help those of uyou who
want to have a crack at it yourself!
take a late model ninja 250 and a good willing helper, i used my wife Laura
put it somewhere you have nice all around access
tools you will need, wrenches, 10mm 12mm 14mm, 17mm, 24mm, flat nose pliers, hammer, 8mm socket, 27mm socket, a chisel
undo the three 8mm bolts that hold the sprocket cover on
undo the 10mm bolt that holds the shift rod to the shaft and pull the linkage off the shaft (make sure its in first)
pull the cover off the motor
the big 27mm nut has a lock washer you need to fold the locking part back out the way so you can get the 27mm socket on it
place
a small piice of wood between the wheel spokes (be carfull not to pinch
the brake line) and across the swing arm to hold the wheel from moving
break the 27mm bolt free (i had to use a cheater bar here) and pop the locking tab washer out
pull the split pin (cotter pin) from the rear axle
loosen the rear axle
using the 17mm and 24mm wrenches
back the chain adjuster nuts off about 10 turns using the 12mm and 14mm and push the wheel forward to loosen the chain
pull the old sprocket out
check your new and old sprockets have the same size/shape hole
pop the new sprocket in (i went with a 15 tooth from JT)
dont forget to put the lockin tab washer back on
then the bolt
move the piece of wood so it wil hold the wheel still when you tighten it (remember it doesnt need much to be tight just enough)
tighten the big 27mm bolt
bend the edge of the lock washer back over using the chisel and the hammer
put the cover back on and replace the bolts
replace the shift linkage making sure you got your lever back where it started (you might want to sit on the bike to check)
now
its time to adjust the chain, now people always say dont trust the
factory marks on the swing arm but in many years of trying ive yet to
find a bike with bad marks that hasnt been down the road on its head, i
have the "bloke-o-meter" which i use to check alignment when race bikes
have had a hard life, its basically two lengths of 1 inch box section
alloy, remember im just showing you this part as i have the box section
you will be fine using the factory marks on the swing arm
heres a rough idea how it works
firstly
pull the wheel back and finger tight the chain adjuster bolts and check
the alignment marks to make sure they are equal and the chain has about
20mm of play (this is a personal slack i like)
make sure the wheel is all the way forward against the stops
lay the two lengths of alloy lay along the side of the rear tire touching front and back
it takes a little getting used to using it
but after 15 odd years im getting used to it
and
again the factory marks are spot on (the distance from the alloy box
section is the same on both sides of the front tire) so its time to
tighten the rear axle
to stop the axle "walking" pop something in the chain and roll the wheel forwards to pull the chain tight
then tighten the rear axle bolts
no need to go crazy just snug them nice and tight
pop the split pin (cotter pin) back in and fold it over
nip up the lock nuts on the chain adjuster
check
the chain slack and alignment once more you dont need a bloke-o-meter
for this you can just use the factory marks on the swing arm they are
usually spot on
and your ready to roll again but at lower revs
putting
a 15 tooth front sprocket will lower you revs at any given speed but
due to the ninja 250 rev counter being so erratic its hard to give you
actual figures but lets just say its an amazing difference and probably
the best 20 to 30 bucs you can spnd on the newer model ninjas!
i
went with the parts unlimted TJ 15 tooth part #248637 and you can get
it from any local store that has a prts unlimted account,
So after 20k miles i decided to write another follow up on myinitial review. I still love riding this bike. It is simple like a motorcycle should be.
Not alot of horsepower, but the power does not keep me from having fun, it is more fun to ride than most bikes i've had. For less money too.
I have gotten an average of 70mpg throughout its life. and in the last tank,i got 79mpg. Maybe i ride different than most, but it works for me. If im flogging it, then it gets 50mpg which isnt bad considering.
But i commute on it, and im not into braking records, so i want the high mileage.
People ask me all the time how fast it is, and to me the fastest i've gotten it was 95mph, not that impressive.
I've done a few mods.. mainly because i wanted to, and nothing ever broke in this time ive had except the left front fork is leaking, and ive yet to fix it.
I've changed the rear shock and replaced it with a gsxr 750 shock. That was a neat install. Overkill, but just for props ya know
Installed a left HID lamp.. Bling..
Front and rear braided steel brake lines. works like a charm, and i think it should be one of the first mods.
No exhaust, no aftermarket filter. I like it just the way it is. id like to get an aftermarket, just for the lite weight, but can't afford it.
I plan to keep it for a while, and by the end of the year i estimate i will have 30k miles. Hopefully next summer i should have some time off, and i plan on riding to alaska on it. We will know for sure later :)
What makes a good commuter? The only reason I got into motorcycles was
for commuting purposes. I spent a lot of time in traffic. I work in
Arlington, and I live in Maryland in the outskirts. Riding a motorcycle
is a no brainer, you get free parking, you spend little on gas. But is
it really cheaper than a car.
What makes a good commuter? The only reason I got into motorcycles
was for commuting purposes. I spent a lot of time in traffic. I work in
Arlington, and I live in Maryland in the outskirts. Riding a motorcycle
is a no brainer, you get free parking, you spend little on gas. But is
it really cheaper than a car.
The answer.. No. Motorcycles cost more to operate. Tires that cost
$120+ a tire, tire mounting for 60$ a tire, maintenance on a motorcycle
is more expensive than a car... And it goes on from there.
Commuting on a sportbike is expensive! Allot of people do it, and even
I did it. I accumulated 60k miles on my yamaha r1.. Now that I look
back at this, I regret it. I spent a lot of money on tires alone! And
if you look at some bike choices below you can see how you can save and
still have fun commuting
One of the key ingredients for a bike commuter is displacement. You can
commute in anything, but generally the bigger they are the worse
mileage, the more tires it will eat etc..
These are perhaps some of the best commuters I have known, im sure
there are many but these are the ones I recommend based on my
experience.
KLR650.. Any year. They arent the best.. But they go pretty well up to
110mph, 50mpg, have about a 300 mile range. They have a ton of
aftermarket goodies for them including hard sidecasses that make it
nice to carry laptops or whatever work gear you might need. Large seat
that is comfortable, corbin is available! Better windscreens etc.. For
2000$ you can get a used example. I have seen riders with 100k on these
bikes. They are fairly reliable. They arent true dirt bikes, its a very
heavy bike but it will cope with gravel.. And sidewalk hopping.
Ninja250.. I love these bikes, specially the 08+ years. The newer style
looks great. Im biased because its what im riding now. These 250's get
close to 80mpg, and with a sprocket change even more. Can reach 100mph,
have a range of over 300 miles. The old ninjas have a lot of
aftermarket, the new ones not so much right now.
Scooters.. Many scooters are available, so im just going to be
general. The reasons why you would want a scooter to commute are
simple. They are more comfortable, the understead storage compartment
makes it livable and is really handy. 50cc you don't need to register
or tag, or even insurance, so that's even more money you save!!! You
can probably debadge a 125cc scooter and get away with it. Bad sides is
the speed, it doesn't have much juice to get you out of trouble. Small
wheels are squirrely in bumps.
Im leaving a lot of bikes out that make nice commuters like versys,
triumph tiger etc.. Mainly because bigger bikes are overkill. The
klr650 fits in because its pretty lite and cheap!
A lot of guys commute on behemoth sized st1300's, r1100gs's and there is really no benefit. But if that's all you got go for it.
One of the best ideas is the bicycle.. But who wants to be all sweaty for work?
Quick,
Affordable, Fuel Efficient, Easy to Ride, Bangkok friendly and Great
Looking, this bike offers authentic Ninja style and performance.
One look at the new Ninja 250R tells everyone that this bike is the
genuine article. With a new full-fairing similar to the Ninja ZX-6R and
-10R supersport bikes, a single kicked-up muffler, UNI-TRAK rear
suspension, high-performance petal disc brakes and a dual seat, this is
the most stylish performer in its category.
Compact size, exceptional personality and a low price tag highlight
Kawasaki’s new 2008 Ninja 250R quarter-liter performer. Considering how
much fun it is to ride and the fact that it’s easy to handle in Bangkok
traffic and still enough of a bike to ride rural up-country, it’s no
wonder the Ninja 250R has been a strong seller. Its successful blend of
a rider-friendly engine, easy-to-operate chassis and superbike styling
worthy of its Ninja moniker, this model was developed to offer real
world performance to riders of all skill levels and goes to show that
good things do come in small packages.
At
the core of the lightweight Ninja 250R is an engine that thrives on
high-rpm excitement. The gutsy 249cc parallel twin has been re-tuned to
spice up its smooth and predictable power delivery. It now offers more
low- and mid-range torque thanks to revisions to its dual overhead
camshafts and a new 2-into-1 exhaust system. A silky smooth six-speed
transmission tops off the sportbike equipment list, enabling the 250R
to exploit a powerband that’s sure to please riders with its beginner
friendly low-end grunt and a lively top-end rush that’ll keep seasoned
veterans satisfied. The coup de’ grace, is its ability to deliver
excellent fuel economy.
The
250R’s new fairing and windscreen not only look great, they deliver
improved wind protection for a wide range of riding situations. This
lightweight Kawasaki motorcycle is loaded with even more rider-friendly
features such as an easy-to-read instrument panel and positive neutral
finder.
A natural riding position and comfortable ergonomics combined with its
lightweight handling, easy controllability and improved throttle
response make the 250R a pleasure to ride on city streets. Also new for
2008 are larger 17-inch wheels that offer great handling and improved
stability. A larger 290mm front brake rotor is gripped by a powerful
2-piston caliper to provide a healthy dose of stopping power with a
responsive feel at the lever. Like Kawasaki’s other sport models, the
Ninja 250R is fitted with petal discs for efficient heat dissipation.
The simple formula of providing easy-handling agility, lightweight
responsiveness, and low ownership costs make the Ninja 250R a force to
be reckoned with in the entry-level sportbike or mid-range motorcycle
category.
The weather guys called for Rain for Saturday and Sunday. And of course
they were off, i woke up late and looked outside the weather was
perfect. I quickly gathered my things and headed to the bike.
I was really happy to have done the break in on the 250 in a week, so now i could ride without worries.
The bike is really hard starting. It always starts, but its really cold
blooded. If I leave it idling for 5 mins, its still too cold to ride.
If i give her a handful of throttle quickly it just dies, so you have
to really warm up her up in the mornings.
I wasn't sure where I was going, but I decided to head north since i
woke up kind of late. Im in Maryland, near d.c. So Frederick county has
the best riding for motorcyclists around these parts. Any time i head
to VA, there is always traffic heading out. It seems like the world is
trying to contain me in D.C. Its an escape, bumper to bumper on the
weekends is really frustrating.
I headed up on backroads, but then jumped on the highway. I wanted to
see if the bike could handle some highway riding. It could, and pulled
nicely. It can keep up with the speed limit, which is more than i
wanted. I like to keep the revs at around 6k-8krpms, but the bike
really wakes up at 8k rpms.
I took i270 and then 15 north to Gettysburg, i got out on some of the flat backroads of PA and just rode at the speed limit.
The temperature was great, and its amazing how much fun you can have at
the speed limit. On my r1, it would have been impossible. Sometimes i
would see guys on Sportbikes going past me at mach1 doing wheelies.
There were plenty of sportbikes in Gettysburg, there is a university
there so alot of single guys on sportbikes are trying to pickup the
ladies. :)
I had a few kids do the universal sign of do a wheelie, by raising
their arms up and down. But unfortunatly this bike isnt very good for
wheelies. They didnt know it was a 250.
Took a little trip around a cemetary, it looked innocent enough. But I
quickly realized the path i was riding on was for walking only. Im glad
there wasn't alot of people there, so i quickly turned around.
(0 vote)
Quick,
Affordable, Fuel Efficient, Easy to Ride, Bangkok friendly and Great
Looking, this bike offers authentic Ninja style and performance.
The
250R’s new fairing and windscreen not only look great, they deliver
improved wind protection for a wide range of riding situations. This
lightweight Kawasaki motorcycle is loaded with even more rider-friendly
features such as an easy-to-read instrument panel and positive neutral
finder.
