Ninja 250r

[IHaveAMustang]

Looking to get into riding. I have been eyeing these Ninja 250r's. They are cheap, get good gas mileage (60mpg) and have enough "go" to keep up on highways, even though I plan on not getting on one.

With gas nearing $4.00/gal (predicted $5/gal by Aug) I ...uh..."Have" to do this (that's my excuse to the wife)

Secretly, I have always wanted to ride.

First, Is it safer on highways (114 to hwy 26 in grapevine) or is it safer on surface streets (1709 to hwy 26)

I will use this as my commuter bike from Keller to Coppell, TX. If I can sip my fuel I can make my bike last over a week on one 4.8Gal Tank. I've almost got the wife convinced, but first I need to close on my house and sell a couple AR-15's to pay for the bike.

Thoughts? I do want a bike that "looks" cool, but I don't want power as I am afraid I will be stupid with it. There used to be a couple neat Harley sport bikes but I never learned what their model numbers were. Probably wayy too much than my budget can handle (~$3000).

[VaderTT]

get a 636, you'll regret the 250.

[347Mike]

Just get a 600. Youw ill be comfortable in a week.

Personally, I would take the 114 to 26 route regardless of car or bike. I used to take that route when I worked in Coppell and I live in Roanoke. The highway during prime hours sucks. You have people cutting over, slamming on brakes, cutting you off, you don't have that as much on 26. I will say if you go 26 to avoid the right lane. Apparently all the 114 go'ers take 26 and don't know where they're going. I would have to jump on my brakes constantly when riding the right lane until I just stuck to the left lane.

[ram57ta]

Any 600 made in the last few years will get similar MPG to that baby ninja if you ride it normally. The 250 is a decent around town bike...but on the highway will be out of breath at anything approaching TEXAS freeway speeds...and it will buzz you to death. Ninja 250's are great for a high school kid....I would NEVER recommend one for an adult. Save yourself the grief of hating your decision just a few weeks down the road....get a 600.

[VaderTT]

I loved my 04 and my 09 ninjas, great bikes!

[89stangGT]

Looking to get into riding. I have been eyeing these Ninja 250r's. They are cheap, get good gas mileage (60mpg) and have enough "go" to keep up on highways, even though I plan on not getting on one.

With gas nearing $4.00/gal (predicted $5/gal by Aug) I ...uh..."Have" to do this (that's my excuse to the wife)

Secretly, I have always wanted to ride.

First, Is it safer on highways (114 to hwy 26 in grapevine) or is it safer on surface streets (1709 to hwy 26)

I will use this as my commuter bike from Keller to Coppell, TX. If I can sip my fuel I can make my bike last over a week on one 4.8Gal Tank. I've almost got the wife convinced, but first I need to close on my house and sell a couple AR-15's to pay for the bike.

Thoughts? I do want a bike that "looks" cool, but I don't want power as I am afraid I will be stupid with it. There used to be a couple neat Harley sport bikes but I never learned what their model numbers were. Probably wayy too much than my budget can handle (~$3000).

first off. you'll regret the 250 immediately.

the only Harley sporty bike out there now is the XR1200x. What you're thinking of is the Buells. Buell went under and they stopped making them. You can find some of their models pretty cheap, and they get good mileage, but arent very dependable from what I hear.

You can get a used XR1200 for $6-7K, and they get around that 60mpg mark on the highway, and are actually fun to ride.
any 600cc sport bike will only get in the lower 50mpg's, maybe. I never had one get higher. My last 600 was a '08 GSXR. My FZ1 averages about 40mpg combined.

[TorqueJunkie]

Look into the Suzuki SV line... You will regret the 250 very quick and be into a situation of selling and buying again. Plus in DFW you want something that can get out of its own way when you ask it to.

[Skidmark]

I agree with the above comments. Get a 600.

Go take the MSF course while the weather is still tolerable!

[Chas_svo]

This advice is correct, get a 600. My 250 never got 60, best was about 53 on the highway. I believe any good 600 will be really close, and much more enjoyable.

[VaderTT]

Go take the MSF course while the weather is still tolerable!

This! Dead of summer + full gear = suck!

[Skidmark]

PS: I guess I ride like an asshole. My last liter bike was getting 15-20MPG rofl.

[Sean88gt]

As stated, get something you can learn on and keep for awhile. A 250 ain't it. Unless you are on campus or in a city with speeds not exceeding 35mph, there is no reason to get one.

[SS Junk]

250 is far too slow and actually probably more dangerous since it would hardly get out of its own way if you needed it to. As stated, get something in the 600cc range as a starter bike. I'd suggest an ER6n, however I'm biased since that is a bike I owned and thoroughly enjoyed. Best MPG I got was 47. That was on 40 mile commutes with some stop and go thrown into the mix.

[IHaveAMustang]

Appreciate the input, all of you.

Really it comes down to me being a cheapskate. If I can find a 600 for a decent price, I will go with it. I could have nabbed (2) 250r's in Lawton last month for $4500. It was tempting, but I am not ready yet. I need to get my new house first and get the Stang/Scion out of storage to even see if my Garage can hold a bike.

[ram57ta]

Appreciate the input, all of you.

Really it comes down to me being a cheapskate. If I can find a 600 for a decent price, I will go with it. I could have nabbed (2) 250r's in Lawton last month for $4500. It was tempting, but I am not ready yet. I need to get my new house first and get the Stang/Scion out of storage to even see if my Garage can hold a bike.

You can get a 600 while being a cheapskate....quite easily if you spend a little time searching. I don't see the great value in buying 2 Ninja 250's for $4500 considering you can find them for under $1500 on Craigslist...unless of course your talking about the "NEW" Ninja 250 which is basically a new body on the old Ninja 250...in fact the older 250 had more power. If you don't want a nearly brand new 600 (which I would discourage)...you can find older carbed or maybe some of the early EFI 600's for around 2500-3 grand.