Hey @ErikSeastead, Thank you for this video. I'm picking up a mint `05 tomorrow. I can't wait to ride it to work and back. I think these 250s are the sweet spot. This will be my 3rd Ninja 250. I had a `96, and a `08. I'm getting really excited. A true Christmas present to myself. I'm fixing to move out to the country and have to get a faster bike for commuting 55-75 minutes. Can't wait!
One nice aspect of the pregen Ninja 250 is that it can easily be stripped down to a streetfighter and end up well under 300lbs, increasing its performance greatly at almost no cost.
The analog gauges are so much nicer than the digital ones on the newer bikes. Here in Asia motorcycles are serious transportation and few people have bikes larger than 250cc.
Yes I am America and went to Thailand with a international drivers license and rented an R6 I was sixteen but that bike was a horrible ride there but a little click is fun now.
Great review of a timeless bike. Not many modern reviews on this bike. Good information. I’ve had mine for about 2 and half years and put over 7k miles on it. Love it
Have had my 2009 250R for 13 yrs now. The problem is dealing with the size matters douche bags. Got one at work that owns 4 bikes and nothing under 600cc Whatever, not in it for the power or speed, in it for the enjoyment of the ride.
3:15 As an owner of this 2009 250R and the Suzuki S40 The Suzuki is a single cylinder 650cc which has lots of low end torque and pulls harder than the Ninja on take off (same as the honda you mentioned) but top end the Ninja wins
@@ErikSeastead That is a shock to me as well considering the size difference but that 650cc single thumper has some torque to it. That ninja has NO torque at all but has a lot of top end in comparission to the 650cc im going to assume that if it was a dual 325cc motor to equal 650cc then it would be a different story. From what i read, that 650cc single is not meant for high speed power because its only 1 piston working and on top end its all by itself trying to accelerate where as the 250cc being two 125cc pistons, you got 2 pistons working together side by side
I love my 2006 sv650s but I think I like my 2004 ninja 250 better. It's cheaper on gas and more fun on small backroads by my house. Scrapping pegs on a 250 is awesome. A lot motorcyclist seem to dismiss small displacement motorcycles as only for beginners but honestly small bikes are some of the most fun you can have on the street. Not too long ago when I was in high school my friends and I would modify and race mini bikes that topped out at 60 mph. It wasn't anything fast or refined but looking back that was the most fun I've ever had on a bike.
I had one of these, they love to rev so hard. Have to keep the revs above 9K on the freeway so you have power for maneuvering. Great review and nostalgia trip - your one is very pretty.
Thank you so much. I hope to do a review of my 2000 VFR800 next, and maybe even do a video talking about the first to second bike transition, and everything I learned.
@ErikSeastead got it. But i also see you got to 70mph then proceed to get up to over 90mph. I think that would be sufficient enough to pass certain cars right? Of course not as easily like a 600cc or 1000cc for sure
Nice video! I have an EX500 (2006) barn find that I picked up a while back, and its a work in progress, but low miles. How durable are the 250 engines known to be? I seem to see quite a few of them on Marketplace with "bad engines". Is that due to owner abuse or due to it being a fragile design? I'm curious as they kind of intrigue me and are cheap to buy.
@@JamesLaman-d1k I've not seen too many issues, and never had any myself. But, I also didn't put that many miles on the bike, just around 4,000. I liked my Ninja a lot but I wanted just a bit more oomph for highway duty. Always fancied trying an EX500! Hope you can get yours roadworthy soon.
$1,500? They’re actually holding their value more. As actually ppl like myself prefer the look of the 08 model over the newer ones. 400s and such are hard to come by. I’ve found 350s for about $3000 give or take. Been considering getting one but it seems like they need a lot of carb work
My buddy just picked up a 2014 Ninja 300 for $1500 USD a week ago. Some people are trying to hold out but you can get incredible bikes for 4k (VFR800). The values of these will never hold for long above $2000 I feel.
Hey @ErikSeastead,
Thank you for this video. I'm picking up a mint `05 tomorrow. I can't wait to ride it to work and back. I think these 250s are the sweet spot. This will be my 3rd Ninja 250. I had a `96, and a `08. I'm getting really excited. A true Christmas present to myself. I'm fixing to move out to the country and have to get a faster bike for commuting 55-75 minutes. Can't wait!
One nice aspect of the pregen Ninja 250 is that it can easily be stripped down to a streetfighter and end up well under 300lbs, increasing its performance greatly at almost no cost.
True, but I really like the way they look stock, personally.
@@ErikSeasteadyea i wouldn't change it.
The analog gauges are so much nicer than the digital ones on the newer bikes. Here in Asia motorcycles are serious transportation and few people have bikes larger than 250cc.
Yes I am America and went to Thailand with a international drivers license and rented an R6
I was sixteen but that bike was a horrible ride there but a little click is fun now.
Great review of a timeless bike. Not many modern reviews on this bike. Good information. I’ve had mine for about 2 and half years and put over 7k miles on it. Love it
Great review. Very accurate and in depth.
I love my ninja 250 and take it on the freeway everyday as it’s my daily rider.
Just got my 05 in September and I love it. ☺️
Have had my 2009 250R for 13 yrs now.
The problem is dealing with the size matters douche bags.
Got one at work that owns 4 bikes and nothing under 600cc
Whatever, not in it for the power or speed, in it for the enjoyment of the ride.
3:15
As an owner of this 2009 250R and the Suzuki S40
The Suzuki is a single cylinder 650cc which has lots of low end torque and pulls harder than the Ninja on take off (same as the honda you mentioned) but top end the Ninja wins
@@ACommenterOnTH-cam I'm surprised the Ninja still pulls ahead being that the S40 has a 400cc advantage over the Ninja, that's very impressive!
@@ErikSeastead That is a shock to me as well considering the size difference but that 650cc single thumper has some torque to it.
That ninja has NO torque at all but has a lot of top end in comparission to the 650cc
im going to assume that if it was a dual 325cc motor to equal 650cc then it would be a different story.
From what i read, that 650cc single is not meant for high speed power because its only 1 piston working and on top end its all by itself trying to accelerate where as the 250cc being two 125cc pistons, you got 2 pistons working together side by side
I love my 2006 sv650s but I think I like my 2004 ninja 250 better. It's cheaper on gas and more fun on small backroads by my house. Scrapping pegs on a 250 is awesome. A lot motorcyclist seem to dismiss small displacement motorcycles as only for beginners but honestly small bikes are some of the most fun you can have on the street. Not too long ago when I was in high school my friends and I would modify and race mini bikes that topped out at 60 mph. It wasn't anything fast or refined but looking back that was the most fun I've ever had on a bike.
I had one of these, they love to rev so hard. Have to keep the revs above 9K on the freeway so you have power for maneuvering. Great review and nostalgia trip - your one is very pretty.
I loved this thing.
It was all I ever wanted out of a bike.
Then again, I drive my car like Miss Daisy is in back.
Great video. I recently bought the newer gen 250r and I've really been enjoying it.
Thank you so much. I hope to do a review of my 2000 VFR800 next, and maybe even do a video talking about the first to second bike transition, and everything I learned.
@@ErikSeasteadI just got a 2007 250 as a beginner bike and loved your video! I also love 5th Gen VFR800’s!
Looks like she is absolutely capable of cruising on the highway at 70 to 80mph
@@nahanng7791 absolutely, but you'll not really be able to quickly pass anyone at that speed!
@ErikSeastead got it. But i also see you got to 70mph then proceed to get up to over 90mph. I think that would be sufficient enough to pass certain cars right? Of course not as easily like a 600cc or 1000cc for sure
You can definitely pass but it probably takes a whole minute to get from 70 to 100 (indicated) which is likely like 90ish on gps.
Nice video! I have an EX500 (2006) barn find that I picked up a while back, and its a work in progress, but low miles. How durable are the 250 engines known to be? I seem to see quite a few of them on Marketplace with "bad engines". Is that due to owner abuse or due to it being a fragile design? I'm curious as they kind of intrigue me and are cheap to buy.
@@JamesLaman-d1k I've not seen too many issues, and never had any myself. But, I also didn't put that many miles on the bike, just around 4,000.
I liked my Ninja a lot but I wanted just a bit more oomph for highway duty. Always fancied trying an EX500! Hope you can get yours roadworthy soon.
Fun fact, these are about just as fast as a ninja 300 and faster than the efi ninja 250s
Why is that ?
Good review!
$1,500? They’re actually holding their value more. As actually ppl like myself prefer the look of the 08 model over the newer ones. 400s and such are hard to come by. I’ve found 350s for about $3000 give or take. Been considering getting one but it seems like they need a lot of carb work
My buddy just picked up a 2014 Ninja 300 for $1500 USD a week ago. Some people are trying to hold out but you can get incredible bikes for 4k (VFR800). The values of these will never hold for long above $2000 I feel.
All the revs are fun and your not going fast
I have a Y pipe on mine and it seriously sounds like a bigger bike haha
Why is the windscreen warped?
It's an action camera so it shoots with a high field of view. Otherwise you'd only be able to see very little in the same sized frame
looks like it's broken on the bottom left side.
Oh that. Yes, the bike had been down and things definitely broke. Lol