Kawasaki ninja 250r review – top speed and driving characteristics

Briefly about the important

Dressed in aggressive fairings, this motorcycle attracts with pleasant styling with a distinctly sporty bent.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is a subsequent generation of the ZZR250 motorcycle, equipped with a similar power unit that has been modernized to reduce exhaust emissions.

Side view.

Back view.

The Ninja 250 is a restyled version that replaced the old model on the assembly line in 2013 - unlike the ZZR250, the new Kawasaki is characterized by:

• New fairing and dashboard design – the improved design does not increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the motorcycle, but it has become more presentable. The plastic on the Ninja 250 is no different in concept from the more powerful 6-cell;

  The instrument panel is a combination of three dial dials.

• By switching to an injector with a dual throttle body , this is an upgrade that allows you to increase the power of the motorcycle and at the same time reduce fuel consumption. The double damper has a positive effect on the internal combustion engine of the bike during an aggressive driving style, minimizing the likelihood of components overheating, which preserves the service life of the engine;
• Exhaust shape – replacing the muffler ensured a reduction in the toxicity of the motorcycle exhaust and the level of noise emitted. If desired, the stock exhaust can be freely changed to any configuration;

  The first thing you notice after starting the engine is how quiet it is.

• By increasing the size of the rear cylinder - replacing the wheel has become a necessary step to increase the coefficient of adhesion to the road surface, which makes it easier to control when cornering;
• By reducing the volume of the fuel tank - from 17.8 liters, the tank was reduced to 17 in order to increase ergonomics. The new tank has a more flattened form factor, allowing for more comfortable handling of the motorcycle when reaching cruising speed.

Peculiarities

A large diameter petal brake disc paired with a 2-piston caliper allows you to feel the reliability and stability of the braking system.

• The motorcycle is equipped with transistor ignition and a liquid cooling system .
• Average fuel consumption varies within 4.6 liters per 100 km and depends on driving style.
• oil consumption is 800 g per 10,000 km .

Versions from the second model generation have anti-corrosion treatment and places for sliding sliders, which is a rare case for small-capacity motorcycles.

History of changes

The bike didn’t change much, but there was still evolution:

1. In 1991, the headlights were redesigned and the fuel tank was reduced by a liter to 15 litres.
2. In 1992, the special version with the letter R at the end of the name was no longer offered.
3. In 1993, the maximum power is reduced to 40 hp. However, before that, she was a little higher.

The bike was already successful, so there was no point in changing it too much. For independent tuning, this is not the best choice, since this motorcycle is in some sense a rarity, and such innovations will only worsen its appearance.

Specifications

Main overall dimensions.

Maximum speed

The most comfortable speed is about 120 km/h.

The maximum speed depends on several factors. Starting from the weight of the driver and ending with the rubber that is installed on the bike.

Our data suggests that when driving “with one driver” the maximum speed is 170 km/h.

Acceleration to hundreds

Acceleration to 100 km/h under normal conditions is 7 seconds.

Prices

• The cost of a motorcycle in new condition starts from $3,000 and depends on the configuration: the presence of an anti-lock wheel system, the type of injector or additional accessories.
• On the secondary market, the average cost in the Russian Federation is 130,000 rubles with a mileage of up to 30,000 km .

The motorcycle is equipped with separate seats.

The passenger seat is somewhat narrow in the rear.

There is a compartment for small items under the passenger seat.

Service

Maintenance of a motorcycle is inexpensive - the presence of a wide model range on the market has a beneficial effect on the cost of consumable components, in contrast to old Japanese bikes or new “sports” with larger cubic capacity.

The only major investment will be a plastic fairing - a fall on one side will cost at least 17-19,000 rubles.

Motorcycle design

Viewed from the front, the design is defined as aggressive.

This is facilitated by the dual design of the head light elements.

The angular rearview mirrors, like the headlights, add to this aggressiveness.

The motorcycle and its components are covered almost completely with a plastic fairing with a large number of metal elements and sharp edges, which improves its aerodynamic qualities.

The front wheel fender and front fork fairing are made in the same style. The rear end, raised high above the wheel and with a pointed shape, also looks very sporty.

The rear two-seater, two-stage seat favorably improves the perception of the motorcycle and gives it a stylish look.

A large black muffler with a chrome tip seems to give the motorcycle extra power in appearance.

The instrument panel, modern and informative, is also clad in a fairing ending in a small windshield.

The instrument cluster includes a speedometer and tachometer in an analogue version with a white background and an indication unit with indicators for low pressure and high oil temperature, low fuel level and battery charge, low fuel level and air filter contamination.

The motorcycle comes in several color schemes:

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Engine Kawasaki Ninja 250R

The motorcycle's powertrain is tuned to produce more torque at the expense of its peak power. Therefore, at speeds up to medium, the motorcycle has a good and reliable “pickup”.

During the modernization process, the engine's reliability was increased by introducing enlarged cylinder heads, strengthening the pistons in the piston pin area, and enlarging the piston rings. Optimization of the fuel combustion chamber increased operating efficiency. The evolution of the fuel system culminated with the introduction of the fuel injector.

Motorcycle transmission and chassis

The Ninja 250R is equipped with a six-speed gearbox with carefully selected ratios, which allows you to move comfortably both in the city cycle and on the country highway.

The rear wheel is driven by a chain. The front suspension of the motorcycle has a telescopic fork, the rear suspension has a Uni-Trak system with five-stage adjustment.

The brakes are equipped with discs of increased diameter. The wheels with a diameter of 17 inches contribute to good handling and comfort of the motorcycle.

What are the differences between the new Ninja 250 and the older generations?

Double headlight with bright light, allowing you to clearly see the road while driving at night.

The suspension system on the motorcycle remains the same: a telescopic fork without the possibility of user calibration at the front and a progressive mono-armor at the rear do an excellent job of the tasks.

It is comfortable to travel on a motorcycle either alone or with a passenger.

But also disc brakes with an anti-lock braking system option and a gearbox remained from the old model - these parts are interchangeable with the ZZR250 , which made it possible to increase the maintainability of the motorcycle and reduce costs in further production of the equipment.

Different versions

The model is perfect for beginner bikers.

This is interesting! Almost the entire Kawasaki Ninja 250 model range is characterized by electronic fuel injection , operating on the principle of independent fuel supply to each engine cylinder, and only the Ninja variations for North America operate on the carburetor principle. Kawasaki took this step to improve rider safety while operating the bike, since this model is often purchased by novice drivers.

The main advantage of the injection type of power supply is a smooth increase in torque, which allows you to steadily increase the speed of the motorcycle, while the carburetor version is characterized by a choppy power delivery, in particular with a poorly tuned device.

Ergonomic customization options

Kawasaki continues to provide riders with the best comfort in the class with an adjustable ERGO-FIT handlebar mounting system and adjustable footpegs to suit a wide variety of riders. The multi-position handlebars have two mounting holes with 35mm of height adjustment, and with the clamps rotated 180 degrees, can have four individual settings to suit riders of different heights. The footpegs have mounting points with two positions, the lower position reduces the standard footpeg height by 5mm. The lower position effectively lowers the center of gravity when standing and reduces knee bend when tall riders sit on the motorcycle.

Kawasaki Ninja 250 – is it strong enough for an experienced rider?

At first it may seem that there is not enough “power”, but after driving several tens of kilometers, you understand that, in principle, this is quite enough.

The new Ninja 250 produces 32 horsepower, which is more than enough for beginners or insecure drivers, but the smooth delivery of torque and medium-length gears will quickly make you outgrow this motorcycle.

The power of this motorcycle is enough for smooth, but mobile movement around the city with economical fuel consumption, and you shouldn’t expect more from it.

Photo gallery

This motorcycle brought many modern riders into the sport and continues to this day. The low cost, outstanding characteristics of the motorcycle and its versatility in terms of the possibility of use, both in sports and in everyday life, help its owner determine his preferences. We present to your attention a small photo selection of the Kawasaki ninja 250R.

conclusions

The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is the best option as a transhipment base for civilian motorcyclists, allowing them to understand the difference between a road bike or chopper with sports motorcycles.

The motorcycle is easy to ride due to its low weight.

The small volume of the internal combustion chamber causes weak acceleration, which, together with the mass of electronics, allows you to quickly get used to the bike . In this regard, the manufacturing company at the beginning of 2022 released a globally modified version, distinguished by a power of 39 horsepower, which replaced the old generation on the market along with the Ninja 300 model.

Motorcycle cost

The high level of sales of the motorcycle was due not only to its stylish design and interesting technical characteristics, but also to the company’s affordable pricing policy.

The cost of the model for a long time remained within three and a half thousand dollars. Successive modernizations of the motorcycle gradually increased its cost and, now, the price of the new Kawasaki ninja 250R in Russia is about 240,000 rubles.

The price of Kawasaki Ninja 250 R on the secondary market starts from 100,000 rubles for 2008-2009 models, up to 230,000 rubles for 2012 models.

It should be noted that the price is approximate and can easily be reduced with the right approach to buying a motorcycle . And the correct approach is a mandatory and, one might say, meticulous inspection of the vehicle.

It is recommended to check according to the following parameters:

Inspection of the frame. The absence of changes in geometry, cracks, dents, and paint rebounds on the welds is checked.

Front fork. Check that there is no fluid leakage when the fork moves vertically.

Chain drive. The degree of chain elongation from normal parameters is checked.

Brake discs. The wear of the discs is checked, which should not have a pronounced decrease in thickness.

Tire condition. If the rear tire is worn more in the center than on the edges, this means that the owner is a fan of hard starts, which, in turn, may indicate that the motorcycle may have increased wear on the engine and transmission.

Availability of technical fluids. The level and condition of working fluids in the engine, cooling system, and brake system are checked.

Engine. It is checked in start-up mode, warm-up mode and in a warm-up state. There should be no obvious soot or oil discharge from the exhaust pipe.

Radiator. The integrity of the radiator and the uniformity of its heating are checked.

Electrical equipment. The functionality of all electrical appliances is checked and the brightness of the headlights does not change when the engine speed changes.

You can read more about the inspection before purchasing your first motorcycle in our article: “Which motorcycle to choose for a beginner.”

The Kawasaki ninja 250R motorcycle is not the same Ninja of 1986, but its popularity has not diminished at all, and still remains the blue dream of many motorcycle lovers. This bright, attractive example of modern motorcycle technology can introduce a beginner to the grandiose action of circuit racing, and simply attract the attention of others.

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