Does this make me a pussy...?

[somegirl]

I'm curious, how many of you advising against the Ninja 250 have actually had one?

[akmnstr]

I'm curious, how many of you advising against the Ninja 250 have actually had one?

I for one never had one but I advised him to get the 250.  I really like the little Ninja, both the old and new versions.  Whenever
I see a used one for sale I'm tempted to buy it.  I have even considered buying one for my Daughter.  She is in College and lives 4000 miles
away.  She could ride it once a year when she comes to visit and I could take it out every other day, just to blow the dust off for her








I'm also thinking my daughter may need a new 1098 which I will also keep dust free for her. 

[Cucciolo]

I never owned the 250, but I rode one before I decided to purchase the Suzuki 500f. I was fresh out of MSF when I did.. and it felt too small. The Suzuki although it is bigger, was very polite and easy to handle. Plus it looks a lot better too  The Ninja will be a good choice for shorter legs for sure!

[x136]

You will outgrow the 250 after 1 month guaranteed.

Is that a money-back guarantee?

I have even considered buying one for my Daughter.  She is in College and lives 4000 miles away.  She could ride it once a year when she comes to visit and I could take it out every other day, just to blow the dust off for her

Now there's a plan!

I never owned the 250, but I rode one before I decided to purchase the Suzuki 500f. I was fresh out of MSF when I did.. and it felt too small.

Assuming you're talking size-small (not power-small), how tall are you and what's your inseam? At 6'2" with a 35-ish inch inseam, I find the 250 to be pretty comfortable, even on extended trips. (Not saying you're "wrong" or anything, just curious what the limit might be.)

[Raux]

I'm not advising against the 250, i've advising towards a Ducati !!! as we all should 

But if you really want a fun city bike that will thrill even at low speeds try an Aprilia RS50. Talk about 5 speed high reving fun and light as hell. Just can't go highway unless you get the bore kit and gear it differently. BUT if i could have fun just for commuting... i'd take it. The key here is it's another Italian. No offense, but what are Ducati riders doing advising a guy to buy a Ninja!

[Monsterlover]

+1 vote for teh 250.

I miss mine.  Im 6-3 215 with gear and it ripped pretty good for a first bike.

Get one

[cmorgan47]

i'm all for the 250 as well as the 696.

i'm just against asking the internet if you're a pussy.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Let's get some numbers out of the way here.


M900:
407.9 pounds
78.00 HP
P/W ratio:0.191

696:
355 lbs
80 hp
P/W ratio:0.225

Ninja 250
304 lbs
36hp
P/W ratio:0.118

2008 Corvette:
Curb Weight: 3217 lbs.
430 hp
P/W ratio:0.133

Anyone notice anything? One of the "slow" bikes has a power to weight ratio that's not far off from a fairly fast car. Let's also notice that while quite a few of us learned on old 900's, 750's etc, the 696 is considerably faster. Bottom line, the ninja should move along quite nicely.

The only consistent statement I really hear about the 250 (from people who have actually ridden them) is that they wish they had never sold theirs. It's a great bike.

[somegirl]

BTW, Gary Jaehne, a California racer (AMA, AFM, etc.) who is also an author, seems to really like his Ninja 250:

Gary's Ride Report 1
Gary's Ride Report 2
Gary's Ride Report 3
Gary's Ride Report 4

[supakpow2]

 

I'm curious, how many of you advising against the Ninja 250 have actually had one?

The guy asked for opinions (based on their own experience and reasoning proccess)and that's what he's getting. He didn't stipulate that you had to have owned a ninja 250 or any other small bike. Actually, he asked if we thought he was a pussy. He could have set up a poll or just asked for a "yes" or "no" but he left it wide open.
I don't think he's a pussy for considering his options, that makes him smart and ahead of the game, but the people here are right, he is implying that he wants us to make a decision for him without knowing much about him or his personality (will he be cautious, alert, use self control, etc...).
That has me leaning toward pussy.
Get opinions that you value and/or trust then make your decision ON YOUR OWN based on what you hear and how it applies to you, not whether we think owning a NINJA 250 makes you a pussy (which it does ).
People look at things with different lenses. I don't need to own a ninja 250 to know that I don't want to (have ridden one several times). Last time we road with a friend that had a ninja 250 it was not fun for him. He is a somewhat experienced rider but thought that the ninja would be a good 1st sportbike, so he bought one new. During the course of our ride in the Napa and surrounding area, he was passed regularly by small trucks and other cars, and was always behind us trying to keep up. He did not have the confidence or power in his bike to pass even when it was safe to do so. IMO, that makes any bike and rider dangerous and unsafe. We had to stop and wait for him OFTEN. Needless to say, the next week he traded the ninja in for a.................cruiser. He did not have fun and thought that sportbikes weren't for him based on his experience with an less powerful bike. since then he has ridden my S2R and thought it was awesome, and is reconsidering the whole sportbike thing. Thankfully!
The simple fact that he is a member of the board (that we are glad to have, Ducati or not) shows that he likes the ideas, values, lifestyle etc. of ducati owners.
So why get a Ninja?
He should be looking at a smaller italian bike like the Aprilias (cut from the same cloth as ducs) that could be turned into a track bike later to save money and get great experience on. More expensive than a ninja but think about the response he'll get next time he pulls up to ride with ducati owners. That comradery seems to be something he and many others here cherish. Try doing the same with a ninja of any size.
He can get a smaller monster or aprilia for a few thousand more, as has been said, save himself the time spent on a ninja, as well as the humiliation, and then when he gets to be a better rider he can look back with fond memories that he started on an italian bike, not a squidrocket.
Whatever he decides to do is cool and we would ride with him anyway, but why do something rash that he'll regret later?
Like others have said: get good gear (and use it ALL the time),be smart, cautious, and take it easy on any bike until you're a better rider. Also, ride with good, safe riders, Ducatistas or not, and stay away from idiot, careless riders, Ducatistas or not. You'll ride like the people you're with, that's the way we tend to be, especially as a new rider. That's a fact, count on it...
As we all know, the bikes we ride are'nt bought simply based on their size or our experience, but on many factors. Think it through and get what is right for you, no matter what we say or call you!
Hope all turns out well,and let us know what you decided to do!

BTW, I think the username PUSSY is still available. You should snap it up while you can.

AND, msinc, thanks for your positive input on the board, it usually is well balanced (if at times a little motherly) and informative.

[weemonster]

sounds rather senisble.

Makes a refreshing change.

anyone else remember the knob end for tob who proudly posted that he had just totalled his second s4r in as many months?