Kawasaki 250R Sportbike Review

2008 KAWASAKI NINJA ® 250R SUPERSPORT offer authentic ninja style and performance Fast, affordable, fuel efficient, Easy Ride to research and Great A glance at the new Ninja 250R ® everyone says that this bike is the real article. With a full fairing similar to the Ninja ZX -6 ™ R-10R and supersport motorcycles, one kicks-silencer, UNI-TRAK ® rear suspension, high performance petal disc brakes and a double-seat, is most stylish artist in his class. Compact size, unique personality and a small price to pay to highlight the new Kawasaki Ninja 250R quarter liter artist. Considering how much it is fun to drive and the fact that it is the only 250cc sportbike sold to the USA, it is not surprising that the Ninja 250R was a big seller for more than a decade. Its successful mix of a rider engine friendly, easy to use and chassis supersport style worthy of his moniker Ninja, this model was developed to provide performance riders of all skill levels and goes to show that good things not just in small packages. At the heart of lightness Ninja 250R is an engine that thrives on high excitement rpm. The Feisty 249cc parallel twin was taken to spice up its smooth and predictable power delivery. It now offers more low-and mid-range torque through a revision of its dual overhead camshafts and a new 2-to-1 exhaust system. A silky six-speed transmission at the top of the list of equipment sportbike, the 250R can operate a power that's sure to please with its riders beginner friendly low-end grunt and a lively high-end rush which will seasoned veterans satisfied. The coup de grace is its ability to provide excellent fuel economy. The 250R's new fairing and windshield not only look good, they improve protection against the wind for a wide range of riding situations. This lightweight sportbike is loaded with even more rider-friendly features such as an easy to read the scoreboard and positive neutral researcher. A natural driving position and comfortable combined with the ergonomics of his salary lightweight, easy and a better mastery of gas response make the 250R a pleasure to drive on the streets. Also new for 2008 are larger 17-inch wheels to provide better handling and stability. A larger 290mm front brake rotor is in the grip of a powerful 2-piston caliper provide a good dose of judgement with a reactive power feel the joystick. Kawasaki Like other models sport, the Ninja 250R is equipped with petal discs for the efficient dissipation of heat. The simple formula to provide easy handling agility, responsiveness light, and low cost of ownership Ninja 250R a force to be reckoned with in the entry-level sportbike category.

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R

The ¼ liter class is a pretty important learning too for bigger and more powerful motorcycles.  Many of todays big name riders have started off on the smaller bikes. Many have found that it is easier to hone the basic skills necessary to ride skillfully on a smaller, less powerful bike.  Enter the Kawasaki ninja 250R

Wait, isn’t this bike old news?  Not yet.  Kawasaki revamped the venerable 250r in 08, and the changes have been drastic. According to Kawasaki, 62% of ninja 250 owners are first time buyers.  Cost comes in as the biggest factor in what-to-buy.  Next comes styling, power, insurance, and size.  The new sportbike by kawi fits all those. 

Lets look at some of the key changes.  Firstly, Kawasaki finally upgraded to a 17 inch wheel (no more 16inchers).  Bigger 290mm dual piston calipers help in the braking department.  A new 2 into 1 exhaust system replaces the old dual pipes the 07 model sported.  Changes to the carburetors, intake and exhaust ports in the head, cams, and reshaped combustion chambers all help make this sportbike better than the previous model.

But what about he biggest changes?  Styling.  The newer 250 has been drastically redesigned to better resemble its bigger brothers, the zx6r and the zx10r.  a more modern front fairing, lower, sleeker profile, and cleaner tail end all make this bike look 20 years newer (which it essentially is) than the predecessor.

 The 08 Kawasaki Ninja 250r.  Go team green.

2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Stats

Engine Type     Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, parallel twin

Displacement    249 cc

Bore & Stroke             62.0 x 41.2mm

Maximum Torque         22 Nm (2.24 kgf/m) 16.2 lb-ft/9,500 rpm

Compression Ratio       11.6:1

Carburetor       Keihin CVK30 x 2

Ignition             Digital

Transmission     6-Speed

Final Drive        O-Ring Chain

Cooling            Liquid

Frame Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel

Rake/Trail        26 degrees / 3.2 in.

Front Tire Size 110/70-17

Rear Tire Size   130/70-17

Wheelbase       55.1 in.

Front Suspension / wheel travel             37mm hydraulic telescopic fork / 4.7 in.

Rear Suspension / wheel travel Bottom-Link Uni-Trak® with 5-way adjustable preload / 5.1 in.

Front Brake Type         Single 290mm hydraulic disc with two-piston caliper

Rear Brake       Single 220mm petal disc with two-piston caliper

Fuel Tank Capacity      4.8 gal.

Seat Height       30.5 in.

Dry Weight       333 lbs. / 337 lbs. (CA-model)

Overall length   82.1 in.

Overall width    28.1 in.

Overall height   43.7 in.

Color   Lime Green, Ebony, Passion Red, Candy Plasma Blue

Warranty          12 months

Good Times™ Protection Plan             12, 24, 36, 48 months

2008 Ninja 250R Features

DOHC 249cc parallel Twin-cylinder engine
-- Compact-twin parallel design offers a good weight for better handling centralization
-- Tuned to provide smooth, not without power with an emphasis on low and mid-range power for rider-friendly response
-- Pistons enhanced functionality chiefs and strengthening the pin boss for increased durability
-- Thick piston (longitudinal) rings help minimize oil consumption
-- The combustion chamber optimized to maximize combustion efficiency and reduce emissions
-- Large-rpm high-performance please riders using the full range of engine

Culasse
-- Sophisticated intake and exhaust contribute to the good off-idle response and smooth power supply
-- Valve timing and lift were designed for strong and weak mid-range torque
-- Directe valve actuation ensures reliable high-operability rpm
-- Valves thin stems and heads to reduce the weight alternative

Carburetor
-- Double Keihin carburetor CVK30 refined in order to feel good and low fuel consumption

Exhaust
-- 2-in-1 system contributes to the Ninja 250R low-and midrange torque and smooth, not without the power curve
-- A little quiet upswept many tests to determine the dimensions of the room, connecting pipe length and diameter to achieve less noise and more power
-- Meets with double stringent emission catalysts, one in the manifold and the other in the silent
-- The use of two catalysts to minimize the power loss
-- Positioning the first catalyst closest to the exhaust ports to maximize its effectiveness and

Noise Reduction mechanical
-- Cam chain tensioner with an automatic adjustment, like the one on the KX 450 F ™ motocrosser, eliminates the mechanical noise caused by a chain cam in bulk and be able to steal reduced friction loss
-- Silencing the mechanical noise allows the use of a free flow exhaust for better sound quality
-- Complex construction of strengthening ribs AirBox helps eliminate reverberation and reduce noise admission
-- Air Filter accessible side to facilitate the replacement

Coolant
-- Denso latest generation offers superior cooling radiator with a minimum of space and weight
-- Ring-used a silencer-fan engine that works also save space
-- Fins on the lower crankcase further help cool the engine

Six-speed transmission / clutch
-- Involute splines to reduce friction and Thursday between vehicles and trees to facilitate the meshing of gears and smooth passage under tension
-- Spring-type clutch damper reduces jerkiness at very low speed, and minimizes the impact on deployment and outside on the throttle to facilitate the printing clutch
-- Document base plates friction contribute to increasing the sustainability clutch

Chassis
-- Rugged and durable diamond frame style thick-walled steel provides a source of inspiration confidence stability of both high and low speeds
-- Beefy oscillating support contributes to the rigidity of the frame and contributes to achieving an ideal rigidity of chassis balance
-- Square-tube with a swing arm 60 x 30 mm section increases the rigidity

Suspension
-- New 37mm telescopic front fork with a farm settings contribute to the Ninja 250R good, stable, handling and improved ride control
-- Uni-Trak rear suspension compliments rigid frame and re-listening fork and offers a great ability to dress
-- Characteristics of the rear damper 5-adjustable preload, allowing the vehicle to be maintained if riding solo or with a passenger

Wheels / Tires
-- Presentation 17 "wheels as its big brothers supersport
-- Low profile sportbike tires on large wheels contribute to its easy, neutral handling at low speed

Brakes
-- Large-diameter, 290mm front petal disc and a balanced two-piston caliper offers excellent performance braking and a natural, direct printing the joystick
-- Two-piston caliper control the rear 220mm petal disc

Ergonomics
-- Natural driving position slightly tilted forward and a large place, raised handlebars

Body
-- The style is his greatest displacement supersport Ninja brothers and sisters
-- Honorabilité and finishing to find full-body fairing on an equal footing with that of high-level Ninja supersports
-- Agressives double lamp lighthouse design, thin tail cowl and separate seats further enhance the look supersport
-- Front cover and the windshield offers a rider significant amount of protection against the wind
-- Two incumbents helmet conveniently located under the rear seat
-- Under seat storage may contain a U-LOCK or similar device
-- Two hooks under the tail and rear passenger pegs provide anchor points to get points on the back of the bike

Instrumentation
-- Instrument has a panel easy to read, high-speed analog face with an analog tachometer, odometer, trip meter, fuel gauge and warning lights

2008 Ninja 250R Q&A with Product Manager

2008 Kawasaki Ninja® 250R

Q & A with Sportbike Product Manager Karl Edmondson

Since its debut in the mid-80s, the Ninja 250R has developed quite a following. What is

the reason behind this model’s market dominance – this is the best selling Kawasaki

motorcycle, right?

In a nutshell, the Ninja 250 is priced to attract a lot of first time buyers and those on a budget.

Its easy handling, beginner friendly personality and excellent reliability increase the perceived

value of its low purchase price. This is Kawasaki’s number one selling motorcycle and one of

the few bikes from any manufacturer to show positive sales numbers, while the industry as a

whole dropped an average of about seven percent in the last year.

How has Kawasaki factored this legacy into the redesign for 2008?

Utilizing the lessons learned with the outgoing

Ninja 250R, the designers strove to retain its

positive traits and keep the price low, while

improving its beginner-friendly attributes and

updating its sportbike styling.

Besides the obvious visual (bodywork) updates, what are some of the other key

changes?

The engine received a major work over; it now produces

more torque earlier in the rev range, meets ever-tightening

modern emissions requirements and produces less noise.

Updated brakes with petal style rotors, and 17-inch wheels round out the significant changes.

What obstacles did the engineers face when they created the 2008 Ninja 250R?

Modernizing the styling, updating

the suspension, wheels, brakes,

bringing the engine into

compliance with tough (50-state

legal) emission standards and

improving real-world power

delivery, all while keeping the

price down was a quite a tall

order to fill.

Who are the target markets of the 250R? Is more than one market focus unique to this

model?

The most obvious sales demographic for the

Ninja 250R are young, beginning riders.

However, we found that it has quite a broad

appeal, including men and women in age

ranges throughout the scale. It boasts one of

the highest percentage of women riders as

well – fully 33 percent of Ninja 250R owners

are female.

Is it safe to label the Ninja 250R as “a do-it-all street bike”?

Yes, its excellent mileage, low cost to

purchase/insure, improved power delivery and

easy handling mean it’s certainly at home in the

urban jungle. Furthermore, the Ninja 250R isn’t

just a great city bike, it’s also a fun sport bike –

even a great club racer for some.

What accessories are planned or already exist for the Ninja 250R?

Right now we have an accessory seat cowling that

enhances the sporting appeal of the new bodywork

and will be available for $99.95.

Courtesy of www.kawasaki.com