Just bought a 2009 ninja 250cc !

I just decided to get a street Bike. I truly love custom bikes. I dont like that the Qc gov upped the registration costs .

125 cc or less $174 $4 $40 $218
126 cc to 400 cc $285 $4 $40 $329
401 cc and over (regular) $474 $4 $40 $518
401 cc and over (high-risk) $986 $4 $40 $1 030

http://www.motorcycle.com/specs/kawasak ... /250r.html

Our gas prices soar in the summer was up to 1.49$ /liter . However this 4 stroke twin sold me with its economic Pros. Even If you are a throttle whore (like myself) this is a great bike on gas. As well the kawasaki ninja250R is one of very few bikes under 400cc available in canada and limited.
Complete coverage Insurance is 189$/yr
Registration 329/yr


not too shabby .

 

I am curious why you would ride a 250cc Ninja instead of a 650 Max?

 

Wow, halfcentury,
I don't mean to be combative here, but did you even read the post before you replied to it?
:?

 

If I read the original post correctly the Max would cost either $518 or $1030 a year JUST to REGISTER depending on how it is classified.

And to think I get upset about paying $30 instead of $20 because I didn't renew my tabs by my birthday (in the dead of winter.)

 

I have a 650 max as well Its plated as an antique 85$/yr insur 130$yr. So I can not take it on the highway. I did the commute all last riding season 45 min in to work 45 min back. though I enjoyed my morning ride on my maxim the ride back is killer after working 12 hr days. especially when the HWYs are 1 km away . and would take me 15 min instead of 45min( may have gone on the hwy 1 or 10 times) So that will be my new commuter. and my maxim my weekend cruiser.

just to clarify , Ill keep this 250 ninja untill its dead, and Ive deemed myself experienced enough and hope to join the big boys with the 1100-1300 cc customs. Who knows in 3-4 yrs there could be a whole new world of motorcycles. literally. Ill still have my maxim.

 

In addition ..... The reason it is SOOOO bloody expensive is because when registering bikes here in Quebec we have a no fault dissability(SAAQ) insurance. Meaning if we are injured due to a moto accident . Our government takes care of our Bills .... all of our bills, ALL. And our personal Moto insurance covers the damage of the Bike and other party. normally with a min of in 1million public liability and a 250$ deductable.

So in brief . On top of our" free" health care , we get takin care of by our tax payers. Those unfortunite ones involved , and those causing the accidents get takin care of just the same. Oh Canada . We all pay into the pot and only few of us have to use it , we hope .

 

proving once again, there is no "free lunch." Just paying elsewhere or at another time.

 

hmm, too bad ninja 250's and 500's dont have the same frame, or else you could throw in a 500 and have a cheaper registration, but thsoe 250's are a boat load of fun i guess, have fun

 

I Have heard that Ninja 250 can out run Yamaha 650/750s in the 1/4 mile

 

doubt it...... i'd put money on it

 

I can let you know in 60 days.

 

If you bought the Ninja new its about $4000.
You save $500/yr or so if I read correctly.
It will take 10 years or so to pay back the $4000.
Factor in that you already own the Max and that there is an opportunity cost of money, etc. etc.

I rode a 250 in the MSF class. Too small for me.

 

VERY good point, halfcentury!
So few people factor in the cost of money when making decisions.

People wanna rush out and replace their family sedan, that has been paid off for more than a year, gets about 22 mpg and runs perfectly with a fancy new hybrid, cause they wanna save money on gas.
I find that hilarious.
Let's see, aside from the new car payment, you're paying a 3000 to 4000 dollar premium for the hybrid tech.
Figure about 25,000 to 30,000 for a new hybrid sedan.
Figure the hybrids are returning about 35 mpg overall driving.

Now do the math and tell me how long it will take to pay that off in gas savings because you're getting 13 mpg more than before.

I'll give you a hint. It will be well past the time of another major market shift that will change the paradigm again.

If you're buying that smaller bike or hybrid car strictly because you're trying to save the planet some gas, then you may have a valid argument.

I still see the registration fee here as the driving force.

 

Here's the math from my previous post:
New car = $25,000
Gallons of gas for your old car that would buy (at $3.00 a gallon) = 25,000/3 = 8333
Miles you can go on 8333 gal of gas at your old car's 22 mpg = 183,333 miles
Years of driving that is, at average of 17,000/year = 10.7 years.

That means you have to drive your hybrid over 10 years before you see dime ONE of savings due to it's superior mpg, just to amortize your purchase of the new car!

I realise this assumes your old 22 mpg car is running fine and will last the next 10 years, but it's still an interesting point.

You can't just factor in the costs you want to account for and ignore the ones you don't. Reality doesn't work that way.

It's the same argument about carbon footprints of vehicles. I assume you've all seen the scientific supporting evidence that shows a Hummer H2 actually has a smaller carbon/ecological footprint than a toyota prius, when you factor in TOTAL footprint from raw material collection to post mortem disposal and storage?

 

Seems there ae a few that always want a debate. ... Excluding the fact that Both bikes are paid for,3 including my dirtbike . The new ninja is 4700 tx in , or 28$/wk for 60months.... open account.

So I got a NEW bike and fill it for the entire week (60-80MPG),and use less fossil fuels, and pollutants into the air , at the cost of fueling my max for 3 days.

Im no tree hugger, and I do love HP, big engines , blowing shite up, and american action in all its glory. But I do think for me Its time I do my part a little bit more. Now that im married I even recycle.

Now to contradict everything I just said if I had the Cash I would get the new Triumph Triple 2200cc . I just need to put on 50 lbs and make 50 000 more a year.

Anywho Ill end it there. Im 5'8" , 150. riding for 2 yrs now This is a great bike for me, And Like I said if The Max was highway legal Id be investing another huge chunk of change into her.

 

Since when did anyone have to justify the purchase of a motorcycle? Come on, guys.

 

johnnymaritime, it is certainly interesting to see the way the different government bodies nick everyone at license time. In Washington state I pay $28 per year for license tabs and my insurance is $128 per year for liability and uninsured motorist.

Yikes!

They changed the law her a few years back and I was behind a lady licensing a big diesel pusher motorhome. The bill was over $5,000 for a 1 YEAR LICENSE. THe same vehicle now would cost less than $70 per year.

Have a great time on that nimble Ninja!

Wamaxim

 

I bought a 2008 Ninja 250R for my wife to learn on last year. To answer the question about a 250R vs. XJ650, the XJ is faster, has better low end torque, better gearing, and has more top end then the little 249cc parallel twin.

The bike does get amazing gas mileage, especially considering to just go 65mph(105kpm-ish) you're into or approaching 5 digit rpm's.

To me, it felt like I was riding a supermoto bike with supersport fairings on it. They look good though.

Also, needless to say, my wife is riding an '07 Kawi ZZR600 this year.

 

Well everyone is expected to have an opinion. I have a 03 dyna wide glide and my friends ask me why I ride my 83 xj 1100 and I say because with 2 people on the dyna has no GUTS and a 25 year old bike has so there you. So everyone is right here lolol

 

So... it sounds like it fits your needs... thats GREAT!! as your skills improve I'm sure there are ways to increase the fun factor on that bike... start looking at mods now and make your plan... just another fun project, enjoy it!!

 

I like the 250 ninja's mine is an 05..

if they are broke in properly. (work them as hard as you can)

i can pull the front wheel off the ground when shifting
1st-2nd
2nd-3rd

and with the stock tire on the rear i would get a bunny hop out of the front
by double cracking the throttle in 4th

as far as performance go's ...
i have no problems keeping up with anything below 650cc.. :twisted:
i just can't pass them.

i've made comfort upgrades but no "performance" upgrades.

all in all. nice bikes for the price tag. and we all know "you get what you pay for".

 

whats the hp/ top speed on the 250?

 

On my 05 model the HP is 38

and top speed is approx 108MPH

there is some error in the speedo from the factory...
I've never been clocked professionaly.... (that would be expensive!!!)

 

jonnymaritime

Good on 'ya! I've been considering one for quite a while for my 42 mile round trip commute. I buy and sell Honda Rebels and could use one of them but I think I'd like the extra power. Mileage is pretty much the same. Don't worry what anybody else thinks.

 

If it makes you happy - do it. I was looking around at ANYTHING befor I bought my XJ600 (£48 per year road tax, £80 per year 3rd party fire & theft insurance but then I am 45!) Bike cost £360 but I've spent £100 so far!!!

I know some readers of the forum like "Top gear", from the BBC.
They "Raced" a Prius with a mid range BMW. The Prius went as fast as it could around the track and the BMW just had to keep up. Guess which used less fuel?
Clue: It comes from Germany!!!

 

Enjoy that Ninja. It's refreshing to hear someone that is not stuck in the bigger is better mentality a lot of people suffer from in North America. I personally hope that they bring back graduated licensing that would limit the size of bike new riders can operate. We have too many new riders out there that do not have the experience or the brains to handle the power these new bikes produce and you have new riders starting out on bikes with well over a 100 horsepower. Bring back the graduated license and then maybe it will create a demand for some of the cool smaller bikes here that they only get overseas right now.

 

Enjoy your Ninja. I love my 650 Seca but the bikes I had the most
fun on over the years were my '66 Yamaha DS3 Catalina, '70 Yamaha DT1C Enduro and '68 Royal Enfield Continental GT, all 250CC. They were all nimble and easy to toss about, and I had to work hard to wring them out. Of course I was a lot lighter and more flexible back then <'69 - '74>. Big bikes are great on the highway and in areas with lots' of room to play, not so much fun in traffic. Same goes for 4 wheels, we have an F150 and a Nissan XTrail, guess which one I prefer to drive in town?

 

I definitely agree with you. I've owned all sorts of bikes in my 61 years but I've had the most real fun on the little Rebels I buy and sell. BTW have you seen the new FI Royal Enfield that's coming out? I'd love to get my hands on one.

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?s ... le_id=1051

 

Salut !!!!!!!!!

Just nice to hear there is someone from Montreal here....