are 250's making a come back?

[Keen]

click for pics of the new 250 ninja

It seems that Kawasaki might be bringing a new version of their popular (outside europe) ninja 250R to our shores. When I was in the US I had one of the old ones and I really liked that little bike, screaming red line and good for over 100mph (indicated at least), comfy, economical and very cheap to buy (I got a 2 year old one that had barely done any miles for 2000 dollars).

So, do you think it'll sell in the UK (I think it will be a great success in europe)? I'm guessing they will try to get power output around the 33bhp mark to make it appeal to those on their restricted license and I assume it will handle very nicely indeed. You can see from the sales of the CBR125 that people are crying out for a small capacity bike that has a sporty look to it.

Is this a sign of the times? do you think tightening emissions laws and the drive to burn less fuel could make smaller cc bikes more popular in the future?
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson

[alpine]

I really hope so, i have seen the honda 250's, and if they were being sold when i passed my test i would have bought one. I doubt i would get one now, but i think they would sell.
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Current bike - FMX650.

[Kal]

Honda have never stopped selling the CB250...

Could do with a shit load more bikes on the market that are naturally under 33bhp without having to be resricted.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kickstart]

Hi

Think it will depend a lot on price. From memory the ZZR250 when sold in the UK was more expensive than an Aprilia AF1 of the time, so I would expect this new one to be at least £4k.

And the main market is those who have just done their test. Depends how many other those are fashion victims who just want to be seen on the latest sports 600 / 1000 irrespective of whether they can ride it properly or even whether it is restricted.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[JonB]

It's a damn shame that ninja is a parallel twin...
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[alpine]

[Keen]

[sickpup]

[Mister James]

Those pics show a pretty good looking bike - just the type of thing to get girls interested in bikes. My long-standing (but ever-elusive) love interest is interested in getting a small bike - but is only interested in sexy sportsbikes like that. She was very impressed with the new Yamaha R125 thingy, so a 250 Ninja with similarly impressive looks is going to be right up her street - especially as she weighs 7 stone so could probably go as fast on that as a fat knacker like me would on an R6!
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>Soultrader Mister James, I bet you are a copper
>Bazza Wow. Eyes like a shithouse rat, you...

[veeeffarr]

I can't wait, we should welcome diversity and choice with open arms, otherwise it's going to become a stagnant market of 600cc and 1000cc sports bikes.

T

[G]

Or the VTR250?
https://www.staintune.com.au/exhausts/honda/images/Honda%20VTR250.jpg

[alpine]

Ahh, i was going on what was in the showroom, as that was the only new 250cc there. That VTR looks nice 0.o never seen it before. I believe there was a 250 Hornet aswell? In the Japanese market only though, and produced 40hp?
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Current bike - FMX650.

[The Tot]

Meh, that ninja sucks! A REAL 250 NINJA was the one that i had. That was a hoot. Was well fun in the wet when i overtook my mate on an SV1000S around the outside on a bend! Just a baby zxr400 which looked ace.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Kal]

The Australian market has a healthy selection of 250's as they are restricted by cc rather than bhp in the first year or so.

I love the VTR, I was looking for one when I came across my GB.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[McGee]

They are a sin against man.

The current "ninja 250" is what looks like a gpz.

You can literally ride it full throttle every where and they hate to wheelie
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Kickstart]

[alien.46.uk]

[Keen]

[Groove]

That sucks

I want my old ZXR 250 back!!

(i actually do, with all modern parts )
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|| Past: 1991 Kawasaki ZXR 250 ~ 2003 Honda CBR 600 F Sport ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1999 Yamaha R1 ~ 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R J ~ 2004 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H 636 ~ 1998 Honda VTR1000F Firestorm ~ K1 GSXR 600 Track bike ~ K6 GSXR 1000 ~ 2006 Speed Triple 1050 || Current: 2005 R1 https://www.adrucore.co.uk

[G]

[TheShaggyDA]

I took my mate's GN250 for it's MOT wednesday, it was a nice sunny day and since my bike is off the road he told me to take my time coming back. I took it through the villages around Northampton, and although it's not a fast bike I had a stupid grin on my face the whole time. The suspension was soft but the bike was so light I found the boinging around corners not disconcerting at all. The seat/peg/handlebar position was just right for me.

https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/GN/GN250/1991_GN250_red_450.jpg

I think if the CB250RS was still available (at a realistic price), I'd have another in a heartbeat.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[flimbar]

I'd love a Yamaha YBR250 cos my YBR125 was ace, wish I hadn't flogged it, but the YBR250 only seems to be on sale on the continent, doesn't show on the uk Yamaha site.
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Yamaha YBR125 > Suzuki SV650S > Suzuki DL650 V-Strom > Honda CBR600F > Honda ST1300 Pan European

[Charlie]

[Keen]

[McGee]

The poor thing just backfires all the time now we broke something doing wheelies.

I must admit its a fun bike to rag cause you just keep it pinned every where. I also perfected sliding on it, just slam the rear brake and knock it side ways. Never tried on a corner just around carparks.

I'll see if he will let me take it out for some videos and pic's
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!