Low cost track bike

slickwill · 10-03-2007, 10:06 PM

The all new '08 Ninja 250 looks great. I've never been a huge Kawi fan but small bikes are supposedly great for learning good track form. At $3500 full retail it would probably be no problem to pick one up for $3K. A little less if you wait for one that a newb has dropped. A little suspension work, and track plastics and I think you would have a great low cost, light weight track bike that is easy on tires.

With the improved looks more new riders might actually consider it as a first street bike also rather than heading straight for the 600's and 1000's.

.OrgOwner · 10-03-2007, 10:09 PM

You make some good points here, I think it looks better than the new 1000! 250's have always looked a little on the soft side your right but with cars becoming more expensive to own and run we might see a lot more of these on the roads and on the track.

slickwill · 10-03-2007, 10:20 PM

Picture it without the extra long rear fender and add an aftermarket pipe and track plastics and I think it will look awesome. I'm still researching the suspension to see if there is much that can be done with it. If not it would be pretty limited.

.OrgOwner · 10-03-2007, 10:39 PM

Yeah I am also tring to picture it in red....

Maholli · 10-03-2007, 10:46 PM

Sounds like a great project for ya Slickwill.. I bet it would be a blast to throw that thing around on the track...

Sprint1050DA · 10-04-2007, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .OrgOwner

Yeah I am also tring to picture it in red....

Why would you want it in red? kawasakis shouldn't come in any color other than green.

ConqSoft · 10-04-2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .OrgOwner

Yeah I am also tring to picture it in red....

Like this? http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=263

Maholli · 10-04-2007, 12:30 AM

Attachment 27182 Wow it does look good in Red.

.OrgOwner · 10-04-2007, 1:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

Like this? http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=263

Yes and the bike looks pretty good as well..

slickwill · 10-04-2007, 10:16 AM

I would actually go with the black.

.OrgOwner · 10-09-2007, 7:19 PM

I know that in the dirt I've had the most fun on 250's, they are less tiring, lighter and you can lap quickly on one on tight tracks - often faster than on a 450 or open class bike in the right conditions. They are more cost effective than bigger bikes, tyres, chains etc.. If you are all on similar machines at the track it can be a lot fun.

slickwill · 10-09-2007, 7:54 PM

My dirt bike is a 250 2-stroke so it is technically more in the 450 class. I actually haven't ridden any of the new generation four strokes that have replaced all of the two strokes. If I was to get one I would probably go with the 250 rather than 450. I have also been drooling over the Service Honda AF500 two-stroke though. It is definitely WAY more bike than I have the skill for but talk about some braggin' rights.

However, to get back on track, what you are talking about in your last post is kind of the idea. I figure with a 250 for a track bike I can save on a lot of costs, plus maybe learn better technique and actually be able to ride it closer to the limit. I'm waiting to see one in person though to see if there is actually room to go with clip-ons so that I can get the bars down to a better height. It would need rear-sets as well. Also not sure how much can be done with the suspension.

.OrgOwner · 10-09-2007, 8:13 PM

A group of us many years ago got off 2 strokes for a while and started riding XR200's & 250's - We built a tight track with lots of table tops, quads and stutters that matched the power of the bikes. When I look back that time spent on the slower bikes taught me a lot about riding and we had loads of fun. I've been on the new 450's and right now I've just parked a KTM520EXC in the shed. If you can handle a 250 2 stroke you can handle a 450, the power is quite linear on the new stuff - almost electric. A 500cc 2 stroke is just plain scary, I've never liked riding them. If you can get together with a few people on 250's at the track your going to have a lot of good fun no question.

Mogolf · 10-09-2007, 8:50 PM

Pretty sweet lookin ride for 250 I'll admit. Maybe I can get the wife interested in selling the 250 Rebel...

pohiles · 10-09-2007, 10:23 PM

Has any one heard when they hit dealerships?

Maholli · 10-09-2007, 10:52 PM

Does your KTM520EXC look like this .Org?

Attachment 27276 Attachment 27277
Attachment 27278

Back on the topic, I think my wife might try one of these Ninjas for her first bike.. She really likes the red...

.OrgOwner · 10-09-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maholli

Does your KTM520EXC look like this .Org?

...

Eewww - no thanks. What a nasty thing to do a a Pumpkin. I will post some pics up of mine soon.

Maholli · 10-09-2007, 11:07 PM

not sure why anybody would do that either... KTM's are bad a$$ machines... Can't wait to see some pics..

CBR929RE · 10-09-2007, 11:10 PM

best looking bike of 08.

Bigdaddy75 · 10-10-2007, 1:44 AM

How far do the little 250's rev out? I imagine they would scream in order to make some power.

slickwill · 10-10-2007, 10:06 AM

I think redline is around 14K.

solorsix · 10-11-2007, 3:53 PM

I don't think you would like it to be honest. Or maybe you should get some seat time on one first. For the same money you could get an SV650 used and for about the same money as you would put into the 250 on susp you almost do the sv's. Just my 2c, I had quite a bit of seat time on one years ago.
You would even be a touch dissapointed in the SV coming off of the f4i.

slickwill · 10-11-2007, 6:44 PM

I'm not looking for power. I'm looking for a bike that my personal ability will allow me to ride to the maximum of its limits so that I can truly improve my technique. I'm also interested in the new MX based 450 racers that are in development. That might be the route that I take. They would be easier to work on and maintain. That is why my only concern with the Kawi is the suspension and riding position. I want good suspension and handling with low power.