Kawasaki Ninja 250 tested

By MENG YEW CHOONG | 24 October 2013








 
nin

The B2 licence of Malaysia allows riders to ride a motorcycle of up to 249cc.

For most of the small to average-sized riders here, motorcycles powered by sub-250cc engines usually hits the right spot between power, weight and handling (and not forgetting, price).

In this regard, Kawasaki has a long heritage of offering 250s to Malaysians (yes, I was one of the early buyers of its ZZR250 when it was launched in the mid 1990s).









Ninaj8-(2)
 
Ninaj8-(1)

In Malaysia’s rather congested urban centres, a bike with a huge engine, let’s say above 500cc, would be rather difficult to manoeuvre through congested traffic, as well as jostling with hundreds of kupchais for parking space.

A 250, on the other hand, gives enough power even for two-up riding, and in general, does not remotely come close to weighing a tonne.

The latest to enter the fray is the Ninja 250, joining a not-so-crowded field that features Honda’s CBR250 and CFR250, as well as Vespa’s GTV250, just to name some.

My first impression of the Ninja 250 is that it handles almost exactly like the two-stroke Kawasaki ZX150.

Its circuit-developed new diamond-style frame offers a high level of chassis stability necessary for high-performance sport riding.

Its rubber front engine mounts significantly reduce engine vibration, contributing to a comfortable feel.

On the suspension side, the combination of the stiffer new frame, revised damping settings and softer spring rates front and rear contribute to the nimble handling, and enable both increased comfort for city riding as well as a firmer feeling when sport riding.

The Ninja shifts smoothly through its six cogs, pulls cleanly, and stops crisply, making it an easy bike to handle for bikes of all levels and skills.

The smoothness is no doubt aided by good airflow control, with a second set of ECU-controlled throttle valves precisely regulating intake airflow for crisp and natural response.

The large openings and fin design of the fairing also help in good heat dissipation, even when stuck in traffic, with the radiator fan cover directing hot air down and away from the rider.

When it comes to stopping, the supersport-style petal disc brakes both front and rear ensure good speed-scrubbing, other than providing racy Ninja looks.

Safety wise, the Ninja comes with a sidestand starter cut off switch, while its headlights put out a wide swathe of light to cut through the darkness.

And its rear-view mirrors are correctly placed, offering a good view of what’s coming from the rear.

In the ergonomics department, its large, analogue-style tachometer is complemented by a multi-function LCD screen with numerous features, including a fuel gauge, dual trip meters, and clock.









Ninaj8-(3)
Ninaj8-(6)

It even has an “eco mode” indicator, which tells you when you are riding sensibly and saving fuel.

Anyway, I clocked an efficiency level of 24.3km/l over 148km of testing in an urban environment. I certainly expected to surpass 30km/l if I did more expressway riding.

Cosmeticly, the Ninja 250 features a short-style silencer, just like the Ninja ZX-10R and 6R.

The complex cross-section enables the silencer to do its job without interfering with the bike’s lean angle.

The new 10-spoke wheel design is reminiscent of the one used on Kawasaki’s flagship Ninja ZX-14R, and the nice wheels are complemented by sporty tyres (140mm at the rear) designed for good grip in both dry and wet conditions.

With its large-volume bodywork that borrows heavily from flagship Ninja models, it is easy to mistake the Ninja 250 for a somewhat larger machine.

The image is reinforced by its aggressive new dual headlights to its sharp tail cowl to its overall paintwork.

My observation is that the engine is a bit buzzy when cruising at 110kph, with its rpm touching 8,000rpm, but I guess there is no such thing as a perfect bike or engine.

My other gripe is that there is no grip point for the pillion rider, which is slightly annoying for those who always carry a passenger (more annoying for the passenger, I suppose).

And of course, the price, which is at a rather high RM22,589 (nett bike price).

Overall, this is a bike that I feel that I am in full control of, which should be the way when it comes to riding with complete peace of mind.

The Ninja 250 has good general purpose riding dynamics, with an engine that is smooth and torquey where it matters (low-mid range). It is very easy to master and fun to ride, even with two up.

And as far as the 250cc market is concerned, this bike nearly ticks all the boxes for me.










Ninaj8-(7)
Ninaj8-(4)

Keywords