2012 CBR 250R vs 2012 Ninja 250R | GTAMotorcycle.com

2012 CBR 250R vs 2012 Ninja 250R

CBR250 or Ninja 250?

  • CBR250

    Votes: 49 46.7%

  • Ninja 250

    Votes: 56 53.3%
  • Total voters
    105
T

TheNewDude

Well-known member
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Hi Guys,
I didn't see a Thread comparing the two bikes so thought I'd start this.
So far these are the differences that I've been able to capture between the two bikes....

CBR 250R
Fuel Injected
ABS
Lighter Curb Weight
More Torque, especially at the lower end
More fuel efficient

Ninja 250R
2-Cylinder Engine
Higher Top Speed (not but a lot though)
More Horsepower
"Bigger looking" bike

What do you guys think?
Which one would you think is a better bike?

Both are priced the exact same ($5000), and Kawasaki has started offering a 2 year warranty on the Ninja 250 now too in order to compete with the CBR250's 2 year warranty.
The insurance is the same on both bikes and the CBR250 with ABS is $200 more OTD than the Ninja. I might still be able to negotiate the $200 gap but as of now the CBR250 is $200 more.

Would love everyone's opinion on it since I'm in the market and am considering these two bikes.

P.S. I have added a Poll too to get an idea of people's choice.
 
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I"m not sure if it can, but if the Ninja can share parts with previous 250's or even 500's, I'd go for that one. Parts available is a big factor to me.

First get insurance quotes, then talk to dealers and find out the OTD price.
 
matthew said:
I"m not sure if it can, but if the Ninja can share parts with previous 250's or even 500's, I'd go for that one. Parts available is a big factor to me.

First get insurance quotes, then talk to dealers and find out the OTD price.
Click to expand...

Well the insurance is the same on both bikes and the CBR250 is $200 more OTD than the Ninja (the ABS CBR250).
Parts I'm not sure about. But from what I've read it seems some parts in the CBR250 are shared with the CBR1000. I don't know which ones or how many though.
 
I'd go with the Honda 250.

Fuel injected, lighter, more fuel efficient....and all the reviews I've read says it feels torquier with more streetable power. (don't need the rev the nuts off of it to get it going)

In my opinon it's better looking too....but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Vote goes to the CBR250R, as that's the way I went myself. Essentially here's the reasons I went with the CBR over the Ninja:

- Fuel injected vs carbed.
- ABS option as a safety feature.
- More torque than the Ninja, so at city speeds it pulls better.
- Updated styling vs the Ninja that looks 'old' to me.
- Updated/digital dash that I liked more than the Ninja.

Outside of that, some other things I have heard, but can't really comment on first hand:

- Headlight better on CBR than on the Ninja.
- Less vibrations than the Ninja.
- Better mirrors than the Ninja.
- More people switching from Ninja to CBR than the other way around.

I think for those who push for the Ninja over the CBR, it comes down to people saying the Ninja is faster. I've seen videos that go both ways, as the Ninja is a bit faster in the straights but the CBR is faster in the corners. End of the day, neither is 'fast', so to me the above lists put the CBR250R ahead of the Ninja 250R...at least in my books.
 
TheNewDude said:
Parts I'm not sure about. But from what I've read it seems some parts in the CBR250 are shared with the CBR1000. I don't know which ones or how many though.
Click to expand...

I can't really say myself, but I know from reading fairings are supposedly dirt cheap for the CBR250R -- something like $75-100 each. This could be wrong though. I don't think many parts from the CBR1000RR would work (although the cylinder is 'similar'), however since the bike is made in Thailand and not Japan (same as the Ninja 250R I think), parts seem to be a LOT cheaper than some higher-end Japanese-made bikes.

One thing I should point out though about the CBR250R -- There are no holes for stand spools in the swingarm, so if you want a spooled stand then you need to spend $50-150 on spool adapters for the bike. I believe the Ninja has holes already.
 
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I was in the same situation about a month ago, looking at these two bikes. In the end fuel injection, abs and price made the CBR a winner. OTD price was 6000 (w ABS, and 1 year warranty), while I got a 6500 OTD estimate for a Ninja (Kahuna). You can probably find different prices with different dealers, but they were all so far from downtown.. without a car + with increasing impatience to own a bike, I only went to two.
I'm really enjoying the ceebee, I really recommend this bike, but keep in mind I've never ridden a ninja..
Good shopping!
 
conundrum said:
- ABS option as a safety feature.

Ninja should offer ABS too. Price for it sure is right on the CBR.

- Less vibrations than the Ninja.

I find that hard to believe. It's not like the engine is rubber mounted in the thumper and there are few other parallel twins as smooth as the Ninja is. Although when I say that, I'm referring to the previous generation bike, but I doubt the new one is any different.


- but the CBR is faster in the corners.

Didn't know that..is it suspended with better components than the Ninja?
Click to expand...

Comments inserted above.
 
nesobriquet said:
- Less vibrations than the Ninja.

I find that hard to believe. It's not like the engine is rubber mounted in the thumper and there are few other parallel twins as smooth as the Ninja is. Although when I say that, I'm referring to the previous generation bike, but I doubt the new one is any different.
Click to expand...

Just what I've heard on various sites, including some owners on CBR250.net (that had both bikes). I know on my CBR250R (which is still breaking in) I have some vibration at about 5000 RPM, however it's gone by about 5300 RPM. I think some of this comes from the fact the Ninja has to rev higher a lot of the time to generate power, which makes it 'buzzier' than the CBR (which generates power lower).

nesobriquet said:
- but the CBR is faster in the corners.

Didn't know that..is it suspended with better components than the Ninja?
Click to expand...


I remember reading results from a motogp race where the CBRs were all leading (at least for a time). I think it largely comes from the CBRs having more torque, therefore out of the corners they were faster, until the Ninjas could pass on a straight -- That's my logic anyhow. Again, neither bike is a real performer, so I always take track results with a grain of salt either way.
 
"I think it largely comes from the CBRs having more torque, therefore out of the corners they were faster, until the Ninjas could pass on a straight -- That's my logic anyhow."

Ya, I think you're right on that. Good torque helps a lot coming out of a corner, especially slow 80 - 100 kph type corners.

What speed are you doing at 5300 rpm? I assume that's in 6th?
 
For a beginner bike, the CBR is definitely better bang for your buck. ABS is a big deal for newbies. While people whine about carbs, it really isn't that bad. Yeah, it's old technology, but I'm not sure that it's obsolete or even a big enough deal to care about (unless you're considering it from a value-for-your-money angle).

As for the cbr being faster in the corners, I'm not sure that I believe it. When I checked, it seemed like the difference in acceleration between the 2 was debatable, but the ninja definitely had slightly more top end.

I think the biggest point that people often overlook is that the cbr comes with a 140 stock rear (vs the ninja's 130). You may have more tire options that way (correct me if I'm wrong). You can't get solid, reputable radial tires for the ninja unless you go up in size.
 
Wow th input here is gold! The CBR250 seems to have a slight edge here. A couple of my friends also recommended the CBR and said the resale might be better on it too since there aren't too many around.

I have to try and make a decision within a week.

For the people who have bought a CBR250 what out the door price should I be aiming for?? If you don't want to share with everyone cn you please PM me? It would be grately appreciated.
 
Found the article/thread regarding the CBR250R vs the Ninja during the CMRA Endurance Race:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=87352

Anyhow not trying to start an argument here, just saying it's something I had read in the past. As for saying maybe it is the higher torque, it's simply an attempt at trying to explain the above link, although I do figure 90% comes from the CBR250R having the better/best rider.

As for price, mine doesn't apply as most of the discounts I got were due to it being a 2011 ($250 dealer reduction, and $100 Honda loyalty discount). Price was approx $5700-5800 out the door for the ABS model (also had them throw in free first service and free delivery). I'd have to dig up the invoice to get the exact price. I will say none of the dealers were very willing to come down from MSRP all that much (if at all) on the bike.
 
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The Ninja 250 smokes the CBR...period.

[video=youtube;IvCarbUP7ZI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvCarbUP7ZI[/video]

Faster in the corners! LOL
 
They are both great bikes, you can't go wrong with either.

Although in my mind there is no reason to go with the cbr unless you just like honda more. I'll go through all the things you mentioned about the CBR in the original post.

CBR 250R
Fuel Injected -This and the Honda badge are pretty much the selling point for most people
ABS -You really don't need abs on a 250, most people who ride don't have abs on bikes with more than twice the stopping power
Lighter Curb Weight -You get blown around by the wind easier, and also the Ninja is still faster
More Torque, especially at the lower end -Again, Ninja is faster
More fuel efficient -I get 400km+ a tank on my ninja, they are both so fuel efficient it doesn't make a difference

Also keep in mind:
-If you are unlucky you could get a CBR with the engine shut off problem when downshifting
http://www.cbr250.net/forum/cbr250-...r250s-engine-turns-off-when-downshifting.html
-If you are taller, the CBR won't be as comfortable as the Ninja
-More used parts for the Ninja will be available if you crash it, or want to cheaply mod it
-There is nothing wrong with the the ninja having a carburetor, just turn it on with the choke and it will be warm by the time you have your helmet and gloves on.

Either bike you choose it doesn't really matter. Go to a honda dealer and sit on the cbr, go to a kawi dealer and sit on the ninja, buy which one you like more... Simple as that
 
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I went over this debate about a month ago and my decision was a Ninja 250.

1) Parts: Ninja- Cheaper to get parts due to having more on the street, give the CBR a few years.
2) Engine: screw the Carb/Fuel injected stuff... 1 cylinders vs 2 ....
3) mods - if you plan on doing any, clearly we know which way you should go...
4) vibration - I am pretty sure the Ninja is much better with less vibration than the Honda.
5) Sound both stock - the Ninja
6) looks - Ninja has a nice good looking style that makes heads turn and has a new green, CBR - if they had done the orange/grey paint job from the cbr125 on the 250 I would have had a big problem, the red/grey is nasty, the black is not visible IMO.

Reality is the only thing I would change on my ninja is the mirrors for the ones on the CBR. yeah she is carb and not fuel injected, but w.e only need two blocks to get warm and going.
 
I was debating between both these bikes and I am a new rider as well. I ended up with a 2011 Ninja

1. I was dreading the carb versus FI, but its really no big deal.
2. The 250R is faster, and heavier. Even with its heavier weight, i get blown around on the highway, so i would imagine the CBR 250 would be worse.
3. The gauges on teh 250R is very dated, but honestly, not a deal breaker. I like the gauges on the CBR, but i dont spend enough time looking at the speedo to really care.
4. Resale on the Ninja 250R is the main reason i wanted it. Because it appears it has been holding its value so strong for the last several years!!

If i did it over again, i would still choose the Ninja 250R. I cant imagine having a bike that is slower than the Ninja because its pretty slow as is.
 
I was facing same dilemma looking for bike for GF. Once I found that CBRs can stall while riding for no reason I decided against it. I am sure it is not problem for everyone but on cbr forum there is quite a few complaints and no solution. Not fun situation for someone starting...
 
Damn I thought this decision was made and now so many people jumping on the Ninja's side.

Hoe much did the Ninja owners pay OTD?
 
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