Ninja 250 as a starter bike and Carb's

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Hi all,

I'm new to the bike world and am starting to get a plan into place.

1. Take advantage of boxing day and get some good gear (I was thinking AGV K4 lid and some alpinestar jacket/gloves)
2. Get my M1 in Feb/March
3. Do an RTI course in April
4. Buy a used 2009-2012 Ninja 250

I was initially planning on buying the new 300 outright and have been out to showrooms and tossed my leg over a few and feel pretty comfortable on it, especially as a shorter guy that doesn't want to be slumped over the fuel tank like on an R6. However upon research, I realized that spending 6K on a 300 is a little silly.

So, I would like to budget around $2500 for a '09 ninja 250 and would be willing to go up to $3750 for an '12... However I find that most ninja 250's on kijiji now are upwards of 3500-4000+ for '08/'09 models. Should I be raising my budget or is my budget reasonable.

Also, with the 250 comes the issue of having a carb'd bike. As a non-mechanical newbie, is this a big obstacle? How difficult is it to clean carbs and is it just a pump choke like on a lawnmower?

Thanks and sorry for the stupid questions.
 
Im a female, and I bought a 09' 250r Ninja for my first bike. I love it! Its perfect weight range and very forgiving for new riders. I looked around for mine on kijiji probably starting in late feb-march got mine for 3500. I think it depends on the time of year when you buy. The closer to april/may the more money people start asking for them. Mine runs fine, you gotta use more choke when its cold out but really its just fine! I'd recommend getting a used one, especially for a beginner. As you may end up dropping it or some such nonsense, you don't want to drop a brand new bike right? Although i also found that some beginner guys prefer the hysoung (sp?)250 as its bigger and looks more like a 600.
 
Good plan, I strongly dislike the ninja250. However if it floats your boat, go for it. You deficiently have to raise your budget, in the spring/summer expect all bikes to be more expensive than it is now. All the new riders want to buy a bike - supply and demand. $4000 - $5000 ninja250, maybe a dropped on for $3500. Also you might want to add "Check insurance quotes before purchase"


ps. FS ninja500 look @ sig
 
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Thanks. Would it be a better idea to purchase it now before getting my license and just store it myself? Perhaps I'll check out the dealers in the spring as they'll be moving their '12 250's to make way for the 300's.

Also checking with ins is the first thing I did ;) My rbc coverage won't insure me but statefarm will for 800$ for the year. I'm 25.
 
Sounds like you've done your homework. I commend you... a lot of people on here skip important steps like checking insurance, etc.

3500 - 4000 sounds (unfortunately) relatively normal for a 250r. You might be able to find one in good nick for closer to 3000 if you try.

Carbed bikes aren't an issue, but I do find myself envious of FI at times. That being said... yea.. it's a non-issue. Just a little more old-fashioned. If you are set on FI, have you considered the CBR 250R?

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

EDIT: You could buy it in the winter, and save money. But then it will be sitting there, staring at you. Only then will you understand how cruel winter is when you're a rider
 
Thank you! Yes.. the bike-bug has been biting me very hard lately and all I can now do is research. Coming from a BMW forum, I have learned that being sensible yields the best results online.

In terms of gear.. I was thinking of hitting up riders choice one of these days and getting test fitted in terms of sizing and then ordering the gear online from a US e-commerce retailer. Any experience with this or would it be worthwhile checking out boxing week deals at riderschoice.

Also I would want a full leather jacket for max protection so I am seriously considering Astar since they speak to quality. However I've noticed that some jackets have varying levels of protection (some don't have back protection etc.). I would want a leather/vented full protection jacket.. any recommendations?

Cheers
 
Buying helmets is something you want to do in person. Sizing and fit is crucial. Different brands seem to cater to different head shapes, so keep that in mind. Also, remember dropping a helmet is a big no-no. Make sure you take good care of it.

The rest of the stuff can be bought online fairly easily, the sizing charts are helpful.

I can add more later, I'm on my phone now and I suck at typing :D
 
e90 said:
So, I would like to budget around $2500 for a '09 ninja 250 and would be willing to go up to $3750 for an '12... However I find that most ninja 250's on kijiji now are upwards of 3500-4000+ for '08/'09 models. Should I be raising my budget or is my budget reasonable.
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You will NOT find an '09 250 for $2500, the best you can hope for is around $3500 and then they give you a break on the tax when they write up the bill of sale. If you want to wait a year when there is a used market for the ninja 300, then 250 prices will probably drop substantially.
 
I bought a really old ninja 250, way less the cost than any other 250 out there, and it was clean and well taken care of. Put 16,000km on it this year no issues other than the maintenance. Nothing wrong with the 250 its a good all round beginner bike, dirt cheap on insurance and gas, and easy maintenance with dozens of newbie sites all eager to make how-to's, etc that help out other newbies.

Carbs are not a big deal, keep them clean and keep your bike stock and you'll be happy. If your over 25 check out ridersplus insurance, the cheapest insurance I found.
 
I think you've got the right idea about going for a used Ninja 250. The new 300 looks like a nice and better all around bike but as a beginner I don't recommend spending the money to go new. Aside from all the stupid dealer fees, possibility of dropping a new bike, you also lose a good chunk of $ from depreciation the minute you ride it off the lot.

Not a big deal if you plan on riding a small displacement for the next little while but as a beginner you might want to move up in displacement after the first season or two. You can sell a used 250 losing very little as they have good resale value as you can see. If you're willing to travel a bit, some better deals can often be found on bikes outside the GTA.

As for gear, check out canadasmotorcycle.com if you want to buy online. Depending on the item, it might be slightly more expensive than US retailers or sometimes cheaper. I bought an Icon leather jacket for cheaper than MSRP being offered from all the big name US online retailers who shipped to Canada. Take out the foam back protector and replace with a CE 2 piece and you've got a good combo. The good thing about buying from Canada's Motorcycle is avoiding brokerage fees and an easy return/exchange policy. You can buy online from the US if everything works out cheaper once shipping is factored in.

Customs is something you can't avoid. You pay tax whether you buy gear here or have it shipped from down south. What you want to avoid are brokerage fees so make sure the US retailer ships with USPS. Canada Post will do the final delivery to your door and you pay the mail man $7 for handling.
 
Is it worthwhile going to the Toronto Motorcycle Show this weekend in an attempt to score some gear (helmet/jacket/gloves/boots) etc. to be ready for RTI in the spring?
 
e90 said:
Is it worthwhile going to the Toronto Motorcycle Show this weekend in an attempt to score some gear (helmet/jacket/gloves/boots) etc. to be ready for RTI in the spring?
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In a word, yes. I bought Gloves and a face mask at the show last year. Great deals. Also watch Royal Distributing, they have "Tent Sale's" several times throughout the year with some excellent deals on older stock.

Also, FYI http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/ is the same company as http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/

I find comparing prices between the two, often the Canadian price is lower.
 
cknowles said:
Also, FYI http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/ is the same company as http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/

I find comparing prices between the two, often the Canadian price is lower.
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I've ordered most of my gear through Canada's Motorcycle. Shipping and customer service has been great in my experience. I have the Icon Overlord Prime Leather Jacket and love it, Scorpion Exo 500 Oil helmet, Icon Overlord Gauntlets, Knox Shorts and Alpine* shin/knee guards all bought from them. I did test fit my helmet first at a shop I was at but got it cheaper online. Boots I did buy locally as I spent an hour or so walking around in different pairs, got TCX sport tours.

I am a new rider too, just bought my first motorcycle new this past July, a Ninja 250 2012. I will likely be upgrading next season to a 600 sport bike but I love my Ninja but it was always just a stepping stone for me. I realized in buying it new and turning around in 12 to 18 months and selling it would = loosing money. But since I was completely new to riding I wanted something new and did not what to inherit someone else's issues.
 
e90 said:
Definitely not a Mark :)
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1. don't be stuck with brand names - for the $$ I paid for my shoei qwest, I could get a much better helmet that actually fits ( fit = queit ), and has a much better quality of pads/straps.
2. get the license as early as you can. insurance companies are very interested in the date you are first licensed.
3. try to book RTI as early as you can, if you want to do the course on the weekend. weekday courses are usually available I think - I booked mine the week before.
4. the bike from 08 to 12 is exactly the same, except for the colours of body and the exhaust pipe. don't worry which year it is, but look for the one that has been serviced, and taken care of. you can't go wrong with these bikes.
5. carbs are not an issue in my opinion. my bike has never had the carbs opened up before ( @ 45k kms today), and it's perfectly fine. sure it's not as smooth as an EFI engine, especially early in the morn, but that just adds to the first bike thrill =)
 
Ugur Dinch said:
1. don't be stuck with brand names - for the $$ I paid for my shoei qwest, I could get a much better helmet that actually fits ( fit = queit ), and has a much better quality of pads/straps.
2. get the license as early as you can. insurance companies are very interested in the date you are first licensed.
3. try to book RTI as early as you can, if you want to do the course on the weekend. weekday courses are usually available I think - I booked mine the week before.
4. the bike from 08 to 12 is exactly the same, except for the colours of body and the exhaust pipe. don't worry which year it is, but look for the one that has been serviced, and taken care of. you can't go wrong with these bikes.
5. carbs are not an issue in my opinion. my bike has never had the carbs opened up before ( @ 45k kms today), and it's perfectly fine. sure it's not as smooth as an EFI engine, especially early in the morn, but that just adds to the first bike thrill =)
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Thanks!

What do you think of this: http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-veh...2010-Kawasaki-Ninja-250-SE-W0QQAdIdZ432595471


Also, I think I might pick this up now and just transfer ownership over but leave it uninsured (as I won't have my M1 license till mid Feb 2013)

I want to register for the RTI course but they don't start till April I think (edit: Registration begins Monday) I wish I could get my M1 tomorrow and be able to plate and register the bike but it will expire before I can take my RTI course.

Also.. if I plan to buy a bike now and just transfer the ownership and not register/insure it till the spring can I still do that? Or do I HAVE to get it registered within a certain time period of buying the bike.. I'll let you guys figure out the math on how this wouldn't work out for me.
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