Kawasaki Ninja 250 Review
"The smartest first bike money can realistically buy used."
Used Buyer Review
The Ninja 250 is genuinely one of the smartest used buys in motorcycling, full stop. It's bulletproof if maintained — these parallel-twins will happily run past 30,000 miles without complaint, and parts are cheap and plentiful. What catches people off guard is how capable it actually feels once you're pushing it. Redline that 249cc engine past 10,000rpm and it comes alive in a way that embarrasses its displacement on paper. Buying used, watch for neglected chain and sprockets — common on bikes that sat with learner-plate riders who lost interest fast. Check the fairings carefully since tip-overs are practically a rite of passage on these. Stator issues popped up on pre-2008 models, so budget for that. The 2008 refresh brought fuel injection rumors but it stayed carb'd — that's actually fine, carbs are simpler to sort. The real 2013 EX300 upgrade is where fuel injection arrived if that matters to you.
Pros
Cons
You want highway touring comfort immediately
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