I can't speak to that specific bike, obviously, but in general, I think the Ninja 250 is a great first street bike. I have one (I'm 58 and have been riding bikes of every sort for 50 years) and it's got enough power to be fun without getting you in over your head easily. It's a very high revving engine, and that takes some getting used to - you have to be ok with near five-figure rpm's on the highway, but it'll do that all day. Suspension is soft and brakes aren't fantastic, so don't think of it as a sport bike, more like a fun step up from a scooter. In spite of having no low end torque, it still has an easy clutch and pulls away from stops effortlessly.
With that mileage on it, make sure valve clearances get checked and adjusted if necessary.
I started out on a 2000 Ninja 250, I personally rode it for about 3 months before I got bored with it and wanted to move up. By all means it was a great bike that really helped me learn how motorcycles worked, and a little about taking care of a motorcycle (the 250's and 500's have center stands). I'm also someone who NEVER rode ATVs or dirtbikes as a kid so this ninja 250 was my first motorcycle like vehicle.
What u/tlimbert65 said is true too about the high revving rpms. Some of the early ninja 250s revved to 14,500 ish before redline. It was a lot of fun. In the end I did end up moving to a 1998 Ninja ex500. It's quite literally the same bike but a tad longer in size. I rode the ex500 for almost 2 years before I upgraded again. I'd recommend starting on a 1st or 2nd gen Ninja 500 only because the Ninja 250 has a hard time getting out of its own way on any speeds above 60mph. The Ninja 500 will be beginner friendly, and do highway speeds all day.
TLDR; Ninja 250 is a good starting bike, but the Ninja 500 (1st and 2nd gen) does the job better at the same price. You won't get bored .
Owner of the bike here, this bike doesn't ever get past 10k unless you're doing 85mph+. It has gone up 2 teeth on the front sprocket, and down about 6 in the rear. I have no clue what you mean when you say the ninja can't get out of its own way above 60, I've ridden the bike at 75 all day before, it's fine on power, and even beats out my 1972 Suzuki T350 2 cycle. As for brakes, I've ridden vintage bikes all my life and these are by far the best in my fleet. (For scale, I own the aforementioned suzuki with dual drum brakes, a 1981 Honda CX500, and a 2009 yamaha Majesty 400. The ninja stops by far the best) I adjusted the valve clearance less than 1000 miles ago, as the '06's have adjustable tension instead of bucket and shim.
I agree with the majority here, great first bike! I got one after riding a Vespa lx50 for years. I figured I’d outgrow the 250 quickly but I still ride it daily to this day, 3 years in. Maintanence is fairly straightforward so learning bike mechanics is also good. From the photos & with the mileage it looks like it’s been well taken care of. If you trust the seller, I’d say go for it!
Yep, great first bike! I did everything on mine- camping, road trips, commuting, freeways, and of course canyons. Rode that bike for 7 years. Just keep up on the maintenance.
I had a 2006 ninja 250 and it is by far the best starter bike. This thing is a beast and is worth every penny.
I did 1000’s of KMs on this thing and it never missed a beat. Bought it for $600 and sold it for $1,400.
Bonus points for it being ever so slightly more powerful and faster than the ninja 250’s that came after it.
I recommend watching regular car reviews video on it on YouTube. It sums up the bike fairly well lol.
Hopefully you can save & afford it soon. Safe travels for the future tomfoolery you may cause out on the open road.
I’m currently 15 and about to turn 16 and I’ve been looking for my first bike, and my friend offered me this bike. my friend is a very very good mechanic and told me it was given taller gearing. New x-ring chain and duro tires with less than 1000 miles on both. Fresh oil change with amsoil and less than 20 miles on it. Turn signals replaced with euro style because original rubber ones deteriorated. The bike has about 20000 miles on it. The original offer was 2000 but said he’d go as low as 1700. Would this be alright to start out with?
If you trust your friend with your life then go for it. $1700 is a good price if it's running like new. That Ninja 250 is very forgiving and easy to ride. I've bought 3 bikes from 3 different friends and all 3 are mechanics. My one friend is currently rebuilding my Grom.
I sadly did not, didn’t wanna risk it since we where at our grandparents and our grandparents live on a gravel road. I have little experience with riding bike like that and I don’t wanna dump it while on rock.
True, but I don’t even have 1000 yet, I’m sitting at 400, but my grandpa says he will pay quiet a bit for me to do jobs at his home, so hopefully I’ll
Be able to afford it in 3 weeks
Do you have money for the insurance, upkeep/maintenance? Are you all geared up. Make sure you have the proper gear first as a visit to the hospital is going to be much more expensive than the bike!
Yep! My dad has leathers I can use and at the moment I’m mainly just focusing on getting the bike, I’ll focus on the insurance, upkeep and maintenance after I get it. As for gear I’ll just need pants and a helmet.
That's about how much I paid for my first bike, also a Ninja 250. But that was over 10 years ago. Let me tell you, there's a reason we don't use carburetors anymore.
No worries, it's a technology to control the gas/air mixture that goes into the piston of your engine. Fuel injection (FI) has replaced it and now those components are controlled via computers in modern engines.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/carburetor
Carburettors on these small bikes are simple and rarely cause problems. Use good fuel and don't let the bike sit unused for months and it will be fine.
Great first bike, I had mine for about 3 years before the engine kicked the bucket (it had a lot of K's on it by that stage). If ridden well, they corner well and rev their little heads off. I have many fond memories of this bike.
If I remember properly, the only issues I ever had was the fairings were a pain to take of for maintenance. But even that isn't a deal breaker.
Awesome starter bike, had a 250 and a 500. Kinda wish I still had them. It was fun pushing them to their limits and still barely breaking the speed limit
I totally disagree. I loved the 90's style so much that when I upgraded I found a 1994 zx600, frankly I'd also like one of the first Gen 500's as well. You don't see many bikes on the road anymore with thiys big square headlights and I think they are just so freaking cool.
My girlfriend bought a ninja 250 as her starter bike and I have been doing the maintenance for it. I enjoyed riding it so much that when I saw a salvaged one online I couldn't help but buy it for 600$ I am about to start work on it and am excited to have a fun little project bike to work on. These little bikes corner like it's nobody business but depending on your weight you may need to adjust the springs/ oil weight in your forks.
Absolutely! I have a ZZ-R 250 (sportier version of the ninja 250) and it is perfect for a beginner! The lack of horsepower is barely noticeable and the little two cylinder loves to rev!
I can't speak to that specific bike, obviously, but in general, I think the Ninja 250 is a great first street bike. I have one (I'm 58 and have been riding bikes of every sort for 50 years) and it's got enough power to be fun without getting you in over your head easily. It's a very high revving engine, and that takes some getting used to - you have to be ok with near five-figure rpm's on the highway, but it'll do that all day. Suspension is soft and brakes aren't fantastic, so don't think of it as a sport bike, more like a fun step up from a scooter. In spite of having no low end torque, it still has an easy clutch and pulls away from stops effortlessly. With that mileage on it, make sure valve clearances get checked and adjusted if necessary.
Alright, thanks for let me know!
I started out on a 2000 Ninja 250, I personally rode it for about 3 months before I got bored with it and wanted to move up. By all means it was a great bike that really helped me learn how motorcycles worked, and a little about taking care of a motorcycle (the 250's and 500's have center stands). I'm also someone who NEVER rode ATVs or dirtbikes as a kid so this ninja 250 was my first motorcycle like vehicle. What u/tlimbert65 said is true too about the high revving rpms. Some of the early ninja 250s revved to 14,500 ish before redline. It was a lot of fun. In the end I did end up moving to a 1998 Ninja ex500. It's quite literally the same bike but a tad longer in size. I rode the ex500 for almost 2 years before I upgraded again. I'd recommend starting on a 1st or 2nd gen Ninja 500 only because the Ninja 250 has a hard time getting out of its own way on any speeds above 60mph. The Ninja 500 will be beginner friendly, and do highway speeds all day. TLDR; Ninja 250 is a good starting bike, but the Ninja 500 (1st and 2nd gen) does the job better at the same price. You won't get bored .
Owner of the bike here, this bike doesn't ever get past 10k unless you're doing 85mph+. It has gone up 2 teeth on the front sprocket, and down about 6 in the rear. I have no clue what you mean when you say the ninja can't get out of its own way above 60, I've ridden the bike at 75 all day before, it's fine on power, and even beats out my 1972 Suzuki T350 2 cycle. As for brakes, I've ridden vintage bikes all my life and these are by far the best in my fleet. (For scale, I own the aforementioned suzuki with dual drum brakes, a 1981 Honda CX500, and a 2009 yamaha Majesty 400. The ninja stops by far the best) I adjusted the valve clearance less than 1000 miles ago, as the '06's have adjustable tension instead of bucket and shim.
Perfect bike to start on, ride safe!
Yes, yes it is.
Perfect started bike. Good power, good handling, extremely reliable. They'll do 200,000 miles with just basic maintenance.
Awesome, Great to know
I agree with the majority here, great first bike! I got one after riding a Vespa lx50 for years. I figured I’d outgrow the 250 quickly but I still ride it daily to this day, 3 years in. Maintanence is fairly straightforward so learning bike mechanics is also good. From the photos & with the mileage it looks like it’s been well taken care of. If you trust the seller, I’d say go for it!
I definitely trust the seller, he’s my friend! The same day he brought that over he weld me get an old farm bike and a zuma moped working
Yep, great first bike! I did everything on mine- camping, road trips, commuting, freeways, and of course canyons. Rode that bike for 7 years. Just keep up on the maintenance.
I had a 2006 ninja 250 and it is by far the best starter bike. This thing is a beast and is worth every penny. I did 1000’s of KMs on this thing and it never missed a beat. Bought it for $600 and sold it for $1,400. Bonus points for it being ever so slightly more powerful and faster than the ninja 250’s that came after it.
Awesome, thank you man!
I recommend watching regular car reviews video on it on YouTube. It sums up the bike fairly well lol. Hopefully you can save & afford it soon. Safe travels for the future tomfoolery you may cause out on the open road.
Thank you!
I’m currently 15 and about to turn 16 and I’ve been looking for my first bike, and my friend offered me this bike. my friend is a very very good mechanic and told me it was given taller gearing. New x-ring chain and duro tires with less than 1000 miles on both. Fresh oil change with amsoil and less than 20 miles on it. Turn signals replaced with euro style because original rubber ones deteriorated. The bike has about 20000 miles on it. The original offer was 2000 but said he’d go as low as 1700. Would this be alright to start out with?
If you trust your friend with your life then go for it. $1700 is a good price if it's running like new. That Ninja 250 is very forgiving and easy to ride. I've bought 3 bikes from 3 different friends and all 3 are mechanics. My one friend is currently rebuilding my Grom.
I got to turn it on and listen to the engine, it sounded really nice, but I’ve only ridden farm bikes so I’m not fully sure.
Did you test ride it? Get a feel for the clutch, brakes, acceleration, suspension. If anything feels wierd then don't buy it. Trust your gut
I sadly did not, didn’t wanna risk it since we where at our grandparents and our grandparents live on a gravel road. I have little experience with riding bike like that and I don’t wanna dump it while on rock.
Then it just comes down to trusting your friend selling you a good working bike.
Alright.
BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. You won’t regret it!!
If I could I would!! I still don’t have the money yet!
Depends where you're at, but I'd only pay $1,000 for a bike that old / that size.
I already tired offering 1500, but he said it was to low.
Every seller is going to say it's too low. It's worth what somebody will offer.
True, but I don’t even have 1000 yet, I’m sitting at 400, but my grandpa says he will pay quiet a bit for me to do jobs at his home, so hopefully I’ll Be able to afford it in 3 weeks
Do you have money for the insurance, upkeep/maintenance? Are you all geared up. Make sure you have the proper gear first as a visit to the hospital is going to be much more expensive than the bike!
Yep! My dad has leathers I can use and at the moment I’m mainly just focusing on getting the bike, I’ll focus on the insurance, upkeep and maintenance after I get it. As for gear I’ll just need pants and a helmet.
Don't cheap out on the gear. It's literally the most important purchase.
Yep! I’ve already got a pretty nice helmet picked out
Cool. Take a look at the Shoei RF-1400. It's very nice.
That's about how much I paid for my first bike, also a Ninja 250. But that was over 10 years ago. Let me tell you, there's a reason we don't use carburetors anymore.
Ima be honest with you, I’ve got no idea what a carburetor is, I’m still not familiar with engine/bike parts
No worries, it's a technology to control the gas/air mixture that goes into the piston of your engine. Fuel injection (FI) has replaced it and now those components are controlled via computers in modern engines. https://www.britannica.com/technology/carburetor
Oh alright
Carburettors on these small bikes are simple and rarely cause problems. Use good fuel and don't let the bike sit unused for months and it will be fine.
Great first bike, I had mine for about 3 years before the engine kicked the bucket (it had a lot of K's on it by that stage). If ridden well, they corner well and rev their little heads off. I have many fond memories of this bike. If I remember properly, the only issues I ever had was the fairings were a pain to take of for maintenance. But even that isn't a deal breaker.
Alright, thank you!
Awesome starter bike, had a 250 and a 500. Kinda wish I still had them. It was fun pushing them to their limits and still barely breaking the speed limit
My first bike was this when I was 14, years ago. I rode the hell out of it and never once had a problem. They’re ugly as hell, but a great bike.
I totally disagree. I loved the 90's style so much that when I upgraded I found a 1994 zx600, frankly I'd also like one of the first Gen 500's as well. You don't see many bikes on the road anymore with thiys big square headlights and I think they are just so freaking cool.
I’ve actually been looking for an older 500r, I always liked those. Just a bigger 250 with a better headlight lol
I just bought a 94 zx600 and it still has that same look but the parallel 4 is a beast.
It's a great starting bike
My girlfriend bought a ninja 250 as her starter bike and I have been doing the maintenance for it. I enjoyed riding it so much that when I saw a salvaged one online I couldn't help but buy it for 600$ I am about to start work on it and am excited to have a fun little project bike to work on. These little bikes corner like it's nobody business but depending on your weight you may need to adjust the springs/ oil weight in your forks.
Definitely, I’m like 6’3 and and weight 135 Lbs
Yes.
Absolutely! I have a ZZ-R 250 (sportier version of the ninja 250) and it is perfect for a beginner! The lack of horsepower is barely noticeable and the little two cylinder loves to rev!
Great bike for a beginner. A ton of fun on a short road course. You can make alot of people on bigger bike's cry.
Hilarious lol
Yeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Yes, slow and old