Kawasaki Ninja 250R

Kawasaki Ninja 250R
Manufacturer Kawasaki
Also called EX250
Parent company Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Production Since 1986
Class Sport bike[1][2]
Related Ninja 300

The Kawasaki Ninja 250R (previous generations had market-specific names) is a motorcycle originally introduced by Kawasaki in 1983. As the marque's entry-level sport bike,[1][2] the motorcycle has undergone few changes throughout its quarter-century lifetime, having received only three substantial redesigns. In some markets the Ninja 250 has been succeeded by the Ninja 300.

Nomenclature

Since 2008, the bike is marketed as the Ninja 250R in all markets. It is also referred to by its platform designation, EX250, to which a generational suffix is attached. In the United States, previous models (EX250-E/F/G/H) were already being marketed as members of the Ninja family of sport bikes, while outside of the U.S. the bike was known variously as the ZZR-250, ZX-250, or as the GPX-250R. One of the earliest models, the EX250-C, was given the name GPZ-250.

Model history

The Ninja 250 is popular in motorcycle training
Cleaning the chain on a Ninja 250R

The Ninja 250R's particular ergonomics, chassis design, and engine placement have resulted in a motorcycle that straddles the standard and sport classes. The Ninja's riding posture also falls between standard and sport.

1983

The first generation was produced between 1983 and 1985, and known by the production number EX250-C. It was sold as the GPZ-250. Sold only in its home market of Japan, this earliest, belt-driven version was first produced in 1983, and shares no commonality with later generations. The bike has 32mm fork tubes.

1986–1987

Produced between 1986 and 1987 was the EX250-E. This model was sold as the Ninja 250R in Canada and the U.S. between 1986 and 1987. It was known as the GPZ-250R elsewhere. When originally introduced, it was more costly than the Honda Rebel, and reviewers complained that while the 14,000 rpm redline was nice, the engine was slow to rev.[3]

1988–2007

Third Generation
Production 1988–2007
Kawasaki GPX 250 Display, Model: 1993

For the 1988 model year, there were both cosmetic changes and changes in engine tuning. While the bore and stroke, and other major engine components, were unchanged, minor tuning adjustments were made. The carburetor diameters were reduced 2 mm to 30 mm (1.2 in), the cylinder compression ratio was increased from 12.0:1 to 12.4:1, ignition timing advance was increased, and the rear sprocket was increased by three teeth to 45.[4][5][7] Reviewers reported that this made the engine more free-revving, reaching the high 14,000 redline more quickly, and the tested top speed increased by a few miles per hour.[3][6][7] The new, more fully enclosed bodywork was complimented for being stylish, at the time, and easily mistaken for the larger Ninja 750.[3]

The third generation of production of the Ninja 250 encompassed three models:

2008–2012

Fourth Generation
Manufacturer Kawasaki
Also called EX250-J
Production 2008 - 2012
Predecessor EX250-F
Class Sport bike
Engine 249 cc (15.2 cu in), Parallel twin, four-stroke, Liquid Cooled, DOHC.
Bore / stroke 62.0 mm × 41.2 mm (2.44 in × 1.62 in)
Ignition type TCBI with digital advance
Transmission Six-speed
Tires Front: 110/70-17M/C
Rear: 130/70-17M/C
Rake, trail 26°
Wheelbase 1,399.5 mm (55.10 in)
Dimensions W: 713.7 mm (28.10 in)
H: 1,109.9 mm (43.70 in)
Seat height 774.7 mm (30.50 in)
Weight 170 kg (375 lb) (wet)

In 2008, Kawasaki gave the EX250 its most extensive redesign in twenty years. The EX250-J model is known as the Ninja 250R worldwide, regardless of market.

Parts from the third generation are still found on the -J, but its redesigned exterior panels bring the Ninja's appearance out of the 1990s and into line with late-2000s sportbikes. The engine and drivetrain retain 30% of the -F model's parts, according to Kawasaki. The engine's compression and maximum torque have been lowered to provide better midrange performance. The redesign of the engine resulted in improvements in engine response at low engine speeds, making the bike smoother and "much easier to ride."[10]

Though the previous generation Ninja 250 had a peak power advantage of 1 to 5 hp (0.75 to 3.73 kW),[5][11][12] the new version's 20 or 30 percent increase in mid-range power allows the bike to pull from 3,000 rpm where previously it had to be revved to 4,000 rpm.[13] The U.S. -J model uses dual carburetors like the -F model, but the European, Brazilian and Thai models have fuel injection. The wheels were increased in size to 17 inches, the front suspension was improved, and the brake rotors were replaced with a larger petal shape. On the carbureted version, a fuel gauge was added in place of the temperature gauge. With the additional and redesigned equipment, the EX250-J suffered a 10 kg (22 lb) increase in wet weight over its predecessors.

With the arrival of the EX250-J, manufacturing continues to be located in Thailand.[14]

2013

The 2013 Ninja 250R had new bodywork, twin headlights, a digital instruments cluster, new wheels with a wider 140 mm (5.5 in) rear tire, and a reworked engine and exhaust. ABS is available as an option. Like the previous generation, the engine is fuel injected in some markets and carbureted in others.[19][20][21] For 2013, in some markets, the Ninja 250R was replaced by the 296 cc (18.1 cu in) Ninja 300, while in others they are sold alongside each other and some sold the Ninja 250R only.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 ".25 Caliber Shootout Three Japanese Fighters Whip Out Their Little Guns". Motorcycle.com, Dec. 15, 1997.
  2. 1 2 Santos, Franke (June 2008), "Model Evaluation Kawasaki Ninja 250R" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News (BowTie, Inc.), pp. 16–19, The humble Kawasaki Ninja 250R is the classic beginner’s bike...The Ninja is one of two 250cc sportbikes available in the US market.
  3. 1 2 3 Yagawa, Kengo (May 1987), "Ninja 250: Baby gets new clothes", Cycle World, p. 30 |chapter= ignored (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ninja 250R GPZ250R Motorcycle Service Manual (1st ed.), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, 18 March 1997, pp. 1–5 to 1–7
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kawasaki EX 250 - GPX 250 '88 - Service Manual Ninja 250R GPZ250R Motorcycle Service Manual Supplement Check |url= value (help) (12th ed.), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, 1 April 2003
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cycle World Summary", Cycle World, May 1987, p. 124
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Larko, Bob (December 1987), "Kawasaki EX250-F2 Ninja (evaluation)", Cycle (magazine) (New York, NY) 38 (12), pp. 24–29 Note: Technical problems prevented Cycle from measuring top speed.
  8. ↑ Madson, Bart (October 23, 2006), "2006 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Comparison", Motorcycle USA, retrieved 2010-11-04
  9. ↑ Girdler, Allan (February 2006), "Petrol pinchers: Squeezing all you can from dead dinosaurs", Cycle World, p. 44
  10. 1 2 Ets-Hokin, Gabe (June 2008), "Small Fortune; 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Cycle World Test", Cycle World 47 (6), p. 76, ISSN 0011-4286
  11. ↑ Santos, Franke (June 2008), "Model Evaluation Kawasaki Ninja 250R" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News (BowTie, Inc.), pp. 16–19, ...the older model makes one more horsepower than the new one. The older model actually makes more peak power than the new model: 27.46 hp (20.48 kW) @ 12,000 rpm for the 2004 compared with 26.4 hp (19.7 kW) @ 11,000 rpm for the 2008 carbureted model. Note: MCN dynamometer data is rear-wheel only.
  12. 1 2 Official specifications PDF
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Santos, Franke (June 2008), "Model Evaluation Kawasaki Ninja 250R" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News (BowTie, Inc.), pp. 16–19
  14. ↑ "2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R - First Ride". MotorcycleUSA.com, 2/12/2008, Bart Madson.
  15. ↑ 2009 Ninja 250 R Sport - Kawasaki.com; Specifications, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., 2009
  16. ↑ Voss, Arv (December 6, 2008), "Kawasaki's Ninja 250R still going strong after more than two decades", SFGate (San Francisco Chronicle)
  17. ↑ "Performance Index - Winter ‘11/’12 Edition" (PDF), Motorcycle Consumer News (Bowtie Magazines), January 2012, retrieved June 11, 2012
  18. ↑ 2011 Kawasaki MPG estimates, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., 2011
  19. ↑ "Kawasaki Ninja 250". Kawasaki.com.
  20. ↑ Harley, Bryan (August 1, 2012), "2013 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Revealed", MotorcycleUSA.com
  21. ↑ Blake, Conner (August 3, 2012), "2013 Kawasaki Ninja 250R New Team Green competition for the Honda CBR250R", Cycle World
  22. ↑ 「Ｚ８００」などニューモデル３機種を「インターモト２０１２」に出展 (press release), Kawasaki, October 3, 2012

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawasaki EX250.
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