2006 Kawasaki Nimja 250R Road Test

Powered by a 248cc parallel twin engine, the 250R features liquid cooling, a 12.4:1 compression ratio, digital ignition, 6-speed transmission and o-ring chain drive. When first released in the US, the Ninja 250 set new standards for a high-revving 4-stroke machine. It became known as a bike that had to be revved to the moon, and this wasn’t for breakneck speeds, but to simply get down the road or highway with traffic. Riders who have experienced the Ninja 250 often share stories of what it’s like to cruise down the freeway at 10,000 rpm, or higher, as a normal course of things. Nothing’s changed as this is what it’s like to ride the bike today.

At only 304 lbs., the Ninja 250R is a small bike with little physical presence out on the road. This helps make the machine ridiculously maneuverable and easy to handle for just about anybody. We think this fact alone makes the 250 one of the best bikes available for new street riders – it’s certainly the bike we’d want our young son on if he was just venturing out onto the pavement. This bike is as manageable as anything on the planet, doesn’t have enough engine performance to quickly get you in trouble, has quick hitting brakes and gets about a zillion miles to a gallon of fuel.

The 250R is up to the task of making us better riders as well. The machine turns so tight you’ll discover new lines through corners that simply don’t exist on other bikes. The brakes are good and get the job done - but you won’t be using the brakes as often as on larger bikes because the magic of riding the 250R is carrying your speed continuously as the mill takes time to get you back up to speed. It’s much like riding a dual-sport machine, where learning to carry your speed is nearly mandatory and a great learning tool on how to ride more smoothly and choose better lines.

You must understand however, this isn’t a powerhouse machine. Instead, its a surprisingly capable rev-it-to-the-moon 250cc twin that must be kept spinning to get you down the road, or even to leave a stop light. You’ll certainly learn to shift aboard the 250R, as it’s mandatory to keep the engine spinning in the necessary power range. The Ninja is remarkably smooth while revving so high; if you grab the bar weights or place your finger on the turn signal button while at speed you’ll feel what the engine beneath you is actually doing. The 250 will get you down the freeway, but you won’t have extra power on tap to easily maneuver. When traffic stops, you’ll find yourself aboard one of the best lane splitting machines available. With excellent steering and such a small physical size, it’s one of the easiest machines to squirt through traffic on.

The Ninja 250 has a lot going for it. The ride offered up by the low-tech suspension is quite good as is the comfort level on this small motorcycle. The seat and handlebars are very comfortable indeed. At only $2,999, the Ninja 250R carries a healthy 4.8 gals. of fuel which will see you down the road for many miles.

With that said, we wouldn’t choose the Ninja 250R as a freeway commuter for it’s lack of roll-on power in these conditions. If your riding or commuting takes you down lonely backroads or across town this economical bike, averaging 65mpg, can be a lot of fun and save you a great deal on your fuel bill.
MN

2006 Ninja 250R - MN fuel mileage ratings
Average	62.4 mpg
Commuting (mostly freeway)	58.9 mpg
Weekend riding (mixed types of riding)	65.8 mpg
Best mileage	67.8 mpg
Worst mileage	56.8 mpg
Reserve hits at: 230 - 240 miles
Range: 260 miles or more (MN range rating = excellent)

Ups	Downs
Great fuel mileage	It's only a 250cc machine
Excellent range per tank	You must rev it to the moon for normal riding
Low purchase price	It can take time to get up to speed
Good power for a 250	..
Comfy seat	..
Easy to handle	..
A proven design	.
Carries 4.8 gals. of fuel	..
Very light weight machine (304 lbs.)


2006 Ninja 250R		2006 Ninja 250R
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