New bike (for my wife)!


M

MistahT

Mistah T
Elite Member
Of course only after I sold my GS500, my wife said she wanted to learn how to ride. She studied the MSF book, got her learners, and she's been first-gearing around our neighborhood on my bike, but can't flat foot. Well, just came almost an hour home with our new bike.... 2001 Kawasaki EX250/Ninja 250!

We got this for $1,700 with new tires, a box of stuff (chain lube, shop manuals, etc) gloves, 2 sets of pants, 2 jackets, and saddle bags. Insane right? Btw, we tested two other Ninja 250s that were literally falling apart. This one is great. Very light, easy to ride.

Highway was actually much more stable than my old GS500 (though kind of weird riding in 6th gear doing 11,000rpms - redline is 14). But when I stopped, them temps starting climbing. It has a rad, so I'm gonna order a thermostat and flush it. Also, has a FE and front/rear led lights, which won't pass here in the Republic of Maryland, so I gotta ebay oem ones. Looks like it's gonna be a great bike.

Only gripe I really have is it's the OLD UGLY style, but we can get over that.





Sorry for the camera phone pics.
 
M

Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member
Nice first ride!
 
J

JT

Monster Member
Elite Member
yea i remeber boing so existed comming home with my new Ninja 250 and now that I look back at pics that things looks like a peice of s**t. lmfao

hey its a great first bike
 
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6

6R Blackout

New Member
N

nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member
How tall is she?
 
N

nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member
MistahT said:
5'8

She could only touch her tiptoes on the FZ6R, so I figured the GS500 would be a stretch too. She's loving the 250.

Gotta figure out an overheating issue, so she's enjoying it 15-20 minutes at a time right now.
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Hmm I'm 5'3. I could touch my toes down on the FZ6R.

My wife is 4'10 and I would love to get her on a bike but there are far to few of options out there:( .
 
0

0150r

New Member
nismos14 said:
Hmm I'm 5'3. I could touch my toes down on the FZ6R.

My wife is 4'10 and I would love to get her on a bike but there are far to few of options out there:( .
Click to expand...
The 2008+ Ninja 250r's and CBR250's have really low seat heights and be even be lowered a little too.

A friend of mine lowered her CBR600RR two inches and it is crazy low. It's low enough to have to go around decent size speed bumps :eek:
 
N

nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member
Yea the ninja 250r seems to be the only choice, but I don't think she likes them lol
 
U

Uno979

Thuper Moderator
Premium Member
MistahT said:
Gotta figure out an overheating issue, so she's enjoying it 15-20 minutes at a time right now.
Click to expand...
get a new thermostat and flush radiator n add fresh coolant. If it still runs a bit too hot drill a 1/8" hole in the flat area of thermostat to allow more flow. You shouldn't need to go much bigger than 1/8".

If you still have an issue after that then there might be a problem with the water pump and check fuses.
 
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M

MistahT

Mistah T
Elite Member
Uno979 said:
get a new thermostat and flush radiator n add fresh coolant. If it still runs a bit too hot drill a 1/8" hole in the flat area of thermostat to allow more flow. You shouldn't need to go much bigger than 1/8".
Click to expand...
Flushed the coolant. 250wiki says some bikes like hers the fan doesn't kick on until right before the red. Unacceptable to me so a new radiator cap and fan switch are on the way.

Turns out though the fan will keep it there and not let it into the red. Temp is supposedly still under 200 at that point. Not as hot as my fz
 
U

Uno979

Thuper Moderator
Premium Member
MistahT said:
Flushed the coolant. 250wiki says some bikes like hers the fan doesn't kick on until right before the red. Unacceptable to me so a new radiator cap and fan switch are on the way.

Turns out though the fan will keep it there and not let it into the red. Temp is supposedly still under 200 at that point. Not as hot as my fz
Click to expand...
Ahh okay well still get a spare thermostat or see I there is a lower temp available like a 180 or 190. If not drill the hole. It's an old remedy people used to do since engines were water cooled.
 
R

redwing-2001

New Member
MistahT said:
Of course only after I sold my GS500, my wife said she wanted to learn how to ride. She studied the MSF book, got her learners, and she's been first-gearing around our neighborhood on my bike, but can't flat foot. Well, just came almost an hour home with our new bike.... 2001 Kawasaki EX250/Ninja 250!

We got this for $1,700 with new tires, a box of stuff (chain lube, shop manuals, etc) gloves, 2 sets of pants, 2 jackets, and saddle bags. Insane right? Btw, we tested two other Ninja 250s that were literally falling apart. This one is great. Very light, easy to ride.

Highway was actually much more stable than my old GS500 (though kind of weird riding in 6th gear doing 11,000rpms - redline is 14). But when I stopped, them temps starting climbing. It has a rad, so I'm gonna order a thermostat and flush it. Also, has a FE and front/rear led lights, which won't pass here in the Republic of Maryland, so I gotta ebay oem ones. Looks like it's gonna be a great bike.

Only gripe I really have is it's the OLD UGLY style, but we can get over that.




very nice. congrats.
Reading the book, getting a learners and practicing is good. However, please encourage her to take the MSF Basic RiderCourse. Here is the link for Maryland
2012 Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program
Click to expand...
 

M

MistahT

Mistah T
Elite Member
very nice. congrats.
Reading the book, getting a learners and practicing is good. However, please encourage her to take the MSF Basic RiderCourse. Here is the link for Maryland
2012 Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program

She's signed up to take a course in October. She takes longer to learn stuff and didn't want to embarrass herself. We've just been in the neighborhoods and I've driven her to big empty parking lots.
 
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