Up to this point, I haven't gone out on the highway for much more than 10-15 minutes at a time on the 250R. It just seems kind of brutal on the engine when you're going 75-80 MPH, and the tach is hovering around 10,000 rpm. I'm sure this bad boy can handle it, but how long do some of you riders ride on the highway with your 250?

 

Ok, I may have answered my own question today.

I went on a four hour excursion to, and through Omaha. (sorry evil, the emo kids weren't out crying! It must have been too hot for them. LOL) anyway, The Ninja did fairly well, but a 300 pound street bike with skinny tires doesn't tend to do real well on the gusty interstate doing 85, and sometimes getting past 100mph. It was definitely the wind that was my kill-joy on the little 250R. I'm sure if there weren't 20-30 mph side gusts, the trip would have gone a little more smoothly. Aside from being blown all over by the wind, I-80 up in Omaha has rain grooves all throughout the highway, so any uneven groves would sort of move your wheels around unwillingly.

My conclusion is that the Ninja 250 is well suited for city streets, much more than the highway. Going on a small trip no longer than a few hours is not all that bad, but the 250R is just downright brutal if you're stuck on it for any longer.

Just my opinion.

 

Hey mark, check your inbox!

I'm in your neighborhood. Maybe next time we could ride through omaha together for a bit! Hit up some clubs in KC or something for our next road trip eh? I'm always down for meeting a new chicky from another town. I'll be needing to break in my bike for the next few weeks at least then after that, its fair game


Anyway I'll see ya around bro.

 

I have discovered the same thing that you have. After having to make a trip to school one time just to find I have to drive back, (school is 27 miles away and a straight shot down I-45 to galveston) the round 54 mile trip was just beginning to wear sores in my rear. Not to mention it is murder when bursts of wind come at about 20-30 mph, mostly the crosswinds. Even that distance is not that bad, but I would hate to make a highway trip on it for any more than two hours.

And you're going drive it like ya stole it speeds if your tach is at 10K's! 8.5K is 75 for me.

 

You're doing 75mph @ 8.5k? you must have a reduced final drive. My tach is seriously at about 10-10.5k at around 75mph. I got it just past 100 a few times and I think the tach was reading about 13k!!!

 

Hmmm. count the teeth on your sprocket and I'll get back to yo on it. They may have changed something for the model year.

Also, what is your gas mileage?

 

I'm getting just over 60mpg. I think I'm a little too hard on it to get their "claimed" 74mpg!

As for the rear drive sprocket I have not counted, but I believe it's a 45 tooth. That should be factory.

 

The claim is real. see figure A.


I determined real gas mileage and tank volume. because it ran out of gas completely one block before the gas station, now that is luck!

My sprocket count is 42, guessing from the service manual value for the reduction ratio (42/14) = 3.000

[IMG]local://upfiles/529/E46DA6219DEA46DBAF14D0F539614181.jpg[/IMG]

 

wow! that's pretty good mileage. I wish my 250 could do that well. Maybe I need to start being a little easier on it I too always divide my trip miles from how many gallons I add at fill up. It's always just over 60.

I think I need to get a rear reduction sprocket too, maybe that'll help out some.

 

I used to get 63, but when it got to be 90+ degrees every day here, and I stopped choking it on startup(5-10 seconds), It went up very rapidly.

I've considered reducing the final drive ratio too, but I figured that if it's getting this good a mileage I wouldn't mess with it too much. I do think the engine can handle it, I just don't want to change anything yet.