redelk
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Please... speak to the hand.
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posted September 22, 2008 05:53 AM
 Edited By: redelk on 22 Sep 2008 19:07
Frustrated '09 250R Owner
Well. I was lucky enough to score one of the '09 250R pre-release bikes. Even though I was really wanting a green one, it was not a color available in the pre-release shipments. So I went ahead and got a black one. Then I spoke with my dealer while he was at the show and he said that there will be a "special edition" 250R for '09 and it will be green. He also said that basically the only differences between it and the "regular" model was it was green with BNG (Bold New Graphics) and the cost. Mechanically, the SE is the same bike. Whoop-de-do.
I might be the "Mayor of Poserville" and I've always believed that green was the only "true" Kawasaki color, but if they're just going to throw a bunch of stickers on it , call it a SE and charge more for it... I'll just keep my black one. After all, the main reason I got one in the first place is to commute to work and park my 12 MPG truck, 3 or 4 days a week. If I want to go weekend riding, that's when I break out my '04 10R.
So far, I've only put about 120 miles on my "commuter", but already, some of it's short comings have become apparent. When compared to my 10R (a VERY unfair comparison), the 250R neither "stops" or "goes". Even though it's geared way too low, I don't think that I'll be doing any roll ons against my daughter and her Honda Silverwing either At least not right now. When moving it around in the garage, it actually feels heavier then the 10R. The speedo is a full 10% off and since it's cable driven, I can't use a SpeedoHealer to fix it. I also can't hook up a DIGI gear indicator for the same reason.
I started the process of addressing some of these "issues" as soon as I got it home. Before I even put the battery in and started it for the first time, the bike went on my lift table and I started taking everything I felt wasn't "necessary". So far, I've trimmed off about 15 lbs.
Here's some of the other things I did:
Full Area P exhaust
Dynojet jet kit
Gafler SS lines
Replaced the front master cylinder with the OEM one off my 10R
Replaced the footpegs with OEM ones off my 10R (waiting for adjustable rearsets)
Since my 10R has a GP shift pattern and I'd be easily confused when switching from one bike to the other, I had to notch out the 250R's counter sprocket cover so I could make the conversion. Speaking of countersprockets.... the 14T has to go and will be replaced with a 15T. Doing close to 9K at a "true" 70 mph in sixth gear sucks.
A couple of other things that gets my goat is that the rear cowl has been on backorder ever since the '08 model was introduced. Seeing as how there is NO ROOM for anything besides a cell phone under the rear seat, it would be appreciated if KMC would pick up the pace a little and start shipping those cowls. The other thing is when the redesigned the 250 in '08, the dumped the temp gage for a fuel gage. Water temp is now "monitored" with a idiot light. Looks like I'll be shopping for a Daytona digital gage or something like it, in the near future.
Still, I do have to give it credit in the fact that it's still a very nimble scoot and is a hoot to ride. I can hardly wait to finish breaking it in, throw on a 15T counter and see what she's really got.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
   
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted September 22, 2008 10:48 AM
congrats on your sweet ride!
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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harryzx-12
Needs a job
Posts: 3643
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posted September 22, 2008 02:56 PM
I bought a 1994 250 for my X wife and i rode that bike quite a bit. No it did not run anything like my 12 or busa but if you wound the piss out of it and kept it at near the top of the rev range it went pretty well and it went around corner pretty well too. No it doesn't have the hp but i liked it just the same.
I rode my ZXR-400 around the IOM TT circuit 25-30 times and i passed i don't know how many zx-12's and larger bikes because it cornered so much better. I enjoy a motorcycle for what it is.
I wish i had a new 250 .......er, i mean i wish my wife had her new 250! 
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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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redelk
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Please... speak to the hand.
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posted September 22, 2008 03:42 PM
quote:
I enjoy a motorcycle for what it is.
Me too. That's why I said it was a "VERY unfair comparison". Alas, not having been on a lot of different bikes in the past few years, I've grown too accustom to the 10R.
I think the part that really freaked me out was being able to put both feet on the ground... flat footed! I haven't been able to put anything more then the ball of one foot down on my '91 KDX, '97 7R, '00 12R or the '04 10R. The last time I could was with my old '91 EX500.
quote:
I wish i had a new 250 .......er, i mean i wish my wife had her new 250!
I will say that compared to my daughter's '04 EX250 (just like your '94), the new EX250 (it's still an "EX") is a completely different (and better) bike. The more I think about it, it does desperatly need taller gearing (i.e. 15T). I think the stock U.S. version gearing is 14/45 and the Euro version (with FI) is 14/43.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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fish_antlers
Administrator
The Truth is Out There
Posts: 21890
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posted September 22, 2008 07:25 PM
nice pipe!!
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What business is it of yours where I'm from, Friendo?
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Lanceromance
Parking Attendant
Posts: 15
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posted October 05, 2008 09:00 PM
How much of an improvement do you feel the 10r master cylinder and the brake lines made?
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 23, 2008 11:24 AM
would you like to sell the bike?
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted October 23, 2008 12:14 PM
Edited By: redelk on 23 Oct 2008 20:14
quote:
How much of an improvement do you feel the 10r master cylinder and the brake lines made?
I actually got to ride a friend's 250R with the OEM setup and then ride mine for a "true" back to back comparison, instead of going off of my memory of what mine was like.
The stock set up actually has more initial bit to it, but it takes quite a bit of lever travel before anything happens. It's almost like a light switch. Seems like it's either too much (the front end diving) or not enough.
With the 10R MC and braided line, it's a lot more linear. At first blush, you'd think it's not braking as well, but when you stand it up on it's nose and have only pulled the lever about a 1/4 of the distance... well I think it was a good "poor man's" modification. It would probably be better to have a aftermarket MC that was more suited for the 250R, but since the 10R's OEM unit was just sitting on a shelf, it was a lot cheaper.
quote:
would you like to sell the bike?
Naw... even though it's just my "commuter" bike and I'm trying not to spend too much on it, I don't see selling it. I'll probably ride it until the wheels fall off.
The 15T counter helped a lot, but my 42T rear hasn't come in yet. I'm still concerned that it might not be able to pull being geared that high (... with a 225 lbs rider). 
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 27, 2008 12:10 PM
kewl! here in FL there is a HUGE shortage of the '08 250, new or used. I know a guy thats been wanting one forever for a track bike and willing to pony up some bucks for one is why I was asking
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted October 27, 2008 08:52 PM
I heard that a dealer in Mississippi had several '08 models they can't seem to get rid of. My ex-wife's son works there and was telling me about it a couple of weeks ago. I'll e-mail him tonight and see if that's still the case and where exactly the dealership is located.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 28, 2008 02:04 PM
thanks!
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted October 28, 2008 02:22 PM
Haven't heard back from him yet. I'll try to give him a call this evening, if I get a chance (been working REAL late... lately)
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted October 29, 2008 02:27 PM
kewl....thanks again
keeping an eye on this thread....
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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SteveWFL
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted November 07, 2008 02:23 PM
reckon' he sold out 
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted November 08, 2008 01:45 AM
No... my daughter's step-brother in MS is a DEADBEAT! He has not returned my calls or e-mails.
I'm sorry I haven't posted at least an update on his "deadbeat-ness". My bad.
My daughter says he's real bad about doing such. Since he's just out of high school (or maybe he's a senior this year - Hell, I don't know he ain't my kid), I've been cutting him some slack on not replying.
I'll try again this weekend.
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Even though it was rumored that the '09 models might not arrive until first of next year, I thought I saw an '09 at my local dealer last weekend. Since I got his one "pre-release" '09, I assumed that KMC have started shipping them already.
I'm wrong on that?
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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drewzx-14
Zone Head
Andrew
Posts: 553
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posted February 24, 2009 05:40 PM
how good is it on gas? is it worth buying for the commute?
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2009 Yamaha R1-SOLD!
2013 Zx-14R Green ABS
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
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posted February 24, 2009 08:34 PM
Edited By: redelk on 25 Feb 2009 04:39
quote:
How good is it on gas?
Some folks have claimed MPG numbers in the low 70's, while others said they got in the mid 50's. When it comes to "commuting" MPG with stock gearing and no modifications, most 250 owners claim to be getting into the low 60's. "Commuting" would be defined as a mix of mostly highway with some city roads, averaging around 50~55 MPH. Most are running 87 octane (PON or (R+M)/2). The numbers seem to go down a little if you spend more time around 70 MPH or whacking it in town at every stoplight (real tempting to do).
You could lose some of that MPG with a aftermarket exhaust and jet kit, but it's less the 10 MPG (usually still in the 50's). it doesn't help that it's geared way too damn low (14/45). I switched to a 15/42 sprocket setup and believe it more than made up the small loss due to the exhaust and jet kit. Gearing taller does take a small amount of "grunt" out of the bike, but it beats the hell out of doing close to 10K RPMs on the interstate.
quote:
Is it worth buying for the commute?
OH HELL YES! I wouldn't care if gas dropped to less then a $1 per gallon, I'd still prefer riding the 250R than driving my '03 Dodge 2500 that gets around 12 MPG when commuting (Hemi... not diesel). About the only time it's not fun is when I get caught in the rain. Even with rain gear, it does get a tad dicey with those narrow bias ply tires (110/70-17 & 130/70-17). Especially on grooved pavement.
It's been months since I've rode the 250R, due to carpel tunnel surgery and recovery (both hands). As soon as I finish my PT, I'll be back on the 250R and parking the truck as often as possible. I'll also mention that I still have my '04 10R for weekend fun. All the same, if I have to make a "Saturday run" to the parts place or get a loaf of bread... I'm take the 250R.
____________
There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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godzilla
Parking Attendant
Posts: 5
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posted February 15, 2010 10:08 AM
The ninjette only looks at gas. when I was breaking mine in I rode it about 35 40 on an old highway and got 100 odo miles out of the first gallon. It averaged 60 in mixed drivning but again that was going by the odo. I sold mine as It is just a little too nervous on gusty days and a bit to buzzy at 70 mph for a relaxing commute. As for power, only the Aprillia at 10 grand can touch it. I would have kept it for a toy but I have three other bikes in the garage.
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