Kwak 250

[gettin2dizzy]

hmmmz. Looks like el cheapo chinese bike. With 45hp should go alright though :) ...I'll pass...
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/upload/200381/images/Ninja%20250R%20%284%29%20copy.jpg

[johnnyrod]

45!!! Is that real, back wheel, Dynojet, or MCN bullage 45?

[plowsie]

Looks alright i spose for a 250

[Jase22]

45hp is damn good for a 4-stroke!! My old Honda VT pulled about 34 I think, but that's a D reg.

I don't quite know what part of the market it's aimed at though, as it would still need de-restricting for a new test passer. Looks nicer than the new ZX6 though IMO, that thing is a real dog now.

[gettin2dizzy]

official kawasaki figures. that's the real picture too. 250cc parallel twin. I reckon good buy for restricting (33)

[Jase22]

Why not just make a bike that's 33bhp as standard though? Surely that would be a better option?

[fat_brstd]

the only reason i got a 250 after passing my test was because it was under 33bhp. whats it designed to rival, the rs250 and old rgv250's? I cant see a market for it unless its really really cheep

[gettin2dizzy]

i think they're marketing it as cheap to buy and cheap to insure. I'd imagine they'll restrict it for free, if not they're missing a trick!

[Jase22]

Thing is, if it was a 2-stroke people would go mental for it. As it's a 4-stroke, I think it will struggle at that power. It's too much of an in between.

[Flamin_Squirrel]

whats it designed to rival, the rs250 and old rgv250's?

I'd imagine so yes. The kwak will be more reliable too. The day of the 2-stroke is numbered anyway.

[Alpinestarhero]

Bet it dosnt pull away without at least 10,000,000,000 revs :D

Matt

[plowsie]

Bet it dosnt pull away without at least 10,000,000,000 revs :D

Matt
Are you exagerating? :drunken:

[empty]

I like it - a small capacity but reasonably powerful (if 45 is to be believed - the 250 4 cylinder bikes from the early 90s only got about 40 or so, so this figure seems quite high for a parallel twin, they also revved very very high) is ideal for city stuff and I think the looks are pretty good. If it is el cheapo, great!

Lets hope it revs into the stratosphere, I wanted one of the honda CBR250s just so I could hear a bike sing on an open pipe at 22k.

MT

[jambo]

Why not just make a bike that's 33bhp as standard though? Surely that would be a better option?

Gotta remember, not every country shares our *ahem* intresting laws, and it'll be easy to restrict too.

I think it's cool, the "middle weights" are more powerful than they used to be, it fits neatly between the little 125cc learners and the 70BHP+ middleweights. For many it'll be plenty and most of the direct competition isn't made anymore.


Jambo

[hovis]

should have chucked a 2-stroke engine in it

[muzikill]

Nice idea but i can see it as the next step up for the scooter boys then we will see increased bad press aimed at all bikers due to bad riding, speeding and crashes, not a true 250 and a bit of a let down really as i really want to see the mid range bikes come back and re-start the class with something a bit more stunning.
Wait till you see one close up, the quality of the materials used for everything apart from engine will be kwappy (hehe a new word for the kwak 250 perhaps?) or maybe i'm just an old git biker?

[johnnyrod]

I'm all for small good bikes, but I'm worried it will be like the old GPZ/ZZR250 which was 2-stroke-like in its complete lack of midrange. Agree that midrange bikes need some revialising, too many aimed at DASers, frankly who cares, get us something more fun to ride that isn't a GSXR. God forbid, they might bring out a medium sized twin with decent suspension...

[plowsie]

Might go n test ride one somewhere...



If they have a restricted version lol.

[kwak zzr]

that 250 is going to give all the power i can hangle without falling off.

[plowsie]

:lol: dont be so hard on yourself kwak! Might look quite funny if i turn up on my bloody SV lol.

[kwak zzr]

:rolleyes: :):):)

[Alpinestarhero]

Are you exagerating? :drunken:

Not at all....CBR250's reved to 20,000 rpm, and they where made ages ago...so given progress in engine development, rev ceilings getting higher...

...this 250 should rev all the way to 30,000,000,000 rpm

Just be carefull that one uses the right oil

Matt

[plowsie]

Oil! Good one you've reminded me lol :D

[Alpinestarhero]

Oil! Good one you've reminded me lol :D

Get castrol, its RED and looks fast

also noted that my bike runs a bit smoother

Matt

[plowsie]

Linkage to where i can get some of that shiz in a PM pretty please :)

As you were thread

[Spanner Man]

[quote=johnnyrod;1298486]I'm all for small good bikes, but I'm worried it will be like the old GPZ/ZZR250 which was 2-stroke-like in its complete lack of midrange.....

Evening all.
I too think it'll be like the above, & it'll probably blow itself to bits like the above used to.:D

Cheers.

[Razor]

Looking at some fo the spy shots on the wbe it looks like it's a parallel twin. Most likely a replacement for the Ninja 250R sold in the USA. Expect around 30 BHP, if they decide to bring it to Europe/UK market.

[northwind]

Definately aimed at the home market and America I reckon, the wee Ninja 250 was always popular there and it's about a decade overdue for update.

[Mossy]

hey all, aint been on for a while but was browsin for ninja 250 stuff and came across a couple of threads on the forum and thought ide give you some fact and figures as approved by kawasaki:

249cc liquid cooled 4 stroke parallel twin, 4 valves/cylinder
~33bhp @ 11,000rpm
~22 Nm torque @ 8200rpm
~154kg dry weight
EFI
6 speed box

kawasaki set price = £3299 otr

if the old american ex250s are anything to go off it should be good for round the ton maybe a slight bit more, but this is probably for people who weight about 5st, so jockeys and not much else!

its aimed at a broad array of people that i can see, obviously the restricted license holders thus why its spot on the 33bhp limit (maybe about 0.5bhp down but whos counting) low seat height ~775mm, decent but not overwhelming brakes, and nice and light.
also its aimed at commuters, it should get great MPG with it being a 250, highish bars and low seat make it good around town and i think it looks great!

this is just the start; yamaha and suzuki are possibly looking into the 250 market once again and who knows honda may actually do a decent modern 250 (ie not the cbf250)!

yes its a bike to a budget for example the OEM rubber is made by IRC (internation rubber copporation or something lol) and also the suspension basic but lets be honest its what you want for a second "still learning" bike/winter hack bike, cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to insure. sorted, nice 1 kawasaki is what i say!!

anyway ive searched the site and i cant find even a small amount of proper up-to-date info on the bike so i thought ide let you all see and see what you think

ste

[mister c]

Fast Bikes Magazine this month tested it. They said it wasn't bad for the size & could hit 100mph.
They reckon it is aimed at people that want to get into "Big Bikes" but can't afford to insure a 600, or who dont want an old import 400.

[Tim in Belgium]

It's green.

[lukemillar]

the only reason i got a 250 after passing my test was because it was under 33bhp. whats it designed to rival, the rs250 and old rgv250's? I cant see a market for it unless its really really cheep

I can. Over here in Australia and NZ the bike capacity limit after getting your 'L's is a 250. You see very few 125s about but tonnes of 250s - one of the most popular being the CBR250 (pretty unheard of in the UK!)

[Dan]

It's green.

Shut up, foam-boy. ;)

[yorkie_chris]

Bet it dosnt pull away without at least 10,000,000,000 revs :D

Matt

If it does have 45bhp from that sized engine it will be a 2-stroke 4-stroke anyway unless it's horrendously complicated with VTEC and EXUP valve.

[neio79]

Its 33BHP peeps, so fit out the crate for restricted riders.

And is a Kwak Ninja so its Ace ful stop!! :)

[kwak zzr]

I'd like a few minuets on one :)

[sv-robo]

Once owned a brand spanking new rgv250(black n silver)it went like sh*t off a shovel,pretty sure that the new kwak just would'nt even get close to it.

If i remember correctly the rgv put out 60+bhp,had a top speed of 130 and once you hit 5000rpm and the powerband kicked in it was time to hold on and a fight to the finish to keep the front wheel down ,a total hooligans machine...ahh happy days:).

[neio79]

I'd like a few minuets on one :)

so would i, in a few years a second hand one will make the ideal commuter tool, especially if fuel keeps going up at this rate.

[kwak zzr]

said that to my dad the other day, his yamaha cygnus 125 must be increasing in value now :) hes had it 2 years and only done 600 miles on it!

[STRAMASHER]

I like it.

Apart from the chinese clocks.


And its a 4stroke.


But if you don't know any different? Pretty trick. Green ones are fastest.:thumleft:



:)

[scottjames]

the rgvs had about 45 i think. my firend has one with pipes and just about every thing and its nearly 60bhp so im told.

The guy at kawasaki told me they were expected a new restriction in the bristish market, which would allow 45bhp? ? ? so it would be some thing like cbt, 33bhp (or lower) then 45bhp then full. how much truth there is in that i dont know.

ive sat on one and the quality is pretty good looks real professional. would imaging it would be good fun, for a while. :)

[MR UKI (1)]

Bike mag this month got a review on it. 32bhp according to them and more of a Kwak ER2F than a ZX250 they reckon.

[STRAMASHER]

Bike mag this month got a review on it. 32bhp according to them and more of a Kwak ER2F than a ZX250 they reckon.

My mate has a ZXR-250 (a mini H1 a-like). 4cyl 250 with race pipe. Comedy sound. But absolutely nothing "budget" about it. Gorgeous.:smt045

[Razor]

Difference being the ZXR250 revs to 19000 rpm, if you ride you need to forget all mechanical sympathy ;)

The little green ninja is an important bike and hopefully will herald in a new era of cheap accessible fun bikes for the cash strapped biker.

[MiniMac]

Wonder what the mpg is like on one of those? Would it be suitable for commute (brand new cost aside).

Any accurate performance figures yet?

[petevtwin650]

The little green ninja is an important bike and hopefully will herald in a new era of cheap accessible fun bikes for the cash strapped biker.

3299 greenbacks. Not so cheap compared to a new Sv even. States get it for 1750 though.

Wonder what the mpg is like on one of those? Would it be suitable for commute (brand new cost aside).

Any accurate performance figures yet?

100 mph on the clock according to BIKE.

[sv_rider1990]

In this months bike magazine theres a review and it says in there that its got 33BHP :S I
cant think it would have 45BHP.

[arenalife]

It's got a vociferous and vocal following in the US, you should see their forum, some swear it will match an R1 on the right roads. Then again, it's usually ridden by utter newbs over there who have trouble putting fuel in and using the sidestand. Funnily enough it's increased in weight for the 2008 model by exactly the amount required to get the power to weight ratio down for countries that have a power/weight limit as well as 33hp so they may have filled the frame with sand!

It's probably very enjoyable on the right roads, mega power bikes are boring when you can just twist and rip it up. Might be a bit limiting if it were your only bike. 0-60 is about 5.5 secs but they can also get 80mpg ridden really gently.

[VolatileParsley]

My better half has just bought one, in black.

It certainly looks the part, borrowing all the styling from it's bigger brothers. Sat next to the SV there isn't really much difference in physical size.

As my other half is undertall (barely 5 ft) it suits her perfectly. Nothing to report so far as due to the recent crappy weather and visiting friends it only has 8 miles on it. :(

It is 33bhp 'out of the box' and so perfect for her restricted licence and physical size (as mentioned).

I expect I'll only be allowed to admire it from afar and of course clean it when required. :rolleyes:

[Tim in Belgium]

Pics please.

[yorkie_chris]

It's probably very enjoyable on the right roads, mega power bikes are boring when you can just twist and rip it up. Might be a bit limiting if it were your only bike. 0-60 is about 5.5 secs but they can also get 80mpg ridden really gently.

There's definite enjoyment to be had ragging the balls off an underpowered engine rather than being careful with a powerful one.

[sv_rider1990]

It looks just like the CBR 125 i reckon got sporty looks and then this upright seating position and not particulary large tyres however it is what it is and seems like it could be a very good success for kawasaki i think... Suzuki need to have an inbetween sensible bike lol!

[gettin2dizzy]

There's definite enjoyment to be had ragging the balls off an underpowered engine rather than being careful with a powerful one.
:thumbsup:

[neio79]

There's definite enjoyment to be had ragging the balls off an underpowered engine rather than being careful with a powerful one.


Bit like riding an SV then!! ;):rolleyes:

[Alpinestarhero]

I saw one last week at some traffic lights on the A406 in london. Looked really good.

I'd have one as a commuting tool for london, definatly

[yorkie_chris]

Bit like riding an SV then!! ;):rolleyes:

Yeah. Riding a SS bike it's too easy to go fast, messing around with tuned 160bhp+ stuff it's like open the throttle... whoa warp speed mr sulu. Arms out of sockets by windblast as of course all proper bikes are naked. Fun, but not too rewarding. Point and squirt is easy with 100bhp supersport bike. With the SV you need to hold a little corner speed to make progress


It's all a personal thing, but it's what you find rewarding. So there's an RD400 on its way to me :-P

Not as fast as a power ranger bike, but which is more fun :-D

[neio79]

Yeah. Riding a SS bike it's too easy to go fast, messing around with tuned 160bhp+ stuff it's like open the throttle... whoa warp speed mr sulu. Arms out of sockets by windblast as of course all proper bikes are naked. Fun, but not too rewarding. Point and squirt is easy with 100bhp supersport bike. With the SV you need to hold a little corner speed to make progress


It's all a personal thing, but it's what you find rewarding. So there's an RD400 on its way to me :-P

Not as fast as a power ranger bike, but which is more fun :-D

Yep its what you like, i love the rush of power, and the insane warp speed with little effort. Ill throw you my keys one day and let you try it for size :thumright:

[Sosha]

I'd have one as a commuting tool for london, definatly


Not me - sooner go for somthing like a DRz or XR400 - too lazy for stratosphere RPM.

[mary]

I sat on one at Kawasaki day at the ace.
It was a bit wider than i expected, I liked it. I imagine it's great round the city, nice for filtering. It's fun riding a less powerful bike as well - as people have said you get to test its limits which you can't necessarliy do on your average road with a 600 (without risking your licence :( )
mary