Though you might have only noticed the Kawasaki Ninja since its relaunch in 2008, it has been around for years-since 1986 actually. Those early versions hardly have anything in common with the newer bikes, but the fact that Japan recognized the entry level market's desire for a sporty bike was important to the sector's growth. And it soon boomed.
In 1988 the Ninja 250 was heavily overhauled and became a widely popular bike for novice riders. Finally there was a sporty (looking, at least) bike that was also very affordable, and it opened the doors to a new audience that was once excluded from the sportbike scene.
Amazingly, it somehow took Kawasaki 20 years to heavily update the Ninja 250. The second generation Ninja 250 had gone relatively untouched for so many years that it looked extremely dated and consequently turned off a large group of potential riders. But in 2008 all that changed.
The motor was retuned for a better midrange hit and numerous other components were updated, but most importantly the styling was completely overhauled to the point that it rivaled its contemporary siblings on the showroom floor.
Krystal
Age: 26
Experience:...
Krystal
Age: 26
Experience: novice (under two years)
Height: 4'11"
Riding style: commuting/sport touring
Suddenly, the Ninja 250 allured potential buyers for its looks as much as its friendly performance characteristics.
Sure, the Ninja 250 is an entry-level sportbike that many riders will quickly outgrow. But for others it's all they will ever need because larger sportbikes are either simply too daunting or physically too large. So how can you make the bike your own and perform its best for your requirements? We addressed one owner's requests for more speed, better looks and a friendlier stance and she ended up with the perfect ride.