Windscreen
A popular mod for all sportbikes is a smoked windscreen. It looks better than stock, and with this Zero Gravity Double Bubble screen there's better weather protection because of the slightly larger profile.
"The windscreen is the perfect size. It's not too big yet offers a lot of protection, and it's a very inexpensive way to personalize the bike. I've had a few bolts and rocks smack off it but so far no cracks. It's very durable."
$89.95
zerogravity-racing.com Crash Protection
Newbie riders are going to make a few mistakes before they get their act together, and that makes crash protection a wise investment. Sato Racing offers "no-cut" frame sliders that don't require you to chop holes in the very fairing you're trying to protect. Alongside those useful additions are RG Racing's bar end sliders and swingarm spools.
"The frame sliders saved my bike. I was hit by a teenage kid who wasn't even legal to drive, and because of the sliders my bike slid rather than flipped all over the place. This definitely saved the bodywork and prevented the exhaust from damages."
Levers
The stock levers look and feel cheap because, well, they are. That's the nature of a budget friendly bike after all. But Pazzo Racing's adjustable levers add style and performance in less than five minutes.
"Adjustable levers are one of the first aftermarket mods every rider should buy. Being as small as I am my fingers aren't long, and the adjustable levers make shifting and braking easier, pain free, and safer. My fingers don't slip off the clutch and I'm able to grab the brakes as quickly as I need to."
$199/set
imotoconcepts.com Conclusion: If you're a 300-pound gorilla the Ninja 250R might not be the best option. But for shorter and smaller riders the little Kawi could be the perfect fit. The friendly price tag leaves lots of leftover cash for cool and useful mods, allowing you to customize it while extracting extra performance too. If ever there was a "little bike that could," the Ninja 250R is it.