RightIndicator

Not far but only Five Year ago You must have got a tight slap from your dad for asking a Motorcycle which costs almost same as a new entry level hatchback. But Would you mind to gift your boy a motorcycle instead of a sedan, if he wishes for. Exactly the same thought loomed over my mind when Kawasaki Ninja was announced to be launched in India. Kawasaki Ninja 250R is imported as CKD (Completely Knock down) Kit and assembled in Bajaj auto’s Chakan plant pune. This shows Kawasaki’s commitment to deliver the International quality in Ninja 250R, which has been ruling the world since 1983 by its first predecessor GPZ 250r.

I was quite impressed with Ninja 250 in my recent road test. It infuses enough confidence to lean your knee at turns and never miss to impress a chic next door. Just after driving Ninja I rode Ducati 848 evo, definitely Ducati was mind-blowing with its bigger size and powerful engine, but I was missing the comfort and easy maneuverability of Ninja. It clearly indicates that Ninja is positioned carefully in proximity of daily goers without disturbing the enthusiasm level of sportz bike lover.

Design

Kawasaki Ninja means Green, black is just an option. Ninja Green is fresh, beautiful and iconic and complements perfectly with its sporty Design. Rear seat and saddles are copied from bigger siblings and I guess there was no need to reinvent it, there are several other parts to reinvent to align it with 250cc engine. 130/77 Rear Tyre not only looks good but also supports functionally. Over All Ninja looks big, agile and have all the trait of a Sports bike.

Analog Instrument Cluster is old style, I would have loved to have the Digital one.

Ninja does not look like a chopped off or miniature version of Bigger Ninja unlike R15. Ninja 250R is sensibly designed ergonomically with slight leaning posture, which suits sports style and comfy for city and long rides.

Front head lamps could have been replaced with Projector lamps to improve it visually and functionally.

Performance

Ninja’s 250 Twin Cylinder engine is way too refined. I have tested Ninja till 140 kmph and I loved the way it reaches at 100 within 8 seconds quickly. 140 kmph was smooth and steady even in windy weather, thanks to aerodynamic design and weight distribution. Manufacturer claims max speed upto 170kmph for your trial. Gear shift is really smooth, differentiable and shift range is optimized for quick changes.

Now question could be why Ninja is so costly & outclass compared to other 200+cc bikes in India like CBR250, Zmr and Pulsar 220. First and foremost reason is Ninja’s Parallel Twin engine with liquid cooling, all others come with single cylindrical engine and hence their Bhp and Nm numbers are significantly low. Ninja is SKD and every part of it is imported which makes it costlier but others are home made.

Handling and Braking

Most of the sports bikes are meant to run on smooth tarmac with precision and safety in every corner. Front telescopic suspension in Ninja contributes to handle the bike in every situation. Front 290mm disc brake does a good job to control the beast. I found Ninja’s brakes best in class and one of the best in sports bike segment.

Uni-Trak rear suspension is soft and have 5 adjustable steps to optimize in case you get pillion rider.

Kawasaki Ninja 250R Specifications

Summery

Kawasaki Ninja prized around 2.7 Lacs Ex-showrooms in India. Which comes down to around 3 lacs on road. In my opinion it is not a bad deal if you are looking for true sports motorcycle which is performance oriented and has a imported tag on it. And it is a multi-tasker for your daily needs.

-Ab