So...I've been trying to get a newer bike for a while. I've been looking at bigger bikes like a newer Fireblade or a 600rr. However, I overlooked at the 250's. I've ridden a Rebel 250 and it was comfy. Never taken it on the freeway though. Moving down from a 600 to a 250 is probably really dramatic eh?
Someone wants to trade me a 2009 Ninja 250 for my 1992 600 F2. The only catch is that it's been down on the right side and the radiator fan is always on. What do you guys think? Is it an upgrade? Or downgrade? If it's a clean title bike, I can buy a matching right side fairing and pretend it was never dropped. I commute more than I ride for pleasure, so I'm thinking the 250 is an economical choice?

A 92' F2 with around 70k miles is probably almost worth somewhere around $300-$600 max? And a 2009 Ninja 250 is anywhere from $3000-$4000...I have a feeling something is wrong here. Or the mystical 2005 Repsol colors are hypnotizing the trader LOL. What do you guys think? Sketchy? Great deal? Suspicions? Possible robbery/scam? Oh, yeah and it's through craigslist...

 

Money wise your probably more correct. You could trade, fix it up, and sell it and probably make a considerable profit. Ha. But everyone that I've talked to or know has always wanted something bigger after purchasing a 250. Most of them go to a 600 so I'm not sure how you'd fare going from the 600 to the 250. Ha.

 

A Ninja 250r is more than capable of highway speeds and an absolute blast in the twisties. The fuel efficiency and cheap insurance is just icing on the cake.

Why not check out the bike and take it for a quick spin? If the damage is only cosmetic, I say go for it. If nothing else, you could sell it for more than your F2 would get, so you're that much closer to trading up to a newer 600.

 

Sounds like a sketchy CL deal to me.

Move to something better than the 250. What happened to the 1000rr you looking for?

 

my slogan is friends dont let friends ride 250's... (unless they are beginners lol)

I tell you the ninja 250 is a HUGE downgrade from the f2... ive ridden the ninja and it takes forever to get up to 60mph.... I had an f2 and that bike still has some ***** for its age. If your goal is to try to flip it, and make some cash off of it then yeah plastics is a quick fix and chances are the fan is as well. But depends on how much work it needs. if you want to sell a 09 250, your gonna get max about 2grand for it in perfect working condition

 

you would be crazy to trade a 250 doesnt have nearl the size ***** an f2 has, sure effeciancy is a positive but who ever cared about a few extra dollars over power

 

Possibly sketchy, but if it's in your area, and the title's clean, and in the seller's name, so that there's no BS with getting it titled for you, then you've got nothing to lose by going to at least check it out... like others have already said, you could always "flip it".

 

I'd do it.

The 09 is worth more most likely, so again you could flip it, and you may find you like it. I love my 250, but I haven't really ridden my 600 on the street too much. I have a feeling when I get my Duke though I might not love my 250 so much...but it's a ton of fun in the twisties! Nice and lightweight!

 

Thanks for your inputs. I checked it out today and boy, it's slow. I mean, of course it is, it's a 250! It had no problems keeping up with traffic as Munson stated. However, I realized that I was braking a lot more on the freeway instead of overtaking traffic. Because of that, I felt a bit uncomfortable and lost my confidence in the bike since 99% of my commuting is on freeways with average speeds of 75mph in the fast lane. I'm sure it'll be a great second bike to have, but as a daily freeway commuter...it was a no for me. If only someone wanted to trade me a real 1000RR LOL. The only upside for the Kawi 250 is the better fuel economy. Insurance is practically free for the F2. I pay $240 annually. I don't think the benefits of the 250 are big enough to switch from my 600. Now if it were a fuel injected Honda CBR250R...that's a different story. Got a soft spot for Honda's hehe.

 

Sounds like what most people think of the 250's after riding/owning one. Ha. And I definitely agree with you on the insurance. It's crazy how cheap it is.