Altered picture of the ZG250

This image is from a ride north of Austin with a mixed group of riders and bikes. One of my favorites.

Ninja 250 video's on YouTube

My Ninjette on the cover of Motorcyclist magazine!

I uploaded a pic of my little Ninja to the Motorcyclist site, then arranged a mock cover for the magazine. You can have a cover printed and even framed at high res, starting at $30.

Of course, this could be done just as easy, and cheaper, in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or a variety of design applications.

New headlight!

I just installed a new bulb in the Ninjette today. I have not ridden at night yet, but during the day, wow! It's an Eiko H4 60/55 watt Super Brite bulb. You can pick it up at Axiom Cycles, among other places. Less than $10 and quite a difference without going broke on HIDs...

And now for something completely different

There is something to be said for having the right tool for the job...



Then again, a real adventure is doing the task with the wrong tool.

One of these things is not like the others, four of these things are kind of the same...

Ninja250.org POTD

Future modifications?

Acerbis hand guards for winter riding
Brighter headlight, maybe Silverstar
LEDs in Givi topcase
FirstGear Kilimanjaro pants and jacket , maybe Aerostitch two-piece set - waterproof for commuting and touring
Nolan N102 N-Com modular helmet with communication system - to play music over Bluetooth PDA phone
Handlebar risers
Stainless brake lines
Carb heaters

All The Gear, All The Time

Teknic Monsoon jacket - 3/4 length, waterproof, removable liner, warm, inexpensive. Why did I not get this jacket years ago?
Joe Rocket Ballistic overpants - well-worn, water resistant now...
Tour Master Venture Air Mesh pants - Mesh shell with armor, removable waterproof liner, removable insulated liner
Olympia gauntlet gloves winter, but managed Texas heat last summer in these!
Tour Master Cortech DX short cuff vented summer gloves - cheap and well-vented
Ecco boots - very light work boots, waterproof, short cuff
Oxtar Matrix 2 boots - perfect, light
HJC CL-Max Element modular helmet - Makes summers nice when cruising at lower speeds.
Shoei RF-200 helmet - Old but solid.
Vega Summit II helmet - not the best helmet, but a cheap modular, poor visor seal/fitment. The modular release failed. Not so modular anymore...
4Star leather jacket - winter, no vents, waterproof
Tourmaster Cortech Fusion jacket - summer, removable liner, silver/black, lots of vents, not waterproof

Ninjette luggage

Nelson-Rigg CL-300 magnetic tank bag - small but practical
Oxford tank bag - big, almost too big for the bike, better for longer trips
Givi Monolock E450N - perfect size for touring on the Ninja 250
Ventura Aerodynamic rack - great fit at $200
Fieldsheer Expander saddlebags, with rain covers - small entry openings, good for stashing rain gear and a few tools
Big expandable backpack

Ninjette modifications

Custom-made large Lexan windscreen a must if commuting, and is not your track bike
Throttle rocker/wrist rests comfortable on straight roads, allows you to hold the bar ends more and sit more upright, cheaper than risers
Garage door opener wired to the headlight switch necessity in the rain
RAM mount for Magellan GPS
Front Tire: Kenda K671 100/90-16 good in the wet, cruiser-type tread, taller profile
Rear Tire: Kenda K657 130/90-16 taller profile, comfortable ride, lower RPMs, better wet grip, cheap too
Custom cut rear plastic fender result of a rear-ender and me being too cheap to replace it...
Mounted small turn signals, license plate bracket and inspection tag plate
Signal Dynamics brake light modulator if you have ever been rear-ended on a bike, you know why
15/41 JT Sprockets gearing 70mph@7kRPMs
Shims in the cush drive nothing huge, but noticeable
Flush-mount front signals from Keith in Asia
Eiko H4 60/55 watt Super Brite bulb - much brighter than stock, cheaper than HIDs

20k miles and rolling along nicely

After a bit over 20k miles, the littlest Ninja does very well. It is the perfect commuter bike, getting 75mpg on average in urban commuting, with modifications. The previous generation is holding its value currently, but can still be had for around $2500 used. The '08 model is not quite the same bike, slightly less practical, but still a good beginner bike.


I do my best to keep a good service log. Just back from a major service, it is running as well, if not better, than new. Carb sync, valve adjust, front tire replacement, coolant, fluids and filters...

Commuting/Touring Tires

I just installed a nice Kenda front tire to match the rear, a K671 cruiser-type in a 100/90-16. It has better looking tread than the stock Dunlop. It seems to have much better grip even before scrubbing it! So far, I am impressed, especially on the cost.

The rear Kenda is still holding up very well. K657 130/90-16 taller profile, comfortable ride, lower RPMs, better wet grip, cheap to.