Is a Kawasaki Ninja 250 enough?

I used to haul my beast of an ex wife around on a ninja 250. It will handle the weight just fine and is faster than just about any Harley out there. I also rode it from Dallas Tx to Erie Pa without a problem. People that say that the ninja 250 is slow have obviously never ridden one.

Yes it is enough. I ride mine at 70+mph on all sorts of crazy twisty roads. I constantly catch and pass other riders. Sometimes I wonder how much trouble I would get in if I could go even faster. How fast do you really want to go? The only problem I have found with my 250 is when I want to pass someone, I can't just roll on the throttle and instantly fly by them. You have to wait for an actual passing zone, downshift, and hammer it.

The ninja 250 wasn't meant for a 200lb man and passenger, though. It can carry about 350 lbs, but man that is going to work the suspension!! The 500 would be better for 2 up, but it's probably one of those things that after your girl tries once, she won't do again. There are also at least 3:1 ninja 250's to 500's. For a single man the 250 is a great little bike.

i Personally own and ride an ex500 (ninja). Have also ridden a 250 too, i'd say go with the 500. It has more power for when you need it (when you have a passenger) and really isn't much heavier/hared to ride. I'm pretty sure Kawa stopped making the 500's this year. So i'd actually ecomend the 650 seeing as though its a fantastic bike and easy to ride just like its smaller counterparts. everyone says theres no need for power? i can personally atest to instances when i'm thankful i was on a more powerful bike than a "250". For when you NEED to move... ie... car does'nt stop when coming up behind you at a stop sign. Go for the Bigger bike, you won't regret it.

The Kawasaki Ninja 250 can accelerate 0-60 quicker than 90%+ of cars. It can top 100 mph. The 250 enough period. Anything more is just for speeding. How much more you need than a 250 depends on how stupid you want to get. (Isn't it nice we don't have to be smart/sane.)

Go for 250. After you become a good rider buy 500.

Its not designed to carry a decent sized guy and a passenger two up, and certainly not on the freeway.Not that it cant, but thats not what it was built for. The 500 is no harder to ride. Look into the 500Ninja, and Suzukis GS500For E. If you can afford it, look into the 650 Ninja or Suzuki GSX650F/SV650. They are far superior and just as easy to ride.

It's plenty for a beginner. Look at it this way: it will easily go fast enough to kill you or leave you brain-damaged for the rest of your life. Recently a learner on a 600cc sport bike hit a bridge railing and both his arms were torn off. He lived, but now he has no arms. It's just totally nuts to learn on a bike that's too powerful for your skill level.

in your situation you should get a 250 and wait at least unti your comfortable to have a passenger. but if you're going on highways then i say yes get a 500.

I would go with the 500 personally, everyone who is new to motorcycles thinks "I'm not getting a 500 I'll kill myself on that powerful machine" but if you have ever driven a motorcycle you'll know it's not the power that determines how fast you go it's the driver.

anyway, you'll have more horsepower to get up and go, ride up hills at the same speed instead of dropping, especially if youre gonna have passengers on it

Should be, yeah.

BUT, only for city driving. If you'll be doing a lot of highway driving I'd say 500 probably for the extra power if you'll be carrying someone... a 250cc CAN but will probably struggle a little more if you have someone with you too.