MANY aspiring motorcyclists think they need a litre-bike to be a serious biker.
I won’t argue with them. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion in “Malaysia Baru”.
But allow me to highlight the merits of a motorcycle class that’s often overlooked as an entry level point in in the two-wheel world.
The quarter-litre class wasn’t always the preserve of budget runabouts with right-side up forks, single-sided disc brakes and weedy single-cylinders or raspy, underpowered twin engines.
In the late 1990s, the 250cc class was much sexier than it is today. In the four-stroke category, you had machines like the crazy Kawasaki ZXR 250, with four cylinders and 16 tiny valves that screamed all the way to its redline of 19,000rpm, churning out 45hp in the process.
In the 250cc two-stroke class, things were even wilder, with the Aprilia RS250 belching out more than 60hp with a jet of white 2t smoke.
The millennials of today, with their environmentally restricted 250s, are missing out on a lot of fun, but year by year, the 250cc class has been getting better.
So when Kawasaki called me up to sample their latest baby Ninja, I was eager to see what the state of affairs is in the quarter-litre class.
My few days on the little red-and-black 2018 Ninja 250 was a haze of high-revving, adrenaline-pumping action.
The sceptical among you no doubt will question whether it was possible for me to be having so much fun, but to ye disbelievers I say... the piddling Ninja 250 turns an ordinary commute into a ham fisted, red-line affair.
The entrance to Duke Highway from Jalan Gombak, for example, had just the right, tight corners to enjoy the lively handling of the little Ninja.
The corners are too tight for the typical litre bikes, but on the baby Ninja, you just need to grab the tank with your knees and dive deeper into the corner.
The handling and cornering ability of the new 250 are sublime, as are the brakes, notwithstanding their humble origins from the budget bin.
Despite missing a whole disc up front, the brakes are progressive and work incredibly well at stopping the little sports bike.
The 249cc, parallel-twin liquid-cooled power plant is an evolution carried over from the early days of the EX250 but now produces 39 hp at 12,500 rpm and 23.5 Nm of torque at 10,000rpm.
That’s a substantial increase over the 32hp and 21Nm of torque from the previous generation.
The power is still spread evenly across the powerband. Just like the old Ninja, you need to wring the throttle to make any meaningful progress. For aggressive riders, that means keeping the engine burbling high up in the rev range.
The Ninja now breathes through a pair of 32mm diameter throttle bodies, an improvement over the previous model’s twin 28mm diameter ones.
It also has a new, larger airbox with a downdraft intake that gives a more direct flow into the cylinder head. The airbox has been moved from under the seat to a new placement under the tank.
This is part of the reason that you will hear a much more pleasing intake howl while wringing the throttle.
The changes don’t seem to have any effect on the fuel economy. The 250 is still a miserly little beast, which adds to its appeal in its second alter ego as a commuter.
The 31-inch seat height has returned on this model.
Kawasaki’s cleverness can be seen in the way the riding ergonomics are designed. The clip-on style handlebars have been moved closer to the rider slightly, giving the rider a more upright position.
Meanwhile, the footpegs have been moved back a bit, leaning you forward.
The new riding position doesn’t load the rider’s wrists, and remains a comfortable, neutral perch.
The Ninja has also lost a bit of weight. Fuel tank capacity has been reduced, from the previous 17 litres to 14 litres. It now weighs 167kg against previous model’s 172kg.
The Ninja 250 is a whipping little bike that excels and ticks all the boxes, although it is pricey at RM23,000. If you are new at riding, consider it as a perfect trainer to improve your riding skills.
For an advanced or intermediate rider, this Ninja will likely still have what it takes to keep you entertained.