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Sport bikes have never caught the eye of a true blue but young and inexperienced motorcycle maniac. They are supposed to be the first ones to make you feel the rush on two wheels, yet manoeuvrable and a fun ride so you can toy around with enough of a masculine grunt. Enter the 250cc segment which would fill the criteria. Also, a beginner would relish such a ride and then graduate into the upper segment of the cubic capacity and bhp scale. This would be where you understand the fine nuances of riding and harnessing the power on offer. But the large cubic capacity bikes with extreme top speeds and high performance have taken over everything. Everyone wants to jump directly to the highest rung in the ladder or land a high profile job without actually graduating college. It works for some and it’s really nice when it does but then if it does not, you just see everyone ride past and you stuck with your dreams. The sport bikes are supposed to be like college days. Fun and care free but then you have to move on to better things, things that require you take a little more responsibility. The 1000cc plus segment requires this kind of responsibility.

Manufacturers too have neglected this segment. The sport bikes are bulky and not fun always making you feel incomplete with fuel bills similar to the ones for a superbike. But the Kawasaki Ninja 250R has it all and more. From the time it was launched, it has been received well and has hit the sport bike segment with a breath a fresh air. Around 62% of owners are new riders and out of which 33% of this same segment are women. This clearly adds much more value and sense to my previous paragraph. But then this is not all for the beginners. Mature riders too appreciate what this bike has to offer. Now to Indianise this to an extent, it comes at a cost of $3500. You would not need the exchange rates and calculations to know that it is a good value for money only if Kawasaki would take a detour. Honestly, we cannot blame the Japanese maker for not coming here as India has never been on the priority list of sport, performance or touring bikes. But this would make the scenario interesting with the arrival of the R1, Busa and Ducati. They are not in the same league as them but it can create one on its own. In my opinion the response to the Yamaha R15 would dictate the future plans in this segment or in the creation of a new segment altogether.

The bike has received really good reviews all over for its impressive ride quality, chassis and smoothness. There is a certain quality about the bike that gives you slight big bike feel. The mileage figures are best in its class and tests confirm that it gives a combined mileage of 25 kmpl. The seating also is very well adjusted and is a pleasure to see that so much detail has gone into creating the right position. The seating position plays a very massive role in such bikes, trying to maintain a right balance between giving you an aggressive feel and also easy to manoeuvre around the bends. The 250cc power plant churns out a more than decent 27.2 Hp. The 6 speed transmission and Kawasaki’s own Uni-Trak rear suspension make the ride smooth and responsive, keeping you in tune with the road. This Ninjette clocks 60mph in 7.6sec. The weight has been very well distributed and yet it remains well planted on the road thanks to the semi double cradle frame made of high tensile steel. Most of the opinions on this bike revolve around the fun factor associated with it and that is all a beginner is looking at before they enter the mad world of high torque 300km/h monsters. Now you have the chance to be well prepared. Suited for India and the bike crazy Indian public and more importantly Indian roads? Too many questions to answer but there is one factor or commodity that answers such questions very well even though we are entitled to our opinions and that is time!