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2008 Ninja 250R Q&A with Product Manager

2008 Kawasaki Ninja® 250R
Q & A with Sportbike Product Manager Karl Edmondson
Since its debut in the mid-80s, the Ninja 250R has developed quite a following. What is
the reason behind this model’s market dominance – this is the best selling Kawasaki
motorcycle, right?

In a nutshell, the Ninja 250 is priced to attract a lot of first time buyers and those on a budget.
Its easy handling, beginner friendly personality and excellent reliability increase the perceived
value of its low purchase price. This is Kawasaki’s number one selling motorcycle and one of
the few bikes from any manufacturer to show positive sales numbers, while the industry as a
whole dropped an average of about seven percent in the last year.

How has Kawasaki factored this legacy into the redesign for 2008?

Utilizing the lessons learned with the outgoing
Ninja 250R, the designers strove to retain its
positive traits and keep the price low, while
improving its beginner-friendly attributes and
updating its sportbike styling.

Besides the obvious visual (bodywork) updates, what are some of the other key
changes?

The engine received a major work over; it now produces
more torque earlier in the rev range, meets ever-tightening
modern emissions requirements and produces less noise.
Updated brakes with petal style rotors, and 17-inch wheels round out the significant changes.

What obstacles did the engineers face when they created the 2008 Ninja 250R?

Modernizing the styling, updating
the suspension, wheels, brakes,
bringing the engine into
compliance with tough (50-state
legal) emission standards and
improving real-world power
delivery, all while keeping the
price down was a quite a tall
order to fill.

Who are the target markets of the 250R? Is more than one market focus unique to this
model?

The most obvious sales demographic for the
Ninja 250R are young, beginning riders.
However, we found that it has quite a broad
appeal, including men and women in age
ranges throughout the scale. It boasts one of
the highest percentage of women riders as
well – fully 33 percent of Ninja 250R owners
are female.

Red Ninja 250r on the track

Is it safe to label the Ninja 250R as “a do-it-all street bike”?

Yes, its excellent mileage, low cost to
purchase/insure, improved power delivery and
easy handling mean it’s certainly at home in the
urban jungle. Furthermore, the Ninja 250R isn’t
just a great city bike, it’s also a fun sport bike –
even a great club racer for some.

What accessories are planned or already exist for the Ninja 250R?

Right now we have an accessory seat cowling that
enhances the sporting appeal of the new bodywork
and will be available for $99.95.