I live in a heavily populated suburban area - anything from more than 2 days ago is sold. I've called/emailed dozens these last two weeks. If I don't get them in the first few hours, they're gone. It's crazy!

Ok fine.

2007 KAWASAKI NINJA 250 - $2450 (HIGH DESERT)

Date: 2010-03-10, 10:02AM PST
Reply to: sale-kmkpr-1637622343@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

18400MI RUNS GREAT. THIS BIKE IS PERFECT FOR SHORT COMMUTES.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/mcy/1637622343.html

Emailed.

Also, 18,400 miles is a lot for a <3 year old motorcycle.

I owned my ninja 250 for 1 year and I put 10k miles on it. 20k miles is not bad, but you'll need to do maintenance -- check the tires, change the oil, get the spark plugs replaced, carbs synced, and valves adjusted. That service cost me ~250 and it was worth every penny.

Don't underestimate the ninja 250 -- it's a basic small-displacement bike, but it gets awesome gas mileage and can go 100 (if you have time to speed up) -- I routinely drove mine >80mph and never had a problem. Some sissies whine that it's "unstable" on the freeway -- well no ****, sherlock, if you have a ~300lb bike with a ~100lb rider and you get next to a semi truck, it's going to blow around -- get used to it or don't get next to semi trucks!

The paint still needs to be wetsanded - he couldn't do it until the parts were on the bike (otherwise they'd go flying :P).

Wow - in the light it looks pretty good. Some silver decals and chromed bar-end mirrors and you're in business.

That aftermarket gauge thing looks odd, and it's mounted in a weird place. Any chance you can make some brackets and move it up over the headlight instead of on top of your bar mounts?

Silver Suzuki 'S' is going on the tank, and 'SV650' in silver/gold on the tail (factory type/location).

If I made a bracket, yeah. That's the bracket it came with. Top priority was functionality - aesthetics can come now that everything works.

Can you get an OEM instrument panel?

Also, good news on the bike front - some guy I emailed last week said he had already sold his bike, but he just emailed again and said his sale fell through - he lost the key to the bike, so his buyer bailed. He'll give it to me (with no key ) for a grand. Might be a rip, but he says he has the title in hand. Looking tomorrow at 6pm. 2006 Ninja 250. Here's hoping.

I could, but why? The Vapor is an awesome unit - IMHO far superior to the factory cluster. Ride time, peak RPM, peak speed, coolant temp with 2-stage warning lights, shift lights, etc.

You should be able to have a locksmith cut a key for less than $50. The major problem I see here is that you won't be able to see/hear it run beforehand...which would be concerning for me.

The guy says he's removed the ignition switch. Now it's just a simple on/off switch from radio shack. A turn off for many buyers I'm sure, but I don't really care. Even if I had to replace the whole ignition switch, it's only $100. I kinda have a feeling the guy is a bike novice who got in over his head.

How does the odometer function?

On the Vapor? Magnet/sensor. I also think it's a lot more accurate than the stock speedo -- radar tested within 1mph at various speeds.

Not the speedometer - the odometer, the one that measures total mileage on the vehicle.

Odometers work off input from the speedometer...

It's a really good lookin bike, makes me want to get out in my garage and do something fun

But what about the miles put on the bike before the Vapor was installed?

TrailTech will tell you how to set it to match prior mileage. I didn't bother..it just says 'not actual mileage' on my inspection. I might get to it eventually though.

I see.

And not all odometers work off of the speedometer. Many work off of a gear mounted to the axle or drive.

Yeah I had a exercise bike that recorded miles that way.