Before we get into the changes found in the 2008 250R, what has Kawasaki done with the price? The bike is now $500 more expensive (U.S. MSRP of $3,499). Even this small bump could have a significant impact on future Ninja 250R sales. Nevertheless, Kawasaki thinks the substantial upgrades and improvements to the new model will offset this price increase.
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Based on the venerable 1200 Sportster platform, the Forty-Eight-so called because of the 1948 S-model, the first H-D with a peanut tank-is sort of a street-fighter version of the Nightster model.
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HA-1302 flows approximately 15% more than the factory Honda filter. We were curious to see if this increase in flow translated to increased wheel horsepower. Read more.
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On the street, you are invisible. You must always be aware that you are invisible. Never assume that automobile drivers see you. If an automobile is in a position to hit you, plan an escape path in advance. Try to make eye contact with the driver, if possible.
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I just got back from a day of riding Ducati’s new Hypermotard 1100 EVO and EVO SP. Ducati North America flew me to Scottsdale, AZ (in a private Piaggio Turboprop: very classy) to show me the new bike and let me try it out on a surprisingly fun, twisty road not far from the sprawling Phoenix metropolitan area. I discovered a bike that really lives up to marketing hype.
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Yamaha’s efforts to address our biggest concern with the old R6 have been a success, as far as we can tell after our initial rides on the new bike. Namely, the powerband is much broader, and much more usable in the mid-range. The old bike had a great top end, but relatively little power (relative to the competition, particularly Honda’s CBR) below 10,000 rpm. That has clearly changed thanks to significant engine changes, including but not limited to a bump in compression and the variable intake length system (YCC) first used on the R1 a year ago.
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The RC8 R gets a lot of changes from the standard RC8. Project Director Wolfgang Felber’s team souped up the motor, giving the 75-degree V-Twin a two millimeter overbore for 1195cc (from 1148cc) of displacement, plus thinner head gaskets, trapezoidal con-rods (that spread the load more on the piston pin, allowing higher compression and more power with the same reliability) and reshaped pistons to boost the compression ratio a full point to 13.5:1.
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Supermoto’s resurgent popularity caused the manufacturers to take notice, and so now there is a strong market for what are essentially converted dirtbikes, such as this Kawasaki KLX250SF. Visual differences are pretty straightforward – Smaller diameter, 17″ wheels, big front brake, aggressively styled bodywork. That pretty much covers the visual.
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