2012 Kawasaki Ninja 250 – Ninjette Loses the “R”, Keeps the Carbs

Kawasaki has released information about its 2012 Ninja 250. Yes, you read that right, Kawasaki has dropped the “R” from its littlest Ninjette. And no, it’s still not fuel injected.

As shown on Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A.’s website, the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 250 has the same specs as the 2011 Ninja 250R, only it’s missing the “R”.  The 2012 Ninja 250 is powered by a249cc liquid-cooled parallel Twin engine with a six-speed transmission. And despite Honda upping the ante with the fuel-injected CBR250R, Kawasaki is keeping its Keihin CVK30 carbs instead of importing the fuel-injected version available in other markets.

Like the 2011 250R, the 2012 Ninja 250 has a 4.8 gallon fuel tank, 37mm hydraulic telescopic fork, preload-adjustable rear suspension and a the same claimed weight of 374.9 pounds.

Kawasaki will offer the 2012 Ninja 250 in three color options: Passion Red, Metallic Spark Black and Candy Lime Green. The 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 250 is priced at $4,199, an increase from the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R’s $3,999 price tag.

But what about the missing “R”? Until 2008, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R was known by various names over the years and depending on where  you were in the world. Some called it the EX250, some called it the GPX-250R, and some called it the ZZR-250. In 2008, Kawasaki rebranded the motorcycle around the world as the Ninja 250R.

Why did Kawasaki drop the “R”? Probably to differentiate between its faired street bikes from its ZX supersports. In 2011, Kawasaki offered a Ninja 650R and, in some markets, a Ninja 400R, but the Ninja 1000 went without the R. Don’t be surprised to see the Ninja 650 lose its R this year.

[Source: Kawasaki]

By Dennis Chung