You'll like the Ninja 250.  It's a solid, dependable bike. Good on gas.   Adequate power. Will do 100 according to the factory but just barely.  It's happy all day cruising at 80 mph. Handles well.  It's a lot of fun in the twisties. Wind it up it'll go. don't wind it up so much, it's a nice, sedate little bike.
They stretch chains if you get on them. And, I can't resist twisting the throttle sometimes. AS has been said, tire selection in its native size is a little limited. I've got michelin commander II's on mine and they work very well with it.  
It's easily serviced once you get the plastics out of the way.  The plastics are quite expensive so be careful with them. When you remove the upper fairing from the gas tank, make sure the short screws go in the right place on reassembly or you'll punch a hole in the tank.

old_rider wrote on 08/15/16 at 15:26:40:


Yep....the 300 is a better bike.  The only downside is cost, as you won't be finding them for $ 800 unless the are a basket case.  (And the fact they are fuel injected if you want the ability to work on your carbs periodically).

I needed the 1987 - 2007 version for building the Cafe' conversion (and I bought it for $ 250 with a blown motor).

The Ninja 250/300 forum is great.  The general membership isn't as helpful and friendly as this forum - but the page that tells you about tires/engines/mods is perhaps better, as it just lays it on the line without pages of discussion.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Ninja250_Howto