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Buell Blast vs Ninja 250: Difference between revisions

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Remember, these are opinions. Some people like Harley-Davidsons; others like Hayabusas. What you like is up to you.  
Remember, these are opinions. Some people like Harley-Davidsons; others like Hayabusas. What you like is up to you.  


====Rider number one====
====One====


The 250 is a far better motorcycle, although the Blast is a good beginner's bike.  
The 250 is a far better motorcycle, although the Blast is a good beginner's bike.  
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*Overall build quality: Must go with the 250 on this one. The Blast has chintzy plastic and funky handlebars and LOOKS like a beginners bike. The 250 pretty much looks like a small rice rocket, to me at least.  
*Overall build quality: Must go with the 250 on this one. The Blast has chintzy plastic and funky handlebars and LOOKS like a beginners bike. The 250 pretty much looks like a small rice rocket, to me at least.  


Final thoughts: Nod goes to the 250. However...the Blast was designed specifically for beginning riders and excels in that role, MAYBE better than the 250. That could be argued well either way. I feel that the 250 can grow with a rider as their skill levels improve, where a Blast would not. Evidence of this is that there are numerous track ready 250s and a 250 racing series in California. Nothing like that for Blasts.  
Final thoughts: Nod goes to the 250. However... the Blast was designed specifically for beginning riders and excels in that role, MAYBE better than the 250. That could be argued well either way. I feel that the 250 can grow with a rider as their skill levels improve, where a Blast would not. Evidence of this is that there are numerous track ready 250s and a 250 racing series in California. Nothing like that for Blasts.  


If ALL you want is a strictly beginning motorcycle, then either will serve you well. You'd be able to keep the 250 around longer than the Blast as your skills improve.
If ALL you want is a strictly beginning motorcycle, then either will serve you well. You'd be able to keep the 250 around longer than the Blast as your skills improve.


====Rider number two====
====Two====


I am uniquely suited to answer this question :)
I am uniquely suited to answer this question, as I have a Ninja 250 and my wife has a Buell Blast. I have ridden both in various conditions and speeds and took my MSF on the Blast. We got to the MSF class without having found her a bike and took the class on the Blasts. Day by day, my wife grew more fond of the little Blast. She could get her feet flat on the ground with the lower seat option. Her hands could operate the controls. She was not stretched to reach the handlebars. The seat was comfy. We liked the fact it had no plastic to break when it tipped over (other than mirrors and turn signals and the like). We liked its simplicity - single cylinder, air cooled, no chain to maintain/lube, valves self-adjusting.


I have a Ninja 250, and my wife has a Buell Blast. I have ridden both in various conditions and speeds and took my MSF on the Blast.  
Anyway, here's the rundown: The Blast is a FUN bike. It has the same HP as the Ninja 250, but about twice the torque, and at half the RPM that the Ninja makes peak torque. That makes it very nice to ride around city streets. It has plenty of get up and go all the way to freeway speeds, and its top speed is supposedly about 98 MPH according to the Buell forum members. It has a funky sound and a smooth, responsive throttle (as long as you don't lug it). It's part Harley... noisy, kinda slow for the displacement, but it's comfortable and fun to look at (I think).  


Before my wife and I took the MSF, the plan was to get Ninja 250s for both of us. I found a great deal I could not pass up about 3 weeks before the class and bought it, my 2007 Ninja 250. I did not touch it (other than sitting on it) until after we had finished the class. During those three weeks we searched for another 250 for my wife. We found three but all sold before we could get to them.  
Yeah, it shakes a lot at idle, but it smooths out nicely at speed. It handles GREAT, and I was never worried about leaning it over at any time, during the class or now. Very flickable, although 80 pounds heavier than the Ninja. Phenomenal brakes: strong, progressive and predictable. The plastic bits shake around a lot off idle, but nothing has fallen off yet.  


We got to the class without having found her a bike and took the class on the Blasts. Day by day, my wife grew more fond of the little Blast. She could get her feet flat on the ground with the lower seat option. Her hands could operate the controls. She was not stretched to reach the handlebars. The seat was comfy. We liked the fact it had no plastic to break when it tipped over (other than mirrors and turn signals and the like). We liked its simplicity - single cylinder, air cooled, no chain to maintain/lube, valves self-adjusting.
The Ninja is more refined and more of a screamer. Where the Buell gets it done with low end grunt, the Ninja gets it done with RPM-derived HP. The Ninja's front fork is more springy and makes good hard stops a little more difficult to learn, but nothing a few days in the saddle can't cure. The Ninja is noticeably lighter - easier to push around, etc. But they feel the same weight while riding and handle pretty much the same (well, in other words). Good stability at speed and great manners in the turns.  
 
By the time the class was over, we had decided on a Buell for my wife! She was so excited, so I bought one for her with my own savings as an early anniversary present. The dealer had a trade in on a 2001 with 4,000 miles for just over $2000.
 
Anyway, here's the rundown: The Blast is a FUN bike. It has the same HP as the Ninja 250, but about twice the torque, and at half the RPM that the Ninja makes peak torque. That makes it very nice to ride around city streets. It has plenty of get up and go all the way to freeway speeds, and its top speed is supposedly about 98 MPH according to the Buell forum members. It has a funky sound and a smooth, responsive throttle (as long as you don't lug it). It's part Harley...noisy, kinda slow for the displacement, but it's comfortable and fun to look at (I think).
 
Yeah, it shakes a lot at idle, but it smooths out nicely at speed. It handles GREAT, and I was never worried about leaning it over at any time, during the class or now. Very flickable, although 80 pounds heavier than the Ninja. Phenomenal brakes...strong, progressive and predictable. The plastic bits shake around a lot off idle, but nothing has fallen off yet.
 
The Ninja is more refined and more of a screamer. Where the Buell gets it done with low end grunt, the Ninja gets it done with RPM-derived HP. The Ninja's front fork is more springy and makes good hard stops a little more difficult to learn, but nothing a few days in the saddle can't cure. The Ninja is noticably lighter - easier to push around, etc. But they feel the same weight while riding and handle pretty much the same, as far as I can tell (which is great, by the way). Good stability at speed and great manners in the turns.  


'''Blast'''
'''Blast'''
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Cons
Cons


*Weight (but only a problem while maneuvering around the garage..)  
*Weight (but only a problem while maneuvering around the garage)  
*Goes through rear tires fast because of the torque  
*Goes through rear tires fast because of the torque  
*Funky styling  
*Funky styling  
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*No tach  
*No tach  
*No wind protection (aftermarket is available)  
*No wind protection (aftermarket is available)  
*Mean vibration at idle...but you get used to it  
*Mean vibration at idle, but you get used to it  
*No center stand  
*No center stand  


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*Small friction zone on clutch compared to the Buell  
*Small friction zone on clutch compared to the Buell  


As far as buying the bikes go, don't get extras with either from the dealer. A new Blast is going to cost about $1000 more than a new Ninja 250, which can make it prohibitive to buy a Blast new. Also, since the Blast has a bigger engine, insurance MAY cost more. Check before you buy.
A new Blast is going to cost about $1000 more than a new Ninja 250 (may not be true in 2009 - check) which can make it prohibitive to buy a Blast new. Also, since the Blast has a bigger engine, insurance MAY cost more. Check before you buy.


"If you had to pick just one, which would you choose?"
"If you had to pick just one, which would you choose?"
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The Ninja 250. It feels like a more complete bike, has more amenities, is just about as fast, and costs a fair bit less.
The Ninja 250. It feels like a more complete bike, has more amenities, is just about as fast, and costs a fair bit less.


====Rider number three====
====Three====


I've owned a Ninja 250 for about two weeks. My wife has a Blast that we've had for about 2 years. I've probably ridden the Blast 10 times.  
I've owned a Ninja 250 for about two weeks. My wife has a Blast that we've had for about 2 years. I've probably ridden the Blast 10 times.  
First observations that come to mind, having both in the garage...
The Blast is a fairly fun little bike, as is the 250. My main bike is a 1975 BMW R90/6, so the Blast and the Ninja both feel like toys to me to ride in comparison.


'''Advantage Blast'''  
'''Advantage Blast'''  
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'''Advantage Ninja'''
'''Advantage Ninja'''


*Way cooler looking in my opinion, if you care about that kind of thing.
*Way cooler looking in my opinion, if you care about that kind of thing
*Better at highway speeds (65+). The Blast taps out at about 65mph, realistically, and I know of no sprocket upgrades, etc, such as you can do to alter the Ninja's gearing easily.
*Better at highway speeds (65+)
*Higher revving engine--Blast has nicer torque from a stop but narrow powerband and runs out of breath at high revs.
*Higher revving engine--Blast has nicer torque from a stop but narrow powerband and runs out of breath at high revs
*This message board--have yet to find a Blast group with nearly the support and info of the 250 Club.
*This message board--have yet to find a Blast group with nearly the support and info of the 250 Club
*Has center stand--none on the Blast (annoying).
*Has center stand--none on the Blast  
*Has Tach--none on the Blast (annoying).
*Has Tach--none on the Blast  
*Better highway cruiser.
*Better highway cruiser  
*Less vibration; Blast has fairly annoying vibey feel at idle.
*Less vibration; Blast has fairly annoying vibey feel at idle
*6 speed gearbox.
*6 speed gearbox
*Better resale value/interest. I notice that used Ninja 250s don't last long, and used Blasts rot on eBay, Craigslist, etc.
*Better resale value/interest. I notice that used Ninja 250s don't last long, and used Blasts rot, on eBay, Craigslist, etc.


====And again, Rider number one====
====Again, One====


The Blast was one of the numerous short-bikes that I bought for my wife. I put about 1500-2000 miles on it riding it around the local area, but was somewhat disillusioned with it due to lack of lean angle and a low RPM limit. It is torquey enough that 1st gear is almost a waste. It was also the first bike that I scraped pegs all the way through a turn.
The Blast was one of the numerous short-bikes that I bought for my wife. I put about 1500-2000 miles on it riding it around the local area, but was somewhat disillusioned with it due to lack of lean angle and a low RPM limit. It is torquey enough that 1st gear is almost a waste. It was also the first bike that I scraped pegs all the way through a turn.
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