I'm fairly familiar with Hyosung stuff. Here's the poop - if you get one that is trouble free, then it's great, no problem. Get one that has issues, pay your buddies to steal it, sink it in the deepest lakeyou can findand collect your insurance - overall, their quality standards are not nearly as consistant as the Kawasaki.
The Ninja250 has been around a long freakin time, parts for it are very easy to come by, most very cheap on EbaY. If there was ever a motorcycle that has proven itself over time - the Ninja250 is it.

scootertrog

 

Don't forget the Ninja 500 to. It's been proven also.

 

Yep!

scootertrog

 

A fair comparison of the two bikes would consist of an objective/subjective comparison. Even thought I am not in the market for a bike such as this, I have riden both and have come up with a comparison for all those interested.

Specification comparison:

2008 Ninja 250: http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...%20%20se08.htm

2008 Hyosung GT250R:http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod..._250R%2006.htm

Chassis/Power Comparison:
Upon observing these pages you will find that the Hyosung is sporting much better suspension and brakes. 41mm inverted forks compared to the Ninja's 37mm standard oil-damped forks. Dual 300mm disc brakes in the front instead of a single 250mm brake in the front. Weight considered, the Hyosung weighs in at 168kg (370 lbs) to the ninjas 152kg (330 lbs). The hyosung is also down on power compared to the kawasaki from 30hp to 33hp on the ninja, also torque figures are lower at 15.1 ft/lbs to 16 ft/lbs.

Feature Comparison:
The GT250R features a digital/analog dash to the a dated full analog display on the ninja. The GT250R also features dual projector headlamps compared to the halogen headlamps on the ninja. Both bikes have a full fairing, fit and finish seems a little better on the Ninja however, but the Hyosung is still very good.

Ergonomics Comparison:
The Hyosung has a higher seat height at 31 inches compared to the 30 inches of the Ninja. The Hyosung also features clip-on handle bars which place you in a more sporting position than the raised handlebars on the Ninja. The Hyosung has a wider profile than the Ninja.

Road Test:

-Power
Specifications are important, but how the bikes ride is where the rubber really hits the road. The Hyosung 75 degree vtwin provides excellent torque for a 250 from down low on the RPM rangle till redline. It reminded me of the sort of power band expected from a sv650...on a much smaller scale. The Ninja 250R, which its parallel twin is much revier, and needs to be spun up to make the best of its 33 ponies. At this point I feel like I am comparing a baby GSXR1000 vs Ducati 1098. The ninja will pull away from the hyosung slightly, but on a track rider error could have either bike in front, they are very close. The motor on the Kawasaki sounds pathetic, like a 50cc dirbike, where as the vtwin in the Hyosung sounds like a mini-ducati.

-Handling
The Hyosung feels more sorted out suspension-wise than the Ninja. Both are relatively soft suspended, but the Hyosung with its larger upside-down fork feels more precise and can be pushed harder. The rear end is a different story, the Hyosung needs more preload, the ninja's rear suspension is much more precise on stock settings. Overall, the Hyosung with its higher spec suspension feels faster through the corner and I feel like I can push it harder. The braking is also noticeably better on the Hyosung. While it is not as powerful as an sv650, for its price and per its competition, they are good. I would say far more powerful that the Ninja's brakes, which feel weak in comparison. The Hyosung also has much better cornering clearance, equal to that of a larger sportbike, where as the ground clearance is easily maxed out on the ninja, especially in a track situation. The extra weight on the Hyosung, while noticeable at a standstill is not obvious as all once on the road.

-Egos
The GT250R has much more sporty ergos hands down. The Ninja higher bars might be more acceptable for street use, but the lower clip-ons of the GT250R provide a much more sporting ride. It all comes down to where you plan on riding as well as your preference of riding position when it comes to this comparison. I ride bikes with both clip-ons as well as handlebars, but as these are sport bikes I prefer the Hyosung's sportier setup.

Warranty/Dealer support

These both weigh heavily in any comparison. The Hyosung has a 2yr warranty to the Ninjas 1 year warranty. Dealer support is obviously not as good for the Hyosung, but at the two local dealers we have in the Baton Rouge / New Orleans area, the Hyosung area the service is friendly and professional (just as good as Kawasaki IMO)

Price/Value:
2008 Ninja 250R MSRP: $3499
2008 Hyosung GT250R MSRP: $3799 solid $4099 two-tone

Both bikes are close in price, the Hyosung is more money, but comes with a better warranty, and a more sporting experience. The Ninja is cheaper, but has cheaper suspension/brakes/guages/headlamps and only a 1 year warranty.


Hope this helps people in search of a good comparison.

 

Not a bad comparison. Being objective over biased is something we need to see.

Thanks.

 

What are you thinking son? You're on a Kawasaki forum asking about Hyosung.... That's like getting on a Catholic website and asking about Islam. It don't make a whole lot of sense.


BUT ON A SERIOUS NOTE I OWN A 07 NINJA 250 BEST BIKE I HAVE OWNED. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING A HYOSUNG A LOT THE LAST FEW DAYS I WAS THINKING OF BUYING ONE AS A SECOND BIKE.

 

Man sounds like someones done there home work or are reeeeeeeeeeealy go at BS. It's not all the time you get a real world riding prospective and that always helps. thanks

 

that comparison seems pretty much on point.

I have a ninja 250 and my next door neighbor has the hyosung gt250. Ive pretty much experienced all of that comparison first hand.

 

Saying the Hyo is new is not accurate. They have been around for a long time making bikes/scooters, just not in the US. If you have a good local dealer I don't see a reason why not to look at them. There is an excellent dealer down the street from me. I would ride both and see what you like more.

 

I'll tell you guys my experience with both.

I currently own the 2008 Kawasaki 250R and my brother owns the 2008 Hyosung GT250R.

2008 250R -
Lower in height (most likely you will be able to plant both feet on ground)
you sit more upright than leaning forward
Comes with 1 year warranty
I paid 3800 OTD

2008 GT250R -
Much higher in height
VERY hard to find the nuetral position
You lean more forward which makes the bike feel more sportier
has LCD display for gas guage, speed and temp
Comes with 2 year warranty
He paid 4100 OTD

Those are the major differences that I can immediately tell between the two. I haven't taken either one on sharp turns so I can't tell you how well the handling is on them. Just regular riding feels just about the same as far as shifting, accelerating, and braking goes.

I do like the fact that you lean more on the GT250R, because when you are going 50+ mph, you can just lay on top of your tank comfortably and ride. Its actually really fun. =)