Let me tell you beforehand that its not just accounting for the cost of the bike and fuel expenses but also the insurance amount, maintenance being regular or periodic and the accident repairs, if any (God forbid). The ninja is an expensive bike to run and maintain. Its like a small/mid size car in terms of running and maintenance expenses and costs even more (a bomb) to fix if something is broken or needs replacement due to a fall/crash.

I was in the same confusion as you are in now (with a family to support unlike in your case) but took the plunge as i wont be able to do this sort of thing 10 years later owing to more responsibilities like son's education expenses which are spiraling everyday.

So in the hope that my post does not confuse you further...:

1. Ninja 250R:

Pro's - an awesome bike, smooth and very refined. A good balance between power and mileage, good tourer, even better as a track tool, looks great, fully faired so its got the sports look, excellent service back-up.

Con's - expensive to repair, fully faired/lots of plastic bits so replacement costs are high, too much eyeballs can cause worry at times, retro instrument cluster. a squeeze for two up riding due to the small pillion seat.

2. R15 : Have'nt owned this bike or ridden extensively

Pro's - excellent track bike, cheap to run and maintain (pricewise), fully faired for the sportsbike look, good quality and refinement, hybrid instrument console (digital speedo and analog rev counter)

Con's - needs to be revved high to enjoy the bike, ergonomics are aggressive and will cause discomfort on long rides but if this is a dedicated weekend fun bike then it might just fit the bill. Excellent track bike and hence the low end grunt is compromised so its not an ideal city bike/commuter, a squeeze for two up riding due to the small pillion seat.

3. Duke200

Pro's - Naked so no plastics to worry about, engine is very torquey and effortlessly will cruise at 120 kays, excellent styling and attention to detail, futuristic instrument cluster, good brakes, excellent backing by bajaj on service, warranty, spares, repairs, etc. Excellent for touring, city use, offroad use, etc. and will comfortably munch miles at 120's if higher speed is not the requirement.

Con's - accessories (aftermarket) are speculated at being pricey and the same goes for the parts. Yet to be delivered so there is no first hand feedback from owners on issues, running costs, etc. A squeeze for two up riding due to the small pillion seat.

P.S. I would personally suggest you buy a used ninja and save at least a lakh. That way you can invest in a decent set of riding gears and probably save some cash for other expenses and upkeep of the bike

Hope i have been able to help.

resurrection of dead thread.

Its like asking which city is best to relocate Delhi or Mumbai?

Both have Pros and Cons and only your personal preference matters.

In India currently the Bench Mark is R15 and FZ16, defined for two styles of riding Racing Faired and Naked Street

While Ninja and Duke are kinda upgrades to both R15 and FZ16 respectively.

So decide yourself.


PS: No need to worry about reliability, as all three are Flagship products/brands from respective Manufacturers

Would go with you,Aditya.
Was in a similar fix as einZiel. I Chose a used Ninja and would suggest you to do the same. I'm not regretting it one bit.
Owning a Ninja is truly rewarding

Holy cow kinda upgrades, wake up and smell coffee! FYI.. Ninja 250 is the best selling 250cc in the world since couple of decades, not years.

in the context of indian biking scenario ninja is kinda upgrade.

I am still baffled why this comparison of the bikes in the first place.

If you can afford the Ninja and its ownership costs, then nothing like it. Those other bikes just dont come in the comparison context.

very true.

if u have money go for ninja the twin will race your pulse or else Ktm duke 200 is the best vfm bike !

it is good time to buy a ktm before price hike as it is introductory price.ninja is unbeaten king if have the moolah.

ktm over ninja....

Hi Guys,

I have riden the ninja250 and test riden the ktm duke200.......
the ninja and ktm have the same dna of superb acceleration...nd feel for the person riding it....so dont think you'll be loosing any fun if you opt for the ktm duke, over the ninja.....

in my opinion the only reason people would choose a ninja over a duke now would be,
1) If i have enough residual income...
2) If it is your dream bike....
3) If your the faired bike lover...nd the showoff kind.....

But other than that KTM is awesum....

Hpe my views were of some help...

I will always go for n250. Rather I would have gone for this bike before going in for p 220 the reason for me not to go in for n250 was because of the service issues.

But I manage to ride my friends n250 one of the best machines I have driven just love the feel but very bad for maintenance as he was saying that his pocket has a big whole in his pocket getting her repaired.

well one thing I just love the r15 as it is the best fully fared bike.

these reasons are justified for posers, not enthusiasts.

Well the Ninja 250r or the KTM Duke 200 is one hell of a dilemma. The N250 is indeed a superb machine. BUT, you should also consider the life-cycle costs of the bike. Although it only needs to be serviced once every 6,000km, it does require that you change the oil and air filter. Parts are quite expensive. In case you drop the bike, the fairing parts are prohibitively expensive and are sure to burn a substantially large hole in ur pocket. However, this a long term view. But the KTM Duke 200 also makes a lot of sense. Its a streetfighter with tons of attitude and can hold its own against almost any bike in the market. Maybe checking out a couple of reviews will put ur doubts to rest. In the meantime, check this one out from Power to The Rider>
KTM Duke 200 Review - Power to the Rider - YouTube

This is what convinced me to book mine. All the best mate.

Sid.

Hey einZiel.. what did you buy in the end ? Just curious