“What displacement is that?” The ice cream truck driver has ditched his station and crossed the street. “That’s a quarter litre.” “Quarter Litre?” Labeled that way the Kawasaki Ninja 250R sounds much more intimidating, in keeping with the new 249cc entry-market wonder’s looks.

Deer Creek Rd. on the northern edge of California’s Malibu Canyons is narrowing to a lane-and-a-bit of pockmarked pavement with dirt-dusted corners. It’s a motard road, which likely isn’t what Kawasaki had in mind for what they’ve dubbed a “top-of-the-line sportbike with touring capabilities” or “supersport touring” bike.  We round a corner and brown is…

I never intended to ride this bike. Indeed it wasn’t even on my must try list, but it should have been. In riding this bike I gave in to peer pressure, a number of friends, vague acquaintances, and even total strangers (though very few of my family) were suggesting, and some insisting, that I hop…