What are the different models of the EX250?

Sure, we always say that nothing has changed since 1988, but there have been a few different models of the bike over the years, some not available in the US.

Brief model descriptions

• ZXR250-A, ZXR250-C: Sportbikes. Inline fours. High-revving engines.
• EX250-C (GPz 250): Ugly-ass belt-driven POS. Circa '83. A lot like the GPz305, but even wimpier.
• EX250-E (Ninja 250R, GPZ 250R): 1986-1987 in N.A.. 1986 in Japan. UJM with a fairing.

• EX250-F (Ninja 250R, GPX 250R): 1988-2007 in US. 1988-1999 in Canada. UJM with a fairing.

• EX250-G (GPX 250-RII): EX250-F with dual front brakes. 1988 only. Japanese domestic market only.
• EX250-H (Ninja 250R in Canada 2000-2002 or so, then ZZR-250): Sport-tourer.

• EX250-J Ninja 250R worldwide

EX250-E through -H have the same basic engine, with the -H having the most radical changes (side covers). The EX250-J engine has major internal revisions, while maintaining the general shape of the EX250-F engine casing.

This chart shows the model name equivalents:

• GPZ250 = EX250C
• GPZ250R = EX250E
• GPX250R = EX250F
• GPX250R-II = EX250G1
• ZZR250 = EX250H

Bike Nomenclature & EX250 History/Heritage

• EX250-C = GPZ 250 (earliest year around 1983)
• EX250-D = Not much is known about this one. Probably was never made, or a slight variant on the -C.
• EX250-E = Ninja 250R in Canada and the US from 1986-1987 = GPZ 250R elsewhere
• EX250-F = Ninja 250R in Canada from 1988-1999 = Ninja 250R in the US from 1988-> . Called GPX 250R elsewhere (earliest year = 1987)
• EX250-G = GPX 250R-II - dual front brake version of EX250-F (earliest year = 1988)
• EX250-H = Ninja 250R in Canada from 2000-2001 = ZZR-250 in Canada from 2002-> , and ZZR-250 elsewhere (earliest year = 1992)
• EX250-J - worldwide 250R, '08-->

As you can see from this chart, calling one bike an EX and the other a ZZR is not only confusing, but plain wrong. They're all EX Something.

The EX250-C has virtually nothing in common with any of the later bikes. Not much is known about the -A, -B, or –D. If they were ever made, they didn't make it here.

A GPz 250 (EX250-C) from 1984

The EX250-G (GPX-250R II) has many parts in common with the EX250-F: Same engine, same plugs, same carb setup. The G model was never imported into North America, and the primary differences are a larger (width) front wheel (taking 110/80-16 tires), two front rotors, two front calipers, and different left-hand fork lower.

The EX250-H (ZZR-250) has very few parts in common with the EX250-F, the exceptions primarily being the engine, but not the engine cases. The EX250-E, F, and G all use the base EX250-E engine.

Prior to the EX250-C, we had the ER250B (aka z250T Scorpion) starting in 1983. The ER250B had Unitrak rear suspension and belt drive, but was otherwise pretty much the same as the Z250B (earliest - 1981), which was pretty much the same as the Z250A (earliest - 1979).

Z250A

Here are descriptions, a specifications chart, and a model timeline for the Ninja 250 models.