First sport bike

The Ninja sounds like the only bike that fit fit into your parameters. If there is another 250 sport bike, then it doesn't have the same reputation. All of the other major 250 street rides are cruiser/jsm bikes. Naturally, there are probably other options out there, but that are obscure enough that you may have issues finding parts.

Def. the Ninja, I had a '99 and liked it for around town stuff. The redesigned them for '08 and got tons of great reviews with all of the new improvements.

I think those new ninjas are under $3500 and they sold like hot cakes when they came out with the new style. Sweet looking bike for the money!

Get a honda XR 250 with the lighting kit...

If you do happen to pick up a Ninja, go with the non 08/09 model. Even if the older ones are a bit less stylish...they are cheaper, and have a couple more horsepower. It will tip over in the parking lot, or while you're sitting on it, or in a slow corner. That is guaranteed!!!

Compare plastics prices from roughly 150 for a lightly scratched entire front piece for a 2007...to a whopping near 300 for just one side plastic for the new models.

You can find nearly everything you didn't want to know about them here - http://forums.ninja250.org/

Can't say enough good things about the Ninja really...except being young and foolish I would like a little more power.

Pick one of the older models up, and use the money you spent to pick up a good street helmet and armored jacket. You can ride without a chest protector in the dirt, crash, and survive with a few scratches, get up and laugh it off. A small tip over on the pavement, at even 10-15 mph can kill you without a helmet (not every time, but very very possible). If you aren't wearing anything more than a jeans and t-shirt when you tip, you'll have a nurse kindly scrubbing the road rash from your body with a scotch-brite pad. No joke.

I agree with justalonewolf007 totally. You WILL drop it so why not keep it inexpensive to repair. Yes, a good jacket and gloves are worth they're weight in gold. You can get some serious road rash even at 15 mph!