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So my girlfriend recently bought a '97 ninja 250 as her first bike, and it seems to be in good shape, although it only has 5k mi on it (seems a little low to be ridden constantly, but carbs seem ok)...
however, after it's warmed up, if someone rides off on it, it makes this pretty significant popping noise out the exhaust right around 6k-7k rpm if the throttle is open. if anyone has played tourist trophy on PS2, it kinda makes that same noise, so i'm not sure if it's normal or not...
my brother asked if it did it in any of the other gears, but i've never really been able to see since the only time i get to hear it from off the bike is when my girlfriend is riding away down my street (10-15mph).
the bike also seems abnormally sluggish under 7k rpm, but as soon as it stops making that popping noise, it peps right up (over 7k). i know it's a really tiny engine, but it just doesn't feel very smooth -- you can crank the throttle wide open in first at 4 or 5k rpm and it'll go up to 7k relatively slowly and then zing its way up to redline as if someone had the brakes on and then let off...
any suggestions/thoughts/questions? i can try and get a video of it next time she's over...