I should have mentioned that I'm a reasonably experienced rider. My other bikes are a Ducati ST4s, Ducati 900SS, Triumph Daytona 675, BMW R90S, BMW F650GS and a Honda VFR750.
Yes, it may look like a bad case of Multiple Bike Disorder but I'm getting better, really. Just one more bike and I can quit. I'm in control. I'm in denial.
So why would I want the little Ninja? I've done the litre-bike thing and it was somewhat fun but mostly... enlightening. I had a 999S and thought the world of it, took it to a couple of track days, and then sold it. Even my other sport bikes are too much for the street (well, maybe not the 900SS but it's a close call.)
I may be a slow learner but I do eventually, gradually and often through great pain and expense, learn. The smaller bikes are simply more fun. Riding the 999S at 10% of its ability is absolute agony. The Daytona, as much as I admire it, is still agonizing on my daily commute. With traffic I'm lucky to get one good corner out of the whole trip. I don't treat the streets like my personal racetrack but I do have a need to enjoy the motorcycle. And before anyone jumps in-- I keep a good 1/2" chicken strip on my tires when street riding so I'm not pushing it. I consider myself a reasonably mature rider without anything resembling a multiple-bike problem. Remember, I'm in denial.
I've had three SV650s over the years and they are great bikes and truly more fun on the street than anything in my current stable except maybe the 900SS.
Yea, verily, I have seen the light. Having test-driven a Ninja 250 my eyes are open and I see this motorcycle as a way to enjoy riding even on my work commute without risking life, limb and license. I don't expect to outgrow it and instead hope to revel by pushing it closer to its limits.