Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Throttle Control System

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual / Maintenance and adjustment / Throttle Control System

Check the throttle grip play each day before riding the motorcycle, and carry out maintenance and adjustments in accordance with the Periodic Maintenance Chart. Adjust it if necessary.

Throttle Grip

The throttle grip controls the butterfly valves in the throttle body. If the throttle grip has excessive play due to either cable stretch or maladjustment, it will cause a delay in throttle response, especially at low engine speed. Also, the throttle valve may not open fully at full throttle. On the other hand, if the throttle grip has no play, the throttle will be hard to control, and the idle speed will be erratic.

Inspection

Check that the throttle grip play is correct by lightly turning the throttle grip back and forth.

A. Throttle Grip

B. Throttle Grip Play

Throttle Grip Play

If there is improper play, adjust it.

Adjustment

Loosen the locknuts at the upper of the throttle cables, and screw both throttle cable adjusters completely so as to give the throttle grip plenty of play.
Turn out the decelerator cable adjuster until it has no play when the throttle grip is completely closed.

Tighten the locknut.
Turn out the accelerator cable adjuster until the throttle grip has the proper play. Tighten the locknut.

A. Decelerator Cable

B. Accelerator Cable

C. Adjuster

D. Locknuts

If the throttle cables cannot be adjusted with the adjuster at the upper of the throttle cable, further adjustment of the throttle cables should be done only by a competent mechanic following the instructions in the Service Manual.
With the engine idling, turn the handlebar to each side. If handlebar movement changes the idle speed, the throttle cables may be improperly adjusted or incorrectly routed, or they may be damaged. Be sure to correct any of these conditions before idling.

WARNING

Operation with improperly adjusted, incorrectly routed, or damaged cables could result in an unsafe riding condition. Be sure the control cables are adjusted and routed correctly, and are free from damage.

Air Cleaner

A clogged air cleaner restricts the engine’s air intake, increasing fuel consumption, reducing engine power, and causing spark plug fouling. This motorcycle’s air cleaner element consists o ...

Engine Vacuum Synchronization

Engine vacuum synchronization must be checked and adjusted periodically in accordance with the Periodic Maintenance Chart by an authorized Kawasaki dealer. NOTE Poor engine vacuum synchronizatio ...

Other materials:

Exhaust Pipe Removal
Remove: Radiator (see Radiator and Radiator Fan Removal in the Cooling System chapter) Exhaust Pipe Clamp Bolt [A] (Loosen) Remove the exhaust pipe holder nuts [A], and pull out the exhaust pipe [B] forward from the premuffler chamber. ...

Steering Stem Bearing Lubrication
Remove the steering stem (see Stem, Stem Bearing Removal in the Steering chapter). Using a high flash-point solvent, wash the upper and lower ball bearings [A] in the cages. Wipe the upper and lower outer races which are press -fitted into the head pipe to clean off grease and dirt. V ...

Battery Ground
Before completing any service on the motorcycle, disconnect the battery cables from the battery to prevent the engine from accidentally turning over. Disconnect the ground cable (–) first and then the positive (+). When completed with the service, first connect the positive (+) cable to the p ...