Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: 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.