Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Shifting Gears

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual / How to ride the motorcycle / Shifting Gears

Close the throttle while pulling in the clutch lever.
Shift into the next higher or lower gear.
Open the throttle part way, while releasing the clutch lever.
For smooth riding, each gear position should cover the proper rate of speed shown in the table.

WARNING

Downshifting to a lower gear at high speed causes engine rpm to increase excessively, potentially damaging the engine and it may also cause the rear wheel to skid and cause an accident.

Vehicle speed when shifting

NOTE

The transmission is equipped with a positive neutral finder. When the motorcycle is standing still, the transmission cannot be shifted past neutral from 1st gear. To use the positive neutral finder, shift down to 1st gear, then lift up on the shift pedal while standing still. The transmission will shift only into neutral.

Moving Off

Check that the side stand is up. Pull in the clutch lever. Shift into 1st gear. Open the throttle a little, and start to let out the clutch lever very slowly. As the clutch starts to enga ...

Braking

Close the throttle completely, leaving the clutch engaged (except when shifting gears) so that the engine will help slow down the motorcycle. Shift down one gear at a time so that you are ...

Other materials:

Shift Drum Assembly
Press and insert the ball bearing [A] on the shift drum [B] until it is bottomed. Install: Ball Bearing [C] Dowel Pin [D] and Shift Drum Cam [E] Align the pin with the groove in the shift drum cam. Apply a non-permanent locking agent to the shift drum cam holder bolt [F]. Tight ...

Swingarm Removal
Remove: Rear Wheel (see Rear Wheel Removal in the Wheels/Tires chapter) Mud Guard with Rear Brake Hose (see Mud Guard Removal in the Frame chapter) Rocker Arm (see Rocker Arm Removal) Remove: Brake Hose Clamp Bolt [A] Unscrew the swingarm pivot shaft nut [A]. Usi ...

Rear Wheel Rotation Sensor Removal
NOTICE The wheel rotation sensor should be handled carefully, never struck sharply, as with a hammer, or allowed to fall on a hard surface since the wheel rotation sensor is precision made. Be careful not to get water or mud on the wheel rotation sensor. Do not try to disassemble or repair t ...