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:

Front Fork Removal (Each Fork Leg)
Loosen the front fork top plug [A] beforehand if the fork leg is to be disassembled. Special Tool - Top Plug Wrench (45 mm) [B]: 57001-1741 NOTE Loosen the top plug after loosening the handlebar clamp bolt [C] and upper front fork clamp bolt [D]. Remove: Upper Fairing Assembly (see Up ...

Oil Pressure Measurement
Remove: Right Lower Fairing (see Lower Fairing Removal in the Frame chapter) Oil Passage Plug [A] Attach the adapter [A] and gauge [B] to the plug hole. Special Tools - Oil Pressure Gauge, 10 kgf/cm²: 57001-164 Oil Pressure Gauge Adapter, PT3/8: 57001 -1233 ...

Drive Chain Slack Inspection
NOTE Check the slack with the motorcycle setting on its sidestand. Clean the chain if it is dirty, and lubricate it if it appears dry. Check the wheel alignment (see Wheel Alignment Inspection). Rotate the rear wheel to find the position where the chain is tightest. Measure the ver ...