Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Shifting Gears

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

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:

Water Temperature Sensor Removal/Installation
NOTICE Never drop the water temperature sensor especially on a hard surface. Such a shock to the sensor can damage it. Remove the throttle body assy (see Throttle Body Assy Removal in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter). Drain the coolant (see Coolant Change in the Periodic Maintenance c ...

Valve Clearance Adjustment
To change the valve clearance, remove the camshafts (see Camshaft Removal in the Engine Top End chapter) and valve lifters. Replace the shim with one of a different thickness. NOTE Mark and record the locations of the valve lifters and shims so that they can be reinstalled in their ...

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 ...