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 Inspection
Remove the water temperature sensor (see Water Temperature Sensor Removal/Installation in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter). Suspend the sensor [A] in a container of coolant so that the temperature-sensing projection [C] is submerged. Suspend an accurate thermometer [B] with temperature ...

Cable, Wire, and Hose Routing
1. Clamp (Hold the regulator/rectifier lead. Run the lead inside of the installation hole.) 2. Clamp (Bend down the clamp, and hold the main harness and the vacuum hose (equipped models).) 3. Clamp (Hold the air intake solenoid valve lead (equipped models).) 4. Run the vacuum hose under ...

Balance Inspection
Remove the front and rear wheels (see Front/Rear Wheel Removal). Support the wheel so that it can be spun freely. Spin the wheel lightly, and mark [A] the wheel at the top when the wheel stops. Repeat this procedure several times. If the wheel stops of its own accord in various positi ...