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:

External Shift Mechanism Installation
Install the gear positioning lever [A] as shown in the figure. Install: Spring [B] Washer [C] Tighten: Torque - Gear Positioning Lever Bolt [D]: 12 N·m (1.2 kgf·m, 106 in·lb) Assemble: Ratchet [A] Pawls [B] Pins [C] Springs [D] Install the shift ratchet ...

Swingarm Installation
Visually inspect the chain guide [A]. Replace the chain guide if it shows any signs of abnormal wear or damage. Apply a non-permanent locking agent to the threads of the chain guide bolt [B]. Apply plenty of grease to the lip of the oil seals [A]. Be sure to install the oil seals ...

Before Servicing
Before starting to perform an inspection service or carry out a disassembly and reassembly operation on a motorcycle, read the precautions given below. To facilitate actual operations, notes, illustrations, photographs, cautions, and detailed descriptions have been included in each chapter w ...