Kawasaki Ninja

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:

Crankshaft Side Clearance Inspection
Insert a thickness gauge [A] between the thrust washer [B] on the crankcase and the crank web [C] at the #3 main journal to determine clearance. If the clearance exceeds the service limit, replace the thrust washers as a set and check the width of the crankshaft #3 main journal. Cra ...

Idle Speed Control Valve Actuator Removal
NOTICE Never drop the idle speed control valve actuator especially on a hard surface. Such a shock to the actuator can damage it. Remove: Throttle Body Assy (see Throttle Body Assy Removal in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter) Idle Speed Control Valve Actuator Retainer Screws [A] Idle Spe ...

City Light (LED) Removal/Installation
Remove: Upper Fairing Assembly (see Upper Faring Assembly Removal in the Frame chapter) Headlight (see Headlight Removal) Remove the screws [A], and take the city light [B] off the upper fairing assembly. Installation is the reverse of removal. Note the following. When inst ...