Kawasaki Ninja

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Battery

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual / Maintenance and adjustment / Battery

The battery installed in this motorcycle is a sealed type, so it is not necessary to check the battery electrolyte level or add distilled water.

The sealing strip should not be pulled off once the specified electrolyte has been installed in the battery for initial service.

However, in order to maximize battery life and ensure that it will provide the power needed to start the motorcycle you must properly maintain the battery’s charge. When used regularly, the charging system in the motorcycle helps keep the battery fully charged. If your motorcycle is only used occasionally or for short periods of time, the battery is more likely to discharge.

Due to their internal composition, batteries continually self discharge.

The discharge rate depends on the type of battery and ambient temperature.

As temperature rises, so does the discharge rate. Every 15°C (59°F) doubles the rate.

Electrical accessories, such as digital clocks and computer memory, also draw current from the battery even when the key is switched off. Due to a combination of such “key-off” draws and hot temperature, a battery can go from fully charged to completely discharged in a matter of days.


In extremely cold weather the fluid in an inadequately charged battery can easily freeze, which can crack the case and buckle the plates. A fully charged battery can withstand sub-freezing temperature with no damage.

Tire Wear, Damage
As the tire tread wears down, the tire becomes more susceptible to puncture and failure. An accepted estimate is that 90% of all tire failures occur during the last 10% of tread life (90% worn). ...

Battery Sulfation
A common cause of battery failure is sulfation. Sulfation occurs when the battery is left in a discharged condition for an extended time. Sulfate is a normal by product of the chemical reactions ...

Other materials:

Engine Oil Change
Situate the motorcycle so that it is vertical after warming up the engine. Remove the engine oil drain bolt [A] to drain the oil. The oil in the oil filter can be drained by removing the filter (see Oil Filter Replacement). Replace the drain bolt gasket [B] with a new one. Tighten t ...

Drive Chain Lubrication Condition Inspection
If a special lubricant is not available, a heavy oil such as SAE 90 is preferred to a lighter oil because it will stay on the chain longer and provide better lubrication. If the chain appears especially dirty, clean it before lubrication. NOTICE The O-rings between the side plates seal ...

DFI Servicing Precautions
There are a number of important precautions that should be followed servicing the DFI system. This DFI system is designed to be used with a 12 V sealed battery as its power source. Do not use any other battery except for a 12 V sealed battery as a power source. Do not reverse the battery ...