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 ...

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Alternator Inspection
There are three types of alternator failures: short, open (wire burned out), or loss in rotor magnetism. A short or open in one of the coil wires will result in either a low output, or no output at all. A loss in rotor magnetism, which may be caused by dropping or hitting the alternator, by leav ...

Shift Pedal Removal
Remove: Shift Lever Bolt [A] Front Footpeg Bracket Bolts [B] If the tie-rod [C] is to be removed from the shift pedal and the shift lever, loosen the tie-rod locknuts [D]. The front tie-rod locknut is left-hand thread. Remove: Shift Pedal Mounting Bolt [A] ...

Thermostat Installation
Replace the O-rings [A] with new ones, and apply grease to them. Assemble: O-rings Thermostat Housing [B] Thermostat [C] Thermostat Cap [D] Install the thermostat [A] in the housing so that the air bleeder hole [B] is on top. Tighten: Torque - Thermostat Cap Bolts: 5.9 N ...