Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Shifting Gears

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:

Front Master Cylinder Installation
Apply silicone grease to the sliding surface of the brake lever pivot bolt. Tighten: Torque - Brake Lever Pivot Bolt: 1.2 N·m (0.12 kgf·m, 11 in·lb) Brake Lever Pivot Bolt Nut: 5.9 N·m (0.60 kgf·m, 52 in·lb) Assemble the reservoir [A] and the bracket [B] as shown in the figu ...

Shift Pedal Installation
Install the rubber damper to the shift pedal. Turn the chamfered side to inside. Assemble: Shift Lever [A] and Locknut [B] (Left-hand Thread) Shift Pedal [C] and Locknut [D] Tie-Rod [E] Turn the grooved end [F] of the tie-rod to the shift lever. Apply grease to the sliding ...

Cylinder Head Cover Installation
Replace the cylinder head cover gasket [A] with a new one Using a high flash-point solvent, clean off any oil or dirt that may be on the silicone sealant coating area. Dry them with a clean cloth. Apply silicone sealant [B] to the cylinder head as shown in the figure. Sealant - Li ...