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:

Keys
This motorcycle has a combination key, which is used for the ignition switch, steering lock, seat lock, and fuel tank cap. Included with the key is a key number, which may be stamped on a separate plate. Record the key number in the space provided and store the number in a safe place. If y ...

Air Intake Duct Assembly (Other than US, CA and CAL Models)
Install the seals [A] as shown in the figure. Fit the projections [A] of the air intake valve to the hole [B] of the air intake ducts. Tighten: Torque - Air Intake Duct Assembly Screws: 1.5 N·m (0.15 kgf·m, 13 in·lb) Hang the shaft [A] to the air intake valve securely ...

Rocker Arm/Tie-Rod Bearing, Sleeve Inspection
NOTICE Do not remove the bearings for inspection. Removal may damage them. Visually inspect the rocker arm, or tie-rod sleeves [A] and needle bearings [B]. The rollers in a needle bearing normally wear very little, and wear is difficult to measure. Instead of measuring, inspect the ...