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 ...

Other materials:

Pressure Testing
Remove: Upper Fairing Assembly (see Upper Fairing Assembly Removal in the Frame chapter) Radiator Cap [A] Remove the radiator cap in two steps. First turn the cap counterclockwise to the first stop. Then push and turn it further in the same direction and remove the cap. Install the ...

KIBS Equipped Models
1. Clutch Cable 2. Vacuum Hose (Equipped Models) 3. Left Switch Housing Lead 4. Main Harness 5. Front Brake Hose 6. Throttle Cables 7. Right Switch Housing Lead 8. Bracket (Hold the brake pipes.) 9. Run the meter lead to outside of the meter bracket. 10. Run the vacuum hoses to inside o ...

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 ...