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:

Compression Damping Force Adjustment
The compression damping force adjusters for high and low speeds are located on the gas reservoir at the left side of the rear shock absorber. A. High Speed Adjuster B. Low Speed Adjuster NOTE Turning the high speed adjuster has the low speed adjuster turning. Although the low speed adju ...

Swingarm Bearing Installation
Replace the needle bearings, ball bearing, grease seals and circlip with new ones. Install the needle bearings, ball bearing, grease seals and circlip as shown in the figure. Insert the needle bearing driver [A] into the needle bearing [B] and press the needle bearing into the housing u ...

Jump starting
If your motorcycle battery is “run down”, it should be removed and charged. If this is not practical, a 12 volt booster battery and jumper cables may be used to start the engine. DANGER Battery acid generates hydrogen gas which is flammable and explosive under certain conditions. It i ...