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:

Oil Pressure Relief Valve Inspection
Remove the oil pressure relief valve (see Oil Pressure Relief Valve Removal). Check to see if the valve [A] slides smoothly when pushing it in with a wooden or other soft rod, and see if it comes back to its seat by spring [B] pressure. NOTE Inspect the valve in its assembled stat ...

Engine Sprocket Installation
Replace the sprocket washer and axle cotter pin. Install the engine sprocket onto the output shaft. Apply molybdenum disulfide oil solution to the threads and seating surface of the engine sprocket nut. Tighten: Torque - Engine Sprocket Nut: 145 N·m (14.8 kgf·m, 107 ft·lb) NOTE ...

Air Suction System Damage Inspection
Separate the air switching valve hose [A] from the lower air cleaner housing [B] (see Air Cleaner Housing Removal in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter). Connect the following parts temporarily. Fuel Pump Lead Connector [A] Extension Tube [B] Air Cleaner Housing (see Air Cleaner Hou ...