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:

System Components
1. KIBS ECU With input from the front and rear wheel sensors and front caliper hydraulic pressure, the KIBS ECU analyzes various conditions on the motorcycle, and with additional information from the FI ECU (engine speed, throttle position, gear position, and clutch actuation) precisely control ...

Throttle Control System Inspection
Check the throttle grip free play [A]. If the free play is incorrect, adjust the throttle cables. Throttle Grip Free Play Standard: 2 3 mm (0.08 0.12 in.) Check that the throttle grip [B] moves smoothly from full open to close, and the throttle closes quickly and completely by the ...

Clutch Plate, Wear, Damage Inspection
Visually inspect the friction and steel plates for signs of seizure, overheating (discoloration), or uneven wear. Measure the thickness of each friction plate [A] at several points. If any plates show signs of damage, or if they have worn past the service limit, replace them with new on ...