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:

Idle Speed Control Valve Actuator Resistance Inspection
Turn the ignition switch to OFF. Remove the air cleaner housing (see Air Cleaner Housing Removal in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter). Disconnect the idle speed control valve actuator connector [A]. Connect a digital meter to the idle speed control valve actuator connector [A] ...

Stick Coil Removal
Remove the air cleaner housing (see Air Cleaner Housing Removal in the Fuel System (DFI) chapter). Disconnect the stick coil connectors [A]. Pull out the stick coils [B] upward. First, turn the stick coil by 90 degrees, and then pull it out by twisting the coil head to the left and righ ...

Drive Chain Slack Inspection
NOTE Check the slack with the motorcycle setting on its sidestand. Clean the chain if it is dirty, and lubricate it if it appears dry. Check the wheel alignment (see Wheel Alignment Inspection). Rotate the rear wheel to find the position where the chain is tightest. Measure the ver ...