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:

Spark Plug Condition Inspection
Remove the spark plugs (see Spark Plug Replacement in the Periodic Maintenance chapter). Visually inspect the spark plugs. If the spark plug center electrode [A] and/or side electrode [B] are corroded or damaged, or if the insulator [C] is cracked, replace the plug. If the spark plug is ...

Special Tools
Bearing Driver Set: 57001-1129 Jack: 57001-1238 Bearing Remover Head, 25 × 28: 57001-1346 Bearing Remover Shaft, 13: 57001-1377 Jack Attachment: 57001-1608 ...

Exhaust Butterfly Valve Actuator Installation
Install the pulley [A] on the actuator so that the hole side [B] align with the groove [C] on the shaft. Make sure that the groove on the shaft is pointing toward the center of the screw [D]. If the shaft position is incorrect, refer to the following NOTE and procedures to electrically ad ...