'06 Kawi Ninja 250r

[PoorManQ45]

Oh yeah, update: The power loss in the 5k~8k RPM range seems to have disappeared. I can cruise at 55 in 6th, ~6k rpm, and it is just steady. I can't feel the engine losing power anymore.

Overall throttle response seems to have improved.

I like this alot. I am considering drilling a small hole in the bottom of the slide. This increases vacuum and causes the needle to move faster. Thus giving better throttle response. The hole is supposed to be tiny. A #70(0.028") drill bit is used.

I know the bike doesn't have much power, but I still want to be able to tap it as quickly as possible.

[breadbox]

I know she doesn't have much power, but I still want to be able to tap it as quickly as possible.

Like your bikes like your women?

[mmm240]

Any other suggestions for the squishy brake lever feel?

I would do the pads and see how they feel. Stock rubber lines should feel pretty good when trying to stop such a small bike.

[PoorManQ45]

Like your bikes like your women?

I would do the pads and see how they feel. Stock rubber lines should feel pretty good when trying to stop such a small bike.

That's what I was thinking, but if I follow the service manual it's time to replace the brake lines... LOL. It has been four years. The bike sat for over a year. I do know that when I replace the hoses I'll go with SS. They are within ~$10 of factory. LOL

[PoorManQ45]

Just ordered new tires.

Dunlop GT501 110/90-16V for the front

Bridgestone BT45 130/90-16V for the rear

Ordered from http://www.rockymountainatv.com

Total came to $141.98 with shipping. I used a $20 off $150 coupon and they have a $10 off two street bike tires right now.

The next cheapest was $190 for this set.

I'm pretty excited

[PoorManQ45]

I installed the new fork springs yesterday.

This fixed the nose dive when braking, but also made the overall ride much stiffer.

So today I took the forks off and drained the oil and cleaned the inside of the forks with brake cleaner. One of the forks was much dirtier then the other, not sure why as the seals appear to be in good shape.

I replaced the oil with 10w Yamalube(only brand available at the local shop) and set the height to ~170mm. Factory oil is a 15~20w oil set to 205mm. So I lowered the viscosity and increased the volume. This created a slightly softer ride but still stiffer then stock and without the nose dive under braking.

I will have a ride report tomorrow after i get home from work.

So I think the suspension is almost complete. The only thing I would like to add would be cartridge emulators, but those are $150 each, and I need two . Maybe in the distant future when everything is said and done I might consider those. They would allow for a plush ride but also stiff under heavy braking.

[PoorManQ45]

Ride report:

The front end is much more stable now. It doesn't wobble as much at speed. When cruising at 70~90 it is much more stable and doesn't require as much input. It's starting to act like a bigger bike now. The faster you go, the less input required for adjustments.

Taking freeway overpasses is a little harsh, but not teeth rattling.

When braking hard the whole bike just squats down whereas it previously would nose dive hard.

HashiriyaS14: If you don't like the nose dive on your 250 try changing the fork oil. Use a 15w and set the fork oil level about 50mm higher then factory. I was reading that this is supposed to help alot with tightening up the front end by itself.

[ka24hardbody]

i had a 250 and that bioootttch was fkin slooooooowwww!!!! And they sound even worse then a honda. lol but they are fun to take a old beater streetbike and jump that btch. haha

[PoorManQ45]

i had a 250 and that bioootttch was fkin slooooooowwww!!!! And they sound even worse then a honda. lol but they are fun to take a old beater streetbike and jump that btch. haha

They are indeed slow. A mini-van can almost out accelerate you...

But it's a light bike and easily flickable in the twisties.

I don't like that I'm at ~9k RPMs at 70mph though. That's a little unnerving as that is where this bike will live most of it's life with me. At 90mph it's at 11~12k rpms. I like to cruise at that speed.

I am considering changing the front or the rear sprocket. Go up one tooth in the front or down 2 in the rear. Unfortunately I'll lose even more acceleration, but this should increase the longevity of the engine.

[ka24hardbody]

yeah mine had the same prob. i couldnt even get on the interstate. I also thought about buyin sprockets but instead i sold that b**** for 1300 dollaz! lol

[PoorManQ45]

Eh, it honestly does fine on the freeway.

It just doesn't have that high of a top speed. 105mph with like a 150lb rider...

It goes from 70 to 90 plenty fast to comfortably pass people.

It just doesn't have much more then that.

I like the 50~70mpg

[Ace2cool]

Good to hear this thing is coming together so well.

I'm looking to get a bike as soon as I sell my Subaru, but I'm looking for a 600. Either way, bikes are fun, end of story.

[PoorManQ45]

Discovered a leak a couple days ago.

The countershaft seal is leaking oil.

It isn't much. The level in the site glass isn't going down, but I need to change the seal.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I hate that the weather where you live is good enough to facilitate bike-riding.

[PoorManQ45]

I hate that the weather where you live is good enough to facilitate bike-riding.

Yeah, it is pretty nice here all year round. Aren't you in ND or some other northern place like that? Weather there is rediculous, it can snow in the summer...

*edit* Nevermind, it's not you that's in North Dakota...

Still, it's raining today. All I have is a cheap rain suit from walmart. I get to test that out today

[ka24hardbody]

mine would be about to wind out at 80 lol mine had a really low gear. so i said fk that

[PoorManQ45]

That would definitely suck.

Honestly I'm not sure of the exact speed I'm going. The speedometer is supposedly 10% higher then actual speed.

I will be changing to slightly larger, and stickier, tires this weekend. That should correct alot of issues

Now I need to find exactly where this leak is coming from. I'm at work with my bike parked right infront of the glass store front windows. This little puddle is just staring at me.

[themadscientist]

This should fix the speedo thing.http://www.yellr.com/

[PoorManQ45]

My bike has a speed cable, not an electrical speed sensor.

[themadscientist]

Crap, I had the same trouble with my 599. Is it driven off the front wheel or the drive sprocket?

[PoorManQ45]

Crap, I had the same trouble with my 599. Is it driven off the front wheel or the drive sprocket?

It is on the front wheel.

I am going slightly taller on the front. That should slow the RPMs down just enough to get the speedo within ~2%

[themadscientist]

I don't know that i would change the geometry of the front end just to get the speedo to read right. You could ride next to a known correct vehicle at predetermined speeds and mark the speedo with tape. My speedo goes clean off the scale, i use "about" when describing my speed.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Just figure out your percentage of inaccuracy and learn to think in that much difference. That's what I did with the Q. Of course, 15% is super-simple to calculate...you might end up with a less pleasant number.

[PoorManQ45]

I don't know that i would change the geometry of the front end just to get the speedo to read right.

Agreed. That's why I am also going the same size larger in the rear. This will increase the overall angle slightly and allow for slightly faster turning.

You could ride next to a known correct vehicle at predetermined speeds and mark the speedo with tape. My speedo goes clean off the scale, i use "about" when describing my speed.

That makes sense. I usually go with the flow of traffic. If I'm passing people I figure I'm around 80mph.

I would like to get the odometer correct too though.

[PoorManQ45]

Ugh... Left the bike outside last night. It rained...

This morning it wouldn't start. Lights come on, but the starter just wasn't getting power. No click. Nothing. Battery voltage was showing 12.9V. Fully charged.

I'm thinking one of the connections got wet and is causing the issue. I'm letting it dry out.

If drying it out fixes it I'm thinking of going through the starter circuit and waterproofing everything. I hate when things like this happen.

[PoorManQ45]

Ordered an output shaft seal yesterday. That should fix the leak.

I am averaging ~58mpg. This last tank got 234 miles before switching to reserve. The tank is 4.8 gallons with reserve being the last 0.8. So 4 gallons gets me 234 miles.

This is with mostly freeway riding. This bike is living between 8k and 13k rpms all the time! I was figuring on closer to 40mpg!

[PoorManQ45]

Forgot that I never added pictures.



I still haven't put on the tires I ordered.

[tg]

great bike, super reliable...

[mmm240]

Flamin yellow! Awesome!

Never ride a bigger bike. I just rode an 09 250 the other day and damn did it suck.

[PoorManQ45]

Flamin yellow! Awesome!

Never ride a bigger bike. I just rode an 09 250 the other day and damn did it suck.

Hehe, I have a LTR450 Quadracer. Twice the power and weighs the same