Hello everyone. I'm both a newbie to this forum and to motorcycling. I live in Mendocino County (Northern CA). I'm only 16 (almost 17) and no I'm not a crazy reckless youth. I've been riding for about half a year now and am so far enjoying every moment of it. I feel much more comfortable on two wheels than I do in a car.

I bought a 2005 Ninja 250 last summer with under 750 miles on it. I really enjoy riding, but I have no idea what's going on on the inside. I've put a little over 3,000 miles on it already, and haven't done anything to the bike in terms of maintenance (Which is probably really bad). I mean I've checked the tire pressure and kept it clean, but aside from that I haven't done anything. I'm not mechanically smart... (yet) So basically I'm a COMPLETE newbie when it comes to working on a motorcycle and I'd like to eventually be able to do all my own work, because taking it to a shop is way too expensive. (I also don't know many people with motorcycles so I don't really have anyone to talk to in regards of motorcycle maintenance and such.)

If you have any tips for a young newbie then I'd be more than happy to hear them. Thanks!

Welcome Mateo!

Check out the Pregen Subforums (http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=171852) and the Riding Skills subforum (http://www.ninjette.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39). The stickies are particularly good!

Plenty of good peeps, great riders and lots of wrenchers here.

Welcome Mateo! You should be coming up for an oil and filter change soon. That is an easy maintenance to do and a good start for learning to maintain your moto. Start getting some tools and start learning to do the maintenance and repairs needed on your moto. Most are pretty simple and there are lots of resources here to help you on your way.:thumbup:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=1195

My Aunt lives in Mendocino! I don't need to tell you about the awesome roads there. Be careful!

Welcome! I'm new myself. I think you'll find a good balance of experienced riders to give you good advice and new riders that are learning along with you here.

Don't forget your chain. I think it's supposed to be lubed every 400 miles and the slack checked every 600 miles, so you're overdue for that. It's easy and there's a lot of information on here about it.

If it has the stock tires you should probably replace them. There is a date code on the sidewall. It's pretty easy to learn how to read it.

If you need help with any of this stuff just ask; people are very helpful around here.

Welcome man! Do some reading on http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page

Nearly all the stuff you need to know is there for the pregen.

greetings mateo
welcome to the forum :yo:

get your hands on a OWNERS MANUAL for your specific motorcycle if you haven't yet. that'll help get ya on yer way

WooHoo first to say it!!!! Take the MSF as soon as possible :bounce::D :beatdeadhorse:

Welcome bud! Congrats on the bike and good for you for learning at a young age. Just be safe while you do it, and wear your gear! :thumbup:

Here's a link for changing the oil and filter. http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Oil_Change_Procedure

There is also an oil screen that should be checked about every other oil change right by the oil filter. it's the five bolts, next to the filter. it has a paper gasket, that will need replacing, so make sure you buy one of those before you remove the bolts.

Make sure you clean and lube your chain often, otherwise it will stretch, rust, or kink, and eventually ruin the sprockets, and shorten the life of the chain. A new chain is anywhere from $80-$100 to replace. Lube it about every 300 miles. and please don't do it with the engine on!!!! put the bike on the center stand, put the bike in neutral, and just turn the rear wheel with your hand with the bike off, in order to lube the chain. it's not worth losing fingers, to save some time.

Invest in a torque wrench!!!! You can get a decent one for cheap from harbor freight, and it is the single most important tool you will ever buy! Almost every bolt on a car or bike has a torque specification, it tells you how tight you need to tighten it. a torque wrench does this for you. If a bolt is too loose it will fall out, and if you tighten it too tight, you run the risk of stripping the threads or breaking the bolt. I speak from experience. So get a torque wrench asap! the oil drain plug and the oil filter bolt both need to be torqued to 14.5 ft-lbs when you put them back in.

Start with that.

welcome

welcome!!!

http://mcneillelementarypto.digitalpto.com/files/2013/10/welcome_hey.jpg Mateo


Change your oil and oil filter now.
Make sure your tiers are not 9 years old.

Hello everyone. I'm both a newbie to this forum and to motorcycling...............If you have any tips for a young newbie then I'd be more than happy to hear them. Thanks!

Welcome to Ninjette.org, Mateo !!! :grouphug:

Don't miss our Riding Skills section.

Hello and welcome.

Howdy and welcome to the forum.

welcome. if you have the bug, you'll be riding your whole life.

as you can see from the forum, the 250 is a great bike that you can ride forever. pretty easy to work on too.

take it easy, enjoy the ride, and atgatt.

the folks on this site are really knowledgable (excluding me) and will render great advice.

Hey there!! Mendocino County huh? Don't ride stoned, it's nearly impossible

Welcome aboard! I'm so envious that you got to start at that age! My family was completely against me owning/riding motorcycles. Ride safely!

Welcome, my friend.

Welcome from another Noob