First Bike: 2004 Ninja 250F

TBC · October 15th, 2011, 10:36 PM

Hey guys! I just bought a 2004 Ninja 250F as my first bike, and I'm really excited. Have only put a brief 10-15 miles on it so far, waiting to get some good safety gear before I do anything besides laps around the block. Already screwed up a bit, though:

When I bought the bike, I noticed the oil was a little low in the sight glass, meaning that I couldn't see it at all (but no indicator light). Today I decided to add some to it, and ended up having to put a full liter in before I got it to rest between the minimum and maximum lines. A short ride later and it was all set to go. I took it for another ride about an hour later (after running some errands), and coming back from that the oil was completely above the sight glass' maximum level mark! Looked up a bit of information on the dangers of having an oil level which is too high, and decided to empty the oil out, replacing it tomorrow. Not a terribly smooth start, but an educational one nonetheless

.

Alex · October 15th, 2011, 11:18 PM

TBC! Glad to have you aboard...

mrcrunch · October 15th, 2011, 11:29 PM

Welcome.

It isn't necessarily obvious, but make sure bike is upright (vertical) when checking the site glass. If it's on the side stand, you can't see any oil.

coondog · October 16th, 2011, 10:33 AM

thankful you picked up on it right away. also invest in a dollar store turkey baster. good trails only dude.

greg737 · October 16th, 2011, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcrunch

It isn't necessarily obvious, but make sure bike is upright (vertical) when checking the site glass. If it's on the side stand, you can't see any oil.

the best method for determining whether the oil level is actually where it should be on an unmodified EX-250 is this:

On a very flat garage floor or driveway or sidewalk. Starting with the bike on its sidestand and you crouched down on the righthand side of the bike so you can see the oil sightglass. Reach up and grab the right handlebar grip and bring the bike up toward vertical. With your left hand grab the center stand and bring it gently down to the floor (or driveway or sidewalk). When both of the center stand legs touch the floor at the same time your bike is perfectly vertical (if the bike is even a tiny bit tilted one of the side stand legs won't touch the floor). This is when you check the oil level.

Any other position of the bike gives a bad oil level reading. If it's on the centerstand it'll be tilted too far forward to give a true reading. If you're sitting on the bike you'll be compressing the rear shock and the bike will be tilted too far to back to give a true reading.

ducducgooseit · October 16th, 2011, 12:05 PM

Welcome to the 250 party.

KJohnson21 · October 17th, 2011, 11:04 PM

TBC · October 18th, 2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coondog

also invest in a dollar store turkey baster.

Guessing here - but would that be to siphon oil out if there's too much in it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg737

the best method for determining whether the oil level is actually where it should be on an unmodified EX-250 is this:

Without even reading your post, that's basically what I ended up doing! Tilting the bike away from the sidestand, eyeballing how level it is, and then measuring the oil.

Oil is now changed and she's running like a champ

.

choneofakind · October 18th, 2011, 10:29 AM

Welcome to ninjette!

btw, congrats on getting a legible post from coondog. he's our resident goofy guy

TBC · October 18th, 2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

btw, congrats on getting a legible post from coondog. he's our resident goofy guy

Thanks for the heads-up!

MotoED · October 18th, 2011, 01:51 PM

Snake · October 26th, 2011, 01:35 AM

Welcome and hello.

October 15th, 2011, 10:36 PM	#1
TBC ninjette.org guru Name: Dave Location: Pittsburgh Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2004 Ninja 250F Posts: 308	First Bike: 2004 Ninja 250F Hey guys! I just bought a 2004 Ninja 250F as my first bike, and I'm really excited. Have only put a brief 10-15 miles on it so far, waiting to get some good safety gear before I do anything besides laps around the block. Already screwed up a bit, though: When I bought the bike, I noticed the oil was a little low in the sight glass, meaning that I couldn't see it at all (but no indicator light). Today I decided to add some to it, and ended up having to put a full liter in before I got it to rest between the minimum and maximum lines. A short ride later and it was all set to go. I took it for another ride about an hour later (after running some errands), and coming back from that the oil was completely above the sight glass' maximum level mark! Looked up a bit of information on the dangers of having an oil level which is too high, and decided to empty the oil out, replacing it tomorrow. Not a terribly smooth start, but an educational one nonetheless .

October 15th, 2011, 11:18 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	TBC! Glad to have you aboard... __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

October 17th, 2011, 11:04 PM	#7
KJohnson21 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Ken Location: Indio, CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Kawasaki EX250 "Yoshi", '99 Kawasaki Concours "Grace", '06 Concours "Belle", '06 Yamaha YZF600R "Slick" Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	__________________________________________________ < ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name?

October 18th, 2011, 01:51 PM	#11
MotoED ninjette.org guru Name: Edd Location: Los Angeles-CALI Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 SE Pearl/Ebony Ninja 250R Posts: 376	__________________________________________________ [#4]

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October 15th, 2011, 11:29 PM	#3
mrcrunch ninjette.org member Name: Brian Location: wixom MI Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 250r Posts: 54	Welcome. It isn't necessarily obvious, but make sure bike is upright (vertical) when checking the site glass. If it's on the side stand, you can't see any oil.

October 16th, 2011, 10:33 AM	#4
coondog ninjette.org sage Name: john Location: Palm Beach County, Fl Sligo County, Eire Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2005 ninja 250 street fighter, 2008 street fighter ninja 500, 2001 nsr 125 Posts: 812	thankful you picked up on it right away. also invest in a dollar store turkey baster. good trails only dude.

October 16th, 2011, 12:05 PM	#6
ducducgooseit Name: ... Location: ... Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): ... Posts: 999	Welcome to the 250 party.

October 18th, 2011, 10:29 AM	#9
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Welcome to ninjette! btw, congrats on getting a legible post from coondog. he's our resident goofy guy

October 26th, 2011, 01:35 AM	#12
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Welcome and hello.