January 13th, 2018, 12:58 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Winter is upgrade season.
So with these few months of unrideable weather, I've decided to go for a few upgrades. I've already got the carbs out and ready to go through, but there's a few other things I want to do that I don't know as much about.
Can anyone recommend a good digital speedo/Rach? I see lots of cheap ones on Amazon, but I'm not sure what most people are using. I'd like to replace the rear shock, which shocks are good choices? I've read the zx600 shock is a good option, but I'd like advice from people who actually ride and work on these bikes. And lastly, I would like to drop a tooth or two on my drive sprocket, and get a new chain. I don't care much about top speed, just how quickly I get there. Is this a good idea? What all goes into doing something like that? Thanks so much to anyone who helps me out. |
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January 13th, 2018, 01:58 PM | #2 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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What sprocket is on it now? The stock 14 makes for a ridiculously low first gear and many of us go up a tooth in the front and down a few in the rear. A smaller front sprocket helps off the line, but that's about it.
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January 13th, 2018, 02:58 PM | #3 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
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Changing 1 tooth on the countershaft usually changes the RPMs about 500.
Gearing down (-1T on the countershaft or adding teeth to the rear) will certainly help acceleration, but your cruising RPMs will begin to get excessive. On the hwy the little Ninjas are spinning pretty good with stock gearing, and some owners will trade some acceleration for a calmer cruise by adding a tooth to the countershaft. Koso makes a nice gauge set-up. Some amount of improvement comes with a New Gen (2008-2012) shock on a Pre Gen (up to 2007) like you have. Swapping shocks from other bikes is tricky - overall length, spring rate (linkage or not), and damping can all be off enough to cause handing problems. A good set of tires goes a long way to improving handling and safety. The proper rate fork springs (and fork oil) helps as well. The stockers are too light for all but the lightest riders. Sonic Springs is a good vendor for those. Most of the time you are best to replace the chain and sprockets as a set. Worn sprocket with a new chain can wear the chain quickly and present other problems. |
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January 13th, 2018, 03:24 PM | #4 |
????????????????
Name: T
Location: no where
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ninja 250, 14 ninja 300, 09 1125CR Posts: A lot.
MOTM - May '17
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For the rear do the gsxr600r mod works great and cheap.
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January 13th, 2018, 03:27 PM | #5 |
????????????????
Name: T
Location: no where
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ninja 250, 14 ninja 300, 09 1125CR Posts: A lot.
MOTM - May '17
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And here is great diy https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=214238
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January 13th, 2018, 04:14 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Thanks for all the input guys. I see I have alot of research to do still about changing sprocket teeth, this definitely put me in the right direction.
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January 13th, 2018, 04:19 PM | #7 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Quote:
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January 13th, 2018, 04:27 PM | #8 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
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Another option is a newgen rear shock. It worked wonders for my pregen.
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January 14th, 2018, 02:15 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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January 14th, 2018, 02:31 AM | #10 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
https://www.trailtech.net/digital-gauges/vapor?p=2?p=2 Shock; http://www.hagonshocksusa.com Do some serious reading about sprockets on ninja250.org and elsewhere. I'm running 15/42 sprockets. A smaller front sprocket will accelerate chain wear. If you must try to increase acceleration increase the size of the rear sprocket. Either way you're gonna beat the snot out of your engine. By the way, I installed a Kaw EX500 rear shock and I'm happy with it. $50.00 on E-bay. Most of the "hair-on-fire" riders here would not approve. To do it over I probably would have gone the Hagon route but it's expensive. Bill
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Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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January 14th, 2018, 08:55 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
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Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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Gsxr-600 shock lowers rear end about 15mm
Gsxr-1000 shock raises rear end about 5mm Trail Tech Vapor dash is good. |
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January 14th, 2018, 09:37 AM | #12 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
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Yes, it's a common mod to get a stock newgen rear shock cheaply and put it on a pregen. My '05 was way too softly sprung, and that simple change made it just right for me, at about 190 lbs with full gear. Damping is fine for spirited street riding, the Dragon, etc.. Sonic front springs fixed that end at a very reasonable price too. No more bottoming out during extreme stopping. The stiffer suspension has the added benefit of increasing cornering clearance noticeably too.
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January 14th, 2018, 10:41 AM | #13 | |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
The New Gen 250 shock is generally the best low-cost option. The best option is a top-notch aftermarket shock (Ohlins, Penske, etc) with adjustable damping and the exact correct spring rate for your weight and riding style. Figure around $1000 for that. |
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January 14th, 2018, 10:59 AM | #14 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
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MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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Quote:
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January 14th, 2018, 11:02 AM | #15 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bill
Location: Port Huron, Michigan
Join Date: Mar 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki 250 Ninja, 1982 Honda Ascot FT500 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Bill
__________________________________________________
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results each time. |
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January 14th, 2018, 12:09 PM | #16 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
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Adding more oil can help too, leaving less room for air, and effectively stiffening things up, but you need to be careful and methodical.
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January 14th, 2018, 12:10 PM | #17 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Quote:
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January 14th, 2018, 12:36 PM | #18 | |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
There's some information about suspension improvements here: https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Suspension |
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January 14th, 2018, 01:20 PM | #19 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Quote:
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January 14th, 2018, 03:23 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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RE: Gearing
Stock is 14/45. I've run 14/45, 14/47, 15/45, and 15/43. 14/47 was a riot for rolling on out of a corner, but I found it to be busy on back roads and insanely low on the interstate to get to and from said back roads. You had to be in the right gear every time or you ran out of tach too quickly when exiting a corner. I never seemed to be able to casually run up between corners and it caused me extra shifts up and down, which isn't really my style when flowing a back road. Under 55 mph it was fine. |
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January 14th, 2018, 11:40 PM | #21 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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I really like 16x45t on my street bike. Really makes for calm smooth cruising on commute or back roads.
On my race-bike, I'm using 18x58t on 428 conversion. That's about same as stock without causing as much chain-wrap. |
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January 15th, 2018, 07:18 AM | #22 | |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
The New Gen shock will raise the rear slightly, and if the fork spring are too soft for your weight it might make the front sag more. My son is <150# w/gear, and he went with stiffer Sonic Spring (.70 and 15W oil - pretty sure) in front and a New Gen shock. He rides pretty aggressively at times, but also does some hwy miles, and was happy with the overall improvements they made for the minimal cost. |
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January 15th, 2018, 12:52 PM | #23 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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Quote:
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January 16th, 2018, 10:20 AM | #24 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Miguel
Location: MA
Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2000 EX-250; several other years of the same Posts: 470
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I swap in a new-gen 250 / 300 rear shock on all of my builds. For about $35, and zero modifications, it's my go to.
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... can't stop updating the bike! |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
January 16th, 2018, 12:12 PM | #25 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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I have new-gen rear-shock for sale $35 if you want it.
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January 16th, 2018, 12:27 PM | #26 |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
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January 16th, 2018, 01:13 PM | #27 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Tylor
Location: Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250 Posts: 78
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January 16th, 2018, 02:50 PM | #28 | |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
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Quote:
Set-up with good tires, correct rate fork springs, fresh fork oil, and a New Gen shock, the Ninja should be able to handle most any reasonable street riding. |
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January 16th, 2018, 05:02 PM | #29 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
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You are risking your life with anything but Ohlins!!! If there's a better product, why not go with it?
There's no way to predict when you'll hit that bump mid-corner and slide-out with a sub-par non-Ohlins shock. And as luck would have it, they'll be a 18-wheeler semi coming towards you in the other lane. Get Ohlins and sail through that corner with ease or crash and die with anything else. It's your choice! |
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January 16th, 2018, 05:48 PM | #30 | |
Rev Limiter
Name: Jay
Location: WI
Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16
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Quote:
Good to know I averted disaster! |
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