April 18th, 2021, 05:29 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Patrick
Location: Canada
Join Date: Apr 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki 250 ZZR Posts: 6
|
I ride a Harley
But I hope I'm not a stereotypical Harley dude. My wife wants to ride so we just bought a 2005 ZZR 250 for her to learn on. I'm mostly here for the technical stuff as I have to get the bike running after the PO put it in storage for two years. It fired up after we did the basics but it isn't revving from idle so I have to look at the carbs and replace the battery. It's pretty tight in there under the seat, not what I'm used to with my other bikes, but I'll get there. I already know I hate the airbox. Is an upgrade to K&Ns or similar worth it?
Edit: And to be clear, we may see this bike as a "starter", we mean no insult, and my daughter is also eyeing it up rather a lot so we may be a 250 Ninja family for a while. Last futzed with by PJW; April 18th, 2021 at 05:58 PM. Reason: spelling |
|
April 18th, 2021, 05:36 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
|
Welcome!
|
|
April 18th, 2021, 05:42 PM | #3 |
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
|
Hello and welcome!
|
|
April 18th, 2021, 07:10 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Tanya
Location: 12093 214th street
Join Date: Apr 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2005 kawasaki 250 zzr Posts: 1
|
I'm the wife of the Harley dude. After years of riding on the back of the bike I have decided I need my own. So I have a bike (Kawasaki ZZR 250) now I need to learn how to ride.
|
|
April 18th, 2021, 07:28 PM | #5 |
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
|
Hi Patrick, welcome! I'll get @ducatiman fill you in on things like carbs and airboxes. Generally the carbs are way more involved to get right than most, and modifying the intake system opens a big can of worms that you probably don't want open.
I don't know if the ZZR has the same airbox as my '05 Ninja, but if so you can cut the battery box off the airbox and make it 100 times easier to work on the carbs. https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Batter...r_carb_removal |
|
April 19th, 2021, 06:45 AM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Sergey
Location: Ontario, GTA
Join Date: Oct 2019 Motorcycle(s): Ninja ZZR250 (EX250H) Posts: 213
|
To add to what Jim mentioned cutting the battery box off the airbox helps tremendously. After doing this mod I was even able to replace rubber boots on the airbox without taking the airbox out. Check the rubber hose coming from the crankcase to the airbox. This was pretty hard on mine after that many years. If it does not seal of not connected at all as it was in my case (when they are hard and someone moves the airbox around they just fall off) it creates an air leak.
I would suggest to keep the fuel components stock. Keep in mind this is not exactly the same bike as Ninja 250r. It has different size jets and if you modify it like 250 for example shim the needles it might become worse. Otherwise the bike is pretty good even post novice. I was thinking the same as you when I got mine but now after adding a top box, fixing few things and updating the suspension I want to keep it for a bit. It's absolutely great for city/80km/h highways. 100km/h are ok and I can keep up with the traffic around toronto well in generaal (they like driving at 120km/h here). Overtaking does take some planning, however. Keep in mind that the first thing you should do after making it running is to make sure the springs in the front do match the weight of the rider. It will make the world of difference. I am 195lb and the stock front springs were too soft. I was bottoming it out pretty frequently as it turned out. I noticed that you got it for your wife and she is likely ok with the stock and you might need to go lighter but that's one area I would recommend checking. |
|
April 19th, 2021, 06:57 AM | #7 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
|
Welcome to you both!
__________________________________________________
Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
|
April 19th, 2021, 07:09 AM | #8 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Gordon
Location: new york
Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): '95 DUCATI 900SS/SP '07 DUCATI SS800 '19 HONDA CBR650R Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Nov '18, Mar '17
|
"cut the battery box off the airbox and make it 100 times easier to work on the carbs. https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Batter...r_carb_removal"
I've done similar to 1 of my Ducati's. The reward? Effortless, 10 minute carb removal. Agreed, suggest to leave the (modded) airbox and factory spec jetting for a truly rider friendly 250. Suggest to have carb "consumables" (orings and float valves) *on hand* before any removal. Bowl/pilot screw oring replacement is mandatory. If present, drill the EPA caps on pilot screws to enable removal (with spring, washer and oring) After emulsion tube removal, be especially careful to account for both small needle jets which frequently "disappear" (under the workbench). After your chosen cleaning process (which hopefully includes aggressive compressed air), a wet test (pic) suggested to verify fuel levels and float valve integrity. Followed with a bench synch. Reset the pilot screws (spring/washer with new orings) to 2 1/2 turns. Also suggest opening the petcock, cleaning, verifying its clear as well. Once idling, set each side pilot screw for highest RPM. Thats all I've got for you, good luck with it.
__________________________________________________
Custom Carb Service |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
April 19th, 2021, 01:12 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
|
Glad to have you, Tanya!
|
|
April 19th, 2021, 01:24 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org newbie
Name: Patrick
Location: Canada
Join Date: Apr 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Kawasaki 250 ZZR Posts: 6
|
Wow, thanks for the advice on the battery/airbox. Cutting it looks a lot easier than total disassembly of the rear of the bike! And I'm not really wanting to ditch the air box but it is really in the way of working on the carbs, so this looks like a really good solution.
|
|
April 19th, 2021, 02:08 PM | #11 | |
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
|
Quote:
After you get it done, you just have to take out the battery and the new, small battery box and the airbox will move rearward nicely. I posted about how I secured the airbox to keep it forward so the carb boots stay in place. https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=291123 |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[roadracingworld.com] - Ride To Win With Harley-Davidson?s ?Let?s Ride Challenge? | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | July 30th, 2020 04:53 AM |
[motorcyclistonline] - ‘JUST RIDE’ During the Harley-Davidson World Ride | UP TO SPEE | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | May 22nd, 2015 09:30 PM |
[cyclenews.com] - ‘Just Ride’ During the Harley-Davidson World Ride June 27-28 | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | May 20th, 2015 02:40 PM |
[motorcyclistonline] - Harley Owners Group Fly & Ride Joins with Harley-Davidson Auth | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | January 14th, 2011 09:50 PM |
[motorcyclistonline] - Harley-Davidson Ride Easy Guarantee Makes For a Great Ride | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | February 24th, 2010 04:20 PM |
|
|