I'm sorrrrry, I don't speak Imperial...

Milsparro · May 23rd, 2014, 11:14 PM

~~350 miles - 5 days - 35,000 snakes and 1 deer~~

Hallo all, Milsparro here. From Manitoba, Riverton area. Read: The sticks. Seriously. I had to put up a telephone pole just to get my internet antenna to see the tower 17 miles away.

So, I've had my motorcycle (2006 Ninja 250) all of maybe 3 weeks.

Finished up the MSF course (well, Manitoba's version) Sunday afternoon and got my license. Had a mini V-star for the course, which is not at all like a Ninja... well, the clutch feel and power was close. Ergos, no.

Took it for the first ride that evening, just followed my brother's SV650 to the bank 20 minutes away... great deal of confusion over my MPH speedo, this is Canada and we talk Inches and Feet and Miles just fine, but not MPH... we use Kilometers per hour for that. 65 is speed limit, 75 is "cop check" time, I got this now! Probably just a bit of first-time cageless autobox-less-ness too, if I were the least bit honest...

Then it rained, coldly, for two days.

Road it to the end of Hecla provincial park from my house, and chased a deer. The deer was confused. And no it's not because the bike looks like a dandelion. This is a very, very quiet motorcycle. Man I wish I had a helmet cam.

Road it to work a couple times (including 6 miles on potholed gravel, each time), to town a couple times... ran out of gas somewhere in there and got to use reserve... cool...

Put 14 liters of 10% ethanol 87 octane in a bike and felt dirty afterwards... why does it say this is fine in the manual? Weirdness. Okay... ran just fine though!

Today after work I got lost. Uh, not really, just I wanted to go see the garter snakes coming out of their den from the winter, and I did...

Link to original page on YouTube.

But to get there, I took a bit of a detour. (Red and yellow travel was not necessary, I followed road signs, haven't mounted GPS...)

The yellow is gravel. Fun! 30-45mph tops, but it's spring here and awfully beautiful. I have the feeling bike #2 will be a KLR... I LIKE gravel. I'm thinking it's probably a good thing I don't have any frame of reference for how totally awesome the stock Dunlops I have are, though, what can I say, I didn't ever feel like I was out of control and had fun.

Rolled it over 6000miles and 6100 miles today... yawn, valve job soon I guess. Can do some more cleaning of important fuel/air bits too while it's apart, I guess, maybe stop the dying, clutch-in, while decelerating with 0 throttle bug.

One complaint though: This Mid-West crosswind nonsense. Why does the perk of a heavy, planted bike never enter the "starter bike" discussion? Well, I know how to "read" the trees and fields now for which way the gusts are going to hit, and can respond accordingly! Headwind + crosswind does suck some of the fun out of this motorcycling thing though.

I wonder if the gravel killed the previously working rear left running light... nah... just chance bulb dying, I'm sure...

Anyhow, signing off, see y'all round. If you're local watch for the Hi-Vis orange Icon helmet on the bright yellow bike, and say hi.

CC Cowboy · May 23rd, 2014, 11:37 PM

Milsparro! Glad you found us...

PHMCS · May 24th, 2014, 01:52 AM

welcome Milsparro!

Nice looking bike. I don't think I've ever seen a yellow ninja in person, it works pretty well.

I live out in the country and have to do the last 2ish miles home on gravel. In the past two years, I've had two offs, both times on the gravel, with the first being after having about 3 minutes of total riding time under my belt. Be careful with that front brake.

I tend to spend a lot of time tucked in when its windy or I'm passing a lot of semi trucks on the road as I've had quite a few moments with cross winds that I could've lived without.

Welcome to the board!

csmith12 · May 24th, 2014, 06:08 AM

Welcome!

Motofool · May 24th, 2014, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milsparro

....... great deal of confusion over my MPH speedo, this is Canada and we talk Inches and Feet and Miles just fine, but not MPH... we use Kilometers per hour for that. 65 is speed limit, 75 is "cop check" time, I got this now!...........

....... ran out of gas somewhere in there and got to use reserve... cool...

Put 14 liters of 10% ethanol 87 octane in a bike and felt dirty afterwards... why does it say this is fine in the manual? ..........

...........Can do some more cleaning of important fuel/air bits too while it's apart, I guess, maybe stop the dying, clutch-in, while decelerating with 0 throttle bug.......

Welcome to Ninjette.org, Matthew !!!

80 km/h = 50 mph
90 km/h = 56 mph
100 km/h = 62 mph
110 km/h = 68 mph
120 km/h = 75 mph
130 km/h = 81 mph

The reading of your speedometer is 10% optimistic.

Opening reserve, many times allow water that has accumulated at the bottom of the fuel tank run down into the carburetors' bowls, which always create problems.

Internal condensation of air humidity happens inside the fuel tank naturally, due to changes of ambient temperature during several days.

The 10% ethanol 87 octane is just OK for your new bike.
Just drain the bowls and the tank itself in order to eliminate any water that may be inside the fuel system.
Please, read this:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Draining_the_carbs

You may need to increase your idle speed up to 1500 rpm in order to avoid engine stalling during deceleration.

NevadaWolf · May 24th, 2014, 07:04 AM

Matthew, nice write up!

I love riding on dirt and have a dual sport on my shopping list for whenever I manage to kill my Ninja. Or win the lottery.

KJohnson21 · May 24th, 2014, 09:28 AM

Gravel can be... interesting.

I like the video of the living string. Good write up!

misfitsailor · May 24th, 2014, 09:54 AM

Welcome Mathew!

250rr · May 24th, 2014, 01:42 PM

Welcome, my friend.

EternalNewb · May 24th, 2014, 03:17 PM

Nice first post! Welcome aboard, and glad to have you here.

cbinker · May 24th, 2014, 08:21 PM

hi.

Joshua763 · May 25th, 2014, 06:36 AM

Welcome to the site and stay safe.

Milsparro · May 25th, 2014, 02:01 PM

Thanks, y'all!

Snake · May 26th, 2014, 05:06 PM

Hello and welcome.

squirrelystar · May 26th, 2014, 11:20 PM

Welcome! Love your first post. (:

crazymadbastard · May 30th, 2014, 05:44 PM

Welcome friend!

Mocha Man · June 4th, 2014, 09:16 PM

Nice looking bike! Enjoy the site!

May 23rd, 2014, 11:14 PM	#1
Milsparro ninjette.org member Name: Matthew Location: Manitoba Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): '87 KLR650, '97 Virago Posts: 39	I'm sorrrrry, I don't speak Imperial... ~~350 miles - 5 days - 35,000 snakes and 1 deer~~ Hallo all, Milsparro here. From Manitoba, Riverton area. Read: The sticks. Seriously. I had to put up a telephone pole just to get my internet antenna to see the tower 17 miles away. So, I've had my motorcycle (2006 Ninja 250) all of maybe 3 weeks. Finished up the MSF course (well, Manitoba's version) Sunday afternoon and got my license. Had a mini V-star for the course, which is not at all like a Ninja... well, the clutch feel and power was close. Ergos, no. Took it for the first ride that evening, just followed my brother's SV650 to the bank 20 minutes away... great deal of confusion over my MPH speedo, this is Canada and we talk Inches and Feet and Miles just fine, but not MPH... we use Kilometers per hour for that. 65 is speed limit, 75 is "cop check" time, I got this now! Probably just a bit of first-time cageless autobox-less-ness too, if I were the least bit honest... Then it rained, coldly, for two days. Road it to the end of Hecla provincial park from my house, and chased a deer. The deer was confused. And no it's not because the bike looks like a dandelion. This is a very, very quiet motorcycle. Man I wish I had a helmet cam. Road it to work a couple times (including 6 miles on potholed gravel, each time), to town a couple times... ran out of gas somewhere in there and got to use reserve... cool... Put 14 liters of 10% ethanol 87 octane in a bike and felt dirty afterwards... why does it say this is fine in the manual? Weirdness. Okay... ran just fine though! Today after work I got lost. Uh, not really, just I wanted to go see the garter snakes coming out of their den from the winter, and I did... Link to original page on YouTube. But to get there, I took a bit of a detour. (Red and yellow travel was not necessary, I followed road signs, haven't mounted GPS...) The yellow is gravel. Fun! 30-45mph tops, but it's spring here and awfully beautiful. I have the feeling bike #2 will be a KLR... I LIKE gravel. I'm thinking it's probably a good thing I don't have any frame of reference for how totally awesome the stock Dunlops I have are, though, what can I say, I didn't ever feel like I was out of control and had fun. Rolled it over 6000miles and 6100 miles today... yawn, valve job soon I guess. Can do some more cleaning of important fuel/air bits too while it's apart, I guess, maybe stop the dying, clutch-in, while decelerating with 0 throttle bug. One complaint though: This Mid-West crosswind nonsense. Why does the perk of a heavy, planted bike never enter the "starter bike" discussion? Well, I know how to "read" the trees and fields now for which way the gusts are going to hit, and can respond accordingly! Headwind + crosswind does suck some of the fun out of this motorcycling thing though. I wonder if the gravel killed the previously working rear left running light... nah... just chance bulb dying, I'm sure... Anyhow, signing off, see y'all round. If you're local watch for the Hi-Vis orange Icon helmet on the bright yellow bike, and say hi. Last futzed with by Milsparro; May 23rd, 2014 at 11:32 PM. Reason: I suck

May 24th, 2014, 06:08 AM	#4
csmith12 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! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

May 24th, 2014, 07:04 AM	#6
NevadaWolf Certified looney toon Name: Teri Location: 39°52'40.7"N 118°23'53.8"W (Northern NV) Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 102k+ miles -- 2014 CB500X, 42k+ miles Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 16 MOTM Jul '13, Jul '14	Matthew, nice write up! I love riding on dirt and have a dual sport on my shopping list for whenever I manage to kill my Ninja. Or win the lottery. __________________________________________________ <-- Linky Hey Unregistered! The code [you] shows the username currently logged in. IBA # 56020 AMA # 521481 Fun Rides! ][ My Videos ][ My Gear Hold yourself to the same rules you expect others to follow.

May 24th, 2014, 09:28 AM	#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	Gravel can be... interesting. I like the video of the living string. Good write up! __________________________________________________ < ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name?

May 24th, 2014, 09:54 AM	#8
misfitsailor Ninjette Jockey Name: Tim Location: Stockton, Ca Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R, Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, 2 Honda Monkeys, Polini & GRC mini GP Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	Welcome Mathew! __________________________________________________ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?.

May 23rd, 2014, 11:37 PM	#2
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	Milsparro! Glad you found us... __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

May 24th, 2014, 01:52 AM	#3
PHMCS Phoenix Salvage Name: Mac Location: AR Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250R Posts: 71	welcome Milsparro! Nice looking bike. I don't think I've ever seen a yellow ninja in person, it works pretty well. I live out in the country and have to do the last 2ish miles home on gravel. In the past two years, I've had two offs, both times on the gravel, with the first being after having about 3 minutes of total riding time under my belt. Be careful with that front brake. I tend to spend a lot of time tucked in when its windy or I'm passing a lot of semi trucks on the road as I've had quite a few moments with cross winds that I could've lived without. Welcome to the board!

May 24th, 2014, 01:42 PM	#9
250rr ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Mark Location: Portland Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): Cheap Italian Suit. Otherwise known as Dew Kitty Posts: A lot.	Welcome, my friend.

May 24th, 2014, 03:17 PM	#10
EternalNewb ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: S Location: CA/MA, usually Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Ninja 650R, 2001 F650 Dakar Posts: A lot.	Nice first post! Welcome aboard, and glad to have you here.

May 24th, 2014, 08:21 PM	#11
cbinker Track Clown Name: Chris Location: Kingman, AZ Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '15	hi. __________________________________________________ TEAM ALFALFA www.apexassassins.com

May 25th, 2014, 06:36 AM	#12
Joshua763 ninjette.org guru Name: josh Location: 763 Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): five honda's one harley one ninja most have sold all where fun.(one honda was a moped) Posts: 344	Welcome to the site and stay safe.

May 25th, 2014, 02:01 PM	#13
Milsparro ninjette.org member Name: Matthew Location: Manitoba Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): '87 KLR650, '97 Virago Posts: 39	Thanks, y'all!

May 26th, 2014, 05:06 PM	#14
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	Hello and welcome.

May 26th, 2014, 11:20 PM	#15
squirrelystar ninjette.org member Name: Victoria Location: Dallas Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Posts: 50	Welcome! Love your first post. (:

May 30th, 2014, 05:44 PM	#16
crazymadbastard I'm crazy,your excuse is? Name: Winston Location: Connecticut Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.	Welcome friend! __________________________________________________ My Cafe Racer Build My intro post

June 4th, 2014, 09:16 PM	#17
Mocha Man Blue Shell magnet Name: Nolan Location: Northwest Washington Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1997 Ninja 250 Posts: 816	Nice looking bike! Enjoy the site!

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