Another new & proud 250R '10 owner with lots of work to do!

[sleepityme]

Sweet looking in that Island Blue Metallic, though I've had it since October and already tipped it twice. Once in the rain where I pulled too much front brake and the weight slipped right beneath the bike, and another where I stopped awkwardly and the bike just gave up it's balance. Had a scare on the second time when the bike didn't start, but just needed to let the carbs (or was it the ignition?) drain for an hour while I ran 2km to the nearest Home Depot to borrow a set of tools and make sure it wasn't the battery connection since I was fiddling with it earlier in the week.

Returned back to the Home Depot, thanked the man who lent me a wrench and flathead and promptly bought my own set of allen keys, screwdriver, and found a #17/#14 wrench for those bolts that were otherwise tricky with an monkey wrench.

I've winterized by topping up the gas, dropping in the stabilizer, went out for a 25km run, and topped it up again with more gas. Now sitting behind my car in an underground garage on some pitbull stands, and the battery is nice and warm, tending beside my bed stand.

Riding season begins (hopefully!) in about 3-4 months, and I'm thinking about doing some work with my bike.


To do list from easiest to hardest with links to eBay items (I'm looking for cheap options as I'm in a frugal situation now, but I'm trying to source from Canada first, then US & China after wherever I can):
- Install waterproof outlet and USB charger
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/251796280255

- Replace all backlighting on dash with #194 super bright white LEDs
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/400061410682

- Replace all turn signals with brighter LED ones (I'll have to make sure not to tip the bike since these don't bend!)
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/271606520792

- Replace rear tail light fluorescent bulbs with super bright 80W white CREE LED bulb @ 1000lm
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/131282434928

- Wire up a pair of diodes behind the dash to fix 4 way blinking issue known to come with installing LED turn signals
Based on this - http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/My_LED_...9;t_work_right

- Mend/seal a few cracks that happened during the first slip spill with ABS Remover and clear ABS Cement
Based on this? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYniBuNNOA4

- Change handlebar grips
Kept seeing that Oury was recommended to be the most comfortable! - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/171197623060

- Build & install a retrofit of HIDs with 55w ballasts, projectors, xLED halos, relay harness, and switches to toggle low beam, hi beam, and halos (through stock hi beam switch, and two additional switches to turn on low beam and halos as desired)
HID bulb kit - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/131255368308?var=430534118791
Projector with solenoid kit - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/271537293590
Halos - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/171447691036?var=470481653812
Halo covers - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/161457945837
Halo inverter ballasts - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/121450539598
Orange LED strip to place inside shroud to turn on with HIDs and shine from slots behind halos - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/161098086290
Relay harness to make both bulbs low beam (will wire solenoids to high beam input to toggle on with stock switch) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/151077497442

- Change my own tires
Michelin Pilot Road 3 Front Tires - 110/70/17 - http://www.revzilla.com/product/mich...-3-front-tires
Michelin Pilot Street Radial Rear Tires - 140/70/17 - http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/m...ial-rear-tires

Total before tires: $180~ CAD


Hopefully I can turn this thread or transplant a part of it into the projects or similar section where it'll come to help others who're trying to do something of the same.
I'll write about how it goes with each mini projects and try to take pictures to help others see what happened.

It would be great to know if there are other Canadians or Torontonians who've got insight into where I can get the best deals or people to go to for assistance!
Maybe even make a friend in Buffalo, NY so I can hop down and pick up some stuff ordered within the US?

Thanks, and glad to be part of this community!
In researching what I needed for the HIDs and a few other things, this forum has really been a wealth of knowledge, so I look forward to bumping heads with you all!


Resources and references I found helpful:
Dash light - https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64261
General HID wiring and headlight housing retrofitting - http://www.kawiforums.com/ninja-250r...inja-250r.html
Four Youtube videos that help to bring it closer all together:
General ballast & HID install (no projector or relay switch, for car) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxb-S4wZzxc
Relay harness setup I - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smjmdN5dU9E
Relay harness setup II - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=648zz98xqqs
Solenoid and projector explanation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFF2XoZJIBo


p.s. I'm currently occupied with the follow on screen: Archer, Brooklyn Nine Nine, Suits, Agent Carter, Gotham & Marvel's Agents of Shield

[Alex]

sleepityme! Glad to have you aboard...

[csmith12]

Welcome B!

Looks like you're gunna be pretty busy.

[Ghostt]

My advice would be to install an electronic flasher relay, as opposed to the resistors, and get some heated grips, OXFORD brand comes to mind, trust me, you'll thank me later.

I myself went with the DDM TUNING HID KIT, 55w/6k the lighting output is amazing, 5,000 lumens, vs OEM bulb @ 800 lumens, and no flash backs, once the headlight is properly adjusted.

Good luck, and have fun.

[sleepityme]

I suppose heated grips would be a must here in Canada :P
I've had nothing but admiration for Oxford products. The X50 Lifetime Pannier bags come to mind. Waterproof lining, and quite large yet still good looking on a small bike like a kn250R or CBR300.

Also, I considered DDM's V3 kit with 35W, Mini shroud, dual relay harness & 6000k brightness, but it's just twice the cost... that and I'd expect a $40-$60 CBSA tariff when importing the $140 order. Just kinda hard to swallow when it's only costing me $80 by piecing it out on eBay.
But I suppose the pros outweight the cons here where it's all tuned up and just ready to go, huh? (except for the halos and shroud inner glow)


Thanks for the welcome Alex!
I've got a hectic schedule for the next few months before I hit the road!

[Ghostt]

I forgot that the newer ones have dual headlights, having a pre-gen I only have one, and just went with the regular motorcycle HID kit, http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Cat...otorcycle-Kits

[sleepityme]

Hmm... well I've seen some mods from SE Asia where only the low beams were HID projectors and the high beams were HID. That might save me a bit of money, but I'd rather go all in with both sides instead of having (admittedly a cool effect like the new BMW motorad bikes with) offset headlights in a symmetrical housing.

[Ghostt]

I would have done the projector, but pre-gens have a fluted lens, which defeats the purpose of a projector in the first place IMHO.

If I remember the new-gens don't have that problem, in which case a projector is the way to go for sure, and I agree with you as far as doing both instead of just the one, personally I could do without the HALO eyes. It not only comes down to looking good, but seeing better at night, and being seen as well, so what's that worth to you in the big picture, something to think about.

[Ghostt]

Some things I've done to not only help the looks of the bike, but also make it more visible, reflective graphics, rim tape, convert the front turn indicators for switch back CREE LEDs, CREE LEDs in the rear signals, and brake, brake light modulator, also replaced the front reflectors with small flush mount LEDs.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/blog.php?b=8355

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/blog.php?b=8338

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/blog.php?u=18557

[sleepityme]

Hmm... I need help on figuring out the wiring of the whole headlight harness and assembly though.

Here's a rough sketch of what I think would work.

[Ghostt]

You can eliminate the relays, as HID ballasts draw less amps than factory bulbs, once they fired up, the use about 3 amps, they are a play-n-play installation, and I'm pretty sure that halos use very little as well, just tap into the running lights/dashboard lights, or just forget the halos all together.

[sleepityme]

I might just do that... save me about $30-$40 all together, though without relay... I believe I would still be left with one projector on and the other only for hi beam.
Though I can pick and choose if I want both or just the right side solenoid to activate when I turn on the hi beams.

I wonder if that's weird? Just one projector on? Because the bulbs would be connected to the ballasts, but their power would be drawn directly from the bike's stock harness inputs for hi and low beam. Maybe I should just get an H7 splitter and still connect both projector's solenoids to the hi input?

[sleepityme]

Also just saw the links that you shared, those are some insane mods!

I could probably use the same 24cm LED strips that I was planning to use within the HID projector shrouds to become DRL on the sides of the headlight enclosure.
There's nowhere else on the 2nd gen unlike the first gen that has a reflector that can be jimmy'd up into the dash lights.

Though good idea on that with the halos... but sometime I'd probably like to either run blind (coming home late, don't want to wake anyone up) or just run the HIDs without the halos. I know, I'm making it complicated for myself.

And you changed the rear tail light for a CREE (what I'm assuming is either a super bright 1157 white or red LED? ie. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/281463208692 or http://www.ebay.ca/itm/261670254670 )

[sleepityme]

Just found these. Might do what you suggested to upgrade the tail light to a CREE LED pair of bulbs, and install these instead. They're much more visible, brighter, and more sleek than an integrated tail light, flush turn blinkers or mirror mounted turn signals.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271606520792

Edit: Also safer than replacing the mirrors with cheaper and apparently smaller alternatives.

[Ghostt]

Hence why I converted the front turn indicators to a three wire set-up, so I could run the switch back CREE LEDs, which are extremely bright. They are white in running light mode, and automatically switch the amber when the turn signal is on, and then switch back once the signal is off, very cool plug-n-play easy modification, only hard part is converting from 2 to 3 wire.

Also I added two small red CREE LEDs to the bottom of the licence plate, and tied them into the brake light, along with the modulator.

Pictures do not do these lights any justice for sure.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by sleepityme

Just found these. Might do what you suggested to upgrade the tail light to a CREE LED pair of bulbs, and install these instead. They're much more visible, brighter, and more sleek than an integrated tail light, flush turn blinkers or mirror mounted turn signals.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271606520792

Edit: Also safer than replacing the mirrors with cheaper and apparently smaller alternatives.

I'm my experience with LEDs, is that they lack brightness in the day time, high wattage CREE LEDs are the way to go, pay attention to the lumens output, that is the true brightness of the bulb.

As you see the above photo of my rear brake light, and keep in mind that pre-gen uses a single bulb, and mine is plenty bright enough, pluses add the two small CREE LEDs mounted in the lower part of the plate.

Also the above nighttime pictures are without the headlight on.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by sleepityme

Also just saw the links that you shared, those are some insane mods!

I could probably use the same 24cm LED strips that I was planning to use within the HID projector shrouds to become DRL on the sides of the headlight enclosure.
There's nowhere else on the 2nd gen unlike the first gen that has a reflector that can be jimmy'd up into the dash lights.

Though good idea on that with the halos... but sometime I'd probably like to either run blind (coming home late, don't want to wake anyone up) or just run the HIDs without the halos. I know, I'm making it complicated for myself.

And you changed the rear tail light for a CREE (what I'm assuming is either a super bright 1157 white or red LED? ie. http://www.ebay.ca/itm/281463208692 or http://www.ebay.ca/itm/261670254670 )

Check these out more lumens=brighter, keep in mind OEM headlight is about 800 lumens

http://m.ebay.ca/itm/131282434928

As far as color goes that depends on whether or not your going to clear lens or not

[sleepityme]

Judging as how that's a steal when I'm trying to find other like minded (800-1000lm) or better (1200lm) LEDs, and I can't seem to find a red one at the same price... I think that'll be my option.

I don't think I can go clear lens seeing how this type of CREE LED has a projector on the end of it. I'd probably blind someone if I just used a clear tail light cover... and I can't find a clear tail light cover.

But thank you very much Scott! You've help me shave down $65 off my projects, simplify the work and it'll make for a sleeker looking bike! I really appreciate it!

I might consider the option of putting another light or two on the tail later on, but for now I think it's fine. But do you think putting another two 50w (700lm @ $9/pc) or four 12w (450lm @ $4/pc) LEDs in the tail light would be over kill?
I'm thinking about positioning them in the most acute corner of the tail lights (probably the top) with some socket base fixtures and wire them in with the main tail light connection.

Also, I like the idea of the three switch with bright DRLs integrated into the turn signals... but I really like how the ones I have listed now look. Unless I retrofit it with a white LED strip in the middle of the orange blinkers, I don't think I'd do anything else to them.

[sleepityme]

Also, reading back... does using the LED Flasher Relay get rid of the 4 way LED blinking problem?

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by sleepityme

Judging as how that's a steal when I'm trying to find other like minded (800-1000lm) or better (1200lm) LEDs, and I can't seem to find a red one at the same price... I think that'll be my option.

I don't think I can go clear lens seeing how this type of CREE LED has a projector on the end of it. I'd probably blind someone if I just used a clear tail light cover... and I can't find a clear tail light cover.

But thank you very much Scott! You've help me shave down $65 off my projects, simplify the work and it'll make for a sleeker looking bike! I really appreciate it!

I might consider the option of putting another light or two on the tail later on, but for now I think it's fine. But do you think putting another two 50w (700lm @ $9/pc) or four 12w (450lm @ $4/pc) LEDs in the tail light would be over kill?
I'm thinking about positioning them in the most acute corner of the tail lights (probably the top) with some socket base fixtures and wire them in with the main tail light connection.

Also, I like the idea of the three switch with bright DRLs integrated into the turn signals... but I really like how the ones I have listed now look. Unless I retrofit it with a white LED strip in the middle of the orange blinkers, I don't think I'd do anything else to them.

These are the ones I mounted on the bottom of my plate, http://www.ebay.com/itm/1Pair-3W-Sup...7ec4ba&vxp=mtr they are very bright, and serve the purpose I wanted.

As far as the hyper flashing an electronic flasher relay will fix that problem, I'm not aware of a 4 flash problem, but you can use the resistors instead on the flashers only of course, easily done for sure.

As far as DRLs go, I know here in the states its the law to have the headlight on all the time, and with the HIDs being a lot brighter than OEM bulbs, you wouldn't need DRLs

Another option is CREE LEDs headlight bulbs, http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.co...bulb_p_86.html

I don't mean to confuse you just giving you some other options.

[sleepityme]

I wonder if it's really necessary for the LED Flasher Relay... it's a literal $30 spend just for the timing of the lights. Maybe they draw enough power to keep the flash rate somewhat reasonable. I'll have to install the lights first, then purchase since it'll only take a week or two for the relay to arrive, if I need them.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/290875762503

As for putting more bulbs onto the rear/tail light or DRLs... I'm not so much a fan of LED strips anywhere else in the headlight housing and I'll see how bright the CREE LEDs look on the tail light.

I think, if this wasn't my first bike, I would have jumped for the CREE LED H7 bulbs, but I'll just let the next person who has this bike worry about that. Most of the installs are also to up the value and visual appeal for my bike if/when I want to sell it to step up to a Ninja 600 or similar in about two years. 3000-5000h of run time should be enough for me.

[Ghostt]

You can safely run the resistors for the turn signals, if you want to save some $$$

[sleepityme]

I think I'm not understanding something here.

Am I suppose to install or hook up transistors when I install/LED turn signals?
Will I have to use them for the 1157 LED bulb for the tail light too?

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by sleepityme

I think I'm not understanding something here.

Am I suppose to install or hook up transistors when I install/LED turn signals?
Will I have to use them for the 1157 LED bulb for the tail light too?

They are load resistors, needed to prevent hyper flashing, and 4 lights blinking, you only need two, one for the left, and one for the right side. The brake light doesn't need one, due to it has no flasher relay.

Here's some further information on the subject,

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/My_LED_...27t_work_right

[snot]

Welcome, please post pics of the progress if you can.

[KJohnson21]

[sleepityme]

Just took the plunge, will start documenting/sharing photos when I get my hands on these parts in a month's time!

Thanks for the welcome!

$184.00 CAD
- HID retrofit with halos, dual low + high beam modes & orange inner glow
- LED dash lights, turn signal & tail light upgrade
- Outlet + USB charger install
- Handlebar upgrade

[greenaero]

welcome B!

[sleepityme]

Another drawing to help solidify my plans...

[ryker]

Welcome and good luck!

[sleepityme]

Thanks for the welcome!

Hope this snowstorm tides over and my parts get here by the end of March!

EDIT: Made a HUGE mistake on my drawing, the wire that comes out from the Relay that goes through the Fuse is suppose to connect with the positive connection on the battery.

[Ghostt]

Can't wait to see the end results, good luck

[Snake]

Hello and welcome.

[sleepityme]

Here's an update as I get parts in:
I think I've spent so far $105 on my full HID conversion with projectors, LED halo rings + cover, silicon glue and orange LED DRLs.
I've also made a mistake and didn't pay attention to how many projectors came with the one purchase and had to order another one. But it came within two weeks, so I have no qualms about this project getting underway come March.

REALLY excited to get this 250R modernized with HID projectors and LED turn/brake signals!!


BTW... For anyone who's local to Toronto, it costs $60 at cheapest at Pacific Mall for the HID kit, and some local parts stores here sell it for $120. Most of them will add on a projectors (single side) for $30 each. Relay harness for $30 too. No LED halo rings from them. PMall doesn't have any LED halo rings either, nor projectors, but they do offer a relay harness for $15.

[Ghostt]

Awesome, can't wait to see them, be sure to post pics of modification, and final product, I love DIY projects, with lots of pictures.

After all this is the modern internet, not old School BBS servers.

[sleepityme]

2nd update before final DIY complete posting!

I've been learning things the hard way during this whole thing... like how parts from eBay take nearly 60 days to receive, and how I should also be concerned that projectors that are made for cars won't fit motorcycles. Additionally, how paint really doesn't magically stick to a smooth and reflective surface.

Almost there, but I've got the correct size of parts, and somehow, I'm layering on the paint onto the bits of splatter that just happen to cling onto the reflectors. Hopefully it won't peel off in the end!

Pictures are coming, and so are the warnings for people to avoid what I've been messing up on.
I didn't know any better, and I don't come from a background of handy work or any other work that deals with metal tools (outside of the kitchen and office).

Riding season is upon us soon, and you'll be seeing a new looking Ninja 250 in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) with HID projectors, blue devil eyes, LED halo rings and LED turn signals!!

[alex.s]

i change my tires with two boards and some spoons. but if you want to keep your rims looking... not ******... invest in good tire changing equipment. the nomar bar is amazing.