The Little Ninja That Did... (Sandpoint, ID to Lehi, UT and back)

tjkamper · September 6th, 2010, 10:55 PM

Some family friends recently had a new addition to their family. This weekend they were going to bless their child at church and asked for me to participate in the ordinance. Also their eight year old son was to be baptized. Since my wife and daughter are in Venezuela visiting family, I was all alone. So I packed my stuff and jumped on the 250.

This is the route I took.

I made the 800 mile trip down to Lehi in just over 12 hours. For the majority of the time I maintained the speedo between 90 and 100 mph. No problems. Anyone who says that this 250 is not fast enough to go on the Freeway is up in the night. On the entire trip I was only ever passed four times.

I did this all with the stock seat. No problems. By the time I needed to get gas I was ready for a rest, but I never suffered to get to my next stop.

Stock gearing too. Anyone who is afraid of running high RPMs on this engine for an extended period of time's worries are not justified. I ran the ninjette two days for over 1600 miles between 9000 and 12000 RPM.

One thing I learned, is that the bike is still a little lean in the main jets from when I recently rejetted for my elevation hear in Sandpoint. As I moved to thinner air in the higher elevations the bike pulled harder and harder. However, when I was at the high elevation it was so rich in the low end that it would barely even idle and I had to wind it up to move from a stop. Once I returned to lower elevations it ran great in the low and mid range, but was a little surgy and did not pull at WOT past 90mph indicated. If I backed off the throttle and closed the carbs a bit, the bike would pull up to about 97mph indicated. In the higher elevations the bike would pull all the way to 105 at WOT.

My only complaints were the bugs.

I had a great time and everyone was shocked when I told them where I was going and that I was doing it in one day. I went down on Friday and returned on Monday.

Here are some fun pics from along the way.
Idaho Falls

The Continental Divide, Montana border.

The best part was a stretch between Missoula and Couer D' Alane. About 80 miles of highspeed twisties on I-90.

Sorry for the low quality pics. Cell phone pics since my wife has the camera in Venezuela.

CC Cowboy · September 7th, 2010, 02:10 AM

Looks like a great ride. Beautiful country out there.

AndyRavag3 · September 7th, 2010, 05:22 AM

Wow sounds like an epic trip, thanks for sharing it

Lovely looking ninja btw, shame about the bugs :P

Alex · September 7th, 2010, 05:43 AM

Nice writeup!

backinthesaddleagain · September 7th, 2010, 08:03 AM

awesome!

spooph · September 7th, 2010, 01:33 PM

Great trip! Haha, I have covered just about the exact same areas in Idaho! Montana is brilliant! Thanks for sharing, and keep it coming!

tjkamper · September 7th, 2010, 01:49 PM

Yeah it was a lot of fun. Today my neck is a little sore from holding up my helmet for so long, but other than that I'm great... Wish I had time to take another long trip.

JeffM · September 8th, 2010, 10:12 AM

Shoulda stopped by and said hello

Good write up.

bdavison · September 8th, 2010, 10:36 AM

I still say that Rapid Transit tank bag is the best tank bag ever invented..

rceezy · September 8th, 2010, 12:29 PM

Awesome ride report! Bugs make me want to barf. Thanks for taking vengeance out on them for me. LOL Bug killer! I hope to one day be as brave as you and take a 800 mile trip on my lonesome. (Doubtful, I'm too much of a scurdy cat)

00NissanNinja · September 8th, 2010, 01:02 PM

Nice ride, that is too many bugs to clean off my visor that would annoy the crap out of me. Nice paint job on your bike btw

Gfortunes · September 8th, 2010, 04:29 PM

I second the part about the bike being able to maintain the speed you need on the interstate did 380 miles interstate today with just 1 gas stop spedo at 95-105 the whole way 11k rpm no problems at all. well I do have a boney butt and I may be investing in a corbin seat next season but other than that it was great!

Nice write up

highpsiguy · September 9th, 2010, 05:39 PM

What was your average fuel mileage? height/weight

Rosie · September 9th, 2010, 05:51 PM

I have the same tank bag

Beautiful pictures!

tjkamper · September 10th, 2010, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highpsiguy

What was your average fuel mileage? height/weight

I got about 50 MPG on every fill up. (I'm too lazy to go through my reciepts and give you and actual calculation).

Thanks to my new years resolution I now weigh 160 lbs.
I'm guessing I had about 25 additional lbs. of gear/supplies.

In the colder areas I road in a full tuck which was most of the way on my way home on Monday.

rwheelz · October 6th, 2010, 10:58 AM

Awesome. What kind of range were you getting between fillups at that cruising speed?

Be very careful on that section of I-90 in MT. In Mineral Country (west of Missoula) and specifically Superior, MT-area the local judge has implemented a special county rule, which states that anyone caught going over 100mph gets an automatic reckless driving charge (ask me how I know). At the end of the hall in the basement of the courthouse in Superior (just off the exit, north side of I-90 on your right) they literally have a "wall-of-shame" posted on a bulletin board with the citations of everyone who has been caught at 100+. It is worth stopping to see if you ever stop to fill up in Superior. I could only glance as the judge was standing a few feet away and I was trying my hardest not to chuckle, but I saw one for 115mph!

It is a $343 fine and 5 points on your license. I got the charge reduced, but had to get a lawyer and fight with the pricks over it. Via MT state law, my 103 in a 75 should have been $75 and no big deal (speeding less than 30mph over limit), but in these po-dunk little towns they can dream up whatever laws they please

Oh, and the sore neck- when I am taking a long ride across the plains and know I will be holding sustained high speeds, I use a make-shift neck brace made from a rolled-up long-sleeved t-shirt. It fills the gap between the back of your helmet and shoulders. Tuck the arms down into your jacket and zip it up tight, and it stays in place all day. You cannot imagine how much of a difference this makes.

tjkamper · October 6th, 2010, 11:07 AM

I was going around 160 - 200 miles between stops.

rwheelz · October 6th, 2010, 11:12 AM

Wow impressive. Good to know the little Ninja can handle the long trips. That is plenty of range.

Raybot · October 10th, 2010, 02:55 PM

Sounds like an awesome trip! I love the paint job on your bike!

saint15 · October 11th, 2010, 05:07 AM

great trip. im exited to do something similiar

Havok · October 11th, 2010, 08:50 AM

What a great trip! Looks like a lot of fun and relaxing.

September 6th, 2010, 10:55 PM	#1
tjkamper ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Travis Location: Warwick, RI Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	The Little Ninja That Did... (Sandpoint, ID to Lehi, UT and back) Some family friends recently had a new addition to their family. This weekend they were going to bless their child at church and asked for me to participate in the ordinance. Also their eight year old son was to be baptized. Since my wife and daughter are in Venezuela visiting family, I was all alone. So I packed my stuff and jumped on the 250. This is the route I took. I made the 800 mile trip down to Lehi in just over 12 hours. For the majority of the time I maintained the speedo between 90 and 100 mph. No problems. Anyone who says that this 250 is not fast enough to go on the Freeway is up in the night. On the entire trip I was only ever passed four times. I did this all with the stock seat. No problems. By the time I needed to get gas I was ready for a rest, but I never suffered to get to my next stop. Stock gearing too. Anyone who is afraid of running high RPMs on this engine for an extended period of time's worries are not justified. I ran the ninjette two days for over 1600 miles between 9000 and 12000 RPM. One thing I learned, is that the bike is still a little lean in the main jets from when I recently rejetted for my elevation hear in Sandpoint. As I moved to thinner air in the higher elevations the bike pulled harder and harder. However, when I was at the high elevation it was so rich in the low end that it would barely even idle and I had to wind it up to move from a stop. Once I returned to lower elevations it ran great in the low and mid range, but was a little surgy and did not pull at WOT past 90mph indicated. If I backed off the throttle and closed the carbs a bit, the bike would pull up to about 97mph indicated. In the higher elevations the bike would pull all the way to 105 at WOT. My only complaints were the bugs. I had a great time and everyone was shocked when I told them where I was going and that I was doing it in one day. I went down on Friday and returned on Monday. Here are some fun pics from along the way. Idaho Falls The Continental Divide, Montana border. The best part was a stretch between Missoula and Couer D' Alane. About 80 miles of highspeed twisties on I-90. Sorry for the low quality pics. Cell phone pics since my wife has the camera in Venezuela. __________________________________________________ Addicted to anything that has an engine and rolls.

September 7th, 2010, 02:10 AM	#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	Looks like a great ride. Beautiful country out there. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

September 7th, 2010, 05:43 AM	#4
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	Nice writeup! __________________________________________________ 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)

September 7th, 2010, 01:33 PM	#6
spooph ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Spooph Location: Golden, CO Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Oct '15	Great trip! Haha, I have covered just about the exact same areas in Idaho! Montana is brilliant! Thanks for sharing, and keep it coming! __________________________________________________ My therapist has 2 wheels and a seat. If you are ever in doubt to my tone, please refer to my avatar.

September 7th, 2010, 01:49 PM	#7
tjkamper ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Travis Location: Warwick, RI Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Yeah it was a lot of fun. Today my neck is a little sore from holding up my helmet for so long, but other than that I'm great... Wish I had time to take another long trip. __________________________________________________ Addicted to anything that has an engine and rolls.

September 7th, 2010, 05:22 AM	#3
AndyRavag3 ninjette.org member Name: Andrew Location: Aberdeen Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): None yet - Hopefully a ninjette when I get my licence :D Posts: 33	Wow sounds like an epic trip, thanks for sharing it Lovely looking ninja btw, shame about the bugs :P

September 7th, 2010, 08:03 AM	#5
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	awesome!

September 8th, 2010, 10:12 AM	#8
JeffM Mr. 988 Name: Jeff Location: Sandy, Utah Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): One Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1	Shoulda stopped by and said hello Good write up. __________________________________________________ "I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to" - Jimi Hendrix Cancer

September 8th, 2010, 10:36 AM	#9
bdavison Wartown, USA Name: Bryan Location: Warner Robins, GA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R SE, 2007 Ninja 650R, and assorted other bikes Posts: A lot.	I still say that Rapid Transit tank bag is the best tank bag ever invented..

September 8th, 2010, 12:29 PM	#10
rceezy Lean Me Name: RC Location: America Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 Posts: 678 Blog Entries: 4	Awesome ride report! Bugs make me want to barf. Thanks for taking vengeance out on them for me. LOL Bug killer! I hope to one day be as brave as you and take a 800 mile trip on my lonesome. (Doubtful, I'm too much of a scurdy cat)

September 8th, 2010, 01:02 PM	#11
00NissanNinja I hate driving... Name: S Location: SW Ohio Join Date: Jul 2010 Motorcycle(s): 13 Triumph Street Triple R, 09 Ninja 250r (Sold 4/20/12) Posts: A lot.	Nice ride, that is too many bugs to clean off my visor that would annoy the crap out of me. Nice paint job on your bike btw __________________________________________________ 09 ninja 2fiddy SE Driving slow things fast

September 8th, 2010, 04:29 PM	#12
Gfortunes love to ride Name: George Location: Bloomington, IN Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Ebony/Candy Persimon Red Posts: 53	I second the part about the bike being able to maintain the speed you need on the interstate did 380 miles interstate today with just 1 gas stop spedo at 95-105 the whole way 11k rpm no problems at all. well I do have a boney butt and I may be investing in a corbin seat next season but other than that it was great! Nice write up

September 9th, 2010, 05:39 PM	#13
highpsiguy ninjette.org guru Name: Kevin Location: Athens Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1981 Honda Cx500 Custom, 2002 Ninja 250 Posts: 289 Blog Entries: 1	What was your average fuel mileage? height/weight __________________________________________________ "Rudeness is a weak persons attempt at strength."

September 9th, 2010, 05:51 PM	#14
Rosie ninjette.org sage Name: Rose Location: San Diego Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Blue Ninja 250R Posts: 650	I have the same tank bag Beautiful pictures!

October 6th, 2010, 10:58 AM	#16
rwheelz Moroccan Gold Imports Name: RJ Location: MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): '03 ZX9R, '03 ZX7R & wife's '09 250R Posts: 136	Awesome. What kind of range were you getting between fillups at that cruising speed? Be very careful on that section of I-90 in MT. In Mineral Country (west of Missoula) and specifically Superior, MT-area the local judge has implemented a special county rule, which states that anyone caught going over 100mph gets an automatic reckless driving charge (ask me how I know). At the end of the hall in the basement of the courthouse in Superior (just off the exit, north side of I-90 on your right) they literally have a "wall-of-shame" posted on a bulletin board with the citations of everyone who has been caught at 100+. It is worth stopping to see if you ever stop to fill up in Superior. I could only glance as the judge was standing a few feet away and I was trying my hardest not to chuckle, but I saw one for 115mph! It is a $343 fine and 5 points on your license. I got the charge reduced, but had to get a lawyer and fight with the pricks over it. Via MT state law, my 103 in a 75 should have been $75 and no big deal (speeding less than 30mph over limit), but in these po-dunk little towns they can dream up whatever laws they please Oh, and the sore neck- when I am taking a long ride across the plains and know I will be holding sustained high speeds, I use a make-shift neck brace made from a rolled-up long-sleeved t-shirt. It fills the gap between the back of your helmet and shoulders. Tuck the arms down into your jacket and zip it up tight, and it stays in place all day. You cannot imagine how much of a difference this makes. __________________________________________________ MOROCCAN GOLD IMPORTS Where Excess Meets Extreme

October 6th, 2010, 11:07 AM	#17
tjkamper ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Travis Location: Warwick, RI Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	I was going around 160 - 200 miles between stops. __________________________________________________ Addicted to anything that has an engine and rolls.

October 6th, 2010, 11:12 AM	#18
rwheelz Moroccan Gold Imports Name: RJ Location: MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): '03 ZX9R, '03 ZX7R & wife's '09 250R Posts: 136	Wow impressive. Good to know the little Ninja can handle the long trips. That is plenty of range. __________________________________________________ MOROCCAN GOLD IMPORTS Where Excess Meets Extreme

October 10th, 2010, 02:55 PM	#19
Raybot ninjette.org member Name: Ray Location: Knoxville Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 1995 ninja 250 Posts: 52	Sounds like an awesome trip! I love the paint job on your bike! __________________________________________________ ride low ride low ride faster

October 11th, 2010, 05:07 AM	#20
saint15 ninjette.org member Name: erick Location: holland mi Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 ninja 250r green se Posts: 30	great trip. im exited to do something similiar __________________________________________________ Erick b. Urban Ninja on the streets of Hoelland Michigan.

October 11th, 2010, 08:50 AM	#21
Havok Internet Slut Name: Jeff Location: L.A. Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 04 FZ1, 07 FZ6 Posts: A lot.	What a great trip! Looks like a lot of fun and relaxing.

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