Help needed

Seanr97 · February 24th, 2017, 10:00 AM

Hello, I am new to this whole thing and I have had my 2008 ninja 250 for 2 years now and never any problems whatsoever. However yesterday I was riding on the highway and I noticed that after about a few miles that the bike had began to lose speed. Going from 75-70-65-60 etc. I had to pull over to the side of the highway and when I got to a stop, tried turning the bike off and starting it up again, which it did without a fuss. But when I went to put it in gear and start riding again, it wouldn't catch. It moved no more than 5 mph and I was cranking the throttle to see if the bike would catch and nothing (same as when you rev the bike in neutral). Like I said, I have never had any problems with the bike before and am curious what happened and if it would e as easy fix or not. Thank you all for the responses.

walty87 · February 24th, 2017, 11:17 AM

Wore out clutch?

Z1R rider · February 24th, 2017, 12:02 PM

Have you just worked on it? Might be a dragging clutch cable, because it needs lubed or (if you've just worked on it) cable routed wrong.

Seanr97 · February 25th, 2017, 01:09 PM

I have not worked on it. I am looking around and what I am finding is that the general consensus believes that this type of problem is the clutch is bad? I have no idea but if it is what is the best way to fix it? A shop said it would be between 300-400 to fix...

Motofool · February 25th, 2017, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanr97

I have not worked on it. I am looking around and what I am finding is that the general consensus believes that this type of problem is the clutch is bad? I have no idea but if it is what is the best way to fix it? A shop said it would be between 300-400 to fix...

Welcome, Sean !!!

Normally, clutches do not fail suddenly during a trip, but gradually over time.
Did you noticed what happened with the rpm's indicated by the tachometer while the bike was slowing down?

As advised above, check that the clutch cable is fully releasing the little lever by the right side of the engine.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Lubing_the_cables

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Adjusting_the_clutch_cable

Seanr97 · February 25th, 2017, 05:39 PM

The RPMs were still high as I was trying to give it more power, as it was slowing the rpms stayed high as I had the throttle down

Seanr97 · February 25th, 2017, 05:59 PM

And I just went down to check if the level is being fully released and it looks to be fully released...just took it for a little spin in the parking garage and there is very minimal power

Motofool · February 25th, 2017, 06:29 PM

Then, it may be time to change the oil or refurbish the clutch.

I would change the oil first, if the level is too low or too high and the color is too dark.

Seanr97 · February 27th, 2017, 08:59 AM

I checked the oil and it does seem to be dark...and a bit high as well. But can that really have the bike running that poorly??

Triple Jim · February 27th, 2017, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanr97

The RPMs were still high as I was trying to give it more power, as it was slowing the rpms stayed high as I had the throttle down

Are you saying that the engine RPM was high, that the clutch lever was released, and you weren't moving very fast? As in the clutch was slipping terribly?

Motofool · February 27th, 2017, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanr97

I checked the oil and it does seem to be dark...and a bit high as well. But can that really have the bike running that poorly??

A bit high may mean that the oil has been contaminated with condensation, coolant or gasoline; however, it could have been high all the time since you started riding.

Oil with anti-friction additives may be another cause:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Preferred_Brands

But again, those causes would have deteriorate the clutch performance slowly over time.

Sudden causes could be broken springs or frozen clutch cable that gives no slack to the lever that I asked you to check previously.

February 24th, 2017, 10:00 AM	#1
Seanr97 ninjette.org newbie Name: Sean Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 5	Help needed Hello, I am new to this whole thing and I have had my 2008 ninja 250 for 2 years now and never any problems whatsoever. However yesterday I was riding on the highway and I noticed that after about a few miles that the bike had began to lose speed. Going from 75-70-65-60 etc. I had to pull over to the side of the highway and when I got to a stop, tried turning the bike off and starting it up again, which it did without a fuss. But when I went to put it in gear and start riding again, it wouldn't catch. It moved no more than 5 mph and I was cranking the throttle to see if the bike would catch and nothing (same as when you rev the bike in neutral). Like I said, I have never had any problems with the bike before and am curious what happened and if it would e as easy fix or not. Thank you all for the responses.

February 24th, 2017, 12:02 PM	#3
Z1R rider ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Roger Location: Mitchell, South Dakota Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1978 Z1R, 1999 EX250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Oct '16	Have you just worked on it? Might be a dragging clutch cable, because it needs lubed or (if you've just worked on it) cable routed wrong. __________________________________________________
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

February 25th, 2017, 06:29 PM	#8
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Then, it may be time to change the oil or refurbish the clutch. I would change the oil first, if the level is too low or too high and the color is too dark. __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

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February 24th, 2017, 11:17 AM	#2
walty87 ninjette.org guru Name: andrew Location: oakdale california Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 ninja 250 Posts: 296	Wore out clutch?

February 25th, 2017, 01:09 PM	#4
Seanr97 ninjette.org newbie Name: Sean Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 5	I have not worked on it. I am looking around and what I am finding is that the general consensus believes that this type of problem is the clutch is bad? I have no idea but if it is what is the best way to fix it? A shop said it would be between 300-400 to fix...

February 25th, 2017, 05:39 PM	#6
Seanr97 ninjette.org newbie Name: Sean Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 5	The RPMs were still high as I was trying to give it more power, as it was slowing the rpms stayed high as I had the throttle down

February 25th, 2017, 05:59 PM	#7
Seanr97 ninjette.org newbie Name: Sean Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 5	And I just went down to check if the level is being fully released and it looks to be fully released...just took it for a little spin in the parking garage and there is very minimal power

February 27th, 2017, 08:59 AM	#9
Seanr97 ninjette.org newbie Name: Sean Location: Appleton, WI Join Date: Feb 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki ninja 250 Posts: 5	I checked the oil and it does seem to be dark...and a bit high as well. But can that really have the bike running that poorly??