How hard can you flog these bikes?

jgcable · June 9th, 2014, 08:43 AM

My 2003 has 4300 miles on it. It runs mint. Has new tires. Every maintenance item has been done. Anyway.. I shift normally at 8K. Yesterday I found myself shifting at between 10K and 12K many times. It seems to me that shifting around 8K is the perfect amount of RPMS. The clutch just slides into gear with little to know hesitation providing you match the RPMS as close as possible. Its almost like power shifting.
The other thing I notice is my bike feels the best when I am beating the snot out of it.. but that leads to the question.. am I or is what I am doing normal?

I have been riding for a long time but its a little hard to accept how great these motors are at the very high RPM range.

That leads me to another observation. A beginner rider with one of these bikes and after a few months they feel they have "graduated" up to a bigger bike is actually sad because most likely they have never even been over 6k rpms and the fun doesn't start until between 8K and 10K.

Flying · June 9th, 2014, 08:45 AM

Perfectly normal for our bikes.

A combination of low-displacement with carburetors feeding our bikes gives us an almost turbo-like action without having to rev up to suicidal speeds on the street.

DaBlue1 · June 9th, 2014, 09:13 AM

How hard can you flog these bikes?

Pretty damn hard. With a little tweaking, a mod or two here and there, You can easily set a bonafide land speed record of 123+ mph.

outasight20 · June 9th, 2014, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgcable

That leads me to another observation. A beginner rider with one of these bikes and after a few months they feel they have "graduated" up to a bigger bike is actually sad because most likely they have never even been over 6k rpms and the fun doesn't start until between 8K and 10K.

On the contrary, I think people who get bored with the power (like me) spend plenty of time in the upper RPM's. When they reach the bike's power limit, that is when they want to upgrade. I had my 250 for almost a year and 8K miles and the power really started to feel like it was lacking near the end of that time.

There isn't a day that I don't miss the light weight and flickability of the baby Ninja though.

nickjpass · June 9th, 2014, 09:16 AM

Hard

jkv45 · June 9th, 2014, 09:54 AM

If you want the full potential from the little Ninja you need to shift it above 8000 - that's just where the fun starts! The engine is designed and tuned to make most of it's power near redline - especially a Pregen.

As long as you do the proper maintenance and keep everything in spec, you aren't doing any harm. If you are concerned about engine wear, use a top notch synthetic oil and change it regularly.

The fastest acceleration is almost always to shift at redline or very close (the exact RPM changes in every gear, but generally it's way up there close to redline - even if the dyno shows power tapering off). Each gear has more torque multiplication than the next, so you get a torque advantage by holding-off your shift until you have to. That translates to more acceleration. An exception would be if the engine falls flat on its face before redline - which isn't the case with the Ninja.

csmith12 · June 9th, 2014, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgcable

Anyway.. I shift normally at 8K. Yesterday I found myself shifting at between 10K and 12K many times. It seems to me that shifting around 8K is the perfect amount of RPMS.

verboten1 · June 9th, 2014, 02:41 PM

Before I got my gauges on the bike I was bouncing off the rev limiter quite often.
It loved it...lol

csmith12 · June 9th, 2014, 02:42 PM

Keep the oil fresh and full and you can beat it as hard as you want and it will just ask for more.

alex.s · June 9th, 2014, 02:44 PM

flog her fast and hard till she spews fluids.

agentbad · June 9th, 2014, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outasight20

On the contrary, I think people who get bored with the power (like me) spend plenty of time in the upper RPM's. When they reach the bike's power limit, that is when they want to upgrade. I had my 250 for almost a year and 8K miles and the power really started to feel like it was lacking near the end of that time.

There isn't a day that I don't miss the light weight and flickability of the baby Ninja though.

How's the FZ6 in comparison?

fast1075 · June 9th, 2014, 03:48 PM

13k, 13k, 13k, 13k, 13k repeat endlessly. Eventually stop to scape the bugs off your teeth and let your buddy on the 600 catch up.

Motofool · June 9th, 2014, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgcable

..........It seems to me that shifting around 8K is the perfect amount of RPMS. The clutch just slides into gear with little to know hesitation providing you match the RPMS as close as possible. Its almost like power shifting.
.........

The transmission and the clutch don't know or care about how fast everything is rotating.

Your skill and timing are the source of any flawless shifting ...... up or down; .......... nothing else.

With more practice, your range of "perfect" rpm's will get wider.

choneofakind · June 9th, 2014, 06:55 PM

Lol. Try a track day. The bike will never go below 8k and you'll both come back to the pits lusting for more.

cbinker · June 9th, 2014, 07:02 PM

these bikes are designed to run high revs.

CC Cowboy · June 9th, 2014, 07:04 PM

I'm green with envy.

supersport · June 9th, 2014, 07:07 PM

I thought everyone ride these small bikes near the redline. Most people that want to upgrade are bloodthirsty after staying in the redline.

JohnnyBravo · June 9th, 2014, 07:36 PM

If my babe ain't screaming, neither of us are happy! Bouncing off the rev limiter makes me happy!

ez12a · June 9th, 2014, 09:26 PM

i think anyone who has taken the ninja on the freeway would be over 6k lol.

Kscreations08 · June 9th, 2014, 10:18 PM

Link to original page on YouTube.

outasight20 · June 10th, 2014, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agentbad

How's the FZ6 in comparison?

It's heavy, requires more effort to throw around, and sits a lot higher off the ground. But those same things make it more stable and comfortable for long distance riding. You can scrape pegs on it easily, but it takes serious balls compared to the 250. And it's fahkin fast too. 11.7 is my best in the 1/4 so far.

fishdip · June 10th, 2014, 07:12 AM

Harder then you can flog a 2 dollar hooker before her pimp walks in.

capt_bugaloo · June 10th, 2014, 08:21 AM

What's that song by Devo...?

choneofakind · June 10th, 2014, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kscreations08

Link to original page on YouTube.

Lol, now we know what @alex.s does to blow up his race motors.

alex.s · June 10th, 2014, 11:11 PM

forcibly over-revving it has always done it for me

Singh2jz · June 11th, 2014, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

flog her fast and hard till she spews fluids.

Cleaning up after isn't fun though.

Kscreations08 · June 11th, 2014, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singh2jz

Cleaning up after isn't fun though.

We call that the Cuddle Puddle

mr2peak · June 12th, 2014, 03:48 PM

Wonder how much longer it would have gone with proper cooling? That bike obviously overheated

supersport · June 12th, 2014, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singh2jz

Cleaning up after isn't fun though.

tissue and baby wipes are very handy

Hero Danny · June 13th, 2014, 10:27 PM

Call me a coward, but redlining always made me nervous.. like I was gonna break something in the engine :/

corksil · June 13th, 2014, 10:51 PM

I frequently ride the bike at 13.8krpm in 6th, WFO for 8 minutes at a time pushing the wind.

And by frequently I mean daily. For months now.

corksil · June 13th, 2014, 10:52 PM

Edit, wrong forum. I have a 09.

mr2peak · June 14th, 2014, 07:59 AM

Maintain it. Flog it. Repeat.

Why else would you own a non-classic bike?

June 9th, 2014, 08:43 AM	#1
jgcable ninjette.org member Name: John Location: Milford, CT Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Ninja 250r Posts: 212	How hard can you flog these bikes? My 2003 has 4300 miles on it. It runs mint. Has new tires. Every maintenance item has been done. Anyway.. I shift normally at 8K. Yesterday I found myself shifting at between 10K and 12K many times. It seems to me that shifting around 8K is the perfect amount of RPMS. The clutch just slides into gear with little to know hesitation providing you match the RPMS as close as possible. Its almost like power shifting. The other thing I notice is my bike feels the best when I am beating the snot out of it.. but that leads to the question.. am I or is what I am doing normal? I have been riding for a long time but its a little hard to accept how great these motors are at the very high RPM range. That leads me to another observation. A beginner rider with one of these bikes and after a few months they feel they have "graduated" up to a bigger bike is actually sad because most likely they have never even been over 6k rpms and the fun doesn't start until between 8K and 10K.

June 9th, 2014, 09:16 AM	#5
nickjpass #squid Name: nickypoo Location: Five Guys Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): Track dedicated 2008 ZX6R Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jul '16	Hard __________________________________________________

June 9th, 2014, 02:41 PM	#8
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	Before I got my gauges on the bike I was bouncing off the rev limiter quite often. It loved it...lol __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

June 9th, 2014, 02:42 PM	#9
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	Keep the oil fresh and full and you can beat it as hard as you want and it will just ask for more. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

June 9th, 2014, 02:44 PM	#10
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	flog her fast and hard till she spews fluids. __________________________________________________

June 9th, 2014, 08:45 AM	#2
Flying ninjette.org sage Name: - Location: somewhere cold Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 Posts: 596 Blog Entries: 1	Perfectly normal for our bikes. A combination of low-displacement with carburetors feeding our bikes gives us an almost turbo-like action without having to rev up to suicidal speeds on the street.

June 9th, 2014, 09:13 AM	#3
DaBlue1 Long Time Rider Name: Blue Location: Charlotte, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	How hard can you flog these bikes? Pretty damn hard. With a little tweaking, a mod or two here and there, You can easily set a bonafide land speed record of 123+ mph.

June 9th, 2014, 09:54 AM	#6
jkv45 Rev Limiter Name: Jay Location: WI Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): '06 SV650n, '00 Derbi GPR, '64 CA77 Dream 305, '70 CL450 Scrambler, numerous dirt bikes Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '18, Oct '16	If you want the full potential from the little Ninja you need to shift it above 8000 - that's just where the fun starts! The engine is designed and tuned to make most of it's power near redline - especially a Pregen. As long as you do the proper maintenance and keep everything in spec, you aren't doing any harm. If you are concerned about engine wear, use a top notch synthetic oil and change it regularly. The fastest acceleration is almost always to shift at redline or very close (the exact RPM changes in every gear, but generally it's way up there close to redline - even if the dyno shows power tapering off). Each gear has more torque multiplication than the next, so you get a torque advantage by holding-off your shift until you have to. That translates to more acceleration. An exception would be if the engine falls flat on its face before redline - which isn't the case with the Ninja.

June 9th, 2014, 03:48 PM	#12
fast1075 ninjette.org guru Name: harry Location: Central Florida Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2006 Ninja 250, 2004 Buell XB12s, Honda 110 Elite Posts: 332	How Hard? 13k, 13k, 13k, 13k, 13k repeat endlessly. Eventually stop to scape the bugs off your teeth and let your buddy on the 600 catch up. __________________________________________________ "They don't pay me enough to ride this thing!" Kenny Roberts after winning the Indy Mile on the TZ750 powered Grand National bike.

June 9th, 2014, 06:55 PM	#14
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Lol. Try a track day. The bike will never go below 8k and you'll both come back to the pits lusting for more.
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 9th, 2014, 07:02 PM	#15
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	these bikes are designed to run high revs. __________________________________________________ TEAM ALFALFA www.apexassassins.com

June 9th, 2014, 07:04 PM	#16
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	I'm green with envy. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

June 9th, 2014, 07:07 PM	#17
supersport ninjette.org member Name: Lee Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 300 Posts: 97	I thought everyone ride these small bikes near the redline. Most people that want to upgrade are bloodthirsty after staying in the redline.

June 9th, 2014, 07:36 PM	#18
JohnnyBravo Certifiable nontundrum Name: Harper Location: NC Milkshake stand Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2013 SE NINJA 300 Posts: Too much. MOTM - Sep '13, Sep '16	If my babe ain't screaming, neither of us are happy! Bouncing off the rev limiter makes me happy!

June 9th, 2014, 09:26 PM	#19
ez12a ninjette.org member Name: Ryan Location: OC, CA Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R (Sold), 2007 SV650S Posts: 161	i think anyone who has taken the ninja on the freeway would be over 6k lol.

June 9th, 2014, 10:18 PM	#20
Kscreations08 Fresh Deli Meat Name: Kevin Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Join Date: Feb 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2009 250R Ninja -Neener- Posts: 678	Link to original page on YouTube. __________________________________________________ We shall call thee "Seahorse." -Antiant on Couvade Syndrome

June 10th, 2014, 07:12 AM	#22
fishdip ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Fish Location: co Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250/300 Posts: A lot.	Harder then you can flog a 2 dollar hooker before her pimp walks in. __________________________________________________ Hey Unregistered never go faster than your brakes can be applied...

June 10th, 2014, 08:21 AM	#23
capt_bugaloo motorcycle rider Name: Bruce Location: Victoria, BC Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '14 Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom (silver) Posts: A lot.	What's that song by Devo...? __________________________________________________ '14 Yamaha V-Star 650 Custom (silver)

June 10th, 2014, 11:11 PM	#25
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	forcibly over-revving it has always done it for me __________________________________________________

June 12th, 2014, 03:48 PM	#28
mr2peak ninjette.org member Name: james Location: SF Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): Hyper 821 Posts: 161	Wonder how much longer it would have gone with proper cooling? That bike obviously overheated

June 13th, 2014, 10:27 PM	#30
Hero Danny Inline 4!!! Name: Danny Location: MA Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2008 CBR600rr, 1987 KLR 250 Posts: A lot.	Call me a coward, but redlining always made me nervous.. like I was gonna break something in the engine :/ __________________________________________________ Be careful. Remember you are invisible

June 13th, 2014, 10:51 PM	#31
corksil ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: TC Location: Hawaii Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): A lot. Posts: A lot.	I frequently ride the bike at 13.8krpm in 6th, WFO for 8 minutes at a time pushing the wind. And by frequently I mean daily. For months now. __________________________________________________ Just batshit crazy. All his posts are endless diatribes. Some are actually entertaining but mostly batshit crazy.

June 13th, 2014, 10:52 PM	#32
corksil ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: TC Location: Hawaii Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): A lot. Posts: A lot.	Edit, wrong forum. I have a 09. __________________________________________________ Just batshit crazy. All his posts are endless diatribes. Some are actually entertaining but mostly batshit crazy.

June 14th, 2014, 07:59 AM	#33
mr2peak ninjette.org member Name: james Location: SF Join Date: Mar 2014 Motorcycle(s): Hyper 821 Posts: 161	Maintain it. Flog it. Repeat. Why else would you own a non-classic bike?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How hard is it to sell bikes with over 100k miles?	scorch	General Motorcycling Discussion	18	September 17th, 2014 05:29 PM
[visordown.com] - eBay user hires bikiniclad models to help flog secondhand bike part	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	September 9th, 2014 02:40 AM
[visordown.com] - How hard is Dunlop pushing? This hard	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	June 7th, 2013 11:20 AM
[topix.net] - are these bikes hard to find a	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	September 2nd, 2011 10:10 PM
[kropotkin thinks...] - Kawasaki: Why Flog A Dead Horse, When You Could Revive A Live	Ninjette Newsbot	Motorcycling News	0	February 11th, 2009 04:01 PM