New 250R Rider in Seattle

WebMasterP · May 28th, 2010, 11:51 AM

Been racing on 4 wheels for a bit now (mostly Solo II and track day stuff), I got the 2-wheel itch from riding my wife's Ruckus around. I convinced myself I could be safe if I rode like I drive (hyper-vigilant) and then I found a red '08 mostly stock with 355 miles on it for a really low price and snagged it up.

I have my permit to ride during the day time, I scheduled my MSF class 3 months ago (they fill up fast here) and it's in a couple weeks. So far, no problems riding it (it leans much better than the ruckus

). Though I've had it bog down on me some times making for embarrassingly slow starts, not sure if it's something I'm doing or if it's the bike.

I have, however, had problems parking it. In fact, it fell over on top of me (thank god it was on top of me, I would have been devastated if I scratched up the fairings already). I ordered Shogun bar ends and a replacement front brake lever. There's also a small ding in the stock exhaust and a scratch on the side mirror now

. I'm not too upset by the exhaust scuffs because it looks like there are some rust spots on the exhaust already.

I'm thinking that the lowering links the girl that owned it put on there and 1-2" lowering might have something to do with me not being able to get it leaned over on the kickstand very well. I think I'm going to mess with them and get it back to stock height (I'm 6' 2").

Anyway, hello everyone.

Alex · May 28th, 2010, 11:53 AM

Alex · May 28th, 2010, 12:00 PM

Oh - and yup, get those lowering links off of it right away.

KJohnson21 · May 28th, 2010, 12:03 PM

I concur. With your height, get the bike height adjustments back to stock. You might want to firm up the shock setting on the back too.

If you have any doubts, we're here to help!

WebMasterP · May 28th, 2010, 01:19 PM

Thanks guys, I'll see if I can figure out how to get the adjustable links back to stock height. They're the kind with the 2 nuts on each end and spinning bar in the middle.

noche_caliente · May 28th, 2010, 04:43 PM

Welcome Dan

I did a DIY in the wiki about installing the links - it might be a little help for you in undoing it.

WebMasterP · May 28th, 2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noche_caliente

Welcome Dan

I did a DIY in the wiki about installing the links - it might be a little help for you in undoing it.

I know, I found it already.

However, I don't have the stock links and it doesn't look like I have an open-ended wrench big enough to adjust the links.

I also found a tube hanging loose under the bike, is that normal? Like a coolant drain overflow line or something?

The links look like this:

noche_caliente · May 28th, 2010, 06:17 PM

the tube is normal - there are 2 of them, one of which hangs down a little lower. Perhaps a search on ebay could help you find a cheap set of stock links?

WebMasterP · May 28th, 2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noche_caliente

the tube is normal - there are 2 of them, one of which hangs down a little lower. Perhaps a search on ebay could help you find a cheap set of stock links?

Yeah, that's a good idea. They're probably lighter than these adjustable ones anyway.

I just went and bought a 19mm socket and I maxed out the adjustment. I don't know if it's stock height, but the bike leans much further over onto the kickstand now and the height feels much better. So, hopefully it won't fall on me again on some weirdly shaped pavement.

komohana · May 29th, 2010, 12:48 AM

hi dan

Snake · May 29th, 2010, 05:42 PM

Hello and welcome.

BlueRaven · May 29th, 2010, 07:31 PM

lockie · May 30th, 2010, 05:42 AM

Welcome from the North

May 28th, 2010, 11:51 AM	#1
WebMasterP ninjette.org member Name: Dan Location: Seattle, WA Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 15	New 250R Rider in Seattle Been racing on 4 wheels for a bit now (mostly Solo II and track day stuff), I got the 2-wheel itch from riding my wife's Ruckus around. I convinced myself I could be safe if I rode like I drive (hyper-vigilant) and then I found a red '08 mostly stock with 355 miles on it for a really low price and snagged it up. I have my permit to ride during the day time, I scheduled my MSF class 3 months ago (they fill up fast here) and it's in a couple weeks. So far, no problems riding it (it leans much better than the ruckus ). Though I've had it bog down on me some times making for embarrassingly slow starts, not sure if it's something I'm doing or if it's the bike. I have, however, had problems parking it. In fact, it fell over on top of me (thank god it was on top of me, I would have been devastated if I scratched up the fairings already). I ordered Shogun bar ends and a replacement front brake lever. There's also a small ding in the stock exhaust and a scratch on the side mirror now . I'm not too upset by the exhaust scuffs because it looks like there are some rust spots on the exhaust already. I'm thinking that the lowering links the girl that owned it put on there and 1-2" lowering might have something to do with me not being able to get it leaned over on the kickstand very well. I think I'm going to mess with them and get it back to stock height (I'm 6' 2"). Anyway, hello everyone.

May 28th, 2010, 11:53 AM	#2
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	__________________________________________________ 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)

May 28th, 2010, 12:00 PM	#3
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	Oh - and yup, get those lowering links off of it right away. __________________________________________________ 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)

May 28th, 2010, 12:03 PM	#4
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	I concur. With your height, get the bike height adjustments back to stock. You might want to firm up the shock setting on the back too. If you have any doubts, we're here to help! __________________________________________________ < ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name?

May 28th, 2010, 04:43 PM	#6
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	Welcome Dan I did a DIY in the wiki about installing the links - it might be a little help for you in undoing it. __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

May 28th, 2010, 01:19 PM	#5
WebMasterP ninjette.org member Name: Dan Location: Seattle, WA Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: 15	Thanks guys, I'll see if I can figure out how to get the adjustable links back to stock height. They're the kind with the 2 nuts on each end and spinning bar in the middle.

May 28th, 2010, 06:17 PM	#8
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	the tube is normal - there are 2 of them, one of which hangs down a little lower. Perhaps a search on ebay could help you find a cheap set of stock links? __________________________________________________ Progrip tank pad, blue rim stripes, blue Pazzos, Roaring Toyz lowering kit, Puig DB in dark smoke, Cortech sport tail, super mini tank, and saddlebags, OES swingarm spools and Intuitive frame sliders

May 29th, 2010, 12:48 AM	#10
komohana ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Steve Location: Kekaha, Kauai HI Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 GSX-R 600 2003 EX250: Woodcraft Bars, Levers, Mirrors, Shim'd Mixture, Synthetic, '08 Rear Shock Posts: A lot.	hi dan __________________________________________________ Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?

May 29th, 2010, 05:42 PM	#11
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 29th, 2010, 07:31 PM	#12
BlueRaven ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Lil One Location: NB Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Ninja 250 Black Posts: A lot.	__________________________________________________ I'm not small, I'm fun sized

May 30th, 2010, 05:42 AM	#13
lockie ninjette.org sage Name: don Location: Port Elgin NB Canada Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2009 blue ninja 250R Posts: 742	Welcome from the North

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