86-87 gas tank capacity? Online owner's manual?

poorfatjames · May 11th, 2011, 04:30 PM

HIya. Having a hard time finding specs for the 86-87 ninja. Anyone know the gas tank capacity?

Also, is there a downloadable owner's manual for the ninja? (88+ would do)

thanks!

choneofakind · May 11th, 2011, 08:14 PM

I'm pretty sure it's something like 4.7 or 4.8 total, with .8 or .7 of that being reserve tank. Sorry I can't be definite.

MrBrownTX · May 12th, 2011, 11:32 AM

The manual is on the Kawasaki Website. You can view it in PDF and save it a chapter at a time, 17 chapters total. I downloaded it yesterday.

poorfatjames · May 12th, 2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBrownTX

The manual is on the Kawasaki Website. You can view it in PDF and save it a chapter at a time, 17 chapters total. I downloaded it yesterday.

unfortunately, the web site has nothing for the 86-87.

poorfatjames · May 14th, 2011, 05:49 AM

According to the Kawasaki repair manual, the ninja 250 from 86-87 has a 12.6 L fuel tank (3.33 gal). Didn't realize it was so much smaller, but when I saw It I was a bit dubious that it held 4.8 like the 88-07. Oh well...that larger capacity appealed to me...

choneofakind · May 15th, 2011, 05:20 AM

3.3?!?! How is that possible?! I've definitely put over 4 in a few times...

http://twofiftymag.com/2011/04/kawas...ja-250-ex250f/
it says 4.8, that's including the reserve. I know it's bigger than 3.33

/EDIT
wow I just actually read the title of the thread and realized it was about the 86-87 bike and not the 88-07 bike. massive fail on my part. I'm sorry for the confusion here people

poorfatjames · May 15th, 2011, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

3.3?!?! How is that possible?! I've definitely put over 4 in a few times...

http://twofiftymag.com/2011/04/kawas...ja-250-ex250f/
it says 4.8, that's including the reserve. I know it's bigger than 3.33

your link says:
"
Years Produced: 1988-2007 (1988-1999 Canada) replaced by the EX250J
"

is how that's possible.

I'm sure like many others, it never occurred to me, since Kawak produced same friggin ninja 250 model for a fifth of a century, that there was a previous model. In fact, there was an 86-87 model, the first in the US (but not elsewhere).

I learned this about 2 weeks ago, and now I own and 86. pfj<-----WINNING.

Figuring out the differences is tricky, partly because many don't realize there's another model out there. I've already received a part from ebay that is clearly labeled 87, but is 88-08, and now I have to deal with that. /winning mode off.

choneofakind · May 15th, 2011, 06:09 AM

hahaha poorfatjames that was completely a bad on my part. notice my edit. ha oops. Thanks for keeping me with the program on that one

Tony B · May 16th, 2011, 02:34 PM

I bought an '89 last year, and got a factory manual with it, but judging by the picture on the cover, it's for the earlier model. I've since seen loads on ebay, have you tried that ?
I'm aiming to rebuild mine with the EX bodywork, and in the last couple of days I've scored a tank, seat, (both halves), rear wheel, and I'm waiting for the knee pads to arrive in the post. I would be grateful if you could take a picture of what the underseat area looks like on yours, as I think some brackets will need changing.

fjyang · May 18th, 2011, 02:40 AM

I got a 87 250-E2 and the gas tank capacity is indeed 3.3 gallions, much smaller then later J models. You'll hit reserved after 100 miles for sure so long distance touring don't fit the 86-87 models but who ride long distance with 250's ?

I learn the hard way on the limited range of the small tank one time when I rode with friends in the canyon's on the way down the mountain during a steep turn, my bike hit reserved.... with one hand pining the throttle and steering while the other hand trying to turn gas setting to reserve while I was middle of a turn...I though I was going to die if my engine cut off while was in gear during a turn.

So watch your range.

ajmueller · May 18th, 2011, 06:33 PM

My "learning" experience was not nearly as exciting. I simply got some exercise by pushing the bike across a busy shopping center parking lot to get to a gas station.

May 11th, 2011, 04:30 PM	#1
poorfatjames ninjette.org member Name: James Location: Houston, TX Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550F, 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 250, 1975 Honda CB400F, [sold: 1999 Suzuki SV650] Posts: 30	86-87 gas tank capacity? Online owner's manual? HIya. Having a hard time finding specs for the 86-87 ninja. Anyone know the gas tank capacity? Also, is there a downloadable owner's manual for the ninja? (88+ would do) thanks! Last futzed with by poorfatjames; May 15th, 2011 at 06:29 AM.

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May 11th, 2011, 08:14 PM	#2
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	I'm pretty sure it's something like 4.7 or 4.8 total, with .8 or .7 of that being reserve tank. Sorry I can't be definite.

May 12th, 2011, 11:32 AM	#3
MrBrownTX ninjette.org member Name: Brown Location: Caddo Mills, TX Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1995 Ninja EX250 Posts: 65	The manual is on the Kawasaki Website. You can view it in PDF and save it a chapter at a time, 17 chapters total. I downloaded it yesterday.

May 14th, 2011, 05:49 AM	#5
poorfatjames ninjette.org member Name: James Location: Houston, TX Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1974 Honda CB550F, 1986 Kawasaki Ninja 250, 1975 Honda CB400F, [sold: 1999 Suzuki SV650] Posts: 30	According to the Kawasaki repair manual, the ninja 250 from 86-87 has a 12.6 L fuel tank (3.33 gal). Didn't realize it was so much smaller, but when I saw It I was a bit dubious that it held 4.8 like the 88-07. Oh well...that larger capacity appealed to me...

May 15th, 2011, 05:20 AM	#6
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	3.3?!?! How is that possible?! I've definitely put over 4 in a few times... http://twofiftymag.com/2011/04/kawas...ja-250-ex250f/ it says 4.8, that's including the reserve. I know it's bigger than 3.33 /EDIT wow I just actually read the title of the thread and realized it was about the 86-87 bike and not the 88-07 bike. massive fail on my part. I'm sorry for the confusion here people

May 15th, 2011, 06:09 AM	#8
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	hahaha poorfatjames that was completely a bad on my part. notice my edit. ha oops. Thanks for keeping me with the program on that one

May 16th, 2011, 02:34 PM	#9
Tony B ninjette.org member Name: Tony Location: Surrey UK Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): GPX250 + many others! Posts: 184	I bought an '89 last year, and got a factory manual with it, but judging by the picture on the cover, it's for the earlier model. I've since seen loads on ebay, have you tried that ? I'm aiming to rebuild mine with the EX bodywork, and in the last couple of days I've scored a tank, seat, (both halves), rear wheel, and I'm waiting for the knee pads to arrive in the post. I would be grateful if you could take a picture of what the underseat area looks like on yours, as I think some brackets will need changing.

May 18th, 2011, 02:40 AM	#10
fjyang ninjette.org member Name: Frank Location: Pasadena Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 87 Ninja 250, 90 Ninja ZX750R, GPZ 900r, 02 Moto Guzzi LeMans, 95 Triumph Speed Triple Posts: 121	I got a 87 250-E2 and the gas tank capacity is indeed 3.3 gallions, much smaller then later J models. You'll hit reserved after 100 miles for sure so long distance touring don't fit the 86-87 models but who ride long distance with 250's ? I learn the hard way on the limited range of the small tank one time when I rode with friends in the canyon's on the way down the mountain during a steep turn, my bike hit reserved.... with one hand pining the throttle and steering while the other hand trying to turn gas setting to reserve while I was middle of a turn...I though I was going to die if my engine cut off while was in gear during a turn. So watch your range.

May 18th, 2011, 06:33 PM	#11
ajmueller ninjette.org member Name: Adam Location: Medford, Oregon Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): EX250-E2 Posts: 12	My "learning" experience was not nearly as exciting. I simply got some exercise by pushing the bike across a busy shopping center parking lot to get to a gas station.