Hard to start

Sfor6285 · August 28th, 2011, 04:02 AM

I just bought a 2011 250r about a week ago. It is really hard to start and takes forever to warm up. I only have 250 miles on it. It makes it really hard to just jump on it and ride somewhere. I have friends with bikes (not 250s) that don't have this problem. I was wondering if I'm always going to have this problem or if it will get better after the bike gets broke in or if there is something I can buy that could help this problem.

Live2ride · August 28th, 2011, 04:56 AM

It can be normal for the bike to take longer to warm up than most other bikes because our ninja 250's are carburated in the U.S. unlike other parts of the world and other fuel injected bikes. With fuel injected bikes, the bike automatically adjusts the fuel / air ratio to have seemingly no warm up time. Unfortunately carburated bikes can't auto adjust the fuel / air ratio, therefore it takes time to warm up.

I never wait for my bike to warm up; I either start it and go or just let it run while putting my gear on which doesn't take anymore time than normal. Once you get use to just firing up and going it won't be a problem; or at least it isn't for me. I taught myself how to control the throttle while the bikes warming up so I lose practically no time at all. If you absolutely just can't deal with that then there is a kit that allows you to change over to a fuel injected system but that would set you back around $500-$600 and it takes a lot of know how to install it.

P.s. you can ride the bike while the choke is engaged.

greatwhiteninja · August 28th, 2011, 05:04 AM

i shimmed my bike fairly early on , probably 200 miles on it.. but it started alot easier with the carb shimmed.. most times without even using the choke. if i were you, i would shim the carb with 2 washers and remove the snorkel.. will most likely start alot easier and even run better.

Live2ride · August 28th, 2011, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatwhiteninja

i shimmed my bike fairly early on , probably 200 miles on it.. but it started alot easier with the carb shimmed.. most times without even using the choke. if i were you, i would shim the carb with 2 washers and remove the snorkel.. will most likely start alot easier and even run better.

+1 I did this and it does tend to start easier; plus it only costs $1 for the washers.

Alex · August 28th, 2011, 09:09 AM

Are you using the choke lever?

Sfor6285 · August 28th, 2011, 09:17 AM

Cool I know how to remove the snorkel. But I don't understand About shimming carbs. Do you know where I can find some instructions or pics would be cool. I've worked on alot of things but a motorcycle isn't one of them.

Alex · August 28th, 2011, 09:22 AM

Check out the DIY ("Do it Yourself") sticky at the top of the tech section. There are a few great threads on shimming, jetting, etc.

Boom King · August 28th, 2011, 09:22 AM

Part and parcel of owning a carbed bike. Starts are harder in cooler weather and if the engine hasn't been run in a few days or more. When you say it's hard to start, is the engine turning over? Normal warm up, meaning warm enough so that you can ride it gently for the first 5 minutes should not take much longer then about 3 minutes or so.

Sfor6285 · August 28th, 2011, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

Are you using the choke lever?

I'll start it w/o the choke and It will run for a few mins then die. The only way I get it to start then is use the choke. Then I let it run like that till it soundslike it has stopped sputtering. Disengage the choke and it usually runs fine then.

Alex · August 28th, 2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sfor6285

I'll start it w/o the choke and It will run for a few mins then die. The only way I get it to start then is use the choke. Then I let it run like that till it soundslike it has stopped sputtering. Disengage the choke and it usually runs fine then.

Don't disengage the choke. Just get on the bike and ride with the choke engaged, and turn off the choke only after you've gone a minute or two, and all will be fine. Warming it up while stationary for that long isn't necessary, and it doesn't do a great job of warming it up anyway. Under a light load, everything gets up to temp right quick.

Related threads:

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=77150
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=16276

Sfor6285 · August 28th, 2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom King

Part and parcel of owning a carbed bike. Starts are harder in cooler weather and if the engine hasn't been run in a few days or more. When you say it's hard to start, is the engine turning over? Normal warm up, meaning warm enough so that you can ride it gently for the first 5 minutes should not take much longer then about 3 minutes or so.

No it turns over fine. I live in Louisiana so the weather usually stays pretty warm 24 hours a day. Ive never really timed it but I know it's longer then 5 mins. I have to wait till my legs start sweating because the motors so hot. If I twist the throttle any time before then it feels like the engine is lug back.

Boom King · August 28th, 2011, 09:43 AM

It should not normally take longer than 5 mins if you've been using the bike on a regular basis. Are you killing the choke right away after you start it? Let it idle with the choke open until the tach needle runs > 2000 rpms and let it sit there for about a min and then smoothly close the choke. Your tach should then read around 1200 rpms. Let it run there for about another min or so and you should be good to go. Smoothly rev, but don't kill the throttle a couple of times to make sure the engine is responsive. You can also run it the first few minutes with the choke open like Alex said.

The only times I've been able to start with no choke is when we get a few days straight of hot and humid weather or when the bike is still warm from a ride. People who shim their needles are also able to do this.

August 28th, 2011, 04:02 AM	#1
Sfor6285 ninjette.org newbie Name: Steven Location: Bossier City, LA Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 4	Hard to start I just bought a 2011 250r about a week ago. It is really hard to start and takes forever to warm up. I only have 250 miles on it. It makes it really hard to just jump on it and ride somewhere. I have friends with bikes (not 250s) that don't have this problem. I was wondering if I'm always going to have this problem or if it will get better after the bike gets broke in or if there is something I can buy that could help this problem.

August 28th, 2011, 04:56 AM	#2
Live2ride ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Cody Location: NoVa Join Date: Jan 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 yzf r6r previously: 09 ninja 250r, black 07 zx6r Posts: A lot.	It can be normal for the bike to take longer to warm up than most other bikes because our ninja 250's are carburated in the U.S. unlike other parts of the world and other fuel injected bikes. With fuel injected bikes, the bike automatically adjusts the fuel / air ratio to have seemingly no warm up time. Unfortunately carburated bikes can't auto adjust the fuel / air ratio, therefore it takes time to warm up. I never wait for my bike to warm up; I either start it and go or just let it run while putting my gear on which doesn't take anymore time than normal. Once you get use to just firing up and going it won't be a problem; or at least it isn't for me. I taught myself how to control the throttle while the bikes warming up so I lose practically no time at all. If you absolutely just can't deal with that then there is a kit that allows you to change over to a fuel injected system but that would set you back around $500-$600 and it takes a lot of know how to install it. P.s. you can ride the bike while the choke is engaged. __________________________________________________

August 28th, 2011, 05:04 AM	#3
greatwhiteninja Ridin Dirty Name: Ed Location: Delaware Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 white se 250r , 2008 zx6R Posts: 921	i shimmed my bike fairly early on , probably 200 miles on it.. but it started alot easier with the carb shimmed.. most times without even using the choke. if i were you, i would shim the carb with 2 washers and remove the snorkel.. will most likely start alot easier and even run better. __________________________________________________ #1

August 28th, 2011, 09:09 AM	#5
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	Are you using the choke lever? __________________________________________________ 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)

August 28th, 2011, 09:22 AM	#7
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	Check out the DIY ("Do it Yourself") sticky at the top of the tech section. There are a few great threads on shimming, jetting, etc. __________________________________________________ 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)

August 28th, 2011, 09:17 AM	#6
Sfor6285 ninjette.org newbie Name: Steven Location: Bossier City, LA Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Posts: 4	Cool I know how to remove the snorkel. But I don't understand About shimming carbs. Do you know where I can find some instructions or pics would be cool. I've worked on alot of things but a motorcycle isn't one of them.

August 28th, 2011, 09:22 AM	#8
Boom King So, where's the reverse? Name: Anson Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Part and parcel of owning a carbed bike. Starts are harder in cooler weather and if the engine hasn't been run in a few days or more. When you say it's hard to start, is the engine turning over? Normal warm up, meaning warm enough so that you can ride it gently for the first 5 minutes should not take much longer then about 3 minutes or so.

August 28th, 2011, 09:43 AM	#12
Boom King So, where's the reverse? Name: Anson Location: Ontario, Canada Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	It should not normally take longer than 5 mins if you've been using the bike on a regular basis. Are you killing the choke right away after you start it? Let it idle with the choke open until the tach needle runs > 2000 rpms and let it sit there for about a min and then smoothly close the choke. Your tach should then read around 1200 rpms. Let it run there for about another min or so and you should be good to go. Smoothly rev, but don't kill the throttle a couple of times to make sure the engine is responsive. You can also run it the first few minutes with the choke open like Alex said. The only times I've been able to start with no choke is when we get a few days straight of hot and humid weather or when the bike is still warm from a ride. People who shim their needles are also able to do this.

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