ITT: post your "Is this bad?" questions

00v_Lucky · May 18th, 2009, 12:58 PM

I was thinking that maybe some other members here, like me, had some questions about their motorbike but thought it was not worthy of a whole thread. So why not bunch questions all together and have kkim help us out in a single thread?

, might be a silly idear but what the heck, I'll post my questions anyways

thanks in advance for reading and trying to help.

I know this is an odd question but is it bad to shift with two fingers?

Does pulling the clutch half way and shifting to the next gear burn out the clutch faster or do any extra wear to the engine?

Also, has anyone had the problem of turning on the bike but the headlight not working? I have had this happen to me about 3 times now at night when I left my bike outside for more than an hour. I thought it was odd and all I did was turn off the bike and start it up again, then it would work.

what problem is this a symptom of? Could it be when my bike was tipped over, some electrical things went bad?

And this question might have already been answered but on the gas gauge where is empty actually empty? I do not want to find out the hard way.

Last question, coming from around 45 mph to a left or right turn, which gear do ya'll stay at? For me, I usually tend to downshift to 4 but I was wondering if 5 or even 3 is better.

IlBLisSlI · May 18th, 2009, 01:34 PM

its not bad to shift with 2 fingers, i would say it is bad though if you don't fully engage the clutch like you are saying though.

I've never had any problems with the headlight thing but that's because i own the older model. i think its pretty common with the new ones though, I've read a lot of threads about that on the kawiforums so you may want to search there

and the gas gauge is worthless, the only way you'll know when its really empty is to just let it run out of gas (that's what the reserve is for

)

and it just depends on how aggressive you want to be. i typically do it in 4th but i'm conservative if you really want to push it do it in 3rd.

Snake · May 18th, 2009, 01:39 PM

As far as the finger on the clutch / brakes. I always ride with one finger at the ready on both and then move the rest when it's time.

BlueTyke · May 18th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Does my bike make my butt look fast?

Snake · May 18th, 2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTyke

Does my bike make my butt look fast?

Where did that come from Sunny?

00v_Lucky · May 18th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueTyke

Does my bike make my butt look fast?

lol. and yes tyke does make your butt look fast

BlueTyke · May 18th, 2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake

Where did that come from Sunny?

Hello... The thread title...
"post your "Is this bad?" questions "

Cause you know if she didn't that would definatly be bad

Sorry Lucky I have no assistance for you. I ride with my hands on the grips until the levers are needed, then I usually use my index and middle fingers to bring them in. This way I don't squeeze to hard and panic stop (did that once already wasn't plesant). As for the Clutch I do not pull the clutch allll the way in when I am shifting up, only a little when I am shifting down slow like but if, say I am exiting the freeway I am breaking and shifting down I pull the clutch in more.

Make sense? It did in my head!

Viper-Byte · May 18th, 2009, 02:12 PM

A lot of the time when I am acellerating fast and shifting fast, the clutch is only in half way when I shift, but as long as the clutch is fully disengaged when you shift, it is fine. Stock, the clutch is fully disengaged well before the lever reaches the bar.

The number of fingers I use to brake or shift varies to how I am riding at the time, and how hard I need to brake etc, but I usually brake with 2 fingers and clutch with 3 (pinky sits off the lever, same as hard braking, 3 fingers.

Broom · May 18th, 2009, 03:01 PM

up shifting without fully pulling in the clutch is fine as long as you're quick about it. you can do it without the clutch at all if you want. probably not as healthy as doing it with the clutch, but its not toooo bad. might be a little harder on the clutch basket.

pre load shift lever with foot
let off gas and follow through with shift
back on the gas

its down shifting that you need a full clutch for. otherwise you start bending shift forks and stuff.

pantera · May 18th, 2009, 03:22 PM

There is no reserve on the new style Ninja.Only has a prime which seems worthless like the gas gauge.This is the first I have heard of the head light problem.

kkim · May 18th, 2009, 05:02 PM

Howard... you have HIDs?

smcbride11 · May 18th, 2009, 07:35 PM

I've noticed the headlight thing... I didn't think it was a problem, I just thought there was some sort of battery conservation setting that would disable the headlight if the bike wasn't running.

I just ran outside to check:

a) Key to "on", all dash lights come on, headlight does not

b) sidestand up, key "on", same result as (a)

c) Engine started, headlight is on

d) Kill switch off, engine off, key "on" - headlight remains on

e) Key turned to "off" and back to "on", see (a)

I think it's normal on the new gens (or maybe just the '09s), but if that's not normal I'm certainly intrigued.

Alex · May 18th, 2009, 07:53 PM

Sounds like normal behavior. The headlight doesn't go on until the bike is started as the starter motor takes quite a chunk of the bike's electrical output. Keeping the headlight off saves a usable amount of juice. But once it's on, it would be terribly dangerous if the headlight went out at night if the engine unexpectedly shut off.

Broom · May 18th, 2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

it would be terribly dangerous if the headlight went out at night if the engine unexpectedly shut off.

been there: on the freeway, at night, in the suburbs, in the fast lane, coasting, no lights... talk about pucker factor.

Alex · May 18th, 2009, 08:07 PM

What was the cause?

Broom · May 18th, 2009, 08:29 PM

i was riding my dual sport which has no battery and ran out of gas

a quick look behind me to see if i'm about to get plowed followed by a reach down to switch to reserve, and a couple more seconds to get enough fuel in the float bowl for it to fire back up and i was all set.

IlBLisSlI · May 19th, 2009, 05:55 AM

damn i would poop my pants.

Cali619 · May 19th, 2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00v_Lucky

I was thinking that maybe some other members here, like me, had some questions about their motorbike but thought it was not worthy of a whole thread. So why not bunch questions all together and have kkim help us out in a single thread?

, might be a silly idear but what the heck, I'll post my questions anyways

thanks in advance for reading and trying to help.

I know this is an odd question but is it bad to shift with two fingers?

Depends on situation , when from a dead stop I use 4 and upshift fast, when cruising and just need to shift 1 gear I use 2. If im braking to a stop I use 4 when braking and downshifting I use 2 so I can blip the throttle.

Does pulling the clutch half way and shifting to the next gear burn out the clutch faster or do any extra wear to the engine?

I sometimes upshift without the clutch... but when downshifting clutch enough to disengage and engage fast.

Also, has anyone had the problem of turning on the bike but the headlight not working? I have had this happen to me about 3 times now at night when I left my bike outside for more than an hour. I thought it was odd and all I did was turn off the bike and start it up again, then it would work.

what problem is this a symptom of? Could it be when my bike was tipped over, some electrical things went bad?

Never happened to me but sounds like something maybe got knocked loose when you tipped it.

And this question might have already been answered but on the gas gauge where is empty actually empty? I do not want to find out the hard way.

I have found that the most accurate reading onthe gauge for my bike was when it was on its kick stand. It will go down when the bike is level.

Last question, coming from around 45 mph to a left or right turn, which gear do ya'll stay at? For me, I usually tend to downshift to 4 but I was wondering if 5 or even 3 is better.

depends on the degree or the turn but 4th is good at that speed so you have power to pull out of the turn.

backinthesaddleagain · May 19th, 2009, 08:45 AM

Had the same question regarding headlight. Dealer said no headlight until engine is running. As Alex said big electrical draw from headlight. And if I use kill switch but leave key on then headlight stays on. Not sure if it would stay on until battery dies though or if it is timed?? I turn off key right away to save battery.

backinthesaddleagain · May 19th, 2009, 08:48 AM

Many years of riding dirtbikes has me using 2 fingers on each lever. MSF instructor made me use all 4 to get the full benefit of the lever's leverage. I went along as to not look like a problem student. However, those MSF bikes were old nighthawks with drum brakes and old rebels with weak brakes. Maybe since he rode a full dress HD his bike takes all 4 fingers to haul it down from speed and to work the stiff clutch.

Broom · May 19th, 2009, 08:53 AM

it'll stay on till the battery is dead. then you may be asking "how do i start my bike now?"

put it in second or third gear and find a hill

backinthesaddleagain · May 19th, 2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broom

it'll stay on till the battery is dead. then you may be asking "how do i start my bike now?"

put it in second or third gear and find a hill

yeah, but i gotta climb that hill first to go down it!!

00v_Lucky · May 19th, 2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkim

Howard... you have HIDs?

i was thinking about maybe getting extreme white ones or something later on, but for now, unfortunately my bike is completely stock.

kkim · May 19th, 2009, 02:10 PM

just trying to solve your headlight not coming on problem. are you saying after you start the bike the headlights are not on or when you first turn the key to the on position before you hit the start button?

View Poll Results: How do you shift/brake?
Full 4 fingers for shifting and braking	15	46.88%
2 fingers for shifting and 4 for braking	1	3.13%
4 fingers for shifting and 2 for braking	10	31.25%
2 fingers for shifting and braking	6	18.75%
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll

May 18th, 2009, 12:58 PM	#1
00v_Lucky ninjette.org sage Name: Howard Location: Cypress, So. Cal. Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '09 Candy Thunder Blue Ninja 250R Posts: 618	ITT: post your "Is this bad?" questions I was thinking that maybe some other members here, like me, had some questions about their motorbike but thought it was not worthy of a whole thread. So why not bunch questions all together and have kkim help us out in a single thread? , might be a silly idear but what the heck, I'll post my questions anyways thanks in advance for reading and trying to help. I know this is an odd question but is it bad to shift with two fingers? Does pulling the clutch half way and shifting to the next gear burn out the clutch faster or do any extra wear to the engine? Also, has anyone had the problem of turning on the bike but the headlight not working? I have had this happen to me about 3 times now at night when I left my bike outside for more than an hour. I thought it was odd and all I did was turn off the bike and start it up again, then it would work. what problem is this a symptom of? Could it be when my bike was tipped over, some electrical things went bad? And this question might have already been answered but on the gas gauge where is empty actually empty? I do not want to find out the hard way. Last question, coming from around 45 mph to a left or right turn, which gear do ya'll stay at? For me, I usually tend to downshift to 4 but I was wondering if 5 or even 3 is better.

May 18th, 2009, 01:40 PM	#4
BlueTyke So slow I'm first! Name: Sunny Location: San Jose, CA Join Date: Oct 2008 Motorcycle(s): 06 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 10	Does my bike make my butt look fast? __________________________________________________ Learn from the mistakes of others, you cannot make them all yourself. Save yourself the trouble and Learn.

May 18th, 2009, 02:12 PM	#8
Viper-Byte ninjette.org sage Name: David Location: Wellington, New Zealand Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250R in Green! (Sold) Now 2011 Triumph Daytona 675 SE Posts: 564	A lot of the time when I am acellerating fast and shifting fast, the clutch is only in half way when I shift, but as long as the clutch is fully disengaged when you shift, it is fine. Stock, the clutch is fully disengaged well before the lever reaches the bar. The number of fingers I use to brake or shift varies to how I am riding at the time, and how hard I need to brake etc, but I usually brake with 2 fingers and clutch with 3 (pinky sits off the lever, same as hard braking, 3 fingers. __________________________________________________ 2008 GREEN Kawasaki Ninja 250R. AreaP Quiet Core Carbon Fibre : 8000k HIDs : Dynojet Jet kit : Double Bubble Windscreen

May 18th, 2009, 03:01 PM	#9
Broom Track Junkie Name: Jon Location: Dallas Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r Track Bike, DR350 commuter, KDX220 woods bike Posts: 602	up shifting without fully pulling in the clutch is fine as long as you're quick about it. you can do it without the clutch at all if you want. probably not as healthy as doing it with the clutch, but its not toooo bad. might be a little harder on the clutch basket. pre load shift lever with foot let off gas and follow through with shift back on the gas its down shifting that you need a full clutch for. otherwise you start bending shift forks and stuff. __________________________________________________ Las Escobas -- Track Bikes Save Lives JonBroom.com

May 18th, 2009, 01:34 PM	#2
IlBLisSlI i'm a cow killer Name: Drew Location: Daytona FL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2006 250r Posts: 142	its not bad to shift with 2 fingers, i would say it is bad though if you don't fully engage the clutch like you are saying though. I've never had any problems with the headlight thing but that's because i own the older model. i think its pretty common with the new ones though, I've read a lot of threads about that on the kawiforums so you may want to search there and the gas gauge is worthless, the only way you'll know when its really empty is to just let it run out of gas (that's what the reserve is for ) and it just depends on how aggressive you want to be. i typically do it in 4th but i'm conservative if you really want to push it do it in 3rd.

May 18th, 2009, 01:39 PM	#3
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	As far as the finger on the clutch / brakes. I always ride with one finger at the ready on both and then move the rest when it's time.

May 18th, 2009, 03:22 PM	#10
pantera ninjette.org member Name: Brion Location: Rochester, NY Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2016 Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom / 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 300 Posts: 133	There is no reserve on the new style Ninja.Only has a prime which seems worthless like the gas gauge.This is the first I have heard of the head light problem.

May 18th, 2009, 05:02 PM	#11
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	Howard... you have HIDs?

May 18th, 2009, 07:35 PM	#12
smcbride11 ninjette.org member Name: Steve Location: Providence, RI Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): '95 BMW K75 Posts: 188	I've noticed the headlight thing... I didn't think it was a problem, I just thought there was some sort of battery conservation setting that would disable the headlight if the bike wasn't running. I just ran outside to check: a) Key to "on", all dash lights come on, headlight does not b) sidestand up, key "on", same result as (a) c) Engine started, headlight is on d) Kill switch off, engine off, key "on" - headlight remains on e) Key turned to "off" and back to "on", see (a) I think it's normal on the new gens (or maybe just the '09s), but if that's not normal I'm certainly intrigued.

May 18th, 2009, 07:53 PM	#13
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	Sounds like normal behavior. The headlight doesn't go on until the bike is started as the starter motor takes quite a chunk of the bike's electrical output. Keeping the headlight off saves a usable amount of juice. But once it's on, it would be terribly dangerous if the headlight went out at night if the engine unexpectedly shut off. __________________________________________________ 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 18th, 2009, 08:07 PM	#15
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	What was the cause? __________________________________________________ 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 18th, 2009, 08:29 PM	#16
Broom Track Junkie Name: Jon Location: Dallas Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r Track Bike, DR350 commuter, KDX220 woods bike Posts: 602	i was riding my dual sport which has no battery and ran out of gas a quick look behind me to see if i'm about to get plowed followed by a reach down to switch to reserve, and a couple more seconds to get enough fuel in the float bowl for it to fire back up and i was all set. __________________________________________________ Las Escobas -- Track Bikes Save Lives JonBroom.com

May 19th, 2009, 05:55 AM	#17
IlBLisSlI i'm a cow killer Name: Drew Location: Daytona FL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2006 250r Posts: 142	damn i would poop my pants.

May 19th, 2009, 08:45 AM	#19
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	Had the same question regarding headlight. Dealer said no headlight until engine is running. As Alex said big electrical draw from headlight. And if I use kill switch but leave key on then headlight stays on. Not sure if it would stay on until battery dies though or if it is timed?? I turn off key right away to save battery.

May 19th, 2009, 08:48 AM	#20
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	Many years of riding dirtbikes has me using 2 fingers on each lever. MSF instructor made me use all 4 to get the full benefit of the lever's leverage. I went along as to not look like a problem student. However, those MSF bikes were old nighthawks with drum brakes and old rebels with weak brakes. Maybe since he rode a full dress HD his bike takes all 4 fingers to haul it down from speed and to work the stiff clutch.

May 19th, 2009, 08:53 AM	#21
Broom Track Junkie Name: Jon Location: Dallas Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r Track Bike, DR350 commuter, KDX220 woods bike Posts: 602	it'll stay on till the battery is dead. then you may be asking "how do i start my bike now?" put it in second or third gear and find a hill __________________________________________________ Las Escobas -- Track Bikes Save Lives JonBroom.com

May 19th, 2009, 02:10 PM	#24
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	just trying to solve your headlight not coming on problem. are you saying after you start the bike the headlights are not on or when you first turn the key to the on position before you hit the start button?

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