Lost cause

Carytowncat · March 6th, 2014, 02:45 PM

Hello,

I recently purchased a "lost cause" 2002 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 off of Craigslist for a comfy price because it had been sitting for years (over 10!). So much so that it only had the break in miles of 1400.

I seriously thought that the mileage was a typo in the ad, even at 14K miles the price was still right, but 1400? That would mean the bike had just been broken in and then sat for the last 12 years, which amazingly it had.

The first owner bought it, rode it, and then parked it for the winter. It never started again. Finally she sold it to a guy who tried everything, and replaced almost everything, in search of the problem.

He said "I think it is electrical" which I was happy to try my hand at because that is my specialty. I worked on it for a few days, tracing every wire and checking continuity at every connection and switch.

Everything was working perfectly. All of the switches were operating just right. Connectors looked brand new. Coils good, etc. It was getting more and more exciting imagining what the culprit might turn out to be.

Finally a clue from a Ninjette post tipped me off to the 100 OHM resistor needed for certain CDIs to work. So I checked the key switch and sure enough it was the wrong year (Missing the resistor).

I replaced the keyswitch with the right year, which was amazingly already included in a box of spare parts that he gave me when I bought her. Replaced it and she fired right up. It was like catching the hail Mary pass hearing her run.

I also had to rebuild the carbs and do a thorough cleaning... twice lol and clean the gas tank with a box of screws, patch a handful of holes in the tank with waterweld, oil and filter change, air filter, add blinkers, and well I just got back from a 20 mile ride in 36 degree weather :O)

csmith12 · March 6th, 2014, 02:52 PM

Lol @ the break in sticker

Gratz!

Carytowncat · March 6th, 2014, 03:00 PM

Thanks

It won't come off lol
12 years of stickin it seems to have bonded on a molecular level.

NevadaWolf · March 6th, 2014, 03:03 PM

She lives! Congratz! Great score and great job sticking with working on her until the problem was found.

misfitsailor · March 6th, 2014, 03:03 PM

Good job! Now, the next thing you need is a fresh set of tires. Don't trust your life to 12 year old tires.

Carytowncat · March 6th, 2014, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misfitsailor

Good job! Now, the next thing you need is a fresh set of tires. Don't trust your life to 12 year old tires.

Yes, thank you for the gentle reminder. I will order 'em now!

Carytowncat · March 6th, 2014, 03:20 PM

You're so right about the tires; they are completely dry rotted with cracks and caverns galore.

I've been sitting on that decision waiting for another hail Mary deal. There is too much riding on the tires, and it was right to just buy.

JohnnyBravo · March 6th, 2014, 04:20 PM

Congrats... Welcome to the forum！

Sirref · March 6th, 2014, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carytowncat

Thanks

It won't come off lol
12 years of stickin it seems to have bonded on a molecular level.

Leave it on, if anyone ever asks just say that you bought the bike brand new 12 years after it rolled out of the factory.

probably the cheapest low mileage bike you will ever own, and definitely the most fun once you get some pirelli sport demon/bridgestone bt-45 tires on there

misfitsailor · March 6th, 2014, 04:29 PM

It's funny that tires are one of those things that have a definite shelf life, if you use them or not. I recently learned how to check tire date codes and found that the front tire on my Softail is now 8 years old! So now I must replace it. Such a shame, as it has lots of good tread left!

Motofool · March 6th, 2014, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carytowncat

..................and well I just got back from a 20 mile ride in 36 degree weather :O)

KJohnson21 · March 7th, 2014, 12:03 AM

Carytowncat · March 7th, 2014, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJohnson21

Hmmm, a name...

Janis Joplin

:O)

What about your bike KJohnson?

PS. Many years ago I had a friend Named Kenny Johnson when I was a kid living in Utah.

greenaero · March 7th, 2014, 09:28 PM

Welcome Nick! Nice job on getting your Ninjette going, there is lots of great help here if you need it.

komohana · March 7th, 2014, 10:22 PM

hey nick
good job on the bike!
welcome aboard

Snake · March 8th, 2014, 06:52 AM

Hello and welcome. Great job on the bike.

KJohnson21 · March 8th, 2014, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carytowncat

Hmmm, a name...

Janis Joplin

:O)

What about your bike KJohnson?

PS. Many years ago I had a friend Named Kenny Johnson when I was a kid living in Utah.

If you click the link in my signature it has our 250's name story. Also check the list under my avatar.

March 6th, 2014, 02:52 PM	#2
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	Lol @ the break in sticker Gratz! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

March 6th, 2014, 03:00 PM	#3
Carytowncat ninjette.org member Name: Nick Location: Richmond Join Date: Feb 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R and BUELL Blast Posts: 28	sticker Thanks It won't come off lol 12 years of stickin it seems to have bonded on a molecular level.

March 6th, 2014, 03:03 PM	#4
NevadaWolf Certified looney toon Name: Teri Location: 39°52'40.7"N 118°23'53.8"W (Northern NV) Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 102k+ miles -- 2014 CB500X, 42k+ miles Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 16 MOTM Jul '13, Jul '14	She lives! Congratz! Great score and great job sticking with working on her until the problem was found. __________________________________________________ <-- Linky Hey Unregistered! The code [you] shows the username currently logged in. IBA # 56020 AMA # 521481 Fun Rides! ][ My Videos ][ My Gear Hold yourself to the same rules you expect others to follow.

March 6th, 2014, 03:03 PM	#5
misfitsailor Ninjette Jockey Name: Tim Location: Stockton, Ca Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R, Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, 2 Honda Monkeys, Polini & GRC mini GP Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	Good job! Now, the next thing you need is a fresh set of tires. Don't trust your life to 12 year old tires. __________________________________________________ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?.

March 6th, 2014, 03:20 PM	#7
Carytowncat ninjette.org member Name: Nick Location: Richmond Join Date: Feb 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R and BUELL Blast Posts: 28	Tire ordered You're so right about the tires; they are completely dry rotted with cracks and caverns galore. I've been sitting on that decision waiting for another hail Mary deal. There is too much riding on the tires, and it was right to just buy.

March 6th, 2014, 04:20 PM	#8
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	Congrats... Welcome to the forum！

March 6th, 2014, 04:29 PM	#10
misfitsailor Ninjette Jockey Name: Tim Location: Stockton, Ca Join Date: Oct 2010 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250R, Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, 2 Honda Monkeys, Polini & GRC mini GP Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 3	It's funny that tires are one of those things that have a definite shelf life, if you use them or not. I recently learned how to check tire date codes and found that the front tire on my Softail is now 8 years old! So now I must replace it. Such a shame, as it has lots of good tread left! __________________________________________________ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?.

March 7th, 2014, 12:03 AM	#12
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	__________________________________________________ < ATGATT > Sweat you can wipe off, Road rash you can't. HEY!! Unregistered!! Does your bike have a name?

March 7th, 2014, 09:28 PM	#14
greenaero Motorcycle Hypermiler Name: Vic Location: Livermore CA Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1999 & 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R's Posts: A lot.	Welcome Nick! Nice job on getting your Ninjette going, there is lots of great help here if you need it. __________________________________________________ 235 MPG Hypermotorcycling to a better tomorrow

March 7th, 2014, 10:22 PM	#15
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.	hey nick good job on the bike! welcome aboard __________________________________________________ Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?

March 8th, 2014, 06:52 AM	#16
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. Great job on the bike.

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