Back on two wheels

Insan3guy · February 17th, 2014, 09:35 PM

I recently sold my car (made a tidy profit on it, too) in order to get another ninjette before the prices skyrocket when the riding season hits. I ended up with an 06 with about 25k miles but in decent shape for $800. Made the 100-mile trip home uneventfully.

My last bike was something like 550lbs, and the first thing I noticed when i rode around the block on the 250 was how... twitchy it is. It's almost wobbly, and just wants to go all over the place when I'm not looking.

Am I doing something wrong or did I just forget how a little bike feels?

(attached: my legs are on the pegs, not the pipe)

alex.s · February 17th, 2014, 10:25 PM

cool truck

Alex · February 17th, 2014, 11:25 PM

The handling is very light. But make sure to check tire condition and tire pressure as the first place to confirm any actual handling issues.

Motofool · February 18th, 2014, 04:40 AM

Check wheel alignment as well.

CaptainPlatypus · February 18th, 2014, 05:51 AM

That's an awesome deal, well done. I definitely wouldn't describe my 250 as twitchy - she goes where I want her to go without me consciously doing anything, it feels like. No wandering or jittering or anything nasty like that. Definitely check your tires and alignment.

CC Cowboy · February 18th, 2014, 09:40 AM

Check fork stem, yoke bearings.

Make sure you helmet isn't too big and your head is wobbly.

rasta · February 18th, 2014, 09:47 AM

At highway speeds, my feathery ninjette gets tossed around in the wind

Insan3guy · February 18th, 2014, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

Check wheel alignment as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

The handling is very light. But make sure to check tire condition and tire pressure as the first place to confirm any actual handling issues.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

Check fork stem, yoke bearings.

Make sure you helmet isn't too big and your head is wobbly.

front wheel is about a degree or two to the left. Same thing happened with my first bike (02 250), just loosen the bolts and straighten it up. Tires and tire pressure seem ok, but the rear tire is getting to be a little low on tread. Next paycheck is tire and tune up

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasta

At highway speeds, my feathery ninjette gets tossed around in the wind

On my cross country trip (on said first bike, the 250) somewhere in north or south dakota somewhere, there's a town that has constant 20-25 mph crosswinds on the highway. it was not a fun 30 miles of riding. probably maintained a 15 degree lean to the right to try and go in a straight line

Insan3guy · February 20th, 2014, 04:07 PM

been riding it for a couple days now, and it turns out that I was just being really heavy on the bars. feels awesome, and it's very responsive.

February 17th, 2014, 10:25 PM	#2
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	cool truck __________________________________________________
	0 out of 2 members found this post helpful.

February 17th, 2014, 11:25 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	The handling is very light. But make sure to check tire condition and tire pressure as the first place to confirm any actual handling issues. __________________________________________________ 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)

February 18th, 2014, 04:40 AM	#4
Motofool Daily Ninjette rider Name: Hernan Location: Florida Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTY - 2016, MOTM - Dec '12, Jan '14, Jan '15, May '16	Check wheel alignment as well. __________________________________________________ *Motofool* *.................................Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly* "Mankind is composed of two sorts of men — those who love and create, and those who hate and destroy. Love is the bond between men, the way to teach and the center of the world." - José Martí

February 18th, 2014, 09:40 AM	#6
CC Cowboy ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Whodat Location: Ware Is.,MA Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '13, Jun '14	Check fork stem, yoke bearings. Make sure you helmet isn't too big and your head is wobbly. __________________________________________________ If everything seems under control; you're just not going fast enough!

February 18th, 2014, 09:47 AM	#7
rasta Your face Name: Wes Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jul 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Honda CBR650f Posts: A lot.	At highway speeds, my feathery ninjette gets tossed around in the wind __________________________________________________ "even a proper fitting helmet can 'get loose'" -csmith

February 18th, 2014, 05:51 AM	#5
CaptainPlatypus ninjette.org member Name: Eric Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): '86 Honda VFR700 Posts: 173	That's an awesome deal, well done. I definitely wouldn't describe my 250 as twitchy - she goes where I want her to go without me consciously doing anything, it feels like. No wandering or jittering or anything nasty like that. Definitely check your tires and alignment.

February 20th, 2014, 04:07 PM	#9
Insan3guy ninjette.org member Name: Patrick Location: Coronado, CA Join Date: Jun 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2015 zx6r Posts: 176	been riding it for a couple days now, and it turns out that I was just being really heavy on the bars. feels awesome, and it's very responsive.

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