New Rider From SoCal

TheTraveler · February 14th, 2013, 01:09 PM

Hey Everyone.

New rider here. Never been on a motorcycle before until the MSF course I took 6 weeks ago. Got my license shortly after, and bought my new baby 3 weeks ago.

I got it with 1000 miles on it. According to the previous owner it had been sitting in the garage for 1 1/2 years. I changed the oil and filter right away but I think it needs a new battery. It sometimes has a hard time starting after making a very short trip somewhere. After a longer ride, it starts fine the next time.

The day I picked it up, I had to ride it 60 miles back home through local streets as I was rightfully scared of the freeways. Before that day I had never gone faster than 20mph on a bike. It was quite an adventure. I didn't stall it once! I have been riding it between 30 to 60 minutes almost everyday since then.

I'm very happy with my Ninjette. I rode the Eliminator 125 at the course and never felt comfortable with it. As soon as I got on the Ninja, it felt great right away (the riding position, the clutch, the shifter, etc).

I'll be using it mainly for joy rides, thinking of taking it up Highway 1 to SF when the weather gets warmer.

CynicalC · February 14th, 2013, 01:40 PM

TheTraveler! Glad to have you aboard...

Byakkotai · February 14th, 2013, 02:31 PM

Haven't finished my first year of riding yet but still like to read about the new rider experience (nostalgia - but not exactly yearning to unlearn experience). Welcome!

Motofool · February 14th, 2013, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheTraveler

...........It sometimes has a hard time starting after making a very short trip somewhere. After a longer ride, it starts fine the next time.

Welcome to the site, Kevin !!!

You can try using some choke after short trips, if there has been time for the engine to cool down much.

StephenA · February 14th, 2013, 03:31 PM

welcome!

TheTraveler · February 14th, 2013, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

You can try using some choke after short trips, if there has been time for the engine to cool down much.

Thanks for the advice. I've tried that. It's just that I always need to give it some gas for 2-3 secs right when I start it, regardless of whether I'm using choke or not. I've seen videos of other 250s on youtube and most people only need to hit the starter switch.

csmith12 · February 14th, 2013, 08:10 PM

Welcome Kevin!

KJohnson21 · February 14th, 2013, 10:27 PM

EternalNewb · February 14th, 2013, 10:37 PM

Welcome Kevin!

Madman44 · February 14th, 2013, 10:57 PM

Welcome! Good thing you or the PO had the decency to take off the FUGLY tribal stickers that come on the SE

broilmebk · February 15th, 2013, 02:49 PM

Welcome!

BlueHairSar · February 16th, 2013, 03:53 PM

! Good looking bike.

Snake · February 22nd, 2013, 08:02 PM

Hello and welcome.

YamiLionheart · February 28th, 2013, 08:45 AM

Welcome

Congrats on your license and your new ninja!

superflytako · March 1st, 2013, 12:04 AM

Welcome! As Mike has mentioned, the SE looks way cleaner without those tribal stickers. Maybe I'll see you around when I start riding

TheTraveler · March 1st, 2013, 07:32 PM

Thanks to all for the warm welcome. The tribal stickers were not on the bike when I got it. I would have gotten rid of them anyways

I changed the battery this morning and it starts much smoother now.

Yakaru · March 1st, 2013, 07:37 PM

battery change is definitely a good idea; so good on you for that one.

Re: the choke -- a carb cleaning/tuning might be good to do later, but even with SoCal weather it's a touch cold -- wait for the days to be in the 70-80s range and she should start up a bit more smoothly without the choke. On my bike the first half of the choke did nothing -- so it felt like you had to put a 'lot' of choke on before it would start, but usually I was effectively only choking 25% or so (wasn't trying to be super accurate, just engage it a bit more than half way -- I kind of had a 'feel' for it) on winter mornings in Vegas or LA.

Do you know if the gas it had while stored had stabilizer? If not you might need to have her checked over for issues from Ethanol sitting in the tank.

TheTraveler · March 14th, 2013, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakaru

Do you know if the gas it had while stored had stabilizer? If not you might need to have her checked over for issues from Ethanol sitting in the tank.

I don't know if it was stored with stabilizer. I was a super n00bie when I bought it and didn't ask the previous owner.

Thanks for the tip on the choke. I always thought that it was more like a on/off switch, didn't know you could adjust it. The 1st half of my choke doesn't do anything either, and if I open it all the way, it goes up to 5000-6000 RPM, but if I set it at around 65%, it idles at a nice 1800-2000 RPM. I usually set it to that and start riding right away, after a few minutes I shut the choke off and it's good the rest of the way. If I stop later for a short period, I can start it back up without the choke.

Next up, do some chain adjustment and lubrication, buy and install Shogun frame sliders, and chop of the tail

February 14th, 2013, 01:40 PM	#2
CynicalC ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Colin Location: Bay Area Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): '96 EX250 Posts: A lot.	TheTraveler! Glad to have you aboard... __________________________________________________ Ç¥ñï©ª\| ßÿ Ñâ7µ®é. Äñt¡~§º¢Ïä\| ßý Çhøî©è.

February 14th, 2013, 03:31 PM	#5
StephenA Riding Ruby.. Name: Stephen Location: SoCal Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Yamaha Bolt R-Spec, 2007 Ninja 250R Posts: 392	welcome! __________________________________________________ Unregistered

February 14th, 2013, 08:10 PM	#7
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	Welcome Kevin! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

February 14th, 2013, 10:27 PM	#8
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?

February 16th, 2013, 03:53 PM	#12
BlueHairSar ninjette.org sage Name: Sarah Location: NYC Join Date: Aug 2012 Motorcycle(s): Silver 2005 Ninja 250 - Available for free mustache rides. Posts: 842	! Good looking bike. __________________________________________________ https://www.facebook.com/BlueShootsYou \| http://blueshootsyou.com

February 14th, 2013, 02:31 PM	#3
Byakkotai ninjette.org guru Name: Roger Location: NorCali - East Bay Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 White Ninja 300 Posts: 379	Haven't finished my first year of riding yet but still like to read about the new rider experience (nostalgia - but not exactly yearning to unlearn experience). Welcome!

February 14th, 2013, 10:37 PM	#9
EternalNewb ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: S Location: CA/MA, usually Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R, 2007 Ninja 650R, 2001 F650 Dakar Posts: A lot.	Welcome Kevin!

February 14th, 2013, 10:57 PM	#10
Madman44 ninjette.org guru Name: Martin Location: California Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 291	Welcome! Good thing you or the PO had the decency to take off the FUGLY tribal stickers that come on the SE

February 15th, 2013, 02:49 PM	#11
broilmebk ninjette.org sage Name: Brian Location: Orange County, CA Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): '12 ninja 250r Posts: 762	Welcome!

February 22nd, 2013, 08:02 PM	#13
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.

February 28th, 2013, 08:45 AM	#14
YamiLionheart ninjette.org member Name: Mike Location: Eastern LI, NY Join Date: Jan 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Posts: 166	Welcome Congrats on your license and your new ninja!

March 1st, 2013, 12:04 AM	#15
superflytako ninjette.org member Name: Garry Location: Los Angeles Join Date: Feb 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Ninja 300 ABS, 2013 Ninja 300 ABS (RIP), 2015 FZ-09 (sold) Posts: 78	Welcome! As Mike has mentioned, the SE looks way cleaner without those tribal stickers. Maybe I'll see you around when I start riding

March 1st, 2013, 07:32 PM	#16
TheTraveler ninjette.org member Name: Kevin Location: Diamond Bar, CA Join Date: Feb 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 SE (Red/Black) Posts: 33	Thanks to all for the warm welcome. The tribal stickers were not on the bike when I got it. I would have gotten rid of them anyways I changed the battery this morning and it starts much smoother now.

March 1st, 2013, 07:37 PM	#17
Yakaru The Violet Vixen Name: Yakaru Location: Issaquah, WA & Las Vegas, NV Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): Perigee (250), Hotaru (250), Saturn (300), Pearl (300), Zero (S1000RR), Chibi (Z125), Xellos ('18 HP4R) Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jun '16	battery change is definitely a good idea; so good on you for that one. Re: the choke -- a carb cleaning/tuning might be good to do later, but even with SoCal weather it's a touch cold -- wait for the days to be in the 70-80s range and she should start up a bit more smoothly without the choke. On my bike the first half of the choke did nothing -- so it felt like you had to put a 'lot' of choke on before it would start, but usually I was effectively only choking 25% or so (wasn't trying to be super accurate, just engage it a bit more than half way -- I kind of had a 'feel' for it) on winter mornings in Vegas or LA. Do you know if the gas it had while stored had stabilizer? If not you might need to have her checked over for issues from Ethanol sitting in the tank.

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