Greetings from Connecticut

AZRider · November 10th, 2013, 01:24 PM

Hello everybody. My name is Adam and I live in Sandy Hook, CT.

I just picked up a 2003 Ninjette, because it seemed like the perfect bike for my 23-mile commute on rural 2-lanes. My other bikes are both 1100's (a Moto Guzzi California full-dresser and a Honda Shadow), but I had borrowed my wife's Honda Hawk 650 a few times for the ride to work and it got me thinking.

I have been telling people for the past two decades that the Ninjette is the best beginner bike available in America, and it seemed like a good idea to have one in the garage this summer when my stepdaughters are home from college. Much better than my wife's Rebel250.

My Ninjette came from a friend whose ex-wife left it sitting in his shed for three years before signing it over to him. She was the 2nd owner. The original owner added a pipe, painted it black, and did a bit of other monkey business. Once I get it running, I'll decide if I want to change any of that.

I found this forum googling around for info. It has been very useful, so I decided to join.

I don't have much experience with Kawasakis, so my first question is whether the genuine Kawasaki owner's manual is worth the price above the Clymer/Haynes/etc aftermarket manuals (on Hondas it certainly is, on Moto Guzzis you need both to try to make sense of the Italglish), and which manual is the best to get? On Amazon, I see Kawasaki manuals from the 1980's and supplements from the 1990's, so it's not clear what to buy.

ForceofWill · November 10th, 2013, 01:33 PM

Welcome Adam. Good to see more NE folks here.

This is a great forums and most everyone here isn't a Kawi fanboy, we're all just Ninjette fanboys :P We love all types of bikes.

As far as the manual, I would check out the Wiki first. I have had this bike apart and done pretty much everything to it without a manual. Just this forum and the wiki.

AZRider · November 10th, 2013, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the tip, FOW. I have certainly found lots of good info here already. Group wisdom often is better than the manual anyway. I'll definitely search here as I plan for projects.

I don't have a garage computer/kindle/etc, so running upstairs-downstairs becomes annoying. Plus, I am old enough to like books. So I do welcome suggestions on a paper manual(s).

ForceofWill · November 10th, 2013, 02:51 PM

Sure. I like hard copy stuff too. In my experience nothing beats the OEM books. Never had much luck with chilton/haynes etc

JohnnyBravo · November 10th, 2013, 05:11 PM

Welcome Adam... Fun bike, more than just a beginner bike though

Alex · November 10th, 2013, 06:57 PM

The owners manual is downloadable. The service manual is the only one you'd have to purchase.

link to sticky thread in pre-gen tech section to download manual

The 2007 manual from that download link will be just fine for your 2003.

AZRider · November 10th, 2013, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

Welcome Adam... Fun bike, more than just a beginner bike though

You don't have to convince me it's not a beginner bike. I have over a quarter-million miles on other bikes and I want this bike. It's right-sized for the task.

JohnnyBravo · November 10th, 2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRider

You don't have to convince me it's not a beginner bike. I have over a quarter-million miles on other bikes and I want this bike. It's right-sized for the task.

Haha, I know, I read the post. Was just sayin

time to check the lines, clean the carbs, an hit the street

adouglas · November 11th, 2013, 05:32 AM

Hi, Adam. You're not far from me... I live in Trumbull. Drop a line if you'd like to go riding sometime.

I've never been sorry that I purchased and OEM manual, but I've often regretted spending a dime on the aftermarket books. Both cars and bikes.

If you look hard enough you might find a PDF of the maintenance manual, but by the time you've printed it you're most of the way towards buying the thing anyway. I'd just do it if I were you.

KJohnson21 · November 11th, 2013, 10:16 PM

Motofool · November 12th, 2013, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRider

..........I don't have much experience with Kawasakis, so my first question is whether the genuine Kawasaki owner's manual is worth the price........... and which manual is the best to get?..............

Welcome to our site, Adam !!!

You have a pre-gen Ninja 250.

Pre-gen: 1986~2007
New-gen: 2008~2012

I have a 2007 and have used this wiki (mainly devoted to pre-gen Ninjettes) for maintenance and repairs with good results so far:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page

It is like a service-repair manual, but enhanced with practical tips and solutions.

Assume that no service has been done to the bike by previous owners, always use a torque wrench and replace tires and all fluids.

That machine will serve you well, ride after ride.

csmith12 · November 12th, 2013, 08:20 AM

Welcome!

backinthesaddleagain · November 12th, 2013, 09:25 AM

Welcome.

crazymadbastard · November 12th, 2013, 12:05 PM

Welcome to the board Adam! good to see other CT folks. Try ebay also for the oem manual. I have had good luck with the Wiki-haven't done much to mine though...

Snake · November 16th, 2013, 12:08 AM

Hello and welcome.

November 10th, 2013, 01:24 PM	#1
AZRider ninjette.org newbie Name: Adam Location: Connecticut Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja250, Moto Guzzi California, Honda Shadow Posts: 7	Greetings from Connecticut Hello everybody. My name is Adam and I live in Sandy Hook, CT. I just picked up a 2003 Ninjette, because it seemed like the perfect bike for my 23-mile commute on rural 2-lanes. My other bikes are both 1100's (a Moto Guzzi California full-dresser and a Honda Shadow), but I had borrowed my wife's Honda Hawk 650 a few times for the ride to work and it got me thinking. I have been telling people for the past two decades that the Ninjette is the best beginner bike available in America, and it seemed like a good idea to have one in the garage this summer when my stepdaughters are home from college. Much better than my wife's Rebel250. My Ninjette came from a friend whose ex-wife left it sitting in his shed for three years before signing it over to him. She was the 2nd owner. The original owner added a pipe, painted it black, and did a bit of other monkey business. Once I get it running, I'll decide if I want to change any of that. I found this forum googling around for info. It has been very useful, so I decided to join. I don't have much experience with Kawasakis, so my first question is whether the genuine Kawasaki owner's manual is worth the price above the Clymer/Haynes/etc aftermarket manuals (on Hondas it certainly is, on Moto Guzzis you need both to try to make sense of the Italglish), and which manual is the best to get? On Amazon, I see Kawasaki manuals from the 1980's and supplements from the 1990's, so it's not clear what to buy.

November 10th, 2013, 05:11 PM	#5
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	Welcome Adam... Fun bike, more than just a beginner bike though __________________________________________________

November 10th, 2013, 06:57 PM	#6
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 owners manual is downloadable. The service manual is the only one you'd have to purchase. link to sticky thread in pre-gen tech section to download manual The 2007 manual from that download link will be just fine for your 2003. __________________________________________________ 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)

November 11th, 2013, 05:32 AM	#9
adouglas Cat herder Name: Gort Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 6 MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13	Hi, Adam. You're not far from me... I live in Trumbull. Drop a line if you'd like to go riding sometime. I've never been sorry that I purchased and OEM manual, but I've often regretted spending a dime on the aftermarket books. Both cars and bikes. If you look hard enough you might find a PDF of the maintenance manual, but by the time you've printed it you're most of the way towards buying the thing anyway. I'd just do it if I were you. __________________________________________________ I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem.

November 11th, 2013, 10:16 PM	#10
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?

November 10th, 2013, 01:33 PM	#2
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	Welcome Adam. Good to see more NE folks here. This is a great forums and most everyone here isn't a Kawi fanboy, we're all just Ninjette fanboys :P We love all types of bikes. As far as the manual, I would check out the Wiki first. I have had this bike apart and done pretty much everything to it without a manual. Just this forum and the wiki.

November 10th, 2013, 02:32 PM	#3
AZRider ninjette.org newbie Name: Adam Location: Connecticut Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): Ninja250, Moto Guzzi California, Honda Shadow Posts: 7	Thanks for the tip, FOW. I have certainly found lots of good info here already. Group wisdom often is better than the manual anyway. I'll definitely search here as I plan for projects. I don't have a garage computer/kindle/etc, so running upstairs-downstairs becomes annoying. Plus, I am old enough to like books. So I do welcome suggestions on a paper manual(s).

November 10th, 2013, 02:51 PM	#4
ForceofWill Blind 250 Loving Whore Name: Tom Location: Chesapeake, VA Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.	Sure. I like hard copy stuff too. In my experience nothing beats the OEM books. Never had much luck with chilton/haynes etc

November 12th, 2013, 08:20 AM	#12
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! __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

November 12th, 2013, 09:25 AM	#13
backinthesaddleagain ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Greg Location: Rhode Island Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2013 ZX6R 636 Posts: A lot.	Welcome.

November 12th, 2013, 12:05 PM	#14
crazymadbastard I'm crazy,your excuse is? Name: Winston Location: Connecticut Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.	Welcome to the board Adam! good to see other CT folks. Try ebay also for the oem manual. I have had good luck with the Wiki-haven't done much to mine though... __________________________________________________ My Cafe Racer Build My intro post

November 16th, 2013, 12:08 AM	#15
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.

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