Meet Pikachu!!

[LittleRedNinjette]

I get a text from my other half "I'll need a hand when I get home, 5 minutes"...

And he pulls up with this!



I have now had all 3 gens, Gotta catch em all!! I will I will call him Pikachu!

Needs some TLC. Was a learner bike all its life. 2006 with 16k on it. Hoping a oil change will make the motor sound a bit happier. Has some cosmetic booboos and the left handlebar is bent and will need replacing. Back tire is done and the right lever is busted.

All and all not too bad. He paid 1k for it.

[Abu_Mishary]

So cute... I am in love!!! <3 <3 <3

[CaliGrrl]

::giggle::

Looks exactly like mine! Including being a little scratched, LOL!

Enjoy riding!

[NevadaWolf]

You need to remove the flame decals and add little lightning bolts.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Already thinking about something like that! Haha

["A"]

Both handlebar clip-ons look bent from the pictures.. may want to head to salvage yard to pickup some parts.. pre-gen Ninja 250 parts are pretty easy to find.
Pre-gen Ninjas are some of the best used bike values, likely turn a profit selling after putting a few miles on it... or just riding it to the ground like I do... Congrats.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Left is bent. The right side is ok.

I'm looking to replace them, the rear brake lever, Clutch and front brake levers (Just ordered a set of adjustable shorties off ebay) and the rear tire first. And do the oil change.

I also want to take a close look over the brakes... Then the fun stuff.

I want to put flush mount turn signals on the front and then do something about the back. Needs a cool exhaust system so i'll be looking for that too.

I may go clip-on for the bars instead of the stock bars. Not sure yet. Got to find a set i like.

[Ducati999]

Looks like there is still plenty of tread left on the tires just ride on the sides!
Nice score! I want to get a deal similar to your so I can have a "Loaner" track bike to get a few fence sitting friends to try the track!
ENJOY your new toy

[adouglas]

Slam it, add a stretched swingarm and undercowl LEDs, a straight pipe from eBay plus matching gold anodized everything and it'll be right as rain.



Of course, then you'd need to rock a full set of Icon gear.

[LittleRedNinjette]

I was thinking some gold bolts...


I'm so excited to start playing with a ninja again. I still wish i could just go get my 300 back but live and learn. Pikachu will be fun.


Anyone intrested in a sportster??

[jkv45]

Looks like a solid project bike. He did good.

Whenever I see old/bald/hard tires like that I instantly expect to see some type of "low-side" damage.

You just can't expect to get traction when you really need it with poor tires, no matter how slow you ride or how experienced you are.

Have fun getting back on a Ninjette!

[LittleRedNinjette]

Oh fun will be had, no worries there!

I'm disappointed in the tire availability so far. I love the Pilet Roads i had on the 300 but they don't make them small enough for the pregens... Anyone running something similar with the dual compounds that would be comparable? Not sure how wide i can go on this one either....

Any thoughts on a heavier weight oil? 10w40 is "stock" i think but he wanted to put a heavier oil in it to see if that will make it happier...

["A"]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Needs a cool exhaust system so i'll be looking for that too.

Pre-gens are tunned pretty well with stock exhaust, unless you want to loose weight from the bike, aftermarket exhaust doesn't offer a whole lot in performance, aftermarket jetting tend to screw up the fuel consumption, too.

The pre-gens with chrome exhausts are nicer, less prone to rust.
My pre-gen came with 2-Bros exhausts, sounds just raw, too loud at high rpm operation.. I went to the junkyard and looked for a set of chrome exhaust, w/minor dents, but still works fine for a beater.
Went back to stock jetting and air filter.. fuel consumption improved and no significant loss of performance, even though I regularly redline it.

Keep it stock and run it to the ground is my preference, if u want to designate it for track, then mod away.

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

I'm disappointed in the tire availability so far. I love the Pilet Roads i had on the 300 but they don't make them small enough for the pregens... Anyone running something similar with the dual compounds that would be comparable? Not sure how wide i can go on this one either....

I changed the OEM rear tire from 130/80-16 to the tallest 130/90-16 I could find, it raised the rear end of the bike, centerstand deployment no long allow the rear wheel to spin freely... but reduce the engine rpm at all speeds. For those long distance highway commute I have, extended high rpm operations, that's a plus. Ninja 250 is light enough that putting some blocks under the centerstand is easily done when you need to lube the chain.
16" tires are limited in choices, I run the cheapest I can find on eBay and still ride them aggressively.. For my (twice a week, 100+ miles one way) highway commutes and Manhattan/Brooklyn commutes that are littered with potholes.. they work just fine.

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Any thoughts on a heavier weight oil? 10w40 is "stock" i think but he wanted to put a heavier oil in it to see if that will make it happier...

Add some LUCAS oil treatment product when you change the oil.. that usually makes a difference on my pre-gen.

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Oh fun will be had, no worries there!

I'm disappointed in the tire availability so far. I love the Pilet Roads i had on the 300 but they don't make them small enough for the pregens... Anyone running something similar with the dual compounds that would be comparable? Not sure how wide i can go on this one either....

Any thoughts on a heavier weight oil? 10w40 is "stock" i think but he wanted to put a heavier oil in it to see if that will make it happier...

If the engine is noisy or knocking, have a look at the clutch basket. There's a thread around here detailing that issue with the pre-gens. There are plastic bushings that wear out and go bad. https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=259395

Pirelli makes good tires for the Pre-Gens. Avon does too. I race on their tires and they are fantastic! Avon Roadrider. Sizes: MT90-16 rear (130/90-16 with higher load rating, aka 'reinforced'); 100/90-16 front

[LittleRedNinjette]

The one pip is damaged. No opposed to staying stock though i'm not the biggest fan of chrome. I am a big fan of sounding good and performance though. That's not a rite now thing so i have time to do more research on that.


Thanks for that link, i'm trying to research so much on the bike at once and that look very helpfull.

I'll look into those brands. I just want something that will hold up for a lot of commuting and a little fun on the weekends.

["A"]

I have to say, my Ninja 250 has always been a beater, never wanting to spend more on it, since it was cheap to purchase, replace, repair and maintain with OEM parts.

Performance wise, there is not a whole lot to gain with expensive upgrade on a pre-gen Ninja 250, it's already tuned pretty well for its engine capability. Myself, I focus more on improving my riding skills on it rather than getting the bike to perform better.
After 3 years of ownership, it has turned into the bike that I spend the least $$, feel most confident in pushing the limits and still can rely on for everyday use... even with the bike being mostly stock.. other than the cheap tires.

[snot]

Congrats!!!

[LittleRedNinjette]

Thank you.

[DEFY]

[VaFish]

That's one color I haven't had. Well that Yellow and the Silver.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Got a straight left handlebar on ans some new grips!
I can believe the kit was riding with it that badly bent!







Got a rear tire on order. And hopefully get the oil change done today with the new air filter.

[CaliGrrl]

Much improved!

[HoneyBadgerRy]

If it was silver with 3k and never had a wrench touched to it, it would have been the exact same as mine when I bought it for $1,000. As far as tire recommendations I am loving the MT75's so far.

I need a new exhaust for ground clearance. The exhaust drags before the footpeg feelers, and I'm not impressed with the lean angle. I might go two brothers, but I really wanted a muzzy or AreaP.

[toEleven]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

...i'm not the biggest fan of chrome. I am a big fan of sounding good and performance though...

Hahah. How'd you end up on a Harley again?

Seriously though, congrats on the new Pikachu! If you ever acquire another 300 as well, perhaps you can call it Raichu?

[LittleRedNinjette]

Thanks Kerry!

I have a rear Pirelli coming this week hopefully that'll be as good as everyone is saying!

Got more done today. Did the oil change and put thr new K&N air filter in. Then put the rear turn signals in thd tail light with the amber lenses. When i took the stock rear signals off i put one of the lenses on the front for now. I have a set of mad hornets flush signals coming but not sure when they'll be here. And pulled the rear rim of to run it up when the tire comex in.






Oh, and anyone knkw what the hell is up wit this??



Found it like that when i pulled the side fairing off. Should this be plugged into something??

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by toEleven

Hahah. How'd you end up on a Harley again?

Seriously though, congrats on the new Pikachu! If you ever acquire another 300 as well, perhaps you can call it Raichu?

I WAS in the process of blacking everything out. Haha

If i get another 300 I'll keep that in mind! It'll have to be a yellow too though!

["A"]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

put thr new K&N air filter in.

You might need to raise the needle replacing the OEM air filter with K&N filter... or longer warm-up might be needed before you ride off, especially when it's below 50F.

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Oh, and anyone knkw what the hell is up wit this??



Found it like that when i pulled the side fairing off. Should this be plugged into something??

I have the same extra connectors on my 04 Ninja.. I just leave them alone.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Cool, it didn't look like it was ever plugged into anything but i figured I'd ask.

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Its 12V power, the black with yellow stripe is ground. They aren't used for anything.

New rear but no new front? That looked like the stock rear, and if the front is that old, no matter what it looks like the tire is junk.

[LittleRedNinjette]

The front is new. I'll still replace it with a matching tire this summer. Just trying to get it on the roac for now

[kdogg2077]

Just a funny aside, in japanese, Pikachu means "shining electric mouse" or something like that.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Sounds about right.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Dang that guy was luck the clutch cable didnt snap on him. Went to lube it and the was hanging on buy just a couple wire threads!!!

New one on order!

So i guess i'll just make this my "build" thread too.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Um, yeah...


Got the new tire on the back. Just waiting for the cable.



I think the back wheel is a little crooked but we'll look at that when we have better light.

Next i need to do something about the clutch itself. Knock, knock, knock.... -_-

I know people have put a newgen one in the pregen so i'm thinking we'll try to put a 300 clutch in mine.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Found it like that when i pulled the side fairing off. Should this be plugged into something??

["A"]

I find the front end of pre-gen seem to wonder when you let go of the handlebars at speed.. the headshake gets pretty bad if you just decelerate as you let the grips go and close the throttle.
The cure for me was the tallest profile rear tire I could find, also the cheapest at $65, 130/90-16 tire, it raise the rear end of the bike, centerstand is much easier to deploy and rear wheel doesn't really spin when parked on centerstand.. lubing the chain require some sloped terrain or shims under the centerstand legs.. still easy to do.
The front end seem to offer much precise handling once the rear end is raised... more confidence that bike will go you want it to go.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Originally Posted by "A"

I find the front end of pre-gen seem to wonder when you let go of the handlebars at speed.. the headshake gets pretty bad if you just decelerate as you let the grips go and close the throttle.
The cure for me was the tallest profile rear tire I could find, also the cheapest at $65, 130/90-16 tire, it raise the rear end of the bike, centerstand is much easier to deploy and rear wheel doesn't really spin when parked on centerstand.. lubing the chain require some sloped terrain or shims under the centerstand legs.. still easy to do.
The front end seem to offer much precise handling once the rear end is raised... more confidence that bike will go you want it to go.

Unfortunately a taller tire is not an option for me. i'm just comfortably touching now. Thanks though.

The center stand is a pain to get up on but i'll manage.

["A"]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

Unfortunately a taller tire is not an option for me. i'm just comfortably touching now.

Ever try to scoot to one thigh when you come to stop?
Easier to hold the bike at a stop when you are sitting on your thigh and have the other leg firmly to the ground than trying tiptoe with both legs.
That's what I do with dirt/rallye bike that have 40" standover height.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Yes, i normally stop with one foot but i like being able to get the balls of both my feet on the ground.

Its very nice having a bike i do not need to lower to do so.

["A"]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

i like being able to get the balls of both my feet on the ground.

Having both feet on the ground is overrated, better to have one solid point of contact than two feet tip-toe (or balls) and narrow stance that do not offer much stability.