At the dealership. Buying my first bike!

[andylawcc]

yes jlee, 250 don't have a whole lot of power, i cruise at 80mph @ 9-10k.
I changed rear spocket with less teeth and it dropped the rpm at 80mph down to 7.5-8k, but i literally 'lost' 1st gear, as the 2nd became 1st.

 

[StageLeft]

Now I really want a bike that I can beat up. I have no fear of falling, but I do have a fear of damaging my expensive bike. I want to have something that I can push to the limit and fall over and over on so I can learn where the limits are.

Joking?

 

[Fenixgoon]

The bike is growing on me more and more. I love it when things that used to be so foreign just two days ago feel like they're getting more and more familiar. I've done about 250 miles on it so far and doing my best to break in the engine properly by varying the RPMs a lot. Usually start at 4-5K, gas it up to 9, 10, or 11K, engine break it down to 4-5K, and repeat over and over again. People on the roads are looking at me funny. I worry about that initial 60 miles though bringing it back to my house on the highway with the RPM never really changing from 9K. I hope that initial 60 miles didn't screw up the engine.

I've been riding it around a lot and getting lost basically everywhere. I'm really starting to get the feel for riding - the shifting and braking and turning are becoming natural to me, although I still lose track of what gear I'm in all the time. Stopping and starting are getting very smooth and second nature. The low speed maneuvers are getting better, although I still can't turn in a circle with the wheel turned as far as it will go in either direction.

Now I really want a bike that I can beat up. I have no fear of falling, but I do have a fear of damaging my expensive bike. I want to have something that I can push to the limit and fall over and over on so I can learn where the limits are.

250 miles already? damn son. i barely have 500 on mine. stupid weather (hot/humid or raining).

don't forget the ear protection if you don't have plugs already!

 

[roguerower]

250 miles already? damn son. i barely have 500 on mine. stupid weather (hot/humid or raining).

don't forget the ear protection if you don't have plugs already!

500? That's it? 4 weeks into mine and I've got 1200 on it (on top of the 2100 it had when I bought it). Would have another 250-400 on it if not for the stupid nail I picked up on Friday . Ah, tires look like they were starting to dry rot anyways.

 

[halik]

Meh everyone drops it; I've laid a CBR and an R6 before*. Not exactly graceful, but shit happens.

*CBR went down in slow mo when the kickstand didn't lock in, r6 slid on gravel with me on it.

 

[Zargon]

It turns 9000rpm at highway speed?

yeah its a bit wierd. my bike does that if Im going 80, its hard to get used to!

 

[madeuce]

My bike sits around 8k going down the interstate at 80ish. I thought that was kind of high but still over 8k more RPM before redline so it's not so bad.

 

[madeuce]

Now I really want a bike that I can beat up. I have no fear of falling, but I do have a fear of damaging my expensive bike. I want to have something that I can push to the limit and fall over and over on so I can learn where the limits are.

Ride it like you stole it Just about anything you do to that bike can be fixed fairly easily.

Once you think the worst is over just replace everything you need to replace and you have that brand new bike again.

 

[JulesMaximus]

yeah its a bit wierd. my bike does that if Im going 80, its hard to get used to!

Mine is turning about 7,000rpms at 80mph in 6th gear.

 

[roguerower]

Mine is turning about 7,000rpms at 80mph in 6th gear.

Sounds about right for my GS500.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I just did my first oil change at 250 miles. I heard that it's good to do it earlier during the break in period so I went and got all the supplies and some 10W40 non-synthetic and a Fram filter. Is a torque wrench really necessary? They're at least $50 and the bike is the only thing I would ever use it on.

1. Oil changes are messy.
2. Hot engine exhaust burns.
3. The old oil had the color of mud. What does this mean? I've been breaking it in by varying the RPMs from 4K to 12K constantly at maybe 1/2 of WOT. I've had to do some constant RPM highway driving.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Mine is turning about 7,000rpms at 80mph in 6th gear.

Sounds about right for my GS500.

ditto for my FZ6R

 

[angry hampster]

I just did my first oil change at 250 miles. I heard that it's good to do it earlier during the break in period so I went and got all the supplies and some 10W40 non-synthetic and a Fram filter. Is a torque wrench really necessary? They're at least $50 and the bike is the only thing I would ever use it on.

1. Oil changes are messy.
2. Hot engine exhaust burns.
3. The old oil had the color of mud. What does this mean? I've been breaking it in by varying the RPMs from 4K to 12K constantly at maybe 1/2 of WOT. I've had to do some constant RPM highway driving.

1. Get a drip pan and funnel
2. Weird how that happens
3. Used motor oil is dark brown. If it looks like chocolate milk, then you have problems.


Torque sticks are cheaper and you can buy them indivually, but a torque wrench is a very good tool to have. Use synthetic after break-in.

 

[madeuce]

I just did my first oil change at 250 miles. I heard that it's good to do it earlier during the break in period so I went and got all the supplies and some 10W40 non-synthetic and a Fram filter. Is a torque wrench really necessary? They're at least $50 and the bike is the only thing I would ever use it on.

1. Oil changes are messy.
2. Hot engine exhaust burns.
3. The old oil had the color of mud. What does this mean? I've been breaking it in by varying the RPMs from 4K to 12K constantly at maybe 1/2 of WOT. I've had to do some constant RPM highway driving.

Torque wrench isn't really necessary. Just make sure you put it on with your man hands.

http://www.kawiforums.com/ninja-250r/

Great place to go to learn almost anything about your bike and how to do anything to it.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

1. Get a drip pan and funnel
2. Weird how that happens
3. Used motor oil is dark brown. If it looks like chocolate milk, then you have problems.


Torque sticks are cheaper and you can buy them indivually, but a torque wrench is a very good tool to have. Use synthetic after break-in.

Usually milkshake means that you have coolant in your oil, the 250 is air cooled though isn't it?

 

[angry hampster]

Usually milkshake means that you have coolant in your oil, the 250 is air cooled though isn't it?

Nope, water.

 

[Greenman]

I just did my first oil change at 250 miles. I heard that it's good to do it earlier during the break in period so I went and got all the supplies and some 10W40 non-synthetic and a Fram filter. Is a torque wrench really necessary? They're at least $50 and the bike is the only thing I would ever use it on.

1. Oil changes are messy.
2. Hot engine exhaust burns.
3. The old oil had the color of mud. What does this mean? I've been breaking it in by varying the RPMs from 4K to 12K constantly at maybe 1/2 of WOT. I've had to do some constant RPM highway driving.

Please tell me you used oil motorcycle oil. Automotive oil will do bad things to a wet clutch.

 

[angry hampster]

Please tell me you used oil motorcycle oil. Automotive oil will do bad things to a wet clutch.

My Harley's repair manual says to use any 20w50 as a sub for gearcase oil.

 

[andylawcc]

for a bike like a 250, automotive oil is okay. just make sure it doesn't say "Energy Conserving" at the SAE rating donut on the back since the 250 got a wet clutch (the energy conserving thing just makes thing more slippery, which is good for a car, but not for a clutch). Matter of fact i used Diesel Oil 20W-50 (or 40) instead.

my friend has a high performance Aprilia RSV4, so he has to use $10 a quart, bike specific oil. but even so, full synthetic is not really recommended for bike with wet clutch, as it could induce slipping. semi-synthetic was recommended for my friend's bike.

(add IMO to what just said, it is based on hours of foruming and messageboarding)

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Yeah, it was 10W40 motorcycle oil. Got 2 quarts for about $16 total. I was surprised by how dirty the old oil looked.

Is it really cost effective to do the oil change yourself? On cars it doesn't seem so because I can just go to Walmart or the local mom and pop and get it done for $20. Are bikes the same way?

 

[andylawcc]

you goto a bike shop or dealer and they will charge you 50 bucks for oil change easily.

again, you don't have to use Motorcycle oil, it's really up to you.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Preferred_Brands
so the cost of an oil change is under 10 bucks with a filter change. Even if you use synthetic its probably 25 bucks max.

on the other hand, I see some shop here in LA that will do an oil change on a car for 15 bucks + tax and fees, now that's cheap (4 qts of oil + filter easily tops $15).

and you don't need a torque wrench; and remember not to overfill. 1.9L means 1.9L. and if you change oil without changing the filter, it's only 1.4L.

 

[angry hampster]

Also keep in mind that doing it yourself gives you control over the products and procedures used.

 

[Zargon]

Yeah, it was 10W40 motorcycle oil. Got 2 quarts for about $16 total. I was surprised by how dirty the old oil looked.

Is it really cost effective to do the oil change yourself? On cars it doesn't seem so because I can just go to Walmart or the local mom and pop and get it done for $20. Are bikes the same way?

after you get a few grand on it, switch to the blue rotella t.

20 bucks gets you 2 oil synthetic oil changes .

you should be able to cross reference the filter and probably buy in bulk for cheap on amazon

 

[JulesMaximus]

you goto a bike shop or dealer and they will charge you 50 bucks for oil change easily.

again, you don't have to use Motorcycle oil, it's really up to you.
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Preferred_Brands
so the cost of an oil change is under 10 bucks with a filter change. Even if you use synthetic its probably 25 bucks max.

on the other hand, I see some shop here in LA that will do an oil change on a car for 15 bucks + tax and fees, now that's cheap (4 qts of oil + filter easily tops $15).

and you don't need a torque wrench; and remember not to overfill. 1.9L means 1.9L. and if you change oil without changing the filter, it's only 1.4L.

I always change the filter. No reason not to IMO.

My shop charges $125 to do a basic service.

 

[roguerower]

I always change the filter. No reason not to IMO.

My shop charges $125 to do a basic service.

What the heck does a basic service include? 4000mi minor inspection?