Learner on brand new EX250

[Mudfart]

Hi all, afta 15 yrs on my learners and not eva riding, Ive decided to get into bikes, as life sure is passing by.
I've bought a brand new ninja which needs breaking in etc.
I took it for a ride yesterday and couldnt get past 4th gear (I think), I was at 4thou rpm and 60km/h. It says in the manual not to take past 4thou revs for the first 300kms. But where the hell are the otha 2 gears? Is it really hard to change up in the g box because it needs breaking in? I swear, being stuck at 60kph in a 100 zone is brown trousers time. Any ideas? Everyone has said its 1 down, the otha 5 gears up, theres not a sideways funtion now, lol?

[sil3nt]

Your in 6th! So that is as fast as you can go if you stick to that 4k rpm restriction.

Here is an article you might want to read http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Do_I_really_have_to_follow_this_break-in_period%3F

[Mudfart]

Im gonna go for anotha ride today, Ill try open it up a bit more, the wiki guide says upto 10000rpm. Its funny the sales staff wanted me to ride it home from central Auckland. 60 kph on the motorway to Huntly would have reminded me of the bad old days, 15 yrs ago on my 1974 Suzuki 125, I rode from North shore to Howick (ova harbour bridge). That bike had a top speed of 70kph, downhill, wind behind ya, following a truck. Thanks for the link, this is one awesome bike to learn on. Comfy too, Im 6"1'.

[sil3nt]

If i were you i wouldn't rev it over 8000. 8000 is 100kph in 6th gear (at least on the old ex250) and to be honest i very rarely rev it up to 10000 and only hit the redline once in a blue moon.

[Mudfart]

sweet, ok. Im thinking to keep 1st and 2nd under 4thou, and give 3-5th a bit ova @ 6 thou and then 6th @8ooorpm max. thanks.

[rie]

enjoy the bike!

[ital916]

Bah, sit on the bike, let it warm up and then ride the bloody thing. As long as it aint bouncing off the limiter or you arent lugging the engine she will be right as rain.

Warm her up, then ride. Dont redline and dont lug. The engine will only really be run in at like 10k lol

[Mudfart]

Ok, sitrep: Shes been upto about 110 now, which kept a boyracer at respectable distance even with my L plate flappin, and rode real nice.
My cornering is so noobish its not funny.
Braking is minimal, as most of the time its throttle off and the kwaka decelerates so fast, then gears down and no need for brakes.
I do feel as though the ass end wobbles if I'm coming into corners too fast but I just ease off throttle a touch and she comes out of the corners sweet.
Few things I'm trying NOT to do 1) brake in middle of cornering process,
2) turn front wheel during same process, I'm trying to rely on road position and leaning into it.
Question is, how far can you lean on a 250cc with quite a skinny rear tyre? I still have the chicken strips. But I like to think they are getting thinner!
Also, if I do get the wobbles into a corner, can I boost out of it?
Mate, this bike has cost me some finance, but I gotta say, it gets me to work with a smile on me dial, gets me there quick, looking good, and when the hell was I EVER going to be able to afford a brand new car? Answer: NEVER. And if I keep this ninja tidy, I'll be straight back to Mt Eden Motorcyles for a trade up! Thanks guys. Retricted shoudn't be too much hassel, and if I fail the first time, who cares? Maybe go for it before all the xmas crap gets in the way of life.

[sil3nt]

Braking is minimal, as most of the time its throttle off and the kwaka decelerates so fast, then gears down and no need for brakes.Just be careful as you need to practice braking hard for when something jumps out at ya. But braking can be kept at a minimal as they do slow down so fast on their own.

I do feel as though the ass end wobbles if I'm coming into corners too fast but I just ease off throttle a touch and she comes out of the corners sweet.
Few things I'm trying NOT to do 1) brake in middle of cornering process,
2) turn front wheel during same process, I'm trying to rely on road position and leaning into it.It will take awhile but eventually you will sort your lines out coming into corners which is pretty important. Any sort of wobbling i have found to be lack of technique which improves over time! In fact i am fairly sure the wobbling is down to you thinking your going too fast which causes you too tense up and do everything wrong. Just relax and slowly build up your speed. When i started i was struggling with 80kph around some corners. 6 months on and they are easy 100kph and i look back and laugh at how noobish i was!

Question is, how far can you lean on a 250cc with quite a skinny rear tyre? I still have the chicken strips. But I like to think they are getting thinner!
Also, if I do get the wobbles into a corner, can I boost out of it?Stock tyres are pretty crap from what i hear but i bet they would have a whole lot more grip than you think. Don't worry about chicken strips nobody actually gives two shits if you have em or not :whocares:

Just ride and have fun!

Focus on counter-steering and don't worry about too much about leaning off the bike. Then when your comfortable you should come out on a Laxed out Ride (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=99556&page=93) :bleh:
:wari:

[specter]

Ok, sitrep: Shes been upto about 110 now, which kept a boyracer at respectable distance even with my L plate flappin, and rode real nice.
My cornering is so noobish its not funny.
Braking is minimal, as most of the time its throttle off and the kwaka decelerates so fast, then gears down and no need for brakes.
I do feel as though the ass end wobbles if I'm coming into corners too fast but I just ease off throttle a touch and she comes out of the corners sweet.
Few things I'm trying NOT to do 1) brake in middle of cornering process,
2) turn front wheel during same process, I'm trying to rely on road position and leaning into it.
Question is, how far can you lean on a 250cc with quite a skinny rear tyre? I still have the chicken strips. But I like to think they are getting thinner!
Also, if I do get the wobbles into a corner, can I boost out of it?
Mate, this bike has cost me some finance, but I gotta say, it gets me to work with a smile on me dial, gets me there quick, looking good, and when the hell was I EVER going to be able to afford a brand new car? Answer: NEVER. And if I keep this ninja tidy, I'll be straight back to Mt Eden Motorcyles for a trade up! Thanks guys. Retricted shoudn't be too much hassel, and if I fail the first time, who cares? Maybe go for it before all the xmas crap gets in the way of life.

i have myself a 07 ex250 great bike..... in a nutshell tires are crap i replaced mine with pirelli sports demons 130/90 16r 100/90 16f, now it handles awesum always have knee scraping :laugh:....

[Mudfart]

yeah the guys at mt eden told me pirelli are the prefered choice.
One fella at work told me to try and fit a wider tyre. Dunno if I can without any modification? Dunno if I want to do anything, as Ill sell her on wen I get my full. Hopefully have it by summer next year.

[specter]

i wanted to do that too bt its a bit risky with the narrow swingarm...
trust me 130/90's 100/90's sport demons get them you will not regret the investment

[specter]

I do feel as though the ass end wobbles if I'm coming into corners too fast

hmm lock up mabey:laugh::laugh:
droping gears to quickly, or braking hard? do you rev match?
just be careful and learn at you own pace :second:

[Mudfart]

I think its just my noob technique going into the corners, but I am getting faster round them, I'm getting more confidence in the machine every day.
I just did my first chain lube now, are you supposed to wipe the excess off, or just leave it all on? Its a wax/oil mix lube.

[Slyer]

If you do it properly you shouldn't need to wipe anything off. :) Make sure you lube the inside of the chain, where the sprocket meets it. Also do it on both sides.

[vindy500]

Question is, how far can you lean on a 250cc with quite a skinny rear tyre? I still have the chicken strips. But I like to think they are getting thinner!
.

are your pegs scraping? if not then you can lean more. seriously, its not that skinny.

[Mudfart]

well it comes with a narrow straw to apply it, so i was spraying it on, and some was coagulating at the bottom of the chain in the form of a raindrop.
Was I spraying too much on?

[steve_t]

I think its just my noob technique going into the corners, but I am getting faster round them, I'm getting more confidence in the machine every day.
I just did my first chain lube now, are you supposed to wipe the excess off, or just leave it all on? Its a wax/oil mix lube.

Watch this:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNSGEzbDxKY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wNSGEzbDxKY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[ready4whatever]

I like the ninja. When i first sat on mine in the shop i fell in love. mind you i havnt had much experience with others so cant compare. I'll keep it even when i get my full licence, im on my R

[Mudfart]

Had first rain ride this morning, it was great!
Of course on a completely empty motorway north of Huntly@ 6am, I get stuck behind a petrol tanker, spraying water everywhere.
Then I got 2 cagers up my bum but thankfully the closest one behind me kept his distance.
Yep, rain is sweet, no problems. Although I think the gravel was a bit slidey, my front tyre shifted a bit in a turn on the wet stuff at Hampton downs rd.
How can they leave all the gravel there, and not lay the road, when I was in Dauckland laying rds, we would have been crucified for what they do on Hampton Downs rd. Terrible breaches of STMS. The racetrack carpark looks good though.