Total Motorcycle Community Forums

erbgottie wrote:

damooster wrote:I just looked in my owner's manual and noticed that it recommends I be in 6th gear at 28MPH. Does this mean I shouldn't even downshift when I enter the entrance ramp? I know lugging is a concern, but maybe the manual is on to something?

6th gear at 28mph , learn your bike and you'll know what gear you should be in.

Everyone Else:
For a ninja 250 the bike will be around 4,000 RPMs at 25mph in 6th gear I don't really think that's lugging.

In my opinion the ninjas power zone is between 5k and 10k rpms. So I think started on an entrance ramp at around 4k RPM should be fine.

People responded to me when I said I'm in 6th gear at 35mph telling me that was a mistake and shouldn't be happening and even something may be wrong with the bike. They all just didn't know how the 250 shifts.

The ninja 250 has a very VERY close shift pattern. If you are trying to do what the manual says and keep it under 4k RPMs for the first 400 miles you will be shifting every 4 MPH.



Da Mooster

I own and currently ride a Ninja 250.

If you do not know if you'll have to match speed quickly because you can't see the people you are merging with I'd shift down into 5th. Reason being in 6th gear you'll have the power to accelerate to match other peoples speeds but if some cager doesn't see you I don't think you'll have the power to speed off if you need too.

If it's late at night no traffic and not uphill I think you'll be fine in 6th.

Brackstone wrote:Everyone Else:
For a ninja 250 the bike will be around 4,000 RPMs at 25mph in 6th gear I don't really think that's lugging.

In my opinion the ninjas power zone is between 5k and 10k rpms. So I think started on an entrance ramp at around 4k RPM should be fine.

People responded to me when I said I'm in 6th gear at 35mph telling me that was a mistake and shouldn't be happening and even something may be wrong with the bike. They all just didn't know how the 250 shifts.

The ninja 250 has a very VERY close shift pattern. If you are trying to do what the manual says and keep it under 4k RPMs for the first 400 miles you will be shifting every 4 MPH.



Da Mooster

I own and currently ride a Ninja 250.

If you do not know if you'll have to match speed quickly because you can't see the people you are merging with I'd shift down into 5th. Reason being in 6th gear you'll have the power to accelerate to match other peoples speeds but if some cager doesn't see you I don't think you'll have the power to speed off if you need too.

If it's late at night no traffic and not uphill I think you'll be fine in 6th.

Thank you Brackstone. I'm going to give this a try soon.

With all the love in the world you have too much going on tobe giving yourself more distractions.

My suggestion is you tape over your tach, you don't need it and you'll be much better served having your attention on what is going on around you.

As long as you don't redline it everywhere the bike will be fine. Just change up when she screams and down when she chugs.

Two different bits of advise that helped my cornering immensely were;
-Use your legs and core muscles for gripping the bike and keep those hands light on the handlebars.
-Try weighting the outer peg in turns, start while you are doing your other "prep work" for the turn. Start gently as it can have a big effect.

This advise came from Doc Wong out in the Ca. Bay Area who runs a monthly riding clinic, he gets his clinic topics from Keith Code, just so you know it's not coming from some random person.
I agree with the idea that you head out to some backroad twisties for practice...that's the fun stuff anyway!

darsek wrote: -Try weighting the outer peg in turns, start while you are doing your other "prep work" for the turn. Start gently as it can have a big effect.

I'm not sure I understand.