Kawi 250 when to shift

[ElektraSpitfire]

Okay, this is a total newbie question but I need to know

I just got the Kawi 250 and the previous owner told me that I should upshift at around 7k-8k rpms. I tested it out and around 7k-8k rpms the engine does seem to get a bit loud. So I upshift around there and it seems to be ok.

However, I've been reading in several places where people say the ninjas like the higher rpms and they're made for revving...do 7k-8k rpms count as high? Or maybe since I haven't owned a bike before the engine sound around 7k sounds really loud just to me?

Also when going on the freeway, in 6th gear going at 65-70, my rpms are at 8k. Therefore my engine sounds really loud and seems to be working really hard. Is it just me thinking the engine is more fragile than it is? So should I go ahead and shift later in the gears?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[KarateChick]

Hey Sadie - welcome! & nice bike & congrats.

Yes, I've been shifting it in that range and it's been performing great. Besides, no worries - the redline is at 13k! It seems that the power range on the 250 (mine at least) is after 6k rpm and for sure in the 7k+ (city driving). Sure it sounds loud (same as you - it was new to me) but you get used to it and then it sounds more like sweet music. Yeah, shift later - doesn't seem to hurt the bike. And at your 65-70 mph (I thinks it's approx 90 to 100 kph here cause I assume you are Stateside), I'm usually in 5th these days and still have good accel power. Been in 4th too but the bike seems to like 5th better at that speed.

There's a bunch of other 250 owners on this site so I'm sure they'll chime in shortly!

Btw - what year is your bike?

Edit* Did you check out this site? http://www.ninja250.info/index.htm

[dieziege]

This is going to sound a bit odd... but... are you wearing ear plugs?

I'm a little paranoid about what hearing I have left so I wear plugs... and when wearing plugs the engine sounds musical at higher RPMs... 11,000RPM just hums along. One night, though, I was riding home from visiting friends and stopped in a grocery store parking lot to make a phone call... so of course I pulled my ear plugs so I could hear my cell phone. Then I decided to ride to the other end of the parking lot to a fast food place to use the restroom... and of course "it wasn't worth putting ear plugs in to ride 1000 feet"... I was shocked at how loud the bike sounded just cruising across a parking lot! Plugs are a bit of a hassle, but the ride is a LOT more pleasant.

Now, to answer your question...

11,000 RPM is a good shift point for spirited driving. Seems like the smoothest point as far as the transmission is concerned. For aggressive driving (short on-ramp to a fast-moving interstate) 13,000 is a little better. For "casual" riding around town 8,000RPM is a good point, but there is nothing wrong with going higher. BTW: You don't need to open the throttle all the way at higher RPMs.... I'll often have the throttle really twisted until 8,000RPM and then start easing off as the engine hits its stride.

Around town, a good rule of thumb is don't let it get much below 5,000RPM if there is any chance you'll need to accelerate with cars behind you. If you need to speed up you'll be much better off if you were rolling along at 8,000RPM in 3rd than 4,000RPM in 6th (or whatever it works out to).

[ElektraSpitfire]

Hmm I guess it just sounds really loud to me then, even with my full face helmet muffling the noise. And no i don't wear earplugs, the helmet seems to work just fine.

I got an 05 ninja...dark blue/orange, not my first choice of colors but it was a good deal and it looks a lot better in person than in pictures. And yes i've dropped the baby (it's big for a lil gal like me!) but nothing except cosmetic dmg... btw, how do i replace broken blinkers? just the outside orange plastic shell...haha right now i have them taped together (yes nerdy like taped glasses!) but i guess i'd have to bring them into a shop or something?

shifting at 11,000RPM?..wow haha i don't think i've ever gotten the rpms that high..maybe i'm just chicken and it feels like i'm overworking my poor baby..but it's a big girl and can take care of herself. i'll try that next time i ride!

another quick question...sometimes in stop and go traffic i'll just cruise along at like 5rpm in 2nd gear and tap on the brakes to leave enough room for the slowly moving cars in front of me, instead of braking to a complete stop in first gear and actually stopping & going. Is it bad to move along realllllyyyyy slowly in 2nd gear? just because i'm too lazy to actually stop and go in first gear?

Thanks again for all the info.

[bok]

as long as you can take off without sputtering/stalling, then second gear is okay.

i have this aversion to putting my foot down at lights and see it as a challenge to try and stay balanced on the bike at really slow speeds. sometimes that means first gear and sometimes second, pretty much personal preference/experience i guess.

[dieziege]

Helmet doesn't work fine... trust me on that. Mine's a full-face too and while it seems to muffle it can actually cause its own noise. Go to walmart and get some foam plugs!

With plugs in, 11,000 sounds like a nice hummmmmmmmmmm.

Really slow in 2nd (or any high gear) is bad... it's called "lugging" and can wear out the engine really quick.

[BigChickenStrips]

welcome to the wonderful world of the ex250. i sugest if you are just casually riding and no one is around, shift about 8K rpms and it will be smooth, if you want to ride the bike near its potential- heres how i shift-
1 to 2 @ 6-7K
2-3 @ 8-9K
3-4 @ 11K
4-5 @ 11K
5-6 11.5K
6 take it all the way to 11.5K (about 100ish mph)

and to answer your queston, no you will not hurt the bike by running it at 11,000rpms all day. thats what it was built for. i would not sugest bouncing off redline for every shift, but you can get it up there.

most of your power and acceleration are going to be from 8.5K to 12K so if you are driving and need to accelerate quickly you shuld keep it near that. if you are casually riding along at 40 mph with no need for sudden acceleration or anything, cruising at 5K so the engine is quiet is fine. you can always downshift if you needed to accelerate.

since no one else did, i'll ask- did you take the MSF? most people here (myself inncluded) highly recomend it.

good luck and keep the shiny side up.

PM me if you want more info on fixing the lights.

[SuperRookie]

To ride in stop-and-go traffic you've got to learn to 'slip' your clutch. Practice riding the 'friction zone'. Knees pressed against the tank and higher rpm while slipping the clutch will help with very-slow-speed stability.

[ElektraSpitfire]

Yea that's why I've been too lazy to go stop/go in first gear cuz i'm just a 5'5''ish female and controlling the clutch thing (which I assume is made for bigger hands) really works my grip out...Guess it's time to buy one of those gripper things and get crackin!

Thanks for all the info, it is really helpful to know what is the best way to do these things.

As for the MSF I actually finished it this week but they can't give me the demanding attention I need ..plus i didn't think of these questions before.

Oh and thanks for all the friendly welcomes!

O RLY , I Pm'd you regarding the lights. Thanks !

[KarateChick]

Doesn't your bike have the 5-way adjustable levers for both the right and left hand? I have fairly small hands and at the closest setting (5), it is pretty good.