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I just got a 2000 Kawasaki EXNinja 250 and don't have the service manual for it yet.

How do I check my oil? I can't find where to check it.

And also, this bike is very cold-blooded and I have heard it's not exactly good to sit there with the choke on and let the engine get warm, but is it bad to ride with the choke on? Because otherwise I stall the bike whenever I come to a stop?

Any help would be appreciated.

On the right side of the bike, down towards the bottom of the engine is a little circular window about the size of a quarter. It has two horizontal lines on it. After you've gone for a ride and got the oil warmed up, sit on the bike level and look in that window (one person sits on the bike while another looks in the window is ideal). the oil needs to be between the two marks. That's all you got. You just have to remember to change the oil regularly and note when you last did.

ninja250.org has all the info on changing the oil that you could ever want.

Why is it a bad thing to let the engine warm up before riding? Idling for a minute or five isn't going to hurt anything.

mgdavis wrote:Why is it a bad thing to let the engine warm up before riding? Idling for a minute or five isn't going to hurt anything.

not sure about bikes but with cars letting it idle to warm up to long causes condensation on the crank shaft which then freezes while in motion and/or sitting not running in some parking lot or garage or driveway and could cause some damage when you go to start it back up. If your going to let it idle for 5-10 minutes than you need to make sure your going at least 10 miles to get rid of that condensation. Other than that I havent heard of any other reason for a car to not let it idle for very long. But as I said thats for a car not a bike. I have no idea when it comes to a bike why.

ofblong, that makes absolutely no sense to me, and I have never heard of anything like that. Condensation occurs when you have a cool surface in a warmer, humid environment. Idling is allowing things to come up to their normal operating temperature, which should eliminate any condensation. I guess this could be an issue during a Upper Peninsula winter, but I don't think it would be an issue in most climates.

Can you explain to me how the cranshaft will freeze and break while the engine is still running. I just don't see how that can ever happen. Ever happen.

Actually, you get condensation in the cylinder... not on the crankshaft.

What happens is the engine warms up a little, but there's still moist humid air inside if you only allow it to idle for a short time. So as the engine cools down, condensation forms on the cylinder walls. This condensation can cause rust, as there is usually little oil in this area (the second oil control ring having scraped it off the side of the wall).

Rust is obviously very bad for the engine.

The best thing you can do to prevent this is get the engine up to operating temperature every time you run it. And running it longer is better then running it for a short time.

If you're getting condensation on the crankshaft there is no oil in the engine.

Sev wrote:If you're getting condensation on the crankshaft there is no oil in the engine.

I was thinking that also, just wasn't quite sure if the crank is immersed in oil, and didn't want to look like I was talking out my "O Ring". By your logic, which I agree with, idling till the engine is warmed up would more likely be beneficial than harmful (if I read everything correctly).

mgdavis wrote:

Sev wrote:If you're getting condensation on the crankshaft there is no oil in the engine.

I was thinking that also, just wasn't quite sure if the crank is immersed in oil, and didn't want to look like I was talking out my "O Ring". By your logic, which I agree with, idling till the engine is warmed up would more likely be beneficial than harmful (if I read everything correctly).

Naw, it's just no fun!

Choking till it's fully warm is bad for it, letting it idle for a while won't hurt.

The thing is, it won't reach normal operating temperature at idle in anything close to a reasonable amount of time.

This is where I heard it wasn't a good idea to let it idle too long. http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Why_does_m ... erature%3F