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I just got a Ninja 250, and I have trouble shifting smoothly. The nighthawk 250 at the msf shifted much smoother, I guess its cause the rpm's arent as high.

Anyways.. whenever I shift into 2nd gear, I can't just let go of the clutch or it'll jerk forward. 2nd gear is the only time I have to feather the clutch. The next 4 gears I can just let go of the clutch and it'll smoothly transition.

So yeah.. some tips about smooth shifting would be great.

what year is the bike and other info on that? thats kinda weird just 2nd jerks. Normally it wouldnt been just a single gear in my experience. I had a 94 ex250 and that "poo poo" was smooth as butter. Normally the higher the mileage the smoother they become (hence the 250nighthawks at the MSF)

I belive its an 07, if not an 06.

Its brand new.. has about 170 miles on it. I think I got shifting better. I took it out for a 10 minute spin after I created the thread.

I think my problem before hand was that I wasn't letting go of the throttle enough. I would accidentally keep the throttle on, and when I let go of the clutch the bike would jump forward.

I got it smoother by letting go of the throttle 90% but sometimes I will let go of it too long and then the bike will shift-break for a split second after letting go of the clutch. I guess its just timing. The higher gears just aren't as subceptable to a noob shift.

(I think)

yea lol seems like you got it. Theres this asian guy whos been riding a newer looking gixxer600 in my neighborhood and WOW he sounds like hes raping that thing when he shifts. I can hear it from inside of my house. And when you watch him ride it and shift the whole bike just jumps on every shift. UGH its nasty to watch. All the time this is without any gear or helmet. PRO!

I have an 07 Ninja 250 as well, and the friction zone engages a good ways away from the handle bar. Almost to the point where the clutch is all the way out. With practice you'll get used to where it is and your hand will just know at what point you need to "ease" the clutch out and when you can just let go.

It might help to do those day 1 msf exercises again where you start letting out the clutch, wait for the bike to pull forward, then pull the clutch back in.

Veda wrote:I have an 07 Ninja 250 as well, and the friction zone engages a good ways away from the handle bar. Almost to the point where the clutch is all the way out. With practice you'll get used to where it is and your hand will just know at what point you need to "ease" the clutch out and when you can just let go.

It might help to do those day 1 msf exercises again where you start letting out the clutch, wait for the bike to pull forward, then pull the clutch back in.

Yeah, before I exit the neigborhood, I always shift from 1st to 2nd multiple times on the straight aways. It increases my shift-breaking skill, my up shifting skill, and friction zone control.

I know this is a bit late, but I also ride a 250 and it's the same thing over here too.

I believe this is due to the gear ratios - first to second is the biggest difference in ratios, if I remember correctly; as such, the revs will change dramatically. You've just got to get used to it. I still have trouble rev-matching myself, sometimes.

So yeah, when you said the higher gears weren't as susceptible to a noob shift, you were right - it's much easier to smoothly shift between the higher gears than the lowest one.

pratice blipping the throttle ... it's a good thing to learn and get good at ... especially when you start down shifting.