Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello everyone I just got my permit this morning and my MSF course is on the weekend of April 17th. I am looking to purchase my first bike. It's a 1996 Kawasaki Ninja 250, its in excellent condition with only 2,400 miles on it. The guy who is selling it is a family friend and is only asking 1,200$. So i got a couple of questions on what i should change right away on the bike since it is 13 yrs old. The bike had the battery changed last year, but besides that everything is original even the tires =(.

Hey bud! to the site and to riding!

As for your bike, check to make sure all of the hoses are in decent condition and aren't cracked. You might need to replace a few of those.
Secondly DEFINITELY change the tires. Even in the most humid of climates they'd have dry-rotted by now and have very little grip.
Third, make sure the gas is still good, if it's that old and has that little miles on it make sure the gas still smells like gas and not varnish. If it does smell like varnish empty out the tank ASAP and run fresh gas with Seafoam through the tank, lines, and carbs to clean them out.
And fourth... welcome again!

New tires, without question. Also would be a REALLY good idea to change out all the fluids. They're ancient and may have possibly "morphed" into something detrimental to the engine, or at the very least, simply aren't up to doing the job they're supposed to do.

Carefully examine all the other non-metal parts, like gaskets and hoses. Replace anything that is faded or cracking. Heat/cold cycles from sitting, make flexible plastic and rubber not so flexible. You'd hate to get stranded by a failed bit.

P

The little Ninja is a nice bike. That isn't a whole lotta miles for a 13 year old bike, but it IS 13 years. The tires definitely must go. Please remember, the contact patch between tire and street is VERY small on a motorcycle, and you only have two of them. Your life rides on those tires. Make sure you get decent tires, not necessarily the cheapest available.

The new tires will have the mould release "oil" on them. Go careful for those first couple hundred miles, until they break in. Scrubbing them briskly with a Scotchbrite pad can help too.

Other than rubber I'd look at a complete fluid change: Engine oil, brake, maybe even fork oil. I cannot remember if the little ninja has a hydraulic clutch. You'll need to pull the chain, clean it right up, and lube it. WD40 is not a chain lube. Look at a real wax based chain lube.

An air filter, lubrication of any cables (or careful inspection of any hydraulic lines for brakes/clutch) and you should be good to go....

I'll second an earler post by Wrider: Drain the gas, add fresh fuel and a can of SeaFoam.

I cannot vouch for other MSF sites, but many have Ninja;s on hand. Be polite, inquire about bikes and express a desire to ride the Ninja if they have one, since that is what you own. Every coach I know would honor that request. It'll make transition from MSF bike to your ninja easier.

nnyrider

Thanks for all the advice guys. I ended up buying the bike yesterday. Luckily the guy i bought it off of was a mechanic and when he bought the bike last year for his wife(she ended up only riding it a couple times) he changed the gas, oil, brakes, clutch cable, battery, and tranny fluid. All the stuff was done last yr, and he only put about 100 miles on the bike.

I remember the first time I rode one. I didn't think that it would drag me around but, it did. All 5'9" 280#. Enjoy. I also like the Honda VTR250. V-twin, water cooled. What a kick. They have had both at the course here.

That bike brings back memories.

Ahhh I remember my bike - I'll remember it fondly every time I see a Ninja 250 from that generation on the road.

That's a beautiful bike. Congrats on the purchase!