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Bought my Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6 about two weeks ago.. spent that time reading and learning and getting it into the shop, and today when I got home from work I just couldn't stand it.

Spent about 45 minutes going around the block, up to the library and around the elementary school parking lot. Only ended up putting about 6.5 miles on my first ride, and a lot of it was learning stopping, going, turning, leaning, but ohhh.. I love my motorcycle!

Here's hoping the weather holds through the weekend.. I plan on more of the same tomorrow and Sunday, but they're calling for rain - sigh.

And yes, yes.. Everyone recommends a MSF course - I sent my registration for it Wednesday! I am going, I'm just impatient - its not for another three weeks!

Congrats on your first ride,

I totally understand the impatience thing. I don't even have my bike yet and I can't wait for my first ride I'm sure it'll get worse once I do get it if I have to wait for some reason. Which is why I'm trying to take care of everything beforehand. Keep us posted on your progress I'm curious to see how my biking career will start out and it helps to read others experiences.

Another glorious day! Another glorious ride! Until...

But first, ahh.. man, I've spent 11 miles on my motorcycle, and I am absolutely loving every second of it! I'm still killing it after stop signs and whatnot, though with much less frequency. My turns are a little wide, but I don't think its a too-much-speed thing, I think its a not-confident-leaning-the-bike-that-far thing. But we'll get there!

As for the "until"... sigh.. I went to the same parking lot today, after about 5 miles of around the block stuff, and it died before I had a chance to do anything. Completely nix.. wouldn't even click when I hit the ignition - and no, I didn't bump the engine kill switch by accident. So I have to walk about a mile back to the house, call a friend, drive out, he helps me load it, and took it to the dealer to have them look at it. I only bought the bike two weeks ago, and yeah, I bought it as-is, but this is getting ridiculous.

The lady I spoke to did say I might be fouling the spark plugs if, after my ride, I come home and just shut it off, so I know I'm probably fouling them, what with my killing the engine so much yesterday and today, but it should be at least trying to start, if that were the case. Anyways, that being said, what is the proper shut-down proceedure for a 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6?

i just hit the kill switch on my katana600, usually a lil before i come to a stop just so i can get that smooth silent coast into the parking spot.

sure its not a dead battery? if your not getting up to speed the battery wouldnt get a good charge? id try a jump start before shelling out tons of cash to a dealer you just bought it from as is. or at least wait and see some other replys from people that know what they are talking about here; )

Too late - but I was told by the salesman that I had a 15 day "warranty" on the bike in which they'd go halfway with me on any issues. If I'm draining the battery, sure.. my fault, I'll pony up. Otherwise... well, we'll see.

What do you mean by "up to speed"? I've had it mostly around 20-30mph, though I did get it up to 40 for a few seconds a couple times today, before it died.

again i could be wrong. but the battery doesnt really charge when your going 20-30, gotta get up to speed(45 or something) for any length of time to really pump some juice to the battery

The battery cable could also be loose. Mine was loose and it pretty much had the same problem- it wouldn't charge correctly and got to where it wouldn't even turn the starter.

Derek

I don't know about keeping speed to charge it, but if you're killing it a lot, everytime you start it, it's just not getting enough time to charge back up. My battery would die on my old bike, and if I let it idle for a few minutes it would be charged back up. You're probably just starting it so much over and over and draining it without giving it time to charge.

i didnt think the batt charged at an idle. everyone told me with bikes(and cars) you need to drive it at a decent speed to get the alternate to work and charge the batt

I'll find out for sure what's going on Monday when they give me a call. Its kind of rainy today, anyways, and I don't have rain gear yet, so its not a big loss, but it is pretty annoying.