Why Kawasaki Shifts Better

[Fatfatboy]

I never knew this about Kawasaki.

https://youtube.com/shorts/qYybJuNgE5s?si=th4SoGLw0cI36aoj

[oldironnow]

Which can make it frustrating to bump start a recalcitrant Ninja 250.

[Fatfatboy]

Good point. I never thought about that.

[m143]

Donna's W650 works like that.

It gets confusing on different bikes for her.

[Fatfatboy]

oldironnow wrote

Which can make it frustrating to bump start a recalcitrant Ninja 250.

Just curious, when bump starting do you have to go to first then shift up to second?

[oldironnow]

The sick Ninja I have would like to be bumped in second or third.
It really would like to get a good run at it and then a long to push to wake up it’s large open stack carbs.
In first gear, it just slides the rear wheel.

[Mad4TheCrest]

Having owned a ZRX for 22 years (i.e., forever), I can safely say I never had to hunt for neutral, AND, I was able to push start it once when the battery died, no serious problem (except for the pushing 540lbs bit). Had it in neutral (positively found) then kicked it down into 1st, popped the clutch (quickly but smoothly), and she fired up. Of course it did take three practice runs and a near heart attack before I got the process right. Several good citizens but not Samaritans (didn't lift a finger) watching in the gas station that day had a good laugh. The bastards.

[Fatfatboy]

Dang, first gear start. That’s pretty good. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to start one in first. The back tire always skids to a stop.  
I’ve been fortunate though.  There’s always been a hill on hand.

There was one time, it wasn’t me but on my way home from the 1992 Daytona bike week there was some guy on an old 70’s FLH bagger at a gas stop whose battery was dead and there ain’t no hills in Florida so he and I pushed it across the parking lot. He was pushing with the bars. I was pushing on the fender. He jumped on it side saddle, jammed it into 2nd, cranked the throttle to feed the beast, it fired and took off as I went tumbling across the lot as the bike disappeared from my hands that had all my weight and might pushing it.
I’m sure I looked like a black t-shirt wearing Rollie-pollie rolling around on the pavement.
I got a standing ovation from a couple gas pumpers.

[oldironnow]

Two great stories ^ ! The Bastards!

How was Daytona 1992 ???




.

[hacksaw]

oldironnow wrote

Which can make it frustrating to bump start a recalcitrant Ninja 250.

Exactly! And why other oem got rid of it