December 2nd, 2019, 08:00 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jesse
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Nov 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 400, Yamaha R3 Posts: 14
|
Clutch Slipping, Poor Shifting, False Neutrals, Dropping Gears - Explained & Fixed!
Forgive the delay, I've been working on this article for awhile. It's a lot of information that we've learned and implemented over the past couple years of racing the Ninja 400 in AFM, CVMA, WERA, and MotoAmerica. I hope it helps everyone understand what is going on and how we fix everything so that it's reliable for track or everyday use.
Kawasaki Ninja 400 Clutch Slipping, Poor Shifting, False Neutrals, and Dropping Gears - Explained and Fixed!
__________________________________________________
Cheers, Jesse Follow my build and racing at Norton-Motorsports.com |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
December 2nd, 2019, 08:21 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
|
Looking no forward to the details.
|
|
December 3rd, 2019, 07:59 AM | #3 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
December 3rd, 2019, 05:32 PM | #4 |
.
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.
MOTM - July '15
|
So, is the 400 even a good buy? I'd personally be jumping down someone's throat if I bought a new motorbike and it had these problems.
|
|
December 3rd, 2019, 05:43 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
|
|
|
December 3rd, 2019, 06:34 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: michael
Location: Central Georgia
Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2019 Ninja 400, Sold 2012 Ninja 650, Sold 2009 Ninja 250r, Sold 2007 DRZ400s Posts: 628
|
|
|
December 3rd, 2019, 09:55 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org member
Name: John
Location: New Windsor
Join Date: Nov 2019 Motorcycle(s): GSXR 750, GSXR 600, Ninja 400, Ninja 300 Posts: 146
|
I was getting the dropping out of 5th going to 4th when I changed gears at high rpms on the track. I did the clutch spring arm assist and the heavy duty Barnett Clutch springs and the issue was cut down dramatically. Two of my friends have the 2018 400 as well and they aren’t having this issue, only I was.
|
|
December 4th, 2019, 09:16 AM | #8 | |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Oh how we get spoiled with electronics and automatics! Over 99% of autos and bikes in world are manual. On recent trip to Europe, we had to call ahead and get special accommodations to rent car with automatic transmission because my dad’s getting older and step-mother can’t drive manual.
Anyway, back in ‘80-90s, pretty much ALL bikes slipped gears when put to hard use like racing. Common practice was to undercut shift dogs on gears to pull them together under load. Let’s see if someone figures this out for Ninja 400. Quote:
For price, you cannot get better performance on street or track. It really spun AFM’s classes around this year as they originally put it in with 300s. It completely dominated that along with Lightweight & Middleweight Twins, beating up on SV650s. Also always took top-5 in cripple 450s (600ss with disabled cylinder). As well as placing top-10 in 600SS, 750sbk, and Literbike classes (beating 30–40 others in field). There’s no other bike right now that can get as many points in so many classes! Speaking of bang-for-buck, there’s some brand new ones being clearanced at local dealer for $3750. Gonna go take look good this weekend. |
|
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
December 4th, 2019, 09:17 AM | #9 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jesse
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Nov 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 400, Yamaha R3 Posts: 14
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
Cheers, Jesse Follow my build and racing at Norton-Motorsports.com |
|
|
December 4th, 2019, 09:19 AM | #10 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jesse
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Nov 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kawasaki Ninja 400, Yamaha R3 Posts: 14
|
Quote:
I talk about transmission undercutting in the article and we do offer it for the 400. It's pretty much mandatory for top race teams these days with these little bikes that aren't undercut from the factory like the new supersport and superbikes are.
__________________________________________________
Cheers, Jesse Follow my build and racing at Norton-Motorsports.com |
|
|
December 4th, 2019, 09:29 AM | #11 | |
.
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.
MOTM - July '15
|
Quote:
I love the z400 after comparing it with the Ninja 400 at my local dealership and feeling what they've done for the suspension and riding position (as well as tuning, I hear) to make it more of a street-specific bike. It's between the Z400 and the SV650 for me. They're afraid to let me test ride at either my local Kawi or Suzuki dealership despite the fact that I can afford the bike (I assumed that being over 21 and having 5 years of riding experience would be enough for them. Guess not), So I'm going to hop over to a different city and see if I can get some saddle time. |
|
|
December 4th, 2019, 09:42 AM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
On Kawasaki website, under locate dealer, you can search for one that offer test rides.
|
|
December 4th, 2019, 02:50 PM | #13 |
.
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.
MOTM - July '15
|
That's helpful in narrowing it down! Thanks!
|
|
December 6th, 2019, 05:04 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: michael
Location: Central Georgia
Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2019 Ninja 400, Sold 2012 Ninja 650, Sold 2009 Ninja 250r, Sold 2007 DRZ400s Posts: 628
|
the 400 is still small and light enough to be a direct comparison to the ninja 250, and powerful enough to compare it to slightly larger bikes. it out performs Honda's 500, with some bolt on parts its very close to the power output of the ninja 650. I think this is the bike i have liked the most out of the 7 road legal bikes i've owned.
ninja 400 can reach 53 hp with very minor bolt on parts, and the 650 is about 64 hp at the wheel. not to mention the 400 is much lighter than the bigger 650. |
|
December 7th, 2019, 06:43 PM | #15 |
.
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.
MOTM - July '15
|
You get a lot more leg room with the 400 too though. I still have a 2003 Ninja 250.
|
|
December 7th, 2019, 08:51 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Yes, 400 has ergo for bigger riders. Lower pegs, taller bars.
|
|
July 16th, 2024, 02:16 PM | #17 |
New rider
Name: Anthony
Location: Imperial Beach CA
Join Date: Nov 2020 Motorcycle(s): 2021 Ninja 400 (abs), 2004 NinjaEx (2007 motor) Posts: 43
Blog Entries: 1
|
I recently changed my clutch plates to Barnett and OEM cause Barnett does not have 400 plates. Anyhoo it's been Three months and the clutch is slipping bad could it be a deeper problem? I bought Norton springs as well. I read the article already but it doesn't seem to clear anything up for my problem. Is there another piece not talked about that could be allowing the clutch to slip? Ty again.
|
|
August 7th, 2024, 01:26 PM | #18 |
New rider
Name: Anthony
Location: Imperial Beach CA
Join Date: Nov 2020 Motorcycle(s): 2021 Ninja 400 (abs), 2004 NinjaEx (2007 motor) Posts: 43
Blog Entries: 1
|
I have had to change my clutch plates Twice in the last Three months and they are slipping again literally WTF is going on and please no "spring" or "adjust throttle cable" talk. I'm starting to think I have to tighten the basket or something behind the plates because this is just BS. I just put in the Kevlar plates from Barnett. At first change it was good and tight now I feel it slipping a month later. Honestly done with 400 clutch I'm going yoyodyne. Kawasaki needs to do a call back and give everyone that owns a 400 a new reliable clutch system.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
[motorcyclistonline] - MC Garage Video: What’s With False Neutrals? | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | May 19th, 2017 02:00 PM |
Missed shifts and false neutrals... or how do i work this thing?? | sickopsycho | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 23 | January 28th, 2017 12:38 PM |
Clutch slipping - False Neutral....? | sopranos | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 6 | November 16th, 2011 04:31 PM |
[crash.net - WSBK] - Laverty ‘very positive' despite arm-pump, false neutrals | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | February 27th, 2011 07:30 AM |
[topix.net] - Shifting gears: M&M Motor Mall redirects focus to used car sales, servi | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | January 9th, 2011 02:10 PM |
|
|