Hello everyone! Welcome to a super exciting edition of Inline Performance Magazine. In this update, we will be making a modification to the Kawasaki Ninja 250. We will be adding additional rear running and brake lights because they are not installed by Kawasaki when the motorcycle is sold in North America. Please join us as we provide a walkthrough for this installation.

Our first task was to purchase the necessary hardware. We bought a set of 1157 light bulbs and two light bulb sockets (#85803) and some push together type electrical connectors. We already had some wire and the tools at the IPM garage.

Removing the rear light assembly is accomplished by unlatching the seat and removing two nuts from the mounting bracket. After unplugging the connector, the rear light assembly can slide out.

We next had to prep our light bulb sockets with an additional ground wire because the light assembly base does not utilize a ground in the housing. After using a wire brush attachment on our Dremel to remove the protective coating from the light bulb base, we cut some wire and soldered one end to the outer base of the light bulb socket. It would be easier to have first
placed a flat connector on the end of the wire and then soldered the connector to the light bulb base.

Since all of the wires coming out of our light bulb base are the same color, we went to the motorcycle’s battery and tested the leads to find out which wire supplied power to the running light, and which was going to power the brake light. After marking the wires, we were ready to install the sockets into the light assembly using the cement glue. We then installed the light bulbs by removing the red lens cover.

Wiring all of the leads together is the penultimate step. We cut the wires leading to the connector of the main rear light, and attached new connectors to the leads. We then grouped all of the similar function wires together and attached connectors after first twisting the leads together. We now had three groups of wires in the connectors and simply matched them to their mate on the OEM connector. A few zip ties help hold all the wire in a tidy arrangement for reinstallation in the motorcycle.

The rear light assembly slides into the motorcycle in reverse of removal, but the groove on the top edge needs to be fitted first. Take care when aligning the bolts into the mounting bracket to not misplace the fitted washers. Afterward, simply tighten the nuts, reconnect the wire clip, and
reinstall the seat. A simple turn of the key shows success, and the satisfying squeeze on the brake lever illuminated the rear assembly like magic.

That is all for this update of Inline Performance Magazine. Check back often for more update. Visit Ninja Boards for other exciting Kawasaki motorcycle discussions.

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Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price until supplies last.

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Hi guys, Paul here. This is Inline Performance Magazine’s Ninja Restore episode 3. You may remember we left off the previous episode after fixing the right side of the engine and refilling the fluids. In this episode, we be tackling the broken handle bar, instrument cluster, and replacing the gas tank.

The original gas tank had several large and serious dents, so it is being replaced. The first task is removing the rubber fitting for the fairings from the sides of the tank, and the tank’s bolt fittings from rear of the gas tank. The next step is removing the gas cap, and the petcock from the old gas tank, and then installing all of the hardware on the new gas tank.

The right side handle bar riser and handle bar were broken, so they need to be replaced. This task is achieved by removing the bolts holding the broken risers from the top of the triple camp. After installing the new handle bar riser, a new handle was installed and the brake reservoir and handle was attached. The throttle grip was the next part to be fitted, and the throttle cables were adjusted.

The instrument cluster had a broken bolt stand, after reattaching it with epoxy; it was reinstalled on the motorcycle. A quick test start ensured the motorcycle was in working order and closes out this episode of Ninja Restore.

Join us again in the future episodes of Ninja Restore when the cosmetics of the Ninja are refinished and the first test ride takes place.

Be sure to check out Ninja Boards for more Ninja fun!

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Hi guys, Paul here again. This is the second episode of Inline Performance Magazine’s Ninja Restore. In our last episode, we fixed the left side cover of the motorcycle’s engine where we found a broken pulsing coil.

In this episode, we fix the right side of the engine where the clutch cover is located. The cable holder had snapped off and a large hole was ground through the cover.

After removing the clutch side cover, I proceeded to give the clutch and the gears behind it, a thorough inspection.

Luck was with us in this episode, as the clutch cable, the clutch plates, and the rest of the engine’s internals avoided sustaining any damage.

It was a quick task reassembling the clutch cover and cable, but care needs to be taken to avoid scratching the cover on the rear brake pedal.

Installing a new oil filter and refilling the engine with oil and the radiator with coolant are the last few details that need to be completed on the engine. The levels will have to be rechecked after starting the engine, and the radiator will need to have the air purged.

This is the end of the second episode of Ninja Restore, come back to watch the next episode when the right handle and controls get fixed. The motorcycle will then be reassembled and taken for a ride.

Check out Ninja Boards and take part in exciting Kawasaki related motorcycle discussions.

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Hello, it’s Paul, and I am going to show you our newest project, Ninja Restore.

After a crash or accident insurance claims will typically give you some money to have your motorcycle repaired at a shop. While it is usually best to have your major repairs done by a qualified professional, you can save money on labor cost by doing minor repairs yourself. You could then apply these savings towards upgraded parts, or new replacement safety gear.

In this debut episode of Ninja Restore, I will be fixing the left side of the engine where damage to the stator cover has damaged the pulsing coil inside. To remove the cover, I first had to remove the fairings, and drain the radiator. I took time beforehand to remove the gas tank and emissions box. I also drained the oil.

My first step in this video is disconnecting the cables from the wiring harness on the right side of the motorcycle. Next, I removed the bolts holding the chain cover and disconnected the radiator hoses.

It was then and easy task removing the cover. After removing the pulsing and generator coils, I installed them in a new cover. Putting everything back on the motorcycle was as simple as the reverse of removal.

Pitfalls abound if you did not take careful notes during removal. Several of the bolts hold clips to secure the cables. Other bolts need to be tightened before or after reconnecting the radiator hose.

That marks the end of this episode of Ninja Restore, future episodes will tackle the right side of the motorcycle, and then handlebars as well as the first ride, so check back often.

Pleas be sure to visit Ninja Boards to take part in an exciting Kawasaki motorcycle discussion board.

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Accidents can happen to even the best motorcycle riders, other times, riders encounter an ill-tempered car driver, who after having had untold aggressive triggers plague their lives, lashes out against motorcyclists. This latter event is what has happened to me, even if the other driver claimed to be blissfully unaware.

While cautiously filtering through severely slowed rush hour traffic on the freeway, a car I was overtaking decided to sideswipe me, and push me clear to the center of an adjacent lane. Despite breaking my foot, this hit would have been easy to recover from if that new lane was clear, but being a traffic-jam there was a large van, nearly stopped, just a few feet in front of me. Swerve as I might, I was not able to avoid a collision, and after leaving a rather sizable dent with my body, I tumbled head-over-heels towards the roadway.

After waking up on the ground, I got my first brief look at my motorcycle; it was upside down, tires pointing straight up. Some nice people who were stuck in traffic helped me move it to the shoulder where I had one last glimpse before being taken away by an ambulance.

As to be expected, the windscreen, turn signals, and mirrors are shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces. The gas tank is dented, cracked, and leaking. The shift lever, foot pegs, and exhaust pipes are broken and bent out of shape. The right clip-on handlebar’s impact with the van or the ground is likely what broke it off, although the excruciating pain and bruises on my leg make a convincing argument to the contrary.

Be sure to check back with Inline Performance Magazine and Ninja Boards for more exciting motorcycle news and an update on my situation.

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