Ninja 250 Hesitating/Lagging

crotalus84 · 07-12-2012, 10:40 PM

I recently bought a 2005 Ninja 250 for my wife to learn to ride on. She has not had time to start learning yet so the bike has been sitting for a while. The previous owner had it in storage for a couple years so its been about 3 year since it has been run. Only has 3k miles on it.

I am not sure exactly what I should do to recondition it since it has been sitting for so long. So far I have just changed out the oil and put some fresh gas in it. I also had to replace the petcock as it was leaking.

The only issue I seem to be having after doing this is that when i am at about 6-8k rpm it hesitates really bad until you get it past 8.5k or so. Anyone have any ideas what I need to do to smooth out the power here?

sin808 · 07-12-2012, 11:00 PM

Make sure there's nothing clogging the petcock first. Then run some seafoam through the bike. If that doesn't help, pull and clean the carbs (sync 'em when you're done). Check the plugs while you're in there too. IF you really want to get into it adjust the valves as well.
A stage 1 jet kit also does wonders to help smooth out the throttle on that bike.

edit: add an inline fuel filter also

ApexHack · 07-13-2012, 01:58 AM

Carbs need to be cleaned.

crotalus84 · 07-13-2012, 02:44 PM

Thanks guys. I should have some time to work on this weekend and hopefully have it running smoothly.

NoChickenStrips · 07-13-2012, 11:29 PM

Probably that same shitty gas we got at the St.Helens ride. I like how getting to the carbs to pull out takes longer than the actual cleaning...Theres about 30 or so screws/bolts that need to be taken out before you can actually hit the carbs...

Psychotinner · 07-22-2012, 10:11 PM

have you replaced the plugs?

dragracer1951 · 07-23-2012, 03:20 AM

Clean the jets.
Then clean them again

nsrg500 · 07-23-2012, 06:35 AM

This ^^^^ all of it.
Those things have the smallest pilot jets ever. Takes nothing to clog them up.
Last time we worked on one, we mod'ed the air box just to make it easier to get the carbs out.

On the in-line filter and I would put all new lines on as well.
There are a lot of places crud can hide. Only to come lose after a tank or two and you're back cleaning them again.


07-12-2012, 10:40 PM	#1
crotalus84 Permit Joined: Apr 2012 From: Seatac I Ride: 96 CBR900RR	Ninja 250 Hesitating/Lagging I recently bought a 2005 Ninja 250 for my wife to learn to ride on. She has not had time to start learning yet so the bike has been sitting for a while. The previous owner had it in storage for a couple years so its been about 3 year since it has been run. Only has 3k miles on it. I am not sure exactly what I should do to recondition it since it has been sitting for so long. So far I have just changed out the oil and put some fresh gas in it. I also had to replace the petcock as it was leaking. The only issue I seem to be having after doing this is that when i am at about 6-8k rpm it hesitates really bad until you get it past 8.5k or so. Anyone have any ideas what I need to do to smooth out the power here? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-12-2012, 11:00 PM	#2
sin808 Chicken Strips Joined: Sep 2007 From: Bellingham I Ride: SV1000s	Make sure there's nothing clogging the petcock first. Then run some seafoam through the bike. If that doesn't help, pull and clean the carbs (sync 'em when you're done). Check the plugs while you're in there too. IF you really want to get into it adjust the valves as well. A stage 1 jet kit also does wonders to help smooth out the throttle on that bike. edit: add an inline fuel filter also __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-13-2012, 01:58 AM	#3
ApexHack Peg Dragger Joined: Jun 2007 From: Seattle I Ride: YZF750, HawkGT, YSR50, VT1100(parting), '73 CB350F, SV650, CB550F, CB175	Carbs need to be cleaned. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-13-2012, 02:44 PM	#4
crotalus84 Permit Joined: Apr 2012 From: Seatac I Ride: 96 CBR900RR	Thanks guys. I should have some time to work on this weekend and hopefully have it running smoothly. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-13-2012, 11:29 PM	#5
NoChickenStrips Licensed Joined: Apr 2011 From: Seattle,WA I Ride: 2004 Yamaha FZ1	Probably that same shitty gas we got at the St.Helens ride. I like how getting to the carbs to pull out takes longer than the actual cleaning...Theres about 30 or so screws/bolts that need to be taken out before you can actually hit the carbs... __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-22-2012, 10:11 PM	#6
Psychotinner Newbie Joined: Jul 2012 From: Ford, Washington I Ride: 1980 CB750K and whatever else i can get my grubby mitts on.	have you replaced the plugs? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-23-2012, 03:20 AM	#7
dragracer1951 Joined: Sep 2005 From: Bremerton I Ride: 05 KTM 625smc, 03 Are See fiddy one, 05 DRZ470SM, 95 FZR1040, 69 Combat Commando Roadster, 73 Commando Interstate, 67 BSA B44, 71 BSA B50	Clean the jets. Then clean them again __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


07-23-2012, 06:35 AM	#8
nsrg500 Shredder Joined: May 2011 From: Everett. WA I Ride: GS1150 Rat bike, NSR(G)500cc two stroke,CBR 900rr	This ^^^^ all of it. Those things have the smallest pilot jets ever. Takes nothing to clog them up. Last time we worked on one, we mod'ed the air box just to make it easier to get the carbs out. On the in-line filter and I would put all new lines on as well. There are a lot of places crud can hide. Only to come lose after a tank or two and you're back cleaning them again. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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