Which ways your best??

[sportrider]

I recently bought a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 250R for my wife. I was demonstrating low speed turning and swerving and realized, I could benefit from practicing more myself. I've been riding for years but only practiced low speed maneuvers for the skills test at the DMV. I can turn from a stop either way good but when it comes to U-turns or tight circles I am much smoother turning left than right, I can still do it ,but my confidence level is a notch or two higher turning left.

[wrightme43]

My friend teaches the MSF course, he says everybody has one way the turn better than the other.
The best way from what I understand is to practice, or to take a riding school.

I practice my ass off in parking lots. Walmart has collapable cones that fit in a tank bag for 3 bucks for 4. I take them with me, set up figure eights, weaves, stop lines, circles, J turns, 90 turns, and anything else I can come up with.

My right chicken strip is this wide I my left is II. I should probley post photos. I am working my way down further and further. I will scrape pegs soon. I used to work on leaning off, till a old timer told me freaking stop. I was going to get in over my head, hanging off is for the track. Lean my upper body, and after I can consistently just ssssskkkkhhhh the peg, to take a track school, and let instructors teach me how to lean off. I read about it in total control, and twist of the wrist.

GREAT CHOICE!!!! on the ninja 250!!!
They are awesome bikes. I miss mine so much. I will have another one.
check out
www.ninja250.com

They absolutely have to have the carbs drained if they are going to sit for more than a couple weeks. They gum up easy.

It is a awesome site, the FAQ is the place to start. If you read all of it, you will know more about the bike than the techs at the shop.
IF it is new or used with the stock tires on it, remove them immediately. They are junk. Very dangerous. The lose traction easily and do not regain it. I used avon super venoms but they quit making them. The avon road riders have a good rep, perrilli sport demons are good, metzler lazertechs are nice as well. Just dont ever use the stock tires. They are horrible. They are not confidence inspireing, and can cause bad wrecks.

If you can find a ninja 500 rear shock, it fits like stock but has adjustable preload. I got mine from ebay for 25$ delivered.

Galfer stainless lines make the front brake kick ass, and loses that iffy feeling.

Valve adjustments are easy and detailed on the site.

Fix the tires and the brakes and it is a much more capable bike. As a matter of fact you will find yourself wanting to ride it alot. It is so nimble.

Anyway I loved mine and miss it.

[sportrider]

thanks for the info on the Ninja I was looking for different tires but the only ones in the stock size I could find were the stock dunlopes. did you change the size you ran on your Ninja?

[wrightme43]

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/What_ti...fit_the_250%3F

Here you go. Yes you change them slightly.

[Bren]

Here's the fact: making an U-turn is a bitch. When I was in driving school I did those like thousands. And I did them quite well IMO. But after I got my own bike I haven't been practicing much. So slow turns are equally bad.

What comes to the faster turns, right is easier for me. I've heard a lot of people saying that turning left is easier and turning right is harder. But I'm left-handed, so no wonder... That's about only explanation I've come up with so far.

OT. What is a chicken strip? Is it that little metal knob pointing down from the end of the foot peg?

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by Bren

OT. What is a chicken strip?

A chicken strip is that little bit of tread that has not been ridden on, on your tires.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by sportrider_fz6

A chicken strip is that little bit of tread that has not been ridden on, on your tires.

Ahaa! Now I got it. Metaphors in english are not my best area Thanks!

[craig007]

I dropped my bike today while practicing 18-20 foot U turns in a parking lot. It was almost the perfect way to have crash. I was fully geared up, was going about 6 mph, I hit on my padded knee then onto my back, my bike did not fall on me and best of all, there were no witnesses because I felt really STUPID. My bike suffered a few scratches. I think I will invest in some frame sliders before I do that again. BTW it was a right U turn that did me in.

[wrightme43]

Sorry man. I got those extended length alum. sliders from ebay for like 18 bucks. I drop tested them as well. They work real nice.

[sportrider]

Originally Posted by craig007

I dropped my bike today while practicing 18-20 foot U turns in a parking lot. It was almost the perfect way to have crash. I was fully geared up, was going about 6 mph, I hit on my padded knee then onto my back, my bike did not fall on me and best of all, there were no witnesses because I felt really STUPID. My bike suffered a few scratches. I think I will invest in some frame sliders before I do that again. BTW it was a right U turn that did me in.

that sucks, the dreaded right u-turn.