Tankpad looks great buddy, as it does on mine
Our choices look quite similar

Hi guys, I wanted to know if the service for the ninja has any estimated date? like i know that the 1st service is due after 1000km. Does it mean that it should be done like in a month or so?

The sad part is that am not able to ride my babe ninja that much cause of a knee problem that i sustained a couple of years ago( the change of riding posture from an FZ to a Ninja is showing its effect ). But so far completed 300+ km in a week. I have been riding her in that 4k-5k rpm range. I maintain her mostly at 4.5K rpm at around 60kmph. And the bike gets heated up like hell inside the city but when i touch the open roads and when going at a steady pace it doesn't gives a problem with the heat.

Any suggestions to get rid of that (at least a little bit of heat reduction would be great my pants get hot )

1. Remove the Fairings and make it a naked ninja thereby allowing heat to escape
2. Never ride during peak times in city
3. (This is my favourite suggestion) Do early morning and/or late night rides in the city and its outskirts!
4. Dont ride with a pillion as you'll sweat much more (no air circulation around your back)

I've faced a similar problem and i have/still am implementing points 2, 3 & 4. Occasionally i had to take my baby out during peak times in the city (not even 15 times in 12 months) and ended up with fried thighs!

If there's any other way around this then i'm sure the experienced ninja riders will help you out!

LOL @ point 1
it wasn't even peak times, just stopping at occasional traffic signals makes it hotter. Like i dont switch off the engine in a signal where the timer is at 20-30secs and the heat rises up! And I use a rear seat cowl (correct me if am wrong) So i do ride solo.

i do ride in peak traffic conditions but the heat issue didnt bother me much.i mean you can feel the heat but not really burning thighs/frying legs..trying changing your riding position and fix on the one where you feel less heat but the best thing is to avoid traffic

just dont bother with the heat. ninja is one among the best to ride in the city among sup bikes with the minimum heat. you have about 6 months to do your 1000 kms service. dont worry on this count.

all ninjas get heated in traffic even mine gets heated up a lot
but don't worry it wont be over heated
i got my first service on 1800km instead of 1000km so its ok
cause anyways there are no free services for the ninja..

Thank you guys! Will get back to you guys with a lot more doubts in the up coming future

I had got my 1st service done at 1K. The regular oil and oil filter change, air filter cleaning, chain clean and lube etc. I then rode for another 1K KMs mostly in the city, but occasional runs on the highway over weekends after completing the break-in at around 1.7K. The bike felt awesome at higher RPMs but wouldn't go over 135KMpH - well to be honest, it was very windy and I didn't find enough road to feel comfortable accelerating beyond that but still I felt it was not giving the output I had read a lot of other owners here experience - like cruising to 140KMpH easily in 5th gear etc.
At around 2.1-2.2K I started feeling a change in the bike's "feel". It would vibrate a lot more, the engine seemed rough, it would heat up quickly and consistently stay in the upper half on the heat gauge. Gear up-shifts were still smooth but down-shifts were slowly becoming a pain. The gears would just not slot smoothly on down-shifts, specially 3rd and 2nd. A lot of times when I downshifted, the gear lever would move but the gear wouldn't change, it would seem as if I am pushing it down in vacuum with no gears attached to it.

Eventually, fed-up, I thought I would get my oil changed. I had never trusted Bajaj DTSi 10000 anyways. Got myself 2 cans of Motul 3000 4T 15W50 mineral and headed to the PBK workshop yesterday. While at it, I got the oil filter changed, the air filter cleaned, chain cleaned and lubed etc - basically the whole service package.

The difference was DRAMATIC. So far, I had just read it but feeling it first-had was a totally different thing altogether. The bike was not heating like it did, staying in the lower half of the heat gauge, even in city riding in heavy traffic. The gear changes were a LOT better. Up-shifts were smooth as butter and down-shifts were a lot more smoother. The 2nd gear still feels a bit iffy but I didn't mind.

I took her for a spin this morning on the highway. The acceleration was amazing. I was amazed to see how I was able to achieve 125-130 KMpH so much more comfortably. Seeing the response from the bike, I was feeling really excited to get past the mild city traffic and onto the highway where I could open her up.

BUT, like all good things come to an end, all my hopes came crashing down, just 15 minutes into the ride. I was navigating through the early morning truck traffic and found an open stretch. I opened her up are reached 130KMpH. Some more traffic ahead and I slowed down to 30 KMpH. Another open stretch, I twist my wrist and the bike just wouldn't accelerate.... It was stuck at 4-4.5K RPM. I could hear a mild sputtering sound, not the regular engine sound. I tried downshifting and again tried to accelerate, same thing - would go up to about 5K RPM and then nothing beyond that. I twisted the accelerator all the way through but NO RESPONSE at all. I remembered some old posts and was thinking what the problem could be - maybe one of the spark plugs came off etc. The engine too was heating considerably more, quickly jumping up to the 4/5th mark on the gauge - the first time I saw it go so high since my servicing yesterday. I pulled her to the side, turned her off and waited for her to cool down a little. 5 mins later, started her again, came to life with no fuss. I started again, cautiously this time and found the response to be a little better. It was accelerating beyond 5K. I twisted a little more, the orgasmic sound at 9K and then again, it just pulled back sputtering. No amount of twisting would take it further, infact, every time it sputters it pulls down the RPM by about 1K. Not wanting to take any chances, rode back home - all geared up - at 50-60 KMpH in 6th gear. Waiting to take her to the PBK workshop at 9AM when it opens.

I apologise for the long post but I need help. Any clue guys, what could be wrong? I would report back what I find at PBK but honestly my confidence levels are not too high with the workshop. I need help in identifying what the problem could be so that I can advise the mechanic to check accordingly and I feel more confident getting the right pointers here.

The Ninja 250R is a complex machine, so it could be a variety of things though I do not guarantee that it is the cause:

1) Sub-throttle sensor malfunction or other sensor malfunction.
2) ECU problem
3) Mechanical issue with main throttle body,ie, not enough fuel to injectors(the throttle action not leading to proper/closing of the throttle chamber valves), or holder for the assembly is loose.
4) Spark plug or stick coil problem (the long thing which is over the spark plugs). But you can check the plugs by removing the tank, attaching the plugs to the stick coil and check the spark by touching it against the metal frame briefly.
5) Battery voltage or connector issue.
6) Sticky gears - clutch cable not lubricated properly, or throttle cable not turning the spring loaded rotator attached to the throttle body assembly below the seat.
7) Incorrect valve clearances
8) Incorrect timing chain tension.
9) Fuel line obstruction.

Unfortunately, most of the things above can be checked only at a workshop so you have to take it there anyway.

Let us know how it went.

Thanks BV. I went up to PBK but unfortunately the workshop is closed on Sundays. Only the showroom is open. I spoke to the showroom guys and they called up the Ninja mechanic. He was out somewhere and promised to come down at 3 PM so I will take her then.

Before going to the workshop, I took her for a spin again, trying to ascertain what exactly the symptoms are - I was too cautious earlier while riding back home, not wanting to get stranded on the road. The bike pulls cleanly after starting and revs up all the way to redline on all gears. Its only when it warms up enough (needle half-way on the gauge), that the problem starts. Between 6K and 10K RPM randomly it would sputter and jerk. If I keep the throttle open, it jerks forward suddenly and then again pulls back, same way it would happen if I was quickly twisting the throttle up and down - the only difference being I am holding the accelerator in one position. One time it was scary because the jerk was pretty severe causing the rear tire to skid.

I was thinking maybe water entered the fuel tank while washing yesterday. However, in this case, the problem should be consistent, right? Not just at higher RPMs and after warming up. At lower RPMs, no symptoms at all.

I will take her to the workshop later today and let you know what is found.

Sounds like one of the following reasons:
1) Fuel flow problem or fuel/air mixture problem.
2) Throttle body issue
3) Sensor issue - sensor not reading/transmitting throttle inputs correctly.

But let us know the outcome. Could be something much more simpler.

whew : almost half the manual listed out till date in this forum. still there are no straight answers. just that ninja remains as complex as it can get. waiting for the PBK diag on this issue.

in some of the aeromodelling forum's manufacturers participate directly in the forum and interact with all and answer the query. i wish the same happening where some kawasaki expert/PBK rep joins in this forum and throw some light.

PS. Tried to put on my gear today after landing at trivandrum for the first time. Black cramster was almost white in colour with fungus. so removed all the Armour pieces from the jacket and pants put them in the washing machine and cleaned up with normal detergent powder. first wash after buying. came out okay. now got to clean the armour stuff and put them all back where they belong and my suit is ready to go. now i am confident of cleaning the suit more often.

Hey! you are at Tvm?! How long are you going to be here?! We could meet up and go for a ride... If you are staying long enough, why don't you join us for the G2G on Saturday?!

The mechanic could not make it yesterday evening. I took her to the workshop this morning.

The first thing checked were any sensor malfunction but nothing found there. The fairings were opened and the next check was for the spark plugs. The stick coil on the right side was found loose. It wasn't out all the way but was moving up and down just by the flick of a finger. It didn't fit correctly while trying to press it down. The spark plug was then removed and connected to the stick. It fit correctly with gentle persuasion. The spark plug was put back in and the stick coil over it and it just fit back into place.

Final diagnosis: Due to the stick coil coming undone/loose, one of the cylinders might not be firing correctly. At higher RPMs since the vibrations were higher and the stick coil maybe moved up and down a bit more, the problem was more obvious. The mechanic said at higher RPMs there would me more sparking which was causing the jerk while riding. Rode another 10 KMs at high RPM after the fix and everything looks good for now. I am again.

Thanks BV for your quick response and the exhaustive checklist which I took with me to the workshop, planning to go through it one by one. I was lucky the problem was diagnosed quickly though and didn't have to do the whole drill.