Okay, so I finally got my hands on a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 250R. I’ve been wanting one of these for a while, and this one popped up on a local used-motorcycle site. It wasn’t perfect, needed a little love, but the price was right, so I jumped on it.
Getting it Home
First thing was getting it home. Luckily, a buddy of mine has a truck. We loaded it up, strapped it down (very carefully!), and drove it back to my place. A little nerve-wracking, but we made it.
The Initial Inspection
Once it was in my garage, I really got to look it over. Here’s what I noticed:
- The fairings had some scratches. Nothing major, but definitely there.
- Tires were pretty worn. Definitely needed replacing.
- Chain looked a little rusty. Needed a good cleaning and lubing, at the very least.
- The engine started, but it sounded a bit rough.
The Work Begins!
I started with the basics. First, I gave the whole bike a good wash. Just got all the dirt and grime off so I could see what I was working with. Then, I tackled the chain. I used a chain cleaner and a brush, and scrubbed away until it was looking much better. Then I applied some chain lube. Made a huge difference!
Next, I order new tires and wait.
Oil Change
While the tires being deliver,I decided to change the oil. I’m no mechanic, but I can handle an oil change. I warmed up the engine, drained the old oil (it was pretty dark!), replaced the oil filter, and filled it up with fresh oil. Pretty straightforward.
Air Filter
I also checked the air filter. It was pretty dirty, so I just replaced it with a new one. Easy peasy.
The Result (So Far!)
After a new tires ,the basic cleaning, oil change, chain maintenance, and new air filter, the bike is already running much smoother. It sounds better, and it feels better. There’s still more I want to do – maybe address those fairing scratches, possibly look at the brakes – but for now, I’m happy. I can actually ride it! It’s a great feeling to take something that needed a little work and bring it back to life.
