Dynojet...

So, the Ninja 250 has an issue.  I think the folks at Kawasaki were super excited to see just how great of gas mileage they could get from the little bike, so they jetted it extraordinarily lean.  While it's great to get 50-70 mpg, it's not so great to warm up your bike for a minimum of 10 minutes, ride with the choke on for 15, and then still not be sure that when you roll on the gas if your bike is going to go or sputter.  Nathan did some research (I suppose this entry could also fall under Nathan is always right) and found that there are a couple of options for this issue.  You could add washers and change out the jets individually.  This is an inexpensive, but experimental fix.  The primers online talk about testing it, and then adjusting it.  Now, if you've ever tried to work on a Ninja 250's carburetor, you'll know that it's in the heart of the bike, buried beneath all the fairings, with a miniscule amount of space between it and the airbox under the gas tank, etc etc... It requires a lot to change, test, change test.  Another suggested option is to take the bike to a professional with a Dyno and an electronic gas analyzer.  The third option is to read.  A lot.  And buy a jet kit, and follow their recommendations.  Nathan reviewed these options, offered his services, and I bought a Dynojet Jet Kit.  Nathan and I eagerly watched the mail, awaiting this magical box.  And then it did.  And the tinkering began. The bike came apart, and the carburetor's came off.  Jet's were installed, needles were raised, and then the putting back together process began.  Vacuum hoses were reversed, the engine was hydro locked, and the carburetors came off again!   Amazingly, everything went back together, and Nathan took it for a test ride.  He said it felt fine, you know, like a normal bike.  So, the real test was what did I think. 


So I rode.  And was amazed... When I rolled on the gas, the bike went.  Smoothly, evenly!  I didn't have to worry at stop signs that I was going to make it just into the lane of traffic before the bike bogged and maybe even died.  (Yup, that has happened.)  And it just plain felt more fun!  Plus two horsepower may not sound like much, but evening out the horsepower in the lower RPM's so it's not "nothing nothing nothing, hit 7000 and here's all your power" just makes riding epic! 


So, Nathan did a great job, and he likes to be reminded every few days that he is the best husband-to-be in the world.  He thinks it's because he put a lot of time and energy into the bike.  And it is.  But it's really because Nathan is always right. :)