Just bought bike - big issues

mufc802

mufc802

mufc802

Soldato
Joined
1 Jul 2009
Posts
2,670
I just bought a used bike (Ninja 250 SL 2016) from a dealership and there are some big issues with it:

- It wont start unless the bike is in neutral. If its in gear and I hold the clutch lever in the bike wont start

- It was very difficult to get it from second gear back into neutral or first. This is when at a standstill or even while riding along.

The bike is now parked up in the drive and I simply cannot get it into neutral (or first) so it wont start. No idea what gear its currently in as there is no gear indicator on the dash.

Hopefully the dealership will fix the issues without charge since I only collected it earlier today. My fault for buying it before test riding it...

I haven't ridden a motorbike for years so its not a good first day back into it. :(
 
Don't all bikes need to be in neutral to start nowadays?

As for the gear selector, that could just be a bit of adjustment or a loose clutch cable, have you tried anything?
 
Diddums said:
Don't all bikes need to be in neutral to start nowadays?

As for the gear selector, that could just be a bit of adjustment or a loose clutch cable, have you tried anything?
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All the bikes I used to ride would switch on just by holding in the clutch lever. If you stalled for example whilst in 5th gear on a busy road, would you really want to shift all the way back to neutral, or just start straight away by holding in the clutch lever?

I don't know anything about how to fix these things, I have only just bought the bike today thinking there would be no issues since it was just serviced before they sold it.
 
There should be a clutch switch, which will allow the bike to start in gear if the clutch is pulled in. Unless this particular bike doesn't have one.

What issues are you having getting it into neutral? Kicking straight from first to second and missing neutral? It's a 250, higher than normal chance of it being accident damaged / repaired. The dealer should fix the clutch switch issue if there is one. The same goes for getting into neutral.

Gear indicators aren't all that common, especially on the smaller bikes, and aren't at all nessesary once you are used to the machine. If you're unsure of what gear you're in while it's switched off, kick down, roll the bike forwards to load the gearbox, and kick down again, all the way to first. then lift the pedal gently until your neutral light illuminates. You should h have a neutral light.
 
I am sure it should have a clutch switch, I rode the older model of the Ninja 250 many years ago and that one had one.

My issue is the bike will be in 2nd gear, and will not shift down to either neutral or 1st gear. I will see what the dealer says tomorrow. Since I cannot get it into neutral they will have to come out to sort it.
 
How tight is the chain? A badly adjusted chain can really mess with getting into neutral.

Not starting unless in neutral might just be a dodgy clutch switch, check under the lever to see if it's got one. It may just need a good blast of contact cleaner or wd40 if it's all you've got and work the mechanism.
 
Not being funny but if you've just bought it take it back.... If there are issues they have to fix them on a new purchase like that if it was bought from a dealer
 
Rich1988 said:
Not being funny but if you've just bought it take it back.... If there are issues they have to fix them on a new purchase like that if it was bought from a dealer
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Fully agree. Let the dealer sort it, but while he has the bike he he can see if it''s gear lever adjustment, chain, clutch cable, or a knackered box before the dealer takes it.

As for the clutch switch. It won't start in gear with the Sidestrand down. If it doesn't start in gear with stand up, then it''s likely just the switch.
 
I phoned and he said its a safety feature to not allow the bike to start unless its in neutral. So even with the kick stand up and holding in the clutch lever it wont start. Kind of annoying if I cannot get it into neutral then I wont be able to start it. Going to take it there after to see if they can make it change back into first and neutral a bit easier.

Edit: Just found the user manual online. It says
"The motorcycle is equipped with astarter lockout switch. This switch isdesigned so that the engine does notstart if the transmission is in gearand the side stand is down. How-ever, the engine can be started if theclutch lever is pulled and the sidestand is fully up."
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So I guess the side stand switch must be faulty?
 
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If it was the side stand switch it should stall with the stand up as soon as you kick it into gear. It should be the clutch switch that''s dodgy. Good luck with the dealer. Hopefully he sorts it for you.
 
Munchies said:
If it was the side stand switch it should stall with the stand up as soon as you kick it into gear. It should be the clutch switch that''s dodgy. Good luck with the dealer. Hopefully he sorts it for you.
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That makes sense. It sounds like it would be the clutch switch. The side stand switch does seem to work as while the bike is on, if I kick the stand down while in gear it will stall as it should do. It just wont start when the side stand is up again until its back in neutral.
 
Update:

I took it into the shop and they were able to sort out the gear issue - I think they needed to adjust the clutch cable or something.

They said that it needs a new clutch switch so that is going to be ordered and installed for free.

Thanks all for help. Now I can enjoy the bike! :D
 
So literally the first thing I said then. Screw it, I'm taking it :D

Glad it's sorted dude, now you can really enjoy it!

Also you need to post up some pics in the "show us your bikes" thread - dem's da rules :cool:
 
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