KAWASAKI NINJA 400
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Taking care of the finer details.”
Iknow, I know, if you read last month’s column you’d have seen that I was on the hunt for some more power. U nfortunately that will have to wait till nex t time, as a full system is in hot demand these days meaning I’ve still got a few more weeks of waiting… it’s almost as if there’s a whole championship full of kids racing these things who need ‘ em first or something. But on the flip side, it’s made me even more ex cited for when those new ponies do arrive.
I haven’t j ust been sitting by the post box though, as I’ve actually been pretty busy getting my hands dirty, getting three of the essential parts I think every road bike needs covered. Number one of which is a new set of tyres; okay, it might come on Dunlop hoops but OE j obs aren’t the best in the world, and after sampling a set of SportSmart TTs at the launch a few months ago I couldn’t wait to see how they’d hold up through a summer of abuse. So far they’ve survived a good few hundred miles, a trackday and the odd burnout or three with flying colours, and they definitely help to inspire more confidence through the soft chassis. I even took the wheels out myself and it was an absolute doddle, but if that’s not your thing, get your ass down to your local tyre warehouse ( I use a lovely lot called Watling Tyres) , and get some new boots on. You won’t regret it.
Number two on the list is crash protection, as no matter how careful you are ( or how good the tyres are!) all you need is a little diesel on the roads and a little spill can turn into big bucks. Being a creature of habit, I’ve gone down the R&G route with some engine and clutch casing protection for the moment, as even though I’ve been down the road more times than I’d care to admit they’ve always done the j ob. They’re nice and easy to stick on as they come with all the instructions and bolts you need, and that ten minute j ob can save a lifetime of pain… Or something like that. You don’t even have to remove the fairings either, so there’s absolutely no ex cuses.
Number three on the list was another j obby from R&G, but this time for fashion and not function. I’m a slave to appearances, and I j ust had to get a tail tidy on as soon as possible. You do have to bust the backseat off and mess around with the wiring slightly on this, but with the instructions given it’s simple, which is nice.
I haven’t j ust been spending time ripping the thing apart though, as between laptop stints I’ve been out at every opportunity, and the K awasaki hasn’t missed a beat. NowI’ve got the Wild Ass cushion it’s comfy on long j ourneys, and as theWorld Cup has been on, I’ve been taking advantage of the q uiet roads. I might’ve been wary at first, but with every mile the little Ninj a is really coming into its own. Give her some power, and she’ll be the dream…