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Motorcycle Carbon Fiber Vinyl Ignition Key Scratch Protector

2017+ Kawasaki Ninja 650 Carbon Fiber Vinyl Ignition Key Scratch Protector - Title Thumbnail

Last updated on December 20th, 2018

Here’s a quick and easy upgrade if you’re looking for a project to keep busy during Winter. There’s an old saying that on cars, one quick way to judge if it has as many miles as the odometer claims is to look at the condition of the steering wheel. Something similar could be claimed about the area around a motorcycle’s ignition.

One peeve of mine are bikes that have the ignition area all scratched up from keys banging around. It looks bad, and it’s avoidable. Using cheap carbon fiber vinyl we’re gonna make a custom key scratch protector for motorcycles. This 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 (Z650) is today’s victim. Enjoy!

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Motorcycle Chain Maintenance – Cleaning & Lube

Motorcycle Chain Maintenance

Last updated on December 9th, 2018

So it’s time to clean and lubricate the chain, huh? It might not be the most glamorous job, but motorcycle chain maintenance is necessary if you want your chain and sprockets to live a long life. Sure, it’s a pretty basic job. But for riders new to DIY motorcycle maintenance this detailed how-to can come in handy. Here are some tips and tricks for cleaning and lubing your motorcycle chain. Today we’ll be working on a 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650/Z650.

Project Specs

Difficulty: Easy
Tool Requirements: Basic
Time: 30 min
Cost: ≈0$
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2017+ Kawasaki Ninja 650 Parts Compatibility List

2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Parts Compatibility List - Title Thumbnail

Last updated on December 10th, 2018

The following is a non-exhaustive, yet unfinished Kawasaki Ninja 650 parts compatibility list. That is, it is a list of models which share a degree of compatibility with the new 2017+ Kawasaki Ninja 650.

Though this model is new for 2017 – and a major redesign on the previous version of the infamous Ninja 650 – there are still many major and minor accessories that will directly bolt-on. At least from previous models from the Kawasaki family. I can’t make any guarantees about compatibility, but it is an excellent starting point when looking for more options when it comes to replacements and upgrades.

Also, if you want to check out what parts I decided to install on my 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650, check out my mods list. I’ve definitely put a not-insignificant amount of time and money into my bike, so I can absolutely make a few recommendations. Continue reading “2017+ Kawasaki Ninja 650 Parts Compatibility List”

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Motorcycle Fork Brace Stabilizer for the Ninja 650/Z650

Motorcycle Fork Brace Stabilizer

Last updated on December 10th, 2018

It’s always nice to spend some quality time with your bike. A cheap and useful way to do that for most sport bikes is installing a Motorcycle Fork Brace Stabilizer. Today we’re going to install one on a 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS. The process and part are exactly the same for the 2017+ Kawasaki Z650. While it’s one of the easier Ninja 650 mods and upgrades, no instructions are included. Seeing it done before trying yourself is always nice, since there are always tips to learn beforehand. Here’s how to install a motorcycle fork stabilizing brace on a sport bike.

Difficulty: Easy
Tool Requirements: Basic
Time: 1 Hour
Cost: 30-50$ Continue reading “Motorcycle Fork Brace Stabilizer for the Ninja 650/Z650”

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Motorcycle Chain Adjustment – Chain Tension & Rear Wheel Alignment

Motorcycle Chain Adjustment

Last updated on December 9th, 2018

Next to tire pressure and chain lubrication, motorcycle chain adjustment is among the most ignored simple maintenance tasks. Even though chain tension (slack) and rear wheel alignment is a major factor for the longevity of both the chain and tire. Not to mention the motorcycles handling, as well as basic safety. To see what happens when a motorcycle chain falls off due to neglecting it, see a short video. The saddest part is that it could have been totally avoidable with less than an hour of time and a few tools following this process. Continue reading “Motorcycle Chain Adjustment – Chain Tension & Rear Wheel Alignment”

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How to Lube the Throttle and Clutch Control Cables

How to Lube the Throttle and Clutch Control Cables on a Motorcycle

Last updated on December 28th, 2018

Oh, the joys of motorcycle maintenance! Or is that just something we pretend when bragging to our cager buddies at the bar? I forget. Sometimes it’s just another item on our to do list, and today is one of those days. Taking the time to lube the throttle and clutch control cables on your motorbike is something you should do yearly. Or whenever the throttle starts to stick.

Considering the consequences of your throttle or clutch cable locking up or breaking, this is really overlooked way too often. Thankfully, it’s easy and pretty much free to do. It can be intimidating the first time, but there isn’t all that much to it. Here’s How.

Difficulty: Low
Tool Requirements: Low
Time: 1 Hour
Cost: ≈0$ after the first time

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Motorcycle Horn Upgrade – Stebel Nautilus Air Horn & Kawasaki Ninja 650

Motorcycle Horn Upgrade - Stebel Nautilus Air Horn & Kawasaki Ninja 650

Last updated on December 10th, 2018

I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been a fan of loud horns. And if you’ve clicked, I’m guessing you might also have the same guilty vice. So when I passed on from my beloved 2015 Kawasaki Ninja 300 ABS (with its Hella Supertones) to a new 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 ABS, you can be sure a motorcycle horn upgrade was somewhere on the To-Do list. This is that. After all, there’s nothing like scaring the bejeezus out of someone trying to merge in to you with a 139db air horn, is there?

To be honest, I was perfectly happy with my Hellas. But it was annoying to have two separate horns to install and wire. This time I was curious about going with a pneumatic air horn like the Stebel Nautilus. As opposed to your typical piezoelectric horn, like the OEM model or the Hellas. Hopefully it would be louder than the Hellas, too. While I had my doubts, eventually I was able to find a viable spot and mounting solution for the horn on this bike. Here I’m going to go over the motorcycle air horn upgrade process.

I based this motorcycle horn upgrade DIY on the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650. That makes this How-To equally applicable to the Kawasaki Z650. Nonetheless, even if you’re looking to install a Stebel Nautilus Air Horn on any vehicle, you might find some inspiration here.

Project Specs:

Difficulty: Intermediate
Tool Requirements: Intermediate
Time: A weekend project
Cost: 40$ Approx. Continue reading “Motorcycle Horn Upgrade – Stebel Nautilus Air Horn & Kawasaki Ninja 650”

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Motorcycle Oil Change How-To – Ninja 650

Motorcycle Oil Change How-To - Ninja 650

Last updated on December 10th, 2018

In this motorcycle oil change DIY I’m going to take a look at changing the oil on the 2017+ Kawasaki Ninja 650. It is also exactly the same process for the 2017 Kawasaki Z650. Thankfully, on these models changing the oil is easier than ever! Mostly thanks to an open bottom that makes it unnecessary to remove any fairings at all. While we are at it, we are also going to install an oil drain valve making future oil changes even quicker and cleaner.

Let’s begin!

Project Specs

Difficulty: Easy
Tool Requirements: Easy
Time: 20 Minutes –  1 hour Continue reading “Motorcycle Oil Change How-To – Ninja 650”