Alright, let me tell you about the time I got my hands dirty with a 2008 Kawasaki 636 Ninja. This wasn’t just a casual look-see; this was a full-on, sleeves-rolled-up, dive-in kind of experience.
It all started when I picked up this Ninja. It was a bit rough around the edges, you know? Not exactly showroom material. But hey, that’s how you get a deal, right? The previous owner said it needed some TLC, which, in motorcycle language, usually means “I haven’t touched it in years, and it probably needs everything.”
First thing I did was the basic stuff. Oil change, new filter, new spark plugs. You gotta start somewhere, and that’s always the safest bet. The oil that came out looked like it had been in there since the bike rolled off the assembly line. Spark plugs were fouled, too. Easy peasy, though. Got all that sorted in an afternoon.
Next up were the brakes. The front lever felt mushy, and the rear brake barely did anything. So, I bled the lines, which helped a little, but not enough. Ended up replacing the front brake pads – they were basically dust. The rotors looked okay, so I just cleaned them up. The rear brake was a different story. The caliper was sticking, so I had to take it apart, clean everything, and put it back together with some fresh grease. That made a HUGE difference.
Then came the real fun – the carbs. The bike was running rough, especially at low RPMs. I knew what that meant: time to deal with those suckers. I pulled them off, which is always a pain in the butt, and then started disassembling them. Man, they were gunked up! Jets were clogged, bowls were nasty. I spent a good day just cleaning everything with carb cleaner and compressed air. Put them back on, and BAM! The bike was running like a champ. Smooth as butter.
I didn’t stop there. The chain was rusty, so I cleaned and lubed it. Tires were old and cracked, so I slapped on a new set. The battery was weak, so I replaced it. Basically, I went through the whole bike, fixing and cleaning everything I could find.
But here’s the thing: I learned a ton doing it. I’m no professional mechanic, but I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. And honestly, there’s no better way to learn about a bike than by tearing it apart and putting it back together.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. Not only did I save a bunch of money doing the work myself, but I also know this bike inside and out now. Plus, there’s something super satisfying about taking something that’s a little rough and making it run like new again.
- Changed the oil and filter.
- Replaced the spark plugs.
- Bleed the brakes.
- Replaced the front brake pads.
- Cleaned and rebuilt the rear brake caliper.
- Cleaned and rebuilt the carbs.
- Cleaned and lubed the chain.
- Replaced the tires.
- Replaced the battery.
Now, the Ninja is screaming! Still got a few things to tweak here and there, but overall, she’s a beast! That’s my experience, hope you enjoyed it!
