[thesmyle]

hello,

got my bike used (99 ninja 250ex)

after riding it a month or so i finally did a little check up...

im looking for the right coolant for my bike. i did a search on yahoo and i found this EVANS NPG COOLANT (http://www.evanscooling.com/html/mcycles1.htm)... im wondering if that is a good coolant for my bike....

or are there other coolants out there that I should buy for my bike... im not sure if car coolant and motorcycle coolant are the same...

and also... any tips on doing routine checkup on a bike?

i checked the brake fluids (front), can't find the back brake fluid yet, umm coolant, and the engine oil (which im not too sure how to check)


tips tips or a good link on maintaining the bike would be appreciated thanx

latta

 

[mixery2k]

Take it from me, you want to get the repair manual. There is Clymer and Haynes, maybe others, but those are the top ones, I think. You can get them on ebay. I have a Clymers and it has everything you can you do to keep up with maintance, be prepared for some work, but it is worth it.

GOOD LUCK
Jonathan

 

[Freakinout]

the work now is waaaay better than the repair costs if you don't do it. but get a clymer or haynes and you'll be way better off.

lots of pictures and detailed instructions on what and how to do everything.

 

[thesmyle]

lookin

thank you, im looking for those manuals but no luck so far on ebay...

i'll continue on with it but can you guys still tell me what coolant to get? it's on "low" right now thank you

 

[Curt]

You can also buy service manuals direct from www.kawasaki.com. That's what I did.
Curt

 

[michiganarft11]

You could always go to a dealer and get some of this:

Kawachem Aluma-Cool Engine Coolant
A full strength engine coolant formulated with T-Triazole for maximum corrosion protection in aluminum cooling systems.

• Contains foam and rust inhibitors
• Packaged in an easy-pour quart container

32 oz.

Price $5.95

 

[Curt]

Okay, I finally got around to actually answering the question. According to my 250R service manual:
type: permanent type of antifreeze (soft water and ethylene glycol plus corrosion and rust inhibitor chemicals for aluminum engines and radiators)
color: green
mixed ratio: soft water 50%, coolant 50%
freezing point: -35C, (-31F)
total amount: 1.0L (reservoir tank full level including radiator and engine)

I think that means any old automotive coolant will work fine, since I think they all meet the description. I'd be willing to bet that your local motorcycle shop would be glad to sell you coolant specific for motorcycles for about twice the price. But your local shop also gives you free advice, and that's worth giving them some business.

If I'm wrong about automotive coolant being okay for motorcycles, will someone authoritatively correct me before thesmyle and I both wreck our engines?

Curt

 

[thesmyle]

i got one too

i bought a service manual so i'll be going over it too... but it seems like it doesn't exactly tell you what to get... lots of detailed pics of engines, gears, etc...