Ok, have had my z250 for a week now and have about five hours on it.

I have a couple questions that I would like to clear up.

Ok, first. When I last started my bike (and let it warm up about 4-5 min) it would only shift into first, maybe second, but no further unless I played with it alot. Then after a short ride it would shift easily up and down.

My question is this, does the bike need to be warm before it will shift well? And if so, how long should I let it warm up before riding.

Ok. Second question (also about shifting) when riding I can upshift and downshift fairly easily, but when still I have trouble dropping down the last couple gears without giving it a little gass. Is this normal, or should I mention it when I take it in for service in a couple weeks?

Thanks again.

(Ohh, p.s. if anyone can give me an idea of how much increase in the low end a full exaust replacement will add I would appreciate it. And is the DG Stage III any good? Its so cheap compared to even slip ons that it doesn't seem like it should be as good. Also, how loud is it without the spark arrester, I don't really want one unless the noise will be a problem.)

 

You should mention it to the shop you bought it from. Most likely it is just going to require some adjustment. We had an Ozark 250, that had some minor shifting issues, but our Z seems to shift fine.

The Yoshi slip on did make a small difference on our Z250, but I don't know about the systems you are asking about

 

Now as far as the shifting, I could be way off. But it's new and it never hurts to ask the dealer, just hope he's not far away from you.

 

In the first question, when it wouldn't upshift, I was moving (albeit slowly, as I couldn't get outa first).
Nuetral to first was never a problem.

The downshift question is when I am stopped (like I come to a stop in 4th, downshift to 3rd, then 2nd / 1st / neutral can be hard to shift into without touching the gass or rocking).

And I do live in a desert, though I wouldn't want to start any fires.

 

Hey I have never had a problem like that with my Z. These bikes are normally cold blooded but that should not affect your shifting. I would mention it to the dealer just to be safe while its under warrenty.

 

yeah that same kinda stuff happened to me when i first got my Z.....just follow these http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm break in instructions and your quad will be a blast

 

If you are stopped when you are downshifting from fourth, then it will be hard to downshift. Kind of like a bicycle, it's hard to change gears on a bike while you are sitting still. If you are still moving while you are downshifting and it is hard, then you may need some adjustments.

I'm guessing from the way you worded most of what you said, is that it shifts ok when you are moving, but not when you are stopped or going very slowly.

BTW, I've ran mine without a spark arrester (only after it has poured the night before guys, so don't go nuts on me) and it isn't really much louder, mostly just gives it a deeper sound. I didn't really notice any other difference performance wise or anything, so really its not worth taking it out.

 

I moved the gear shifter back into its original location and it seems to shift a bit better now (I had raised it a couple notches originally because I wear steel toed shoes). Second gear is the only touchy one now.

I read through that article about break in and it has me a little worried. I don't think I fully opened it up more than a couple times (for less than a minute) in the first 20 miles. I more or less kept the engine around 70-80 percent max revs and loaded / unloaded a lot.

In any case, getting my skid guards tomorrow and I will hit it hard after that.

(I also tried sliding my back end around a few times using the back break. up on two wheels every time, even when throwing my weight into the turn. There must be some secret to it.)