Our Cars: Kawasaki Z250SL

12 August 2016: First service and first problem

One thing that’s likely to surprise riders when they buy a brand new bike is the run-in service. Like cars, motorcycles need to be treated gently for the first few hundred miles until the engine is worn in. However, unlike cars, bikes need a quick service once that process is complete.

That means taking the bike back to the dealer after just 600 miles, which on my Z250SL took a month or so. Thankfully the first service is cheap at just over £100. It takes roughly an hour and a half and involves changing oil and checking various things like chain adjustment.

The first service went smoothly with the Z250SL, with no anomalies or problems to report. Unfortunately, it’s not a full check over of every single nut and bolt, otherwise an irritating problem might have been avoided a few days after the service, when a screw vibrated loose and caused the clutch to stop working.

The clutch on the Z250SL is very small and consequently very light, meaning it is operated by a simple cable rather than hydraulics. Over time one of the two screws holding in a guide for the metal clutch cable worked loose, which caused the cable to twist, rather than pull – stranding me at the roadside.

Spot the missing bolt

Kawasaki provides RAC membership with its new bikes, so I called for assistance. After 45 minutes at the roadside, by which time I’d grown impatient, they called me again to say they would be another hour, which spurred me on to find an alternative solution, despite the lack of a suitable spanner in the provided tool roll.

Luckily an unessential protective plate at the front of the Z250SL uses a bolt with the same thread and a different head, which the toolkit would fit, so I swapped it over and got underway to the local dealer. Fortunately, that wasn’t a long journey and they sorted everything in a few minutes, free of charge.  

It wasn’t the most stressful experience in the world. It was quite easy to see what the problem was even for a mechanical novice and I knew it was a simple, easy fix. But it’s a shame one bolt working loose – as unlikely as that is – can leave a rider stranded by the roadside. Still – that’s how it often goes with bikes.

Aside from that hiccup the Kawasaki has been great. Now it’s been run in and serviced it’s possible to use all of the rev range, which wasn’t possible before. The Kawasaki really comes alive beyond 8000rpm, where peak power and torque are produced. It’s easier to keep up on motorways and get past slow traffic now too. 

« Earlier: Say hello to our little green Kawasaki     Later: Bring the noise »

Updates

17 December 2016: Winter riding

John's decided, with a very significant amount of reluctance, to ride around in the winter weather, just to see how the Z250SL copes.

17 November 2016: Two-up on the Z250SL

Can you carry passengers on the Z250SL or is it strictly a one-up machine?

17 October 2016: Time to get some better tyres

The original equipment tyres supplied with the Z250SL aren't great, so John's changed them for some Michelin Pilot Streets.

12 September 2016: Bring the noise

John has changed the standard exhaust silencer on the Z250SL to make it a bit more noticeable in traffic.

12 August 2016: First service and first problem

The Kawasaki's engine has been liberated by the run-in service - but it hasn't all been plain sailing.

27 July 2016: Say hello to our little green Kawasaki

For the next few years John will be enjoying the company of a bright green, 250cc Z250SL. This is why he chose it...