Inline Performance Magazine

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Ninja 250 Finally Has Side Rear Lights! Posted: 07 Nov 2011 09:00 PM PST

Hello everyone! Welcome to a super exciting edition of Inline Performance Magazine. In this update, we will be making a modification to the Kawasaki Ninja 250. We will be adding additional rear running and brake lights because they are not installed by Kawasaki when the motorcycle is sold in North America. Please join us as we provide a walkthrough for this installation.

Our first task was to purchase the necessary hardware. We bought a set of 1157 light bulbs and two light bulb sockets (#85803) and some push together type electrical connectors. We already had some wire and the tools at the IPM garage.

Removing the rear light assembly is accomplished by unlatching the seat and removing two nuts from the mounting bracket. After unplugging the connector, the rear light assembly can slide out.

We next had to prep our light bulb sockets with an additional ground wire because the light assembly base does not utilize a ground in the housing. After using a wire brush attachment on our Dremel to remove the protective coating from the light bulb base, we cut some wire and soldered one end to the outer base of the light bulb socket. It would be easier to have first
placed a flat connector on the end of the wire and then soldered the connector to the light bulb base.

Since all of the wires coming out of our light bulb base are the same color, we went to the motorcycle’s battery and tested the leads to find out which wire supplied power to the running light, and which was going to power the brake light. After marking the wires, we were ready to install the sockets into the light assembly using the cement glue. We then installed the light bulbs by removing the red lens cover.

Wiring all of the leads together is the penultimate step. We cut the wires leading to the connector of the main rear light, and attached new connectors to the leads. We then grouped all of the similar function wires together and attached connectors after first twisting the leads together. We now had three groups of wires in the connectors and simply matched them to their mate on the OEM connector. A few zip ties help hold all the wire in a tidy arrangement for reinstallation in the motorcycle.

The rear light assembly slides into the motorcycle in reverse of removal, but the groove on the top edge needs to be fitted first. Take care when aligning the bolts into the mounting bracket to not misplace the fitted washers. Afterward, simply tighten the nuts, reconnect the wire clip, and
reinstall the seat. A simple turn of the key shows success, and the satisfying squeeze on the brake lever illuminated the rear assembly like magic.

That is all for this update of Inline Performance Magazine. Check back often for more update. Visit Ninja Boards for other exciting Kawasaki motorcycle discussions.

Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to order your copy of the 2011 print edition of Inline Performance Magazine HERE at the pre-order price until supplies last.

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