[702rider]

If you are asking how to "clear" the error, there are instructions on this forum. Just search the forum. If you are asking how to troubleshoot the clutch slippage: No troubleshooting is necessary. If it is slipping, it needs a rebuild. If you are mechanically skilled, first read Jess Norton's web posting on the Ninja 400 clutch design problems and how to solve them, then read the service manual section on clutch replacement and/or watch a YouTube video on the process.

If you are not mechanically skilled, get a quote from your dealership. Might be a little costly.

Lesson learned: Learning to do burnouts, especially on a small displacement motorcycle with too wide a rear tire (for style reasons), is COSTLY. Best to be avoided.

Jim G

Yeah, it's silly, a waste of rubber and damaging to your bike, but it's the bogan mating call. How else will they reproduce?


Yeah, the N400 is a bit notorious for clutch issues due to weak springs, parts with more movement than they should have and poorly machined bits.
Practicing burnouts with those things in mind is a great way to burn it up.

I'm no mechanic, but it's potentially just the friction plates in this instance? The N400 with it's weak springs can make them wear more than they should.
If so that's probably a fairly simple task for anyone who can do an oil change and has a torque wrench. There are a bunch of videos online.

Basically it'll be:

• Ordering new clutch gasket, just in case, might be ok though
• Ordering new plates and soaking in new oil
• Drop the oil (optional, alternative is leaning the bike a lot, I'd recommend it though)
• Open clutch side
• Release spring plate (slowly undoing each side)
• Take off cover
• Take clutch plates and steels out maintaining order (put them face down on something in correct order, so if you do it in reverse its correct)
• Put new plates in following the reverse order (narrows/wides), i.e. when you pick up an old clutch plate, put in the new one matching the size, coat steels in oil when replacing
• Attach cover
• Attach spring plate (slightly tightening so the plate isn't on a weird angle) to torque
• Reinstall clutch cover with new gasket if the current one is iffy
• Guess I should add, put new oil in if you dropped it earlier

There's service manuals available around the internet which will explain how to do all of this properly.

Personally, if you're in there anyway, I'd be ordering at least the upgraded springs and thicker plates. Norton/Spears sells them. You'd want the clutch cable spring, and barnett clutch springs, and the barnett friction plates.

Wait and see if anyone calls this out as wrong, as like I mentioned I'm not all that mechanically inclined.

Thank you guys!! I'm still a new rider and I honestly don't mind any mistakes I make throughout this journey!! I have actually replaced my whole kit, I followed the guide off of Norton. So I should go look on the forums on how to clear it BUT is there any way that I could find more information about this error code? That's what spooked me. I just want to make sure it's just the bike is fine and nothing else is making this error happen.

 

[Tracy]

I used to do the occasional rolling burnout on my 2002 R1. It was fun. Never tried to do one on the 400...

Speaking of burnouts, my best one was on my 2004 SV1000. I stopped at a gas station to get gas and went inside to pay with cash without removing my helmet. The B!tch behind the counter was very rude and told me to either remove my helmet or get out, because I could be in there to rob the place. I literally had the $20 bill in my hand to pay for the gas. I said "Screw you then lady!" and walked out. Then I got on my bike and backed it up right in front of the glass doors and did a huge fat smoky burn out right in front of the place...LOL I'm sure she called the cops after that, but if she did, they never found me. /HOOLIGAN

Screw you lady!, Big fat Smoky burnout! Haha, love it!!
🐉

 

[Turboblew]

I really believe that burnouts are abusing your bike. It is not designed for it. What is the point? Spirited riding is fine; even wheelies if you can do them well. But just to make smoke?

how long have you been riding? what is your skill level? licensed road racer? drag racer? land speed racer?

 

[Banjoboy]

I’ve gone back and read the thread from the beginning. I have to agree with sbk1198’s posts. There’s no way changing sprockets could cause this problem.

But I totally believe all the people that say they’ve seen it on their bike. 😊

It's a known issue that changing the gearing 7% or more will result in a CEL 'n gear position indicator will go bonkers on N/Z400s, Versys 300s, N650s, and maybe more. Non ABS may be excluded? Butt as Kiwi said, it ain't even worth fussing over; you can jump that switch faster than you (Well I anyways?) can read all them threads.

 

[Banjoboy]

Thank you guys!! I'm still a new rider and I honestly don't mind any mistakes I make throughout this journey!! I have actually replaced my whole kit, I followed the guide off of Norton. So I should go look on the forums on how to clear it BUT is there any way that I could find more information about this error code? That's what spooked me. I just want to make sure it's just the bike is fine and nothing else is making this error happen.

The search function is your friend Does this help?

 

[Duckman]

It's a known issue that changing the gearing 7% or more will result in a CEL 'n gear position indicator will go bonkers on N/Z400s, Versys 300s, N650s, and maybe more. Non ABS may be excluded? Butt as Kiwi said, it ain't even worth fussing over; you can jump that switch faster than you (Well I anyways?) can read all them threads.

Knock on wood, but my son and I ran 14/44 several times this last year on both our bikes without seeing this issue. I think that’s greater than a 9% change but feel free to check my math.

I guess there’s always exceptions.

Just had a thought here. Obviously the ECU doesn’t have eyes. It can’t see that the sprockets have changed. All the ECU could possibly know is rpm vs speed vs gear position. The only other thing on the bike that effects those parameters is tire diameter. The tires we run are very large in diameter. 11mm larger in diameter than the OEM tire. That’s equivalent to about 1 less tooth on the rear sprocket. So in effect we are running the equivalent of 14/43 with a stock tire. That would put the change in gearing at about 5%. Hummmmm.

🥴

 

[Banjoboy]

Great points.
Are these ABS bikes? ABS has eyes, 'n would prolly compare front 'n rear wheel speeds along w/ gear position, so maybe non ABS bikes are exempt?

 

[Boat]

.... so maybe non ABS bikes are exempt?

Nope, my bike is non ABS and when I went to the 38 tooth rear sprocket I had the issue (check engine light and loss of gear indicator). It didn’t happen right away, maybe after about 50 miles or so...

 

[Banjoboy]

Nope, my bike is non ABS and when I went to the 38 tooth rear sprocket I had the issue (check engine light and loss of gear indicator). It didn’t happen right away, maybe after about 50 miles or so...

GTK

 

[Jim G]

44/14 versus 41/14 is only a 44/41 = 7.3% gearing change. But a much larger tire, as Duckman points out, reduces that gearing change percentage (Mounting a larger tire is the same as reducing the rear sprocket's number of teeth). That's almost certainly why Duckman did not get the CEL.

Lots of unexpected, and stupid, things happen when motorcycle designs start using combinations of internal gear ratios and external speed sensors to determine or manage things like speed, gear indicator, and ABS, and riders modify gearing or tire size.

In this case, the collateral bad side effects (the CEL or ABS impairment) tempt riders to remove an important safety feature. Once Kawasaki finally figures out that riders are doing this, and its attorneys warn them about the potential legal liabilities, Kawasaki just might decide to do things the RIGHT way versus the cheapest way.

Jim G

 

[702rider]

The search function is your friend Does this help?

I swear whenever I use any forum function (especially Reddit) it never turns out well for me. thank you so much!!

 

[Boat]

I swear whenever I use any forum function (especially Reddit) it never turns out well for me. thank you so much!!

You've come to the right place. We may make fun of ya every now and then, but we won't flame ya...

 

[Tracy]

You've come to the right place. We may make fun of ya every now and then, but we won't flame ya...

Every now and then? 🐉 yeah I guess thats right

 

[airhead83]

You've come to the right place. We may make fun of ya every now and then, but we won't flame ya...

At least until they're around for a while... then all common courtesies go out the window.

 

[Banjoboy]

I swear whenever I use any forum function (especially Reddit) it never turns out well for me. thank you so much!!

I'm here fer you.
Sounds like yer on the right path w/ the beefier clutch, now trash away!

You've come to the right place. We may make fun of ya every now and then, but we won't flame ya...

Speak for yourself!

 

[Teorist]

Found this link about burnouts, don't know where to put it so I am posting it here: 8 tips to help you achieve the perfect burnout

 

[Jim G]

Found this link about burnouts, don't know where to put it so I am posting it here: 8 tips to help you achieve the perfect burnout

"Don't feed the animals".

Jim G

 

[Zguy]

is there a tutorial for creative low siding? Titanium frame sliders at night at freeway speeds?

 

[702rider]

FORGOT TO UPDATE POST BUT WHEN I PUT IN MY NEW ADVANCED CLUTCH PLATES FROM NOTRON, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISAPPEARED AFTER 80 MILES OF RIDING!! EVERYTHING ALL BACK TO NORMAL

 

[Jim G]

This is what I expected. Thanks for letting us know.

Jim G