Jezebel’s Modifications – My Big Bike To-Do List
There are so many things that can be done to your bike to make it a safer, more comfortable ride.. then there’s mods that are just plain fun and make your bike look good. Here’s the list of things I have done and plan on doing to my 2008 Ninja 250R (Jezebel). Incidentally, if anyone is selling any of the parts and pieces listed below, please drop me a note! I’ve split the list into three categories – the modifications I’m doing to make my bike safer to ride, and more visible to other motorists; Farkles, which are purely for aesthetics, they make the bike shiny and pretty to look at; and repairs, since I bought my bike second hand and low-sided her on her right, she has some bruises that need healing.
Safety |
|
 |
Lower using Roaring Toyz lowering links and handlebar raisers |
 |
Frame, bar and swingarm sliders (Shogun) |
|
Change clutch and brake levers to adjustable ones |
|
Integrated mirror turn signals |
|
Modulating headlight |
|
Modulating brake light |
|
Aftermarket louder horn |
Farkles |
|
|
Change exhaust to Two Brothers slip on |
|
Add new heat shield |
|
Fender eliminator |
|
Replace turn signals with flush mounts |
|
Smoke black windscreen |
|
Tank protector pad |
|
Blue wheel rim tape |
|
Blue pegs and passenger pegs |
|
Blue chain |
|
Wire second headlight |
|
Passenger seat cowl |
|
Replace seat for Corbin seat |
|
Change speedometer guage from Miles to KM’s, add clock |
Repairs |
|
|
Replace right fairing |
|
Replace font fairing |
|
Touch-up paint on left fairing |
|
Replace rear brake lever |
|
Replace front brake lever |
|
Replace right bar end |
7 Comments
Leave a Comment
About Riding Jezebel
My name is Victoria, I'm a petite (5'0", 98lbs) girl and Jezebel is my 2008 Ninja 250. I bought her after completing a motorcycle training course and receiving my learner's motorcycle license in early May 2011. This site is all about the research and modifications I've done to my bike to make her safer, and more comfortable for a petite girl to ride.
Hi there Victoria,
I’ve got the same bike you do, mine is 2008 too and also blue! I went to PRS as well and just came across your forum post in this coming Sunday’s ride thread, that’s how I found your site
I’ve got couple of the same to-do mods as you have on your list. You’ve obviously done much more research and put more thoughts into than I have. Would you drop me an email and hopefully we can exchange research info and ideas?
Cheers!
Hey Edmond,
I’ll drop you an email – thanks for the note
Noticed you had the same bike I started on)except mine was blacl(. As for the extensive list of what you want to do with your bike….I really wouldnt do much. I only had my two fiddy for a year and I had decided to move up to a 650 yamaha v-star classic. After less than 7 months on that, I sold it and purchased a 01 Honda CBR600 F4i.
And when your selling a bike, all your aftermarket parts dont make it more expensive. So unless your planning on keeping this bike a LONG LONG time, just do whats absolutely neccesary. As for a clock….just buy a 5 dollar water resistant sports watch from Walmart and put it on the handlebars. Best thing I did to my 250(besides selling it hahaha) and I kept it for my v-star. But Honda had the right idea and build one into the display.
With your safety peices…the adjustable levers….unless yours are bent or really hard to pull, leave them alone. the 250 has the nicest and smoothest clutch pull I have ever used.
Sliders just protect your fairings/engine from scrapes when your riding. They dont protect you.
I can understand the light modulating, but find it to be almost impossible to look at people who have one. Just run your brights during the day and at night use dims. Your lights bounce enough that its pretty impossible not to notice. Just look at other bikes lights when your driving around.
I only use the horn AFTER the fact. Its never ever a “Im going to get run over usre the horn” cause they wont hear it. My first reaction is, “get out of the situation” then its the “Use the horn to tell them they f***** up”
With your flush moutned turn signals, they are nice, but some of the smoked ones are difficult to see during the day. And if you just leave the OEM ones(which are probably the safest) you could forgo getting the signals on the mirrors. Ride like your invivible and it doesnt matter what you have for headlights anyhow. Most cagers dont care where you go because either your a punk kid and roadkill or not even there. Thats there mentality. Either you exist or are riding wrecklessly(which is the ONLY time they notice you)
With pegs, just remove the passenger pegs if your putting the cowling there. And with the driver foot pegs being so low, and covered with a black grip, you cant see them. Spend the money on petrol driving around.
The heat sheild isn;t neccesary. Your fairings have a head dispering liner and it does a lot to take away that heat. If you really feel the burn, and you shouldnt, you can use the header wrap which is like a tape that you can mummy wrap around headers to keep it cooler.
Tank protector is a nice add on for 20 dollars. When i was riding my 250, it was to protect it from the zipper of my jacket. On my new bike, my shirt and hoodie both fly up around my neck at high speeds. I got burned up the yin yang because when I bought it, I rode 400 miles in 100 degree sun and my entire back is burnt. ( I bouht it yesterday
) and my belt buckle(kawasaki one from the 60′s) rubs up against it and doesnt ruin tank finish. Dont get the leather half tank covers. Those bra things are gross looking. The tape ones are the best IMO
The blue chain is a bad choice too. Its just going to cost 100 dollars for the chain with master links and rivits. Then you have labor to get it installed and thats usually not too much, but its somthing to think about. Labor here is 75 an hour and its probably going to cost 30-40 dollars after shop fees and supplies. So you can save that 150 and pay off your next front tire and have it on hand so when you need it replaced, you have it ready. Instead of ordering it when your tire is way past its replace date and having to wait a week for one.
The speedo guage has kmh….just smaller. Get used to tthe AMERICAN system
After a few weeks your going to be able to just covert from mph to kmh without thinking and know where the needle is and what speed you are in.
With repalcing the levers, just look for some OEM ones, usually about 10 dollars a peice plus shipping and only is you need them. Otherwise you have another 3 liters of petrol to get you alother 80 miles of ride time
For plastics, you can usully find some on ebay. People wreck their bike and try to part them out and you can find the side you need(most lowside and only wreck one side of the bike) and the other side if in pretty good shape. So try looking for salvages at salvage yards/websites.
Dont try any touch-up. Both my first bikes were lookers. My ninja had some scrapes on it, but you couldnt see unless you were looking. My 650 was NEVER on the ground. My cbr was on the ground on each side at least once. They tried to paint over some of the scratches, and the paint got all over everything and looks pretty bad. I wish they left it alone, but they got paint specks all over everything. They tried taping it off, but I find specks of paint a two feet from the side of the scratch….just dont do it.
You have 500 dollars worth of “farkles” and at least that into repair. As long as the bike runs good and isnt cracked, leave it be. Replacing peices with plastics, never goes well. They never fit back quite right and you get rattle, and always at acruising rpm. So dont do it unless you have to.
To be brtually honest, the only thing on that entire list I would modify my bike with, is the flush mounted signals. They looked great at night with the black as they were smoked. I would also just add a wrist watch to the handle bars also…but that doesnt count as modifying the bike.
just my 4 pence…if you want to discuss any of what I said, just drop me a line….im open to debating any of it.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like 400 pence not 4 pence worth buddy.
So you didn’t plan on keeping your ninja, it doesn’t mean that she will go down the same path as you. If she is intending on keeping it (which i assume she is) i say buy all the options you want for it!!! Not really open for discussion but all i can say is you sir are a TWAT!!!
Catcha
Wow, Joshua, nice book. Now if any of us, including Vic, cared about a word you said then you would be quite the subject matter expert. Just because she wants to explore her bike doesn’t mean she is wasting her time and money. It’s her hobby. No need to impose on her desires. I have a sneaking suspicion someone in the past tried to stop you from bedazzling a black ninja 250. Now go and toss some more smoked turn signals and Wal-Mart watches on some more craigslist bikes.
FYI: Are you British or just a reh-tarde?
4 pence…..moron.
That’s quite the list you have there.
I’m working on modifications for a 2003 Suzuki GS500E or Naked Bike. It doesn’t have any sporty fairings for the Look-Cool-Factor but I’m adding a windshield to help deflect some of the wind when I decide to pick up some speed.
However, one option that I AM exploring that you might be interested in is the Stebel Nautilus Compact Dual-Tone Air Horn.
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/2137/704/
It achieves a volume of 139dB and retails for $40 USD in black. You will need to spend an additional $30 USD for a wiring kit (although you may be able to purchase the necessary pieces for less than the $30 Plug-and-Play kit that Twisted Throttle sells).
I ordered mine from the Cycle Barn at Smokey Point in Marysville – near the Seattle Premium Outlets Mall; however, I believe that Imperial Motorcycles in Burnaby also sells an Air Horn. I just don’t remember the model or the cost.
Good luck on your mods. Can’t wait to see the pics.
Thats the horn I’m planning on getting! I’ve wanted to add an aftermarket horn since before even buying my bike, because I know it’s an important safety feature.
Nice one on the Suzuki, that’s a beautiful bike!