Inaccurate Tachometer on Ninja 250

[ahoy11]

The tachometer on my '09 ninja 250 started to show higher RPMs than it used to. The idle RPM went from ~1500 to ~3000. In fact, RPMs seems to have doubled. Now I rev often to the red line before I feel the bike is ready for an up shift.

The engine is either actually reaching the higher RPMs, or the tachometer is wrong. I believe the tachometer is inaccurate, because by my previous experience, the engine doesn't sound like it's revving as high as the tachometer displays.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Trying to think how it could have happened, I remember that right before I noticed this, I stalled the bike on a traffic light, and started the engine again without the clutch being fully pulled in. Could that have changed anything?

Thanks for any insights!

[Gryphon]

It's possible that your tach is accurate, and your idle has increased to 3000 RPM.
This is what happens when the bike gets good and hot, in the nice spring weather
(compared to coupla months ago).
Simply use the adjuster, and maintain idle at ~1200 RPM.
If any doubts, any Kawi shop can test your tach quick & easy, it's pretty straightforward.
Regards

[fibster]

Hook up with a buddy - or someone on this forum - with the same year & model (probably lots around) and compare same gear / same speed tach readings. If it's truly gone out of whack by a factor of 2, should be pretty easy determine?

[Tripletrouble]

I believe this is a known problem with this bike.

[mikbusa]

Ninja 250 are notorious for having a temperature sensitive tachometer, perfectly normal. Well not normal, but many have this issue. Sometimes a new tach fixes it, sometimes it doesn't.

[ahoy11]

Actually now I believe it's a clutch slippage issue. The clutch may not have been fully disengaged. I tried to adjust the clutch cables today on both the upper end at the lever, and at the lower end near the oil gauge. but I'm no expert at it, and not exactly how to fix it. Anyone with good guides on clutch cable adjustment? The manual is too vague.

[toysareforboys]

Actually now I believe it's a clutch slippage issue. The clutch may not have been fully disengaged. I tried to adjust the clutch cables today on both the upper end at the lever, and at the lower end near the oil gauge. but I'm no expert at it, and not exactly how to fix it. Anyone with good guides on clutch cable adjustment? The manual is too vague.

If your free play is good then the clutch should be engaged at full strength.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRBGiTrpp7I

-Jamie M.