2017 Kawasaki Z650 Ninja 650 Shorty Lever Install

[@quailbrander]

This is an awesome video, and you do a great job of explaining what to do and giving little tidbits on what to expect. Personally I found it was easier for me to get the clutch just right by taking a picture of where that screw sat before disassembling the original lever. I counted the threads of the screw and reset it with the new lever and it was about perfect. Thanks again for showing these mods! :)

[@joshuamiller811]

Thanks Tremonte!! You've been an immense help and a resource on my Z650 journey the last couple of years. I appreciate you taking the time to make these awesome videos to help your fellow riders. You're the man!

[@Truthasvictim]

Getting my Ninja 650 ABS in plasma blue in a few days and thinking of getting these in their metallic blue. From the pics, they look beautiful. Thanks for all your great videos Tremonte, they're really well put together.

[@jcsdesign]

That's easier than I thought. Thanks for this video. What's next? Keep the mods coming!

[@Tremonte]

A 520 sprocket and chain kit. Dropping a tooth in the front, and probably one up in the rear. Gearing it down for acceleration and more torque. I know I'll lose some top end speed, but I ride twisty mountain roads, and don't care to lose a bit over 100MPH. :)

[@Matthale78]

Just installed a set of pazzo standard length on my ninja 650.. Getting the 10mm socket to fit on the clutch side is tight but does go. Worth adjusting the levels right and left to get the best fit.. Further outward works for me... Great video dude really helped! Thanks for taking the time👍🏻

[@jensyngeiser8777]

i’m responding years later but i’m doing this to my 650 now. how did you get the 10mm to fit to get the nut. i’m having a hard time with it!

[@Matthale78]

Probably used an extender or something like that, well worth doing

[@jessicamartin4094]

Thank you for all the videos. I just picked up a 17 z650 a couple days ago and I love it.

[@Tremonte]

Congrats on the bike!

[@natem8961]

Just installed those same ones on my bike the other week. Love them so far.

[@tech30six]

got a set ordered from the manufacturer and wondering how they are holding up so far ?

[@natem8961]

Umer M They're holding up absolutely great. No flaws functionality wise and they greatly improve the styling of the bike. 10/10 would recommend

[@tech30six]

Nate M awesome. Thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to getting them soon. Now if my Akrapovic exhaust would show up. been waiting over 2 months for this backordered exhaust.

[@bryanreilly4117]

Dropped my bike and broke the stock levers. Just purchased these and the sliders you installed. Thanks tremont

[@1DREAMA]

Tremonte is my hero rn

[@eshelmen]

As always, Tremonte, you are the go to guy for anything to be done on my z650.

[@JosephMyLife]

Amazingly simple... I might even install my own now.

[@kevanhartzell9682]

I Just got mine in for my 2022 Z650 and wanna put them on but don't wanna fuck it up either

[@McLivin410]

Love your videos man! I bought the same bike, I live in Cali, I haven't seen another one on the road yet. Just ordered the yoshi after watching your vid

[@mdavis7143]

Great quality video awesome work!! Thank you

[@lesleymal8142]

Hi there, love your videos, and the Z650! Installing different levers, couldn't get the MZS in Aus. However, I'm having a problem with the clutch lever hitting the pass button when I pull it in. I saw on your video the same thing happening at about 4 min, then you had fixed it. What did you do? I've been adjusting the free play with no luck.

[@Tremonte]

One of two ways. Here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4DbdJmPhZmrZ5I Adjust the angle of the levers to fit your ride height. Or, slide the clutch assembly more toward the grip so the contour of the lever will clear.

[@lesleymal8142]

Thanks for the tips! I had at least 10mm space between the clutch assembly and grip to play with. I think I will adjust the shift foot lever as well, after watching the whole video!

[@VladChiriloiu]

Hi Tremonte, great video. I have the same bike, and I was wondering how is it with the MZS levers after a long period. I just ordered mine, and can't wait to install them. Any drawbacks from the OEM? Any issues you encountered so far with them?

[@alekseyyurtayev8641]

I have a z650 with short levers not this brand but I’ll say it’s fine until your clutch hand starts to cramp up. Not a huge problem and I eventually got used to it but for I while I was considering using stock clutch lever and shorty break lever but that’s my opinion

[@NicholasOrlick]

Just got me a set on Amazon!

[@lordnguyen4211]

thinking of buying either the z650 or the vulcan s but i cant make up my mind. great videos btw

[@motorbikehike5350]

Thanks for another great video. Others insist the new levers must be greased before installing. Should I do that when I replace the levers on my Z?

[@Tremonte]

+EMajor7 if you notice the grease on my hands, that's from what is on the stock mounts. There was more than enough already there, without having to add more. I shoot a bit of lubricant in there every few hundred miles anyway, along with some cable honey for the clutch. I use that on my mountain bike controls also. It's great stuff. If it is an older motorcycle and the lever mounts look dry, then by all means lube them up before hand.

[@motorbikehike5350]

Tremonte Great advice, thanks!

[@dimtim9868]

Help ! I tried to replace my clutch lever (with an original one), but accidently broke off the white plastic clutch switch. Is there a way I can fix this or do I have no other choice but to go to a dealer ? I'm so bummed out, my clutch lever was slightly bent. I bought a new (original) one for only €20 at the dealer. Out of the heat and into the frying pan I guess .... :-( Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[@sameerkvaidya33]

Thanks for the videos. Have you thought of installing clip-ons?

[@jaypeepascua2804]

Great vid you have here. just a couple of questions. 1. did the clutch pull became heavier after installing shorties? i understand we do have clutch assist that made the clutch really light. reason why im asking is because i installed shorties on my previous bike and it made the clutch harder to engage. 2. not really related to the video, but i just wanna ask if you experienced something like this with the z650. Clutch engaged on 2nd or 3rd gear, then i hear some sort of released air pressure (sound similar to air brakes or car turbo) then the engine looses power for a split second. had to rev the engine a bit to avoid stalling. it happens from time to time, but not all the time. thanks!

[@Tremonte]

1. The clutch is the same as before, no noticeable difference in pull. 2. The sound you hear is normal. That sound is from the fuel cut which causes the engine braking. If you release the throttle, then get back on almost immediately, sometimes you catch the valve during the intake stroke, when the fuel is cut, and add fuel by twisting the throttle right at the last moment. It's a hesitation that's created, and you hear the intake popping. I remedied this when I added the Rapid Bike ECU and had SuperBike Unlimited tune a proper fuel map. With that, and reducing the engine braking in the ECU, I don't have that occur any longer. It's just one of the side effects of all the emmisions added to modern engines.

[@tomharvy8253]

Gona do my levers in the next couple of days. Any suggestion on what grease would be good in the joints? All I have on hand is white lithium grease which should do.

[@terrencesanchez2793]

Just bought them! My bike is going to be similar to yours haha

[@smoothoper8ter183]

When you pulled off your throttle side, did a small spring pop out of the factory lever?

[@awsdawood3382]

Hi T, respect from New Zealand. Great videos keep up the good work! Can you please link where to buy those levers from? An eBay seller told it doesn't fit my Z650!? Thanks

[@Tremonte]

+Aws Dawood link is in the description.

[@tech30six]

Great vid T, was thinking about getting some shorties myself. Got an off topic question about the Z650 fuel mileage. My guage starts flashing to warn me that my fuel level is low, but my range still shows about 50 miles to empty. You experiencing the same thing ? how much you getting to a tank ? just curious. Any insight is appreciated.

[@Tremonte]

+Umer M honestly, I haven't really kept track of it. I fill up at the start of my rides if I'm near half a tank or less. I'm not used to a bike keeping track of my fuel range, so I don't really look at it.

[@tech30six]

Ok, no worries. Appreciate you letting me know. I think I'm gonn a let it count down for a bit. Btw - I went to the link you had for teh levers and I wanted to get a set as well...but those guys don't shp to Canada. You Americans get all the good stuff. Appreciate all teh vids. As a new rider, they are a huge help. Havew a great 4th of July. Cheers

[@UndefinedAffliction]

Hey so i did a similar job on my 16 ninja 650, the oem levers had a cupped ball end the piston that actuated the brake sat in, so far all aftermarket do not. Did you have an issue of the piston after not fully sliding back but more so moving diagonal so back toward the grip and then in?

[@EderHolguin]

Did you figure this out. I have exactly the same issue.

[@UndefinedAffliction]

@@EderHolguin I ended up just using a Dremel and di some minor fab work on them to get them to hit it correctly. Then ended up selling the bike shortly after 🤣

[@TonyNC700S]

Hi thanks for the helpful vid. I did the brake lever no issues. I undid the nut and slid out the bolt for the clutch lever but there is no way I can get the actual lever off no matter how hard I try. Any idea? I ended up snapping the lil white clutch switch while trying!

[@Tremonte]

+Tony Covello try to loosen the two Allen screws on that back that allows you to rotate the clutch lever. It may be over tight and binding it somehow. The lever should literally fall out after you remove the nut and push the bolt out. Also try to set the adjustment to 3 or higher where it fully exposes the cable end. The last thing is can think of would be the bronze bushing somehow is caught. You can take a small screwdriver from the bottom side and stick it in the hole where the bolt was. See if it feels like the bushing is slid down or out of place. You'll also need to replace the clutch switch. The bike will only start in neutral without it.

[@sanfordtoole9923]

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but do the shorty levers give you a shorter Reach to the levers or just shorter lever? I have small hands and even with the stock levers adjusted at minimum I still have a longer reach for the brake lever than I would like. Thanks.

[@Tremonte]

+Sanford Toole it's both. They adjust a bit closer than the stock, as well as shorter overall length.

[@bryanroberts6351]

Installed the exact same pair recently and now the bike only starts in neutral. I think it’s the clutch safety switch. Any ideas how that can be fixed?

[@somfler1483]

i have the same problem its something to do with the needle for the neutral safety switch but i was just checking here to see if he mentioned it. no luck yet. did you figure anything out or just deal with it?

[@words2liveby639]

Thanks this helps me out a lot🏍

[@Paidnful]

So that white clutch switch doesn't need to be held in by the mzs lever like the stock clutch lever did? I'm asking because I installed and the bar isn't long enough on the mzs lever to cover it.

[@Tremonte]

+PAIDNFUL i had no fitment issues with the clutch safety switch. If nothing else, remove the lever and make sure the plunger on the switch is coming out fully.

[@tuananhduong1708]

Hey buddy, thks for making the video... one question, does it make the cluth softer?

[@Tremonte]

+tuấn anh dương it doesn't make it softer. It shortens the pull length.

[@tuananhduong1708]

Tremonte ...thks buddy... any way to make the cluth softer?

[@Tremonte]

+tuấn anh dương not without changing the clutch itself

[@tuananhduong1708]

Cluth changing?.. how to do it?

[@billy1858]

how have your levers been? no horror stories of front wheel locking?

[@Tremonte]

They have served me well. I bought a second set for the Ninja 650 build also. So far so good on both bikes.

[@Wolfy2929]

On the clutch lever how did you get the socket onto the nut? I can't get the socket on the nut because of a plastic piece being really close to the nut. Update. I got it. lol

[@Tremonte]

+Wolfy2929 ok cool. :) it is a tight fit. Just have to wiggle it in there

[@Wolfy2929]

Tremonte Ya I had to remove the plastic piece that has electrical wires going in to it. Two little screws holding it on. Removed one and loosened the other to angle it.

[@samuelandredou7775]

had the same problem

[@Fee.1]

You still have the original levers?

[@Fee.1]

Is it same for z400?

[@tech30six]

Hey T, just installed my set and followed your install but what I noticed is that the lever has some play when moving up/down. Do you have that as well ? Any adjustment we could do for that ?

[@Tremonte]

You will have a tiny bit of play on the inner part, to allow the lever adjustment to function, but I mean very very little. Mine fit nice and snug into the main carrier. Where are you experiencing the play?

[@tech30six]

Yeah...i got some the proper amount of free play, but I am noticing the play in a more up/down motion. If you just used the tip of your finger, on the ends of the lever, and push down (towards the ground) or up it moves around alot. Haven't tried it, but those little hex head bolts might tighten.

[@Tremonte]

What I mean by inner part, is on the clutch lever where the red adjuster switch is, where the hex bolt holds the pieces. There is suppose to be some play, but not a lot. The stock lever was a stacked design, which allowed a tighter fit, where as this one is an insert style. Be careful tightening it down too much at that point, but yeah, yours may be just a bit loose. As long as it fits snug in the main housing, and little play there, see if the hex bolt solves it. Just test the adjustment lever after to make sure there is no binding.

[@tech30six]

Ok, thats grewat. Appreciate the info. The levers otherwise are great. Just started follwoing you on IG as well. I'll DM you a short clip of what I'm talking about. Thanks Buddy.

[@ShizukaChristine]

Thank you so much!

[@LFGM24]

How were you able to remove the bronze bushing ? Did u need a special tool?

[@Tremonte]

+JUNIOR M it just slides right out

[@LFGM24]

Tremonte ok thanks.

[@TTrident660]

Just installed theses on my z650 and they are garbage. Yeah they look good but the lever it’s self shakes like crazy. I would just buy better quality levers. The install video is great though thanks

[@htraygo]

Wow I was gonna give myself an hour to do it. Now it looks like it will take 25 min

[@rhedandciarasvlog]

Hi. Im planning to change my levers. Any bad effect or lock up you experience so far after years of using it? Thank you.