I watched all your videos when originally posted because I knew I would eventually have a ninja. Over two years later finally bought my dream bike, a 2017 ninja 1000 in green with only 30 miles on it. Thank you so much for this video super helpful. I made a mistake and actually ended up making it more secure I think. This might help you guys who are confused at the part he jumps ahead at. The purpose of the thin washer shaped piece is really to bend and flex so that it gets in between the metal and plastic nut as you tighten (and you tighten it by putting the brass nut inside of the plastic washer thing Which gives the screw something to bite). That makes the plastic nut and tiny bit of rubber now above it stay in place when you remove the screw and brass stop nut so that you can reinstall the whole assembly back into bike. But when I did it my thin washer piece was way too thick and it’s completely sheared off leaving nothing in the space on the side of the plastic washer up against the metal as I tightened. So when I was trying to unscrew it the whole thing just backed out because there was no friction up against the inside of the metal piece. But I just left it up in there as more rubber for the teeth of the plastic nut to grab onto is better than less. Then I redid it with a very thin piece of rubber washer as Jonathon instructs and it worked great. I would suggest it be an eighth of an inch thick or so you could even get away with smaller if you have the ability to cut it that thin. Plus I have the additional rubber of the first piece up in there already which made it very secure once re-tightening on the bike. Sorry this is super long hopefully it will make sense to anybody who is still confused!
Just finished my installation, it is a bit tricky but doable. I also checked what would happen if the mount has to be taken off and parts fall inside - it is not easy but with extra long nose pliers all escaping parts can be taken out. I don’t believe any object there would cause damage or unsafe conditions, but still no loose objects should be there. I agree with the comment about proper tightening when putting back the stem nut. My mount is installed with the ball facing the left side of the motorcycle, thanks to this I have easier access to the ignition key. Good job Jonathan. Thanks for posting your videos, they’re of good help when working on my Ninja 1000. I got the bike 2 weeks ago and I like it. It’s good, but not perfect.
Thanks Jonathan, excellent video. I just installed mine. You can also use the 3rd biggest plastic washer piece if you use a thin rubber washer to hold it in place. I had to do this as I damaged the one you recommended by over tightening. Now onto another of your mods, the 12v socket. thanks again for taking the time to do the video.
Please get a torque wrench on that steering stem nut. Very important that's torqued down properly. Dont want that working its way loose at any sort of speed my man. Should be set to 110 N-m or 81.1 ft/lbs
Great channel, Jonathan, thank you! I will be doing several of your mods. However I see two possibly major problems with using the Ram stem mount as you show it: 1}. The Ram instructions are very clear that the mount itself should be flush against the stem, and it's tapered to wedge against the inside of a normal tube. However with our unusual stem bolts the 12 mm hex is much smaller and leaves the 'neck' of the Ram mount sticking out. This MAY be OK but also may be a weak point, potentially snapping off. My bigger concern, and why I will attempt a different and uglier workaround, is 2}. It seems likely that when the Ram mount has to be removed later, such as to work on the fork or steering bearings, there will be a problem. As soon as the Ram mount bolt is loosened slightly, the press-fit of the small rubber washer will go away which will allow it to spin along with the nut-holding plastic washer, making it impossible to loosen the nut/bolt any further. You will have at the top of the stem your slightly loosened bolt just spinning away along with the nut at the other end. Even if the rubber washer stays in place, you will have to somehow keep pulling the bolt away from the stem hard enough to keep the nut-holding washer at the other end from spinning (while simultaneously turning the bolt counterclockwise). It may work once or twice, but I'm afraid that after some time passes, the rubber will not exert as much outward force. I'm picturing having to cut the Ram mount off of the bolt and then cutting the bolt and letting the bottom half fall down into the tube. If I can figure a work-around for problem #2 I will come back here with a description. On the other hand, if the consensus of people doing this is that I'm just being a weenie (wouldn't be the first time) and the video method will be fine, I'm willing to be convinced.
Hey there! Thanks for the detailed feedback on the installation. I totally understand what you are saying. Based on how my installation felt, I don’t anticipate any issues with removing the bolt. There was a lot of friction and I imagine that the nut is going to stay in place. The resistance of the nut only needs to withstand the resistance of the threads when breaking the bolt free. After that, it will take very little friction to hold the nut while loosening the bolt. It is possible that the nut will become too loose, but I’m not worried about it. If I did have an issue whenever I take the steering cap off, then I would epoxy the ram mount nut into the steering cap at that point. I have absolutely no concerns about a weak point with the ram mount the way it is installed. It’s a very robust glass fiber composite and is more than strong enough for this unique application. I like the way you think. I always try and consider the long term effects of installation/modification choices to prevent any possible issues down the road. Nice to see others looking at my work through the same critical lens. Thanks again for the comment and feedback!
Great video man! It did take me 3 times to finally get it right, but you're instructions were great. Thankfully my lock nut and plastic piece fell out of the bottom of the fork stem. I thought they were gone haha. Didn't quite glue it enough. Excellent work around, now after reading the comments I'll look for your usb installation video. Had all this on my ninja 400 and now I want it on my new zx6r. Cheers man
Omg man thank you so much for this video! I was just trying to mount mine with that stupid tiny hole in the ninja 1000 Lol. You definitely found a much better method for doing it thanks so much!
Jonathan - thanks for this video, but I may be missing something - which part of the rubber did you insert into the stem nut? at ~3:29 - after you cut the rubber the video jumps straight to a point where it is inserted but which part of the rubber is inserted? Thanks!!
I abandoned my original plan after cutting the first rubber piece. I cut a second thin rubber piece to use like a rubber washer, which I explain at 3:51. So, the only rubber piece that I used is that thin piece. Does that make sense?
I understand that the metal nut will stay in the plastic "washer" using the super glue. However, how is this plastic washer is supposed to stay in the metal part from the bike? (With the bolt removed) I hope that my question is clear.
This was the same question that occurred to me watching this video for the first time. The custom made rubber washer and plastic compression fitting create an interference fit against the inside of the head stem fitting. That will be fine for a while, but will it be fine over the longer term as the rubber perishes? Time will tell.
yea this was very informative, but unfortunately my nut came loose halfway thorugh tightening it. So i just super glued it all down... hopefully it holds. otherwise its gonna be a pita figuring out how to get the nut off the screw when theres no way to access it.
Hi Jonathan. How is the stem mount holding up? I love where its located as the phone is just below you and protected by the instrument panel and windscreen but I hear they become loose over time. For that reason, I'm thinking of going with a bracket mount but I dont like where that leaves the phone. I also ride a ninja 1000. Great bike!
Thanks for the detailed video Jon. Unfortunately I’m stuck at step one. I cannot seam to get the hex but cover off the bike. It’s on tight. Any recommendations or tips on how you dealt with it? Worried I’ll damage the fork/handle bar with using excessive force
Angelus Fernandes It shouldn’t be too hard to get out once you add some more leverage to the wrench. Just make sure that once it breaks free, you don’t hit the gas tank or something with the pipe or the wrench.
Yup I’ll try it and let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks again for all your videos. I just picked up my bike 2 days ago and installed the frame sliders and USB ports all through your videos.
How do you like this bike? I really want this bike but I bought an Victory Vegas Jackpot instead. I’m really thinking about selling my Jackpot and buying the ninja 1000abs
The snow is melting in Michigan, and I'll be taking it out for the first time this weekend. Keep an eye out for my first ride video, which should be posted Sunday or Monday, and I'll share my initial impressions there! I looked at your video of your Jackpot (sweet bike) and heard you mention that you were considering the Ninja 1000. They are very different bikes, with very different characteristics. Since I don't know what you're looking for in a bike, I'll share what I was looking for that lead me to the Ninja 1000. My last bike was a 2015 Yamaha FZ-09. I absolutely loved the bike and put about 16,000 miles on in the 3 years that I had it. That included commuting, day trips, and multi-day trips with a mix of camping and hotels. The qualities of the FZ-09 that I really loved were the comfortable riding position, the wide powerband and low end torque, and the overall sportiness of the bike. I started looking for a bike that retained those qualities, but also had improved safety features (ABS, traction control, IMU), better wind protection, and a good luggage option. The Ninja 1000 easily checked all those boxes, and I think the factory hard bags really set it apart from other options. The bike looks great with or without the bags, they're waterproof and lockable, and they pop on and off in a matter of seconds. It seems like it's going to be a great fit for the type of riding I enjoy doing. For an example of the type of multi-day trips I like to take, check out this vid: ruclips.net/video/NCe3ZQQtnLE/видео.html Sorry for the long response, but I hope this is helpful. And like I mentioned before, check out my first ride video this coming weekend to see my initial impressions. I'm excited!
Hi Jonathan. I followed all the instructions but the pocket washer is free inside the stem nut. I did put rubber extension plus behind the pocket washer but it still isn't holding the washer in place. Can you advice how should I tackle this situation?
the gas tank suction mount works great for lighter loads but has a tendency to come off if you have something heavy like a phone on there. It will take a long time but the heat will eventually cause the mounting point to fail. I had the suction cup mount on the windscreen of my car and it eventually constantly fell. The spring loses tension, the rubber grip gets sort of brittle and "loose" and those 2 things will eventually make it so that it enver gets a proper grip. best solution is a firm hardware mount like on the handlebars. The ninja 1K doesnt have any room on the stock clip ons for that. Claw grip doesnt work right either. Fork stem mount is really the only option. Instructions for fork stem mount want it tightened on the actual allen key hole but that mount method wont work, so you'd want to use the "inner diameter of the underside" of that mount instead.
Using a pulling force is usually stronger than pushing, so make sure you’re pulling the wrench toward you. I pressed my body up against the side of the bike for support. And then be careful that you don’t hit anything with the wrench once the stem cap breaks free. If you have a longer 12mm hex tool, or can fit a small piece of pipe over the tool you have, that will give you more leverage.
YES! I used an old lacrosse shaft for leverage. It worked like a charm. Thanks man! I have to leave it now for a social engagement, but I'll be back at it tomorrow. Have a good one.
may I ask what size phone and what size ram phone holder do you have - I ask as I have an apple 6 plus at present and plan to move to a plus size phone in the future
I have the normal size iPhone 7, and the normal size Ram mount. If you check their website, they will list which phone holders are compatible with the larger iPhones.
Just want to say I've tried both this one and the 12mm hexagon bolt version on my bike. The hexagon version I find is a lot stronger, even easier to fit and has a flush round finish, so prefer that option. For UK customers the link is www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M0T1WTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RdidFbXR8DHTB
I watched all your videos when originally posted because I knew I would eventually have a ninja. Over two years later finally bought my dream bike, a 2017 ninja 1000 in green with only 30 miles on it. Thank you so much for this video super helpful. I made a mistake and actually ended up making it more secure I think. This might help you guys who are confused at the part he jumps ahead at. The purpose of the thin washer shaped piece is really to bend and flex so that it gets in between the metal and plastic nut as you tighten (and you tighten it by putting the brass nut inside of the plastic washer thing Which gives the screw something to bite). That makes the plastic nut and tiny bit of rubber now above it stay in place when you remove the screw and brass stop nut so that you can reinstall the whole assembly back into bike. But when I did it my thin washer piece was way too thick and it’s completely sheared off leaving nothing in the space on the side of the plastic washer up against the metal as I tightened. So when I was trying to unscrew it the whole thing just backed out because there was no friction up against the inside of the metal piece. But I just left it up in there as more rubber for the teeth of the plastic nut to grab onto is better than less. Then I redid it with a very thin piece of rubber washer as Jonathon instructs and it worked great. I would suggest it be an eighth of an inch thick or so you could even get away with smaller if you have the ability to cut it that thin. Plus I have the additional rubber of the first piece up in there already which made it very secure once re-tightening on the bike. Sorry this is super long hopefully it will make sense to anybody who is still confused!
Just finished my installation, it is a bit tricky but doable. I also checked what would happen if the mount has to be taken off and parts fall inside - it is not easy but with extra long nose pliers all escaping parts can be taken out. I don’t believe any object there would cause damage or unsafe conditions, but still no loose objects should be there.
I agree with the comment about proper tightening when putting back the stem nut.
My mount is installed with the ball facing the left side of the motorcycle, thanks to this I have easier access to the ignition key.
Good job Jonathan. Thanks for posting your videos, they’re of good help when working on my Ninja 1000. I got the bike 2 weeks ago and I like it. It’s good, but not perfect.
Thanks Jonathan, excellent video. I just installed mine. You can also use the 3rd biggest plastic washer piece if you use a thin rubber washer to hold it in place. I had to do this as I damaged the one you recommended by over tightening. Now onto another of your mods, the 12v socket. thanks again for taking the time to do the video.
You’re welcome, I’m glad you are enjoying the videos! Good luck with those projects!
Umm, that steering stem nut should be torqued to 79 ft./lbs. There's no way you were even close.🙄
Completed the stem mount mod per your instructions. Thanks for all the detail. On to the USB mod once parts come in. Thanks!
Please get a torque wrench on that steering stem nut. Very important that's torqued down properly. Dont want that working its way loose at any sort of speed my man.
Should be set to 110 N-m or 81.1 ft/lbs
Good comment, and those are the correct torque specs (confirming for anyone else who reads this).
Is it the same specs for the 2019 650 ninja?
Mine was loose from the dealership, could unscrew it with my hand no tool...
Great channel, Jonathan, thank you! I will be doing several of your mods. However I see two possibly major problems with using the Ram stem mount as you show it: 1}. The Ram instructions are very clear that the mount itself should be flush against the stem, and it's tapered to wedge against the inside of a normal tube. However with our unusual stem bolts the 12 mm hex is much smaller and leaves the 'neck' of the Ram mount sticking out. This MAY be OK but also may be a weak point, potentially snapping off. My bigger concern, and why I will attempt a different and uglier workaround, is 2}. It seems likely that when the Ram mount has to be removed later, such as to work on the fork or steering bearings, there will be a problem. As soon as the Ram mount bolt is loosened slightly, the press-fit of the small rubber washer will go away which will allow it to spin along with the nut-holding plastic washer, making it impossible to loosen the nut/bolt any further. You will have at the top of the stem your slightly loosened bolt just spinning away along with the nut at the other end. Even if the rubber washer stays in place, you will have to somehow keep pulling the bolt away from the stem hard enough to keep the nut-holding washer at the other end from spinning (while simultaneously turning the bolt counterclockwise). It may work once or twice, but I'm afraid that after some time passes, the rubber will not exert as much outward force. I'm picturing having to cut the Ram mount off of the bolt and then cutting the bolt and letting the bottom half fall down into the tube. If I can figure a work-around for problem #2 I will come back here with a description. On the other hand, if the consensus of people doing this is that I'm just being a weenie (wouldn't be the first time) and the video method will be fine, I'm willing to be convinced.
Hey there! Thanks for the detailed feedback on the installation. I totally understand what you are saying. Based on how my installation felt, I don’t anticipate any issues with removing the bolt. There was a lot of friction and I imagine that the nut is going to stay in place. The resistance of the nut only needs to withstand the resistance of the threads when breaking the bolt free. After that, it will take very little friction to hold the nut while loosening the bolt. It is possible that the nut will become too loose, but I’m not worried about it. If I did have an issue whenever I take the steering cap off, then I would epoxy the ram mount nut into the steering cap at that point. I have absolutely no concerns about a weak point with the ram mount the way it is installed. It’s a very robust glass fiber composite and is more than strong enough for this unique application.
I like the way you think. I always try and consider the long term effects of installation/modification choices to prevent any possible issues down the road. Nice to see others looking at my work through the same critical lens. Thanks again for the comment and feedback!
Great video man! It did take me 3 times to finally get it right, but you're instructions were great. Thankfully my lock nut and plastic piece fell out of the bottom of the fork stem. I thought they were gone haha. Didn't quite glue it enough. Excellent work around, now after reading the comments I'll look for your usb installation video. Had all this on my ninja 400 and now I want it on my new zx6r. Cheers man
i could not understand how did you put inn the rubber inside along with the special 2nd big size screw, that part of the video is totally missing
Agreed - what end do you use and where is the rest of the video?
Just the video I was looking for. Last thing I needed to do to my Ninja 1000. Thank you very much!
You’re welcome, glad it was helpful!
Omg man thank you so much for this video! I was just trying to mount mine with that stupid tiny hole in the ninja 1000 Lol. You definitely found a much better method for doing it thanks so much!
Jonathan - thanks for this video, but I may be missing something - which part of the rubber did you insert into the stem nut? at ~3:29 - after you cut the rubber the video jumps straight to a point where it is inserted but which part of the rubber is inserted? Thanks!!
Great guide! I noticed you cut the rubber piece, but i do not see where you used it after that.
I abandoned my original plan after cutting the first rubber piece. I cut a second thin rubber piece to use like a rubber washer, which I explain at 3:51. So, the only rubber piece that I used is that thin piece. Does that make sense?
Ahh i see. Thanks. Awesome channel!
I understand that the metal nut will stay in the plastic "washer" using the super glue. However, how is this plastic washer is supposed to stay in the metal part from the bike? (With the bolt removed) I hope that my question is clear.
Maxime Bedard I had the same problem
This was the same question that occurred to me watching this video for the first time. The custom made rubber washer and plastic compression fitting create an interference fit against the inside of the head stem fitting. That will be fine for a while, but will it be fine over the longer term as the rubber perishes? Time will tell.
yea this was very informative, but unfortunately my nut came loose halfway thorugh tightening it. So i just super glued it all down... hopefully it holds. otherwise its gonna be a pita figuring out how to get the nut off the screw when theres no way to access it.
works on the zx6r too! thank you very much!
Awesome. I ruined my first stem set on my 2017 ninja 650. I will definitely be doing it this way
Very useful and needed one for d bikers thanks for d beautiful presentation..keep it up..peace.
Well now I know why I couldn’t get my mount completely secure on my ninja 650. Thanks.
same here!
Hi Jonathan. How is the stem mount holding up? I love where its located as the phone is just below you and protected by the instrument panel and windscreen but I hear they become loose over time. For that reason, I'm thinking of going with a bracket mount but I dont like where that leaves the phone. I also ride a ninja 1000. Great bike!
Thanks for the question! The mount is just as tight as the day I put it on. I completely trust it with my phone.
I wonder if this is the exact same procedure for a 2018 Ninja 400 krt abs.
Thanks for the detailed video Jon. Unfortunately I’m stuck at step one. I cannot seam to get the hex but cover off the bike. It’s on tight. Any recommendations or tips on how you dealt with it? Worried I’ll damage the fork/handle bar with using excessive force
Angelus Fernandes If you’re using the 12mm wrench that comes with the bike, you can put a pipe on it for more leverage. That should do the trick.
Thanks I’ll try that. Is there anything I would need to be careful of damaging or misaligning using force?
Angelus Fernandes It shouldn’t be too hard to get out once you add some more leverage to the wrench. Just make sure that once it breaks free, you don’t hit the gas tank or something with the pipe or the wrench.
Yup I’ll try it and let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks again for all your videos. I just picked up my bike 2 days ago and installed the frame sliders and USB ports all through your videos.
Jonathan Long got it out. Had to take off the windscreen and use a long break bar to get it loose.
How do you like this bike? I really want this bike but I bought an Victory Vegas Jackpot instead. I’m really thinking about selling my Jackpot and buying the ninja 1000abs
The snow is melting in Michigan, and I'll be taking it out for the first time this weekend. Keep an eye out for my first ride video, which should be posted Sunday or Monday, and I'll share my initial impressions there!
I looked at your video of your Jackpot (sweet bike) and heard you mention that you were considering the Ninja 1000. They are very different bikes, with very different characteristics. Since I don't know what you're looking for in a bike, I'll share what I was looking for that lead me to the Ninja 1000. My last bike was a 2015 Yamaha FZ-09. I absolutely loved the bike and put about 16,000 miles on in the 3 years that I had it. That included commuting, day trips, and multi-day trips with a mix of camping and hotels. The qualities of the FZ-09 that I really loved were the comfortable riding position, the wide powerband and low end torque, and the overall sportiness of the bike. I started looking for a bike that retained those qualities, but also had improved safety features (ABS, traction control, IMU), better wind protection, and a good luggage option. The Ninja 1000 easily checked all those boxes, and I think the factory hard bags really set it apart from other options. The bike looks great with or without the bags, they're waterproof and lockable, and they pop on and off in a matter of seconds. It seems like it's going to be a great fit for the type of riding I enjoy doing.
For an example of the type of multi-day trips I like to take, check out this vid: ruclips.net/video/NCe3ZQQtnLE/видео.html
Sorry for the long response, but I hope this is helpful. And like I mentioned before, check out my first ride video this coming weekend to see my initial impressions. I'm excited!
VicJackpotRider I bought this bike. I already put 9500 miles on it and love it. Plenty of power.
Hi Jonathan. I followed all the instructions but the pocket washer is free inside the stem nut. I did put rubber extension plus behind the pocket washer but it still isn't holding the washer in place. Can you advice how should I tackle this situation?
You could try using another rubber shim to hold the nut and plastic piece in place inside the stem. Or you could use some epoxy to secure it in place.
Yeah. Used the super glue from the kit itself. Finally managed to install it. Thanks
Why is it that people aren't using the gas tank bases by Ram? Do neither of them fit?
the gas tank suction mount works great for lighter loads but has a tendency to come off if you have something heavy like a phone on there. It will take a long time but the heat will eventually cause the mounting point to fail.
I had the suction cup mount on the windscreen of my car and it eventually constantly fell. The spring loses tension, the rubber grip gets sort of brittle and "loose" and those 2 things will eventually make it so that it enver gets a proper grip.
best solution is a firm hardware mount like on the handlebars. The ninja 1K doesnt have any room on the stock clip ons for that. Claw grip doesnt work right either. Fork stem mount is really the only option.
Instructions for fork stem mount want it tightened on the actual allen key hole but that mount method wont work, so you'd want to use the "inner diameter of the underside" of that mount instead.
Jonathan, How did you loosen the stem mount with the hex tool provided? I can't get the thing to budge. Thanks for any input.
Using a pulling force is usually stronger than pushing, so make sure you’re pulling the wrench toward you. I pressed my body up against the side of the bike for support. And then be careful that you don’t hit anything with the wrench once the stem cap breaks free. If you have a longer 12mm hex tool, or can fit a small piece of pipe over the tool you have, that will give you more leverage.
YES! I used an old lacrosse shaft for leverage. It worked like a charm. Thanks man! I have to leave it now for a social engagement, but I'll be back at it tomorrow. Have a good one.
Exactly what I was looking for :-)
may I ask what size phone and what size ram phone holder do you have - I ask as I have an apple 6 plus at present and plan to move to a plus size phone in the future
I have the normal size iPhone 7, and the normal size Ram mount. If you check their website, they will list which phone holders are compatible with the larger iPhones.
apparently there are two sizes 7 and 10 did you use the 7 size ?
Quadlock is the only way to go.
Just want to say I've tried both this one and the 12mm hexagon bolt version on my bike. The hexagon version I find is a lot stronger, even easier to fit and has a flush round finish, so prefer that option. For UK customers the link is www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M0T1WTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RdidFbXR8DHTB
Hi Jonathan, is the X-grip suitable for iPhone 7S Plus
Check out the Ram Mounts website to see which x-grip will work for your phone. They definitely have something that will work.
Boa noite...me passa o link p eu comprar..obrigado
Thanks really helpful 🤘
thanks for the video
now just figure out how to add lifeproof case to that stem mount and I'll be golden ;)
You’re welcome! You shouldn’t have any issues using a life proof case with the Ram Mount.
Jonathan Long i just want thé clip system. Better than ram
Giv me the link for sale. Thanks my friend !!!!!
useful, thanks