I have a 2001 zx-12r just wondering how to check the oil

Kawasaki NINJA ZX 12R Service Manual Fork Oil Seal Driver

check the fuse, check to see if there is power to the light. check the light plug on the back, they do come loose if you ride like I do.

check the wiring between your kill switch the starter button and the wiring harness, there may be chafing causing a grounding or cross connection to the starter button

This may help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=bwYzF-cXYUI

Check your stand safety switch. Or your gear sensor. One of these is guilty!!!

most oils will work, you want about 10W30 weight. you will either have a dipstick on the filler cap, or most kawasakis have a sight glass on the engine case with level markers. you will probly need to remove the fairing pannels to do this job. the coolant should have a small reserve bottle with level markers on it, if not open radiator cap with engine cold, and it should be full.

Does it look like a factory wire, or could it be from a battery tender that some one had on there? If the wire doesn't reach anything with a screw hole that fits it, I wouldn't worry about it. Hope this helps.

Hi brookeside14
Not sure what the Merc marine motors are like, but this style of motorcycle engine  are twin overhead cam with bucket and shim type adjustments valve lash adjustments. Best way to tell you to go about this is to download a full manual from here, it has detailed procedures and everything you need to know to set the valve adjustments. Thanks for using FixYa, a FixYa rating is a great reward for my time to get this info to you. Cheers
regards robotek