[Frapps]

This thread is to ask anyone who has ridden, owns, or likes the Kawasaki Ninja 650R so I can get a better idea about the bike…this is not a “flame kawi” thread so please don’t start.

http://kawasaki.ca/street_touring/650R/ I actually quite like the look of the bike and I am not sure if I want to purchase this next season or not (or maybe in the dead of winter so I can get a smoking deal). Does anyone have experience with this bike positive or negative. Does it have any major problems, how was the acceleration, cornering, top speed, how much power etc, and how much did u pay for yours (if you don’t mind me asking). I am just doing preliminary research, as much as I love bikes like the R6 or 636 I am an all year rider who commutes every day and that riding position is far to aggressive, I think maybe I am wrong.

Thanks in advance for the Info, and mocking Kawi will not deter my love for my ZX6 and Kawi products in general
:coffee

 

[Focker]

I think that Bikeland dude did a review of one.

You may have difficulty getting a smokin deal on one in the winter as they will likely be sold out.

Go see Trevor at Burnaby Kawi - we've bought 3 bikes off him, he's good shit.

 

[Frapps]

u have bought 3 650R or just kawi's in general

 

[Focker]

Kawi's in general, last time I was in I was told they were selling pretty quick.

 

[waterman]

I've ridden one. A buddy's wife got one 3 months ago. It's a more upright riding position as you probably know, similar to my FZ6, so if you looking for comfort, you're in the right area. It's a parallel twin, and I thought it was a lot buzzier than my Yam, but then I didn't ride it far. Sharp looking bike.

Check this thread:

http://www.ninja650.com/

 

[TeeTee]

There's a fairly large group of 650R owners at www.riderforums.com as well.

 

[mcaswell]

I was seriously looking at one for this season, but then I sat on it and didn't really like how upright the position was.

 

[Traum]

As everybody has pointed out, the riding position is a little more upright, and personally, I like that a lot. It makes for a much more comfortable ride. Also, the fact that is is a parallel twin instead of an inline 4 means that it makes its power a lot earlier and you wouldn't have to wring it out as much. That may or may not suit your riding style and preference.

But I think that burgundy on black colour scheme kick ass, man. :rockon

-Rick

 

[Hershey]

I like the looks, never ridden one, sat on a couple.

I dont like the dirtbike handlebars and how narrow it feels under you.

As for power, dunno! saw some guy ripping around on one through a corner, did not seem slow

 

[falcon]

they arent 'selling out' like everyone is saying, we have a few still I think at rms.

 

[redlightklondik]

they've been praised heavily in the magazines, even beating out the famous SV650 (mostly because of the combination of a full fairing and handlebars).

this bike would be great for commuting and having some fun on the weekend in the twisties.

i personally have a soft spot for SVs (just look at my bike), but i can see the appeal of this new ninja.

my two pennies.

 

[TeeTee]

...I dont like the dirtbike handlebars and how narrow it feels under you....

I find that funny as a few years back (like the late 80's) it would have been "I don't like the low racer clipons and how wide it feels under you". The young rider population has been shaped by the current trend of I4 fat sportbikes. So the traditional standards all seem wrong now.

Now when I went from my old red ZX-9R to the slim 'tween the knees Ducati I found myself often saying in my mind "ah... it's nice to be back on a proper SLIM motorcycle" because that's what I was used to. In fact I picked the ZX-9R over the Honda 900RR at the time because the Kawi was far more narrow in the tank than the 900RR. To me the fat feel of the Honda just was not a motorcycle.

 

[Frapps]

I am with you bruce i am all about the more narrow bikes i learned to ride on a 1983 Suzuki RG250 Gamma and thats real narrow...here is where my concern comes in and as childish as it seems hear me out...it only has 71 horse power thats less than my 1995 ZX6c and this will be my thrid bike is it going to be a thrilling bike...yes i am aware u can make any bike thrilling by hurling it through a corner at high speeds...will it keep pace with an R6 with 50cc displacement advantage??

 

[fish_antlers]

Frapps... link to review

The bike's a twin... will it keep up to an R6? It's all up to the rider, but the suspension on the 650 is made out of cheese... all in all it's a good bike, but you;d better know ahead of time what type of riding you plan on doing... picking up a used end of season 600cc bargain might be a better choice depending on your needs.

 

[Frapps]

Yeah i really like this bike alot, i think a test ride is onorder before any real decessions are made but i think i am going to wait till the 2007 model because they have a sexy looking blue one

http://www.650ninja.com/pictures.php

now its time to save up for a down payment...another stupid question i have never bought a new bike from a dealership, whats the best way to buy the bike if you don't have cash up front

 

[fish_antlers]

depends on how good your credit is... end of the season you might get some dealer/OEM financing that could work... I've used the 0% credit card thing to buy a few bikes... roll it over from one card to another till it's paid out... loan rates arent that good right now so often the credit card thing is perfect but you must have total discipline in paying it or you could get burned by the cc company... miss a payment or be late and ge tthe rate jacked to like 30%...

good luck!

 

[fish_antlers]

Yeah i really like this bike alot, i think a test ride is onorder before any real decessions are made but i think i am going to wait till the 2007 model because they have a sexy looking blue one

http://www.650ninja.com/pictures.php

now its time to save up for a down payment...another stupid question i have never bought a new bike from a dealership, whats the best way to buy the bike if you don't have cash up front

talking to brian at BBY Kawi is a good bet... telling him you're a member of both BCSB and you saw the review at Bikeland might help... he sponsors both sites. Also be aware that Kawi is releasing a motardish version of that bike this season if you can wait til feb.

 

[Mighty Kentor]

Wow, that blue does look nice!

I've sat on this bike a few times, and it fits just right. I bet it's a blast in the twisties. Also it's very inexpensive to upgrade the suspension with stiffer springs up front, if needed, and perhaps heavier fork oil.

 

[KaiBosh]

As a 650R owner with 15,000km on the odometer, I can tell you all about the bike. It is exactly what it says it is - a twin with a lot of snorty torque and comfortable standard ergos. Anyone who compares this bike to the 600 SS stuff is missing the point entirely. I just put on 4000 clicks last week on all the twistiest highways through the Kootenays - trust me you don't need more power than this to enjoy that kind of road. The suspension is budget, something you know when you buy it. It isn't bad though, unless you really ride a lot of B grade roads. The brakes aren't up to snuff stock, but with some SS lines on the front and some EBC-HH pads they are certainly enough for what you need.

I couldn't be happier with my bike. The Leo Vince pipe made all the difference in the world and it sounds like heaven. I don't have to gear down to pass people on the highway, and I can ride all day long for a week straight and not be crippled afterwards. The bike is light, very narrow, and the seat height is the lowest of all 'sport' bikes out there. Anyone who thinks that a twin with 70hp would be boring on a twisty road, you don't have a clue - I nibbled at the edges of my Pilot Powers all day long from Spence's Bridge to Princeton and trust me you wouldn't have been taking the corners any faster on a GSX.

Bottom line is that it is a great all around bike for the price. You have almost half the horsepower as an R6 but more torque. You can ride all day long like a cruiser at 4000 rpm, or you can lay down on the tank and scream down the highway as fast as you could ever want. Wide handlebars make for some serious cornering leverage - I don't think I will ever own a bike that isn't a standard twin. Which is why my next bike will be a Tuono...

Here, a picture of my bike at Spence's Bridge last Tuesday, where it was 44 degrees.

http://img143.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spencesbridge06ba2.jpg

 

[Frapps]

i have to say iam pretty much sold on the blue 07 i am going to go out to burnaby kawisai and test one if possible then start saving up for a down payment on a new bike...ahhh so exited

hey kaibosh how much was the pipe??