Kawasaki Ninja 650 : Kawasaki’s Ninja 650 is one of the most iconic names in the middleweight sportbike category.
The Ninja 650 features a unique new package with a low price and sharp looks valid for both new riders and those wanting a practical commuter.
Refreshed with a decidedly ‘ninja’ personality in styling and detail, the new Ninja 650 is now nearly 20kg lighter with a more defined rear end and new race-inspired wheels, but without losing its rider-friendly character that has made it popular for new riders, riders needing a boost up the capacity ladder and experienced riders liking a performace with practical.
Design and Styling: Sporty with an Edge
Kawasaki obviously always cared about how their bikes looked, and the Ninja 650 was no exception.
As expected, taking cues from its larger siblings such as the ZX-6R and ZX-10R, the motorcycle has very aggressive twin LED headlamps, which extend to the front cowl of the bike and topped off with sharp lines that make the motorcycle look purposeful.
The muscle fuel tank emphasizes the street muscle and the ripped tail section enhances the large, aggressive look of the bike.
Given its sporty demeanor, the Ninja 650 is not intimidating. Only 790 mm seat height, making it very accessible for most riders.
The upright riding position, which is slightly leaned forward, is a great choice, especially for riders who will use these bikes for their daily commutes or for longer rides.
Engine and Performance
The Ninja 650 gets its power from a 649 cc parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that churns out 68 PS of maximum power at 8,000 rpm and 64 Nm of peak torque at 6,700 rpm.
The engine is smooth with good low-end -and mid-range grunt perfect for city usage, highway cruising or weekend blasts.
It feels eager and responsive on the throttle and there’s enough mid-range grunt for overtakes to be a doddle.
Though it does not possess the in-your-face punch of a four-cylinder supersport, the Ninja 650’s power delivery is a lot easier to handle and it instills confidence in newer riders.
The 6-speed transmission is slick and the clutch action is vague, but it’s also light and slipper clutch assist helps with both downshifts and ease of operation in traffic.
Ride and Handling
The Ninja 650 is tuned by Kawasaki for real-world riding. It is built around a trellis frame that helps it be lithe and sharp to handle.
With the weight of a mere 196 kg (kerb) bike, the vehicle proves to be nimble and easy to manoeuvre through city traffic and around the corners.
Telescopic forks upfront and a horizontal back-link monoshock take care of suspension duties.
It’s not a track-focused setup, and yet the suspension is well set up for daily commuting, highway touring, and the occasional rip through some twisty roads.
The 17-inch alloy wheels and Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres inspire confidence and the dual 300mm disc brakes at the front and single 220mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS offer strong, progressive and confidence-inspiring braking.
Features and Technology
The Ninja 650 may not be loaded up with features, but everything it has integrates well and is rider-centric.
The center piece is the 4.3-inch TFT digital display that enables Bluetooth connection with the help of Kawasaki’s Rideology app. Riders can keep track of vehicle status, trip details or receive alerts on the move.
Other features include:
LED lighting all around
Digital gear position indicator
Average and instantaneous fuel economy reading function
Ride-by-wire throttle
There are no ride modes or traction control, which will likely irk some tech-focused riders, but it makes the riding experience as pure and simple as can be.
Pros
Slick and sociable parallel-twin engine
The ergonomics are good for everyday and touring use.
Aggressive, modern styling
Easy to handle and lightweight
Full Digital TFT displat met Bluetooth
Solid braking setup with ABS
Cons
No riding modes and all that fancy electronics
The rear is a non-adjustable shock.
Not the best when you’re really pushing on the track.
Pillion comfort isn’t the best for long rides
No quickshifter or TC
Kawasaki Ninja 650: Conclusion
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 is still a clever option in the middleweight motorcycle category. It provides this unique combination of sporty looks, day-to-day practicality and sophisticated performance.
It’s not a supersport in the classic sense, but it delivers more than enough rush for anyone below the master racer level.
For those moving up from smaller motorcycles or looking for a twin-cylinder all-rounder, the Ninja 650 ticks more than a few of the right boxes too.