Kawasaki Ninja 650R

I'm looking for info. One popped up in my price range, 07, low miles, looks clean, etc.

This is a fuel injected bike in my price range, and most of the others I've looked at have been carb'd.

Online reviews say good for a new rider to experienced. Some reviews note that it got a "claimed" 60 mpg, which since I will be using it as a commuter also has my interest.

Thoughts, comments?

Get an SV650s instead. Parallel twins are not nearly as fun as v-twins. I can't think of a single thing that the 650r does better than an SV. 60mpg is also a bit of a stretch.

SV650 is "the answer" for beginning motorcyclists.

rotard- Thanks, I looked for those. Only one near me in my price range, and it is at the top of my range. It is also older, which maybe means I should ask this question. Are bikes like cars in that you should try and get the newest one you can? Because the Kawi I asked about is an 07 and most of the SVs I've seen are 01-02 ish.

rotard wrote: SV650 is "the answer" for beginning motorcyclists.

I started on one and wish I hadn't......depressing motorcycle. The 650r is a good bike, but in that power range, I'd blow the budget and buy a ktm 690 duke. Same power, 80-100 lbs less weight, and 10x the fun.

In reply to octavious:

There are two ways to look at it, buy new, or buy non-beat the berkeley out of used bike(inspect it closely)

The older they get, the more likely they'll be beat the berkeley out of by some 17yo

I don't own one of these so I went looking for data on the internet. First, the fuel econ thing; http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/kawasaki/ninja_650r makes me think 45 to 50 mpg is about normal. Reviews seem like it's a decent all-arounder. I say go ride the thing and see what you think. Doesn't seem like there's a center stand out there for it which is unfortunate.

yamaha wrote:

rotard wrote: SV650 is "the answer" for beginning motorcyclists.

I started on one and wish I hadn't......depressing motorcycle. The 650r is a good bike, but in that power range, I'd blow the budget and buy a ktm 690 duke. Same power, 80-100 lbs less weight, and 10x the fun. In reply to octavious: There are two ways to look at it, buy new, or buy non-beat the berkeley out of used bike(inspect it closely) The older they get, the more likely they'll be beat the berkeley out of by some 17yo

They are depressing if you are expecting supersport levels of performance. The suspension on every bike in this class sucks. They are parts bin bikes built to a price point. The 650r is no different. And it is a parallel twin. Ewwwwww

OP, a 10 year old CBR600 would mop the floor with any bike in this class. If you think you want that kind of performance, you will save money by starting with that kind of motorcycle.

And don't worry about a center stand, you can get a cheap rear stand if you want to service it yourself.

pres589- Yeah I saw that. I also found the TotalMotorcycle has it listed at 56 http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/2007-MPG.htm

And this is GRM right, I'm sure if I get something with cheap parts you guys can alwasy help me upgrade it down the road...

Another question, when you guys are talking about maintance, center stands and rear stands, I already have a motorcycle/ATV jack. Unless the plastics or something is in the way, will that not work when I need to do maintenance?

I prefer swingarm spool stands and head stands personally. A bit safer than teetering on a jack, and I like my oilpans. So no jack unless you have lower frame rails(most sporty bikes haven't for 15-20 years now. Pitbull or Vortex stands will set you back about $300 total, but if you buy the right ones, you'll be able to use them forever.

In reply to Rotard:

Yea, the only thing in that size class that I want is the ktm....and its a single thumper.

I think you could buy it, ride it for a year and sell it for about what you paid. It will get you going on something at least. I had a 2nd gen SV650 and the engine/styling were the best parts about it.

What's your price range? Another couple months and bikes will get a lot cheaper.

In reply to octavious:

A motorcycle jack, where you've lifted under the engine, isn't enough to keep the bike from falling over. You can do it but only with straps from rafters or other jacking points. There's a lot of lifting equipment and methods out there and sometimes are specific to the bike in question.

If I owned a motorcycle without a center stand I would be looking for some method of lifting at the rear axle or nearby. Chain maintenance alone would make it worth while.

PitBull Headlift stand. http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pit-bull-hybrid-headlift-stand

Pitbull Spool/Swingarm switchable rear stand(epicly handy) http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pit-bull-ss-rear-stand

Swingarm spools for the back(you'll want aluminum) http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pit-bull-10mm-spool-kit

There's the easy button and the footwork has been done for you.

Thanks guys and yamaha for the links.

Price range is a max of $3k.

I actually own an '07 650R. I bought it in early '08 with barely half a tank of fuel through it. The woman I bought it from had a "surprise" pregnancy just after getting it and figured that was the time to be riding.

I can't really say anything negative about the bike. It has been 100% reliable, easy on tires and brakes, been good on gas (though not 60mpg good!) and has done everything I asked of it. It's been comfortable for long days loaded with luggage and perfectly content being a commuter or back roads explorer.

The biggest thing I would change, and this would be very easy if the stock pads would ever wear out, is a brake upgrade. It could definitely use a little more stopping power. Like all other bikes in this class it would be nice to upgrade the suspension a little as well but you get what you pay for.

This is my first fuel injected bike and from a reliability point of view, it's been amazing. The bike always starts and runs exactly like it should. there's never any fiddling or peculiarities. That said, for me, sometimes those peculiarities can be part of the fun of riding but when commuting or on a trip knowing you don't have to worry about that can be pretty nice too!

The SV650 comes very highly recommended and in some performance attributes beats the Ninja. For me the Ninja was far more comfortable and I just preferred it. Give both a try and see what fits you better.

Not to thread-jack, by why the hate for parallel twins?

Also, bike carbs are simple, so I wouldn't rule out a bike just for that. Although I will admit my experience has all been with bikes that had carbs so I may be missing something.

Definitely not trying to slag carbed bikes. I'd buy another one tomorrow. Just saying they are definitely more prone to issues than fuel injection, especially on bikes that are stored for the winter. If ultimate reliability is a top concern fuel injection is tough to beat.

In reply to Riley_88:

Pretty much sums that one up.

In reply to jstand:

I think its because they behave a bit more like other inline bikes and not as much like a vtwin. Only logical answer there. If I could find one and had the money, I'd buy an yamaha RZ350 in a heartbeat. We had one at the dyno day that dropped 58whp.

yamaha wrote: I prefer swingarm spool stands and head stands personally. A bit safer than teetering on a jack, and I like my oilpans. So no jack unless you have lower frame rails(most sporty bikes haven't for 15-20 years now. Pitbull or Vortex stands will set you back about $300 total, but if you buy the right ones, you'll be able to use them forever. In reply to Rotard: Yea, the only thing in that size class that I want is the ktm....and its a single thumper.

Same here. I use pitbull stands for my bikes. Center-stands are convenient, but add weight and have a tendency to get in the way, so I usually do without.

Parallel twins seem to combine the worst power delivery characteristics of a vtwin and an inline 4. They also sound like poo, imo.

I have a buddy with an RZ350. Any street legal two-stroke gets a pass in my book.

I don't know a time that I've ever thought "man this center stand is in my way!". I do remember a lot of times when I thought "it sure is great to get away from home on my motorcycle" while performing a chain lube-up during a lunch or gas stop and not looking like a goof rolling the bike a foot then stopping to spray chain wax over and over again.

In reply to rotard:

There are two guys local that have them.....one is bone stock and the other has been hotrodded to hell. I want to see the hotrodded one on the dyno. The guy didn't run it, but there was a yzr500 racebike there wearing "street fairings" and had it plated/insured.