@GS
I just cannot stop admiring your precisely analytical approach explained in real-world JAY LENOish humor.

@Rabid Racoon / TenHut
Thanks for the most balanced but opposite (wrt GS's) view on biking.

The below quote should be added to the review.... due credit to TenHut.
I have toured on a ZMA so far. We always had two RD350s for company. Hence i've tasted (though not owned) the RDs on tours.
a) They are twin cylinders like the 650R (BUT are the Godlike "two strokes"). The sound of the RD is magical for me.
b) They have approx 40BHP of power if i am right
c) I love the riding posture of the RD
d) The handlebars are lovely and the seat has the biggest real estate for you to sit on.

Being a Pulsar 180 owner, i switched to the ZMA since touring is what i love and the P180 was too harsh on my wrists.

I am not trying to compare technologies here (two stroke, four stroke or the i4s...)

How would it be with a Ninja 650R in the midst of the RDs????

I can understand i might be shot down for comparing the RD with the Ninja 650R, but i ask because i'm not lucky enough to have ridden both of them to make an opinion.

As long as it can keep C & D segment Cars (C = Accord/Camry, D = 3, C, A & ...) honest, I don't think most would complain.

Above that its Super Car (random talk) category which is above 50L in India.

I like the bike for what it is

I own an RD and no matter which bike comes and goes, the RD will always stay with me. There is a visceral quality to the RD experience that goes beyond it's performance. There is the brutish (at low revs) and yet soulful (at high revs) sound from the exhaust that becomes addictive. The rush as you hit the powerband slides you back in your seat and you cling on to the bars with an evil grin on your face.

Few RDs generate more than 20 - 25bhp these days and yet there are some that produce over 40bhp. It all depends on their condition and state of tune.

Riding a 650R is nothing like that. It is quick, efficient, painless and goes without the cranky nature of RDs. I am sure it is a lot more fuel efficient and cheaper/easier to repair as well as parts are available across the shelf.

The main difference is that one of these bikes is already a legend...and though it is a tall ask to expect the 650R to become a legend at some point in the future...who knows? People who had the opportunity to buy an RD brand new looked at it and went "Who in their right minds would buy such a thing!" and as a result of which my dad has a Std. Bullet 350. In my dreams I have done horrible things to him involving guns, knives and mouse-traps for NOT buying an RD350 when he could...but he eventually bought me the one I ride now so the pleasant dreams are back

I don't want to suffer the same fate and hence the MT-01 and hopefully, in a few days time, the Ninja 650R too. If my presently unborn son still complains I'll send him off to TenHut's house to see if the grass really is greener on the other side

last few posts by gsferrari and tenhut are not only informative but at the same time loaded with friendly banter! i'm loving reading the above posts!

whatever the reasoning might be, ultimately its the cost which dictates an average joe's decision. Spending 4.7l on a VFM package that is 650r seems much more practical and less insane (again its subjective) than spending on a CBU route bike.

I for one had to cancel my loan approval in the very last minute because i'd end up paying the government 7lakhs in addition to the original price of the bike and in return i get nothing (in terms of infrastructure development and monitoring the traffic mindset of the majority). it's against my school of thought (no offence meant for anyone).

On the other hand, bikes bought through the CKD route are much easier on my conscience making me feel less like a fool by paying much less to the government. to me, taxation of over 100% is ridiculous even if i'm loaded!

bottom line is, i'd buy the n650r (R justified or not) for all its pros and cons, in a heartbeat!

Hi Fireblah...

I am seriously giving it a serious consideration

And that's exactly the next topic I was going to question you about here in this thread. The topic being the black Kawasaki 650R, which I remember seeing in some photographs in a thread featuring a ride-out from Kolkata with you and some others. If I'm not mistaken, that bike had unfortunately crashed somewhere too, during the ride-out. Does the rider still ride it?

So naturally I was about to ask you whether you had ridden the bike. Besides, I don't think there is much of a difference between the previous years model and this latest version. Or is there?

Anyway, would love to hear your ride impressions on the bike.

.....Simba

bike

The Bike is no doubt a make of good craftmenship by the makers of kawasaki and for a 600cc it even has a good milage but it could have worked better on the looks....!!!!

Totally agree...
I think the review set off the negative remarks Trend. Guess we should look at how the company wants to project ithe bike and then see if it lives upto what it claims..
We Indians always want our bikes to be able to carry veggies from Market impress chics able to carry saree clad moms pillion and also be great on track and give excellent milage!! Possible for Bollywood hero but not for a bike
Just my thought
let's wait for a full road test and owners reviews

very true.. but a bit more this... when you know that the water level is too high to ride through itsand you are insane to cross it. then stall the engine gentlyso that its in the compression stroke. (the valves will be closed so no water enter the chamber.) Cover the silencer. a simple polythene cover would do. Then push the bike through the water. ONce crossed, make the bike vertical to drain the water in silencer. Check the airbox to remove anywater. Drain the carb. ANd start the bike. THis is wat we did to get all the 4 bikes through this..


edit: got carried away. mods remve the post if irrelavent.

Ninja 650r color options

Checked with the Bangalore probiking, 650r is available in Ninja green only. I was hoping for a black (to attract as little attention to the bike as possible). Anyone has more info on the color options. I am almost willing to buy the green and get it painted black, but that will lead to unnecessary complication later on in the seconds sale.

@Prabhu - good inputs but again these are safeguards we can take in an extreme situation. The compression stroke trick will not work in a multi-cylinder vehicle. Water can also enter oil sump through the breather pipe if it is given enough time. What did you do to protect the air filter? There is no way you can hydraulically seal off an engine on short notice when you are un-prepared in the middle of a ride. In the picture posted above if the air-filter had taken on water then even draining the carburetor and starting the bike would have had a major element of risk.

The exhaust outlet may be below water but the water CANNOT climb up through the headers and into the engine as long as there is positive exhaust pressure. Can water from a ground tank reach the over-head tank without a pump? NO!
Even if the exhaust end-can is underwater and as long as the water level is clear of the exhaust port by a good margin AND you maintain positive exhaust port pressure then you should be fine.

Anyway - Like I said, in extreme situations we go for extreme measures but the best option is to choose another path.

yup the compression stroke trick wont work for muticyclinder engine. in our case the water level was almost upto the tank with both engines and airfilter submerged. we were stuck between2 water crossing in a flash flood zone, so no altenative route and dont w time to think a lot...

we covered the exhaust too, so that the air int he exhaust doesnt escape easily, letting the wate to enter through other holes. airfilter we removed and cleaned it with engine oil and swinged it to dry. yes water can go thru the breather pipe, but hoped that air in the pipe wont ve a escape route to let water seek in... as you said these are the few good sealing tips but dont its nt 100% water sealing.

Here are some pictures of the Ninja 650R at the Bajaj Probiking outlet in Vashi, Mumbai. (All pictures clicked using the apple IPhone).

I visited the showroom at 10.30am today, first impressions:
1. Looks really big and intimidating for someone of my size (5ft 5in tall), but feels manageable up close.
2. The exhaust note when idling sounds quite nice, and even better when revved! sorry I could not get a clip, I forgot to take one in all my excitement..
3. The saree guard is quite large and ugly in my opinion.
4. Quality of plastics, fit and finish of most components appear top notch.
5. Seat comfort looks adequate for both rider and pillion, my better half was with me, and she was quite impressed.
6. The lime green paint looks awesome!

What was missing -
1. Somebody from sales - not that I needed to know features etc., but nobody was there to accept a booking!
2. No test rides, but understandable given the heavy rains today in Mumbai.
3. Display bike was a little dirty, but didn't mind it too much - gave me an idea of what this bike will look like after touring.

No tie-ups with any banks or NBFCs yet for loans, but options could be available by next week.

Worth a long round-trip to see the Green Goblin in the flesh!

that saree guard is exceptionally huge ..but looking at the picture it seems to attached to the grab rails so shouldn't be much of a task to remove i suppose.

Seriously. Its looks pathetic and looks like it was an after-thought.

hmm... this is why it took them forever to launch the bike !!

@simba : I rode the bike only in city conditions .. traffic etc. Its very comfortable and honestly, feels like an overgrown Karizma, not that its a bad thing, but in a good way... its light, does not feel like a very big bike. ( maybe i am used to bigger ones thats why ) , has got ample power, the owner zips to 200kmph on highways on it quite easily,again, is very very comfortable..
The original buyer has sold the bike now and I dont know who bought it..