Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

[Arjun Jadhav]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Hi Guys,

After dreaming finally bought the Ninja 2013 model. A second hand one as i just wanted to enjoy the bike before i upgrade to a bigger bike.



Did about 3500 kms in 3 months with one trip of 2000kms (Pune-Bangalore-Mysore-Pune)

I should say it is a really good bike, but after 400kms A** pains a bit by the time you do 1000kms you are asking too much. But anyways loved the trip it took 13 hrs of continuous riding all alone.

Hope to meet some of the Pune riders soon.

Thanks,
Arjun J P

[TheArcher84]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Hello people of green disposition. Long time. It has been a bit more than a year now since i got the green/black one. A lot has happened since then. So a quick update.

.

That's a nice write-up bro

[forty6]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Hello people of green disposition. Long time. It has been a bit more than a year now since i got the green/black one. A lot has happened since then. So a quick update.

It started off with the first service, promptly followed by, err a crash.

I still have my CBR and i have completely forgotten what extra kilos do in a turn. Entered a corner too fast, and much to my dismay a car driver decided to get into my lane at the same time. Panic braking happened, front tyre locked and before you could say "What the tomatoes" I was down. A kind gentlemen dropped me home. Another one dropped my bike home. And then I was well, off the bike for almost 3 months. No bones were broken. The bike didn't suffer too much of a damage, which only meant it is really well put together. It took then an eternity for the dealer to get the parts and get it sorted. But I think in a month and a half it was back with me. I though took another month and a half to get completely fit to ride it and another six months to ride it like someone who knows biking.

Two things I want to point out. One it is a heavy bike, try and not push it too much, especially under heavy braking. The front has a tendency to lose traction. Why Kawasaki can't give ABS is beyond me. Two, spares are expensive, so try and not fall off it.

Anywho, got better over time and then took the bike to Jodhpur, another friend of mine took it to Theog, while I followed him on my CBR. And then took it to Kasaul.

Few things I discovered as became familiar with the bike more. One it is just too comfortable on highways. I did kasaul to Gurgaon in 12 hrs without my back screaming obscenities. I have done the same on my CBR and it really is much harder on the bums.

The bike does need smooth broad roads for you to enjoy it like CBR or other lighter bikes you might be used to. It is quite stable though. The suspension is much better sorted. It is quite fast even with two up. It will easily do 160-170 two up.

It has an amazingly awesome mid-range. You don't need to drop gears to build rev and speed. Just twist and ride the torque curve. That said you do miss being close to the rev counter of quarter litre bikes.

Lastly, I think the brakes are really shoddy on this one. I am getting steel braided brake lines, so I am hoping that will improve things. It is not that the brakes don't bite well, but they just don't bite with enough feel and usually are too harsh towards the end of the lever travel.

Not too comfortable with the feel in the wet from the tyres, but nothing to be too worried by.

What else? Umm, well you can do city commute on it, it is fairly easy to ride slow, just don't expect to cut through tight gaps with the same agility as the lighter bikes. It also gets a bit too hot in traffic. But nothing that induces too much pain.


I will be going on a longish trip in the first week of Jan, so will update about the brake lines and my experience there. Till then, ride safe and do go on longer trips on this. This bike is meant to be taken around this country.

[dheepakiyer]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

After much deliberation, I decided to book my Ninja 650. I'll be booking it this week. I am looking for Frame Sliders, Radiator Guards and Fork Protectors. Has anyone in the group tried the Kraftewerk Frame Sliders from Planet DSG? This is significantly cheaper than the R&G frame sliders from performance racing store. Can you guys suggest me a place to get Radiator Guards. Is fork protectors necessary or is that something we can do without?

[rusty_mechs]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Wheelie advice

How do you wheelie in second gear? I can pull power wheelies in the first effortlessly, don't even need to WOT but second gear is becoming an issue. I don't even come close to pulling a wheelie unless I clutch-up, wheelies then of course are effortless

[Aashi]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Thanks so much for a quick reply buddy!!

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[rusty_mechs]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Got my 650 on last Friday. Didn't ride it much on highways but in City ride its getting damn Hot. Even its emmitting heat from near the saddle though no warning light is coming up. Is this normal operation for it (being new)?

Somebody please confirm.

Yup its normal. The bike gets hot in traffic. Absolutely no worries... One thing you can do is ride the bike in higher gears rather than in lower gears at higher rpm when you know you will be stuck in traffic.

[Aashi]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Got my 650 on last Friday. Didn't ride it much on highways but in City ride its getting damn Hot. Even its emmitting heat from near the saddle though no warning light is coming up. Is this normal operation for it (being new)?

Somebody please confirm.

[rusty_mechs]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Congratulations [MENTION=59737]rusty_mechs[/MENTION] - 'now that was a review straight outta heart, marvelous!
'enjoyed goin' through it and yea, the saree guard is indescribably ugly.

BTW, which showroom did you buy it from?

Thanks a ton man. I bought it from KTM Banjara Hills showroom..

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[chaosaddict]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Congratulations [MENTION=59737]rusty_mechs[/MENTION] - 'now that was a review straight outta heart, marvelous!
'enjoyed goin' through it and yea, the saree guard is indescribably ugly.

BTW, which showroom did you buy it from?

[rusty_mechs]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Thanks a ton guys!!

[eliksir]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

congrats [MENTION=59737]rusty_mechs[/MENTION] She looks awesome in matte black

[shail@tourer]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

congratz dude ninja 650 is awesome bike.

[pratham2kool]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Congratulations Bro for your Ninja even Sachin's blog is making me crazy to go green..

[Sachinnair]

Re: Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

Congratulations buddy and wish you a happy ownership experience. May be I should ask Kawasaki for a cut

Regarding the power delivery I agree its very linear but that's not a con if you ask me. If I ever get bored of its linear power delivery just drop a gear down and what a rush I get when I open full throttle. Power wheelies in second gear happens without even a second thought if you wide open throttle.

I have added puig touring windscreen which helps in wind protection tad better than stock windscreen.

We are riding to Hyderabad on 15th Aug and will be there for a couple of days so PM if you wanna meet.

Ride safe!

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