Ninja 650R - Ownership Thread

[n_aditya]

As for switching them out on the 250, why on earth for? The 250 has the best brakes I've ever used. You need to start taking your foot off the rear, and engine brake - use your lessons from the track!!

lol. i never said i want to switch to the steel braided lines. Just curious as to what the advantages and disadvantages are. I hardly use the rear brake unless i am riding the fiero. And after the track school, its more of throttle control... engine braking is passe.

BTW, CSS dates are announced and its a whooping 21k plus taxes for the 3 day course. Neengala goinga?

[ajithk]

Care to highlight more on this Ajith? I am getting a slightly spongy feel on the front brakes after the last brake pad change. Might have to bleed them brakes to improve the feel. The steel braided brake upgrade has me curios for sometime now.

Main problems are dirt getting under the braiding and teflon, braided cable combination failing the DOT whip tests (which is a little extreme but is a test of how the line will stand up to being flexed many many times over the course of its life) Most braided lines (except HEL i am given to understand) dont pass the whip test.

This link is the first one i could find in a quick search talking tech about SS braided hoses.
Brake Lines - NSX-Wiki

[coolboy007]

@ sunnyside
Congrats on your 650R , well thats some very serious mile munching you have done in 2 months and it was a very unbiased and good review. 650R is serving true to its image, trouble free and niggle free as a Kawasaki is.

Even on my gt, i expected better brakes seeing the kind of power these 650 mills have, wont say am unhappy but still more braking power is always appreciated.

Ride safe

[Sunnyside_up!]

lol. i never said i want to switch to the steel braided lines. Just curious as to what the advantages and disadvantages are. I hardly use the rear brake unless i am riding the fiero. And after the track school, its more of throttle control... engine braking is passe.

LOL! Showoff! Would like to see you use throttle control on the highways!

BTW, CSS dates are announced and its a whooping 21k plus taxes for the 3 day course. Neengala goinga?

Would like to....need a bike though.....know anyone I can bum a 250R from? hint...hint...

[Sunnyside_up!]

@ sunnyside
Congrats on your 650R , well thats some very serious mile munching you have done in 2 months and it was a very unbiased and good review. 650R is serving true to its image, trouble free and niggle free as a Kawasaki is.

Even on my gt, i expected better brakes seeing the kind of power these 650 mills have, wont say am unhappy but still more braking power is always appreciated.

Ride safe

Yeah, seem to have ridden my ass off ever since I got the bike - guess its addictive!

Was planning another ride in December but have decided to push it to Jan after my wife who already calls herself a "Ninja Widow" hinted that she might have to start looking for a new husband!

[Sunnyside_up!]

Just came across some pics from a ride to Ooty about a month back with Chennai XBhp.....

The first three were taken by other members while the last was from my helmet mounted GoPro...

[n_aditya]

Was planning another ride in December but have decided to push it to Jan after my wife who already calls herself a "Ninja Widow" hinted that she might have to start looking for a new husband!

Before she does that buy her a bike.... HD's are pretty easy to ride.

Just came across some pics from a ride to Ooty about a month back with Chennai XBhp.....

The first one is pure wallpaper material. Only thing missing is a burn out.

[sauravalwaysurs]

@sunnyside: very nice review. good to see N650 working as per its image. also nice to see people working to sort out the braking and head light issues.

[sauravalwaysurs]

~85kph indicated.

Saurav - the N650R has hazard lights, which were flashing when I took the pics.

thanks for the info mates. means cruising on highways even in break-in/run-in period will not be boring.

[no_nonsense4857]

This thread's just come back to life after a long lull!!

Thanks ninjas

@ Owners,
Please post on how you are managing the touring luggage. Very interested to know this.

[kiranghag]

Please post on how you are managing the touring luggage. Very interested to know this.

i had cramster saddle bags. due to wider rear seat, the fairing pokes inside each compartment and reduces storage area. still can keep lots of stuff.
need to make sure that the rear hook is used to tie it, else it keeps sliding in front.

my tank bag zip went bad and i am waiting new one to arrive. lets see how it fits. the tank is taller so tank bag would be almost hugged during ride.

[Sunnyside_up!]

This thread's just come back to life after a long lull!!

Thanks ninjas

@ Owners,
Please post on how you are managing the touring luggage. Very interested to know this.

After several long rides, I have observed the following;

Cramster's saddlebags don't fit properly but their tank-bag does and have used the same for a couple of thousand km with no negatives except the usual paint scratches on the tank.

Cortech saddlebags though recommended in several forums, do fit but not well or very conveniently. Extra bungees are still required to hold everything in place.

RJays saddlebags can be used but with some intricate fine-tuning.

I have used an Oxford tail bag with great success and remains my favourite luggage for 2-3 nights.

I have seen a GIVI tailbox also used very successfully, but a lot of careful fabrication needed to be done first. Once fitted though, the easiest to use luggage system.

[no_nonsense4857]

Wow Sunny!
You've just given a first hand review of almost every big brand guys in the luggage world for the Ninja 650

Kiran,
Those Cramsters - i wish they start a small re-design for the ninjas. Would be a big hit wouldn't it?!

Anybody tried to have a saddle bag with a pillion?

I had another question though - Maintenance.

In the Ninja 250 thread there is really good detail on what would be the expenses of owning it - in terms of servicing.

So how does the Ninja 650 fare in this domain?

While running in your bike.
I wouldn't go into how every 650 owner wants to run-in the bike. But did anybody do an early oil chage (without or without a filter replacement)? How about the expenses during the first and the second services?

I must reiterate - i'm just curious. I do not own a 650 and i'm trying to recollect everything i did when i purchsed my ZMA.

[Sunnyside_up!]

Completed my second service. 6700kms on the odo.

They checked out my valve synchronisation but otherwise a standard service. I opted to change the oil and filter even though the oil change is required only at 12k kms.

Total cost Rs.3008/- including oil, filter and service charges.

Has anyone else done their second service yet?

[3kings]

sharing some pics from our kawasaki sponsored 2 roadgasmic tour ride Manila to Bolinao (Northern part of the Philippines) and back 650km


the 650r


a couple of vulcans too at the far end


the 250r