Night out at Neral

Some pictures of a recent ride to Neral a couple of weeks back.

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

awesome pics and thread.

Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Today, I have completed 20 months of ownership with Ninja 650 and after completing 36,000 kms on the bike I thought this will be the right time to share some of my thoughts on the long term ownership of this bike.

Add ons:
- R&G Frame sliders
- Puig Windscreen
- Redline + Radiator Guard
- SHAD SH48 Top case
- Hel Performance Brake Lines & EBC Brake pads
- Rascal Graphics Rim stripes & Keiti Tank pad

I don't think this is a bike I will think of selling in the near future. It's been an awesome experience so far with the Kwacker and all the variety of terrain and conditions I have taken the bike it has excelled. Mileage has been consistently around 25 kmpl and maintenance has been not too heavy on the pocket which is the best part of the ownership. It's a bike that is Jack of all trades Master of None.

Couple of minor issues I have faced:
- Once the fuel cap got jammed so bad that I could not fill fuel while going on the ride. I had to go to a trusted mechanic who managed to open the fuel cap. It was a scary situation to be in as I was running low on fuel when this happened. Luckily the bike had enough in reserve for me to reach the garage.

- In my last ride, my coolant warning indicator light showed while riding which basically means the coolant level might have been dropped during the ride. I need to get this checked with the service centre this weekend before I go on any ride. As per manual, the light switches on if the temperature crosses 118 degrees.

Major long rides done so far:
- Bangalore Rides (Numerous times)
- IBA Saddloresore 1600K ride (Pune - Bangalore - Pune)
- Rajasthan
- Goa (Numerous times)
- Nagpur
- Hampi & Chikmagalur
- Multiple rides in interiors and tourist destinations in Maharashtra - Velneshwar, Malvan, Dapoli, Guhaghar, Saputara, Mahabaleshwar, Bhandardara, Malshej, Vaitarna, etc.

Below is repository I have maintained which includes all the expenses I have done on the bike so far including maintenance, petrol cost and performance parts.


This expense sheet may help few of you who might be interested in buying this bike in the near future.

I leave you all with blast from the past - Some old pictures of Midori

Re: Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

nice report bro, this is why i like ninja 650 it is good for touring and also occasional city rides, low running costs.

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

[MENTION=31671]Sachinnair[/MENTION]: Hearty Congrats. You have been living the dream! Yes, a machine like this is for keeps!
Thanks for putting up the expense sheet too.
Other than tyres (which are exorbitant for all bikes), everything else seems reasonable enough.

Out of curiosity I ask, could you please point/reply to following:
1. Spares replaced during 6 services with cost
2. Bank loan and down payment related info
3. Question: Should prospective buyers go for Ninja650 or wait it out for Honda CBR650F?

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Re: Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

[MENTION=5265]sachin[/MENTION]
Where did you get these things from is it available in Mumbai or Thane? I need it for My Ninja 300.
- R&G Frame sliders
- Redline + Radiator Guard

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

wait...me too...cbr 650f...maybe other inline 4 will also come. i always want a light weight not like bulky japs...ninja looks so big to me. catches attention a lot.

Re: Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Actually for tires, there is a less expensive option available now which is tried and tested by many N650's i.e. 180 section rear tire rather than stock 160 section. Micheline PR2 set will cost around 17-18K and few of my friends who have used this in their 650 have not faced any issues what so ever. Even the mileage has not dropped so I am definitely going to try out the 180 section tire when I am up for a change.

Regarding your questions,
1. I am actually waiting for my 6th service bill hence, you don't see the details of the service in the expense sheet. The service centre had issues printing the bill that day. From what I remember I changed my rear brake pad & spark plug in the 6th service. Actually spark plug was supposed to be changed in 3rd service but I did not bother changing it that early. Then during 4th and 5th service it was not in stock and I finally got it changed in 6th service.

2. I bought the bike in Dec-2012. That time cost of the bike with zero depreciation insurance was 5,65,229 INR. I took loan from Future capital at 7.1% ROI (reducing). Paid around 2L DP and EMI comes to 12750 INR every month for 36 months tenure.

3. Depends. Honda CBR650F as per Auto Expo 2014 communication from HMSI was it is scheduled to be launched in 2016. Now that is still two years away plus the cost of that bike would be around 7L mark if we are lucky and running cost might be a little more than N650. Having said all that, it will be one hell of a machine to own after all who does not want to own an Inline-4 motorcycle. If one has a decent bike to hold on to for another 2 more years I guess it will be worth the wait but if you are some one like me who does not trust automobile news too much then I would pick up a N650 any day.

R&G Frame sliders are available in Performance Racing Store, Tardeo and Redline + radiator guard I am not sure if it is available for Ninja 300 yet. You can check the website redlineplus.in

Re: Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

A very good question indeed. A lot of tour oriented people will have this question in mind (including me ).

A very apt answer to a good question.

Apart from what Sachin answered, i think N650 would be a lot better bike than CBR650F. The reason I think so are :

1. Inline four engine would mean higher compression ratio which means 97 octane petrol would be needed or there would be knocing from the engine whereas N650 can run on normal petrol or premium petrol. And when you tour, noone can be sure of availability of 97 Octane.

2. Price : N650 would cost around 6 lacs wheras CBR would cost almost around 8 lacs. At the 8 lacs range buyrs also have Triumph Street triple and Z800 which have much more power than CBR650F. That 2 lacs can do wonders for few people specially middle class salaried person like me.

3. One of my freind owns a CBR600RR and his service cost is 10k on an average whereas Sachin document shows N650's service cost to be in an average 4k.
@Sachinnair : Please correct me if I am wrong in some points which I mentoned above. I have a very little knowledge about these mean machines.

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

CBR650F has a compression ratio of 11.4:1 and it will work just fine with our normal fuel which is 91 octane.Maintenance will not be 10k for sure but I guess it will be around 6-7k mark.

Being the only inline 4 faired sports tourer in sub 8L it will still sell like hot cakes in a fairing obessed country like ours. Going by news Honda may manufacture the bike here to bring the cost down. Only time will say what we finally get and for what price.
This chapter is still two years away but I guess its a good time to start saving in case anyone is seriously interested ;-)

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re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

I am intereested

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

As soon as I read Honda CBR 650F, my attention was hooked because I have made up my mind to get the CBR650F too. Have been following it religously too and have started saving it for too.

I definately agree to the dilemma of wait for CBR650F or get the ninja650. To me personally Ninja650 is the best big bike one can buy in India right now. Most bang for the buck. Even after riding for more than 16 years and dreaming of an R1 for 8 years, I found the ninja to be scaringly fast to say the least, plus its practicality is just too good to ignore and considering the expected price of CBR650F to be dearer by around 2 lakhs from Ninja650, the ninja makes a very very strong case for itself. There is no comparo that has come up on the Internet but I still feel that in every tangible terms the Ninja will not be very far behind the CBR if not equal and would still be cheaper by 2 lakhs.

But then, we are slightly skewed people so right now I have decided to wait for the CBR. I would anyways need some time to save up.

Keep me posted too guys if anybody has any concrete news on the CBR650F.

re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

CBR 650F isn't coming to India until Honda build their proposed Gujrat plant. I'm expecting 650F launch in late 2016 or early 2017. Looking at Honda service(CBR 250) and spares availability I don't think it's worth the wait.


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re: A Green Affair! Starring Kawasaki Ninja 650 Edit: Now Sold!

If they are not giving cbr 650 soon, ktm the VFM god is gonna give us a 600cc for sure under 4 lakhs. and i will forget the inline as im more inclined to a naked bike than fairing...

Re: Long Term Ownership Report - 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Thanks Sachin for your Reply I checked for Raditor Gaurd. Sadly its not available for ninja 300.