Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Long term ownership approved!

Now please post in more detail, places you took it. Maintenance issues if any. More pics et all.

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Thanks Mod...

Here are two emotional blog posts that would convey my state of mind when it came home...I named it "MoMo" by the way.

As I tread the Globe....: An unusual wedding...
As I tread the Globe....: "Living with Ninja Experiences" - Preface

Maintenance wise, it was very surprising to see a bike with 6000KMs of service intervals (if all you are used to us pulsar's 2000KM which I invariably crossed every month due to my commute). It turned out to be very easy on maintenance, I have been tracking the expenses and per KM cost of owning this has come down to 18 rupees (which was more than 35 last year).
A typical service at authorised service center costed 3-4K (including oil change). Remember that if you are using this for occasional breakfast rides and trips here n there, you would not be visiting service center for 6 months or more!

Thankfully I havent seen critical failures on this one. Getting parts however is a little pain. I am told that this is much better than other vendors. Bajaj tries to arrange required parts within a week or two. For a regular user thats a pain still.

This was an upgrade to Pulsar 220F and with Pulsar I used to do few rides within Maharashtra and Goa once in a while. Ninja changed that completely and travel range increased beyond my expectations...Following trips can highlight that very well. Ninja is a jack of all trades, takes all roads and fuel in stride! The range has steadily grown, started with a week/1500kms, to two weeks/3600kms and looking forward to do more if work permits The confidence inspired by the reliability is wonderful.

Thane - Udaipur


Momo goes to Gujarat (Vansda National Park)


Search of perfect Gulmohur


Namma Bengaluru (Thane - Bangalore)


Off-road camping night (Amby vally)


Thane-Indore-Pachmarhi-Noida-Ajmer-Dungarpur-Vadodara-Thane



India Kawasaki Owner's Meet + IBW meet (Thane - Nagpur - Hyderabad - Goa - Thane)


Thane - Bangalore - Ooty - Kodaikanal - Munnar - Calicut - Bylakuppe - Thane


Ajmer Shariff Ride

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Hooked and keeping a keen eye, do share more details related to the ownership aspect.

My interest in the 650 has been increasing at an alarming rate. This just makes it even increase faster. ;-)

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

This bike will always hold a corner in my heart. I rarely see these kind of long ownership experiences with other bikes or may be people don't write down if so. Happy to see you are enjoining with her, its a indeed machine to hold for lifetime if you settle down with it
Wishing you many more thousand kms

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Indeed it is a keeper. They say own shit never smells bad however this is very practical mid segment bike for my needs. I am not into hardcore cornering or super fast runs. I like to cruise at relaxed speeds and occasional sprints. Its not very slow nor its very fast. Its best of all worlds to me.

Based on feedback of other users, I can confirm that this is typically reliable as Japanese are known to be.

Few nags like poor brakes, lack of ABS, poor lights etc can be tweaked. Other than that there is hardly anything to complain.

The colour is catchy and thats something I did not like from beginning. Its instant recognition as "hari superbike" everywhere you take it. so parking outside is major headache something that I do not like on a tour because you cant park it outside a tourist attraction and walk away peacefully

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Hi Kiran, Chinmaya here...Whats up bro!! I have been a proud owner of Ninja 300 since last 6 months and 12000 kms.

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

There is ABS in newer 650, right?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

hey Chinmay, going good ache din tabhi aaye jab yeh bike aayi thi..... Kawi was first to tell..."let the good times roll"

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Yes, could not agree more. I too have upgraded from 220 to Duke 200 to Ninja 300. And honestly not many people are able to understand the level of quality and reliability that Kawasaki's provide.

Some argue that you have other more "powerful" options at half the cost that do not break every day, but yes, they do have niggles. The fact is, a person investing so much money on a Kawasaki bike does not want those niggles.

Agreed those niggles (oil leaks, fan not working etc) do not make your bike sit in the parking lot, but for some like you and me, we can not live with it.

I just cannot stop myself from admiring and appreciating the level of engineering and quality every time I ride the bike.

It is a true fill it, shut it, and forget it kind of bike. You don't have to keep an eye for oil leaks or worry about some component failing early.

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Not in India yet!

Only overseas.

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

Heard from a close friend who has ties with the KTM store that the next version update comes with USD forks, new brakes and also the ABS.

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

It's about time I'd say! Ever since ER6N came to our shores, it started selling at N650's price and N650's prices were jacked up.

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

The ER6N looks absolutely fabulous in that stealth black color. Saw one a few days back. Man.!!! What a sexy machine.!! But i still prefer the N650.

Cheers
Ride Safe
Krishna

Re: Long Term Ownership Review : Kawasaki Ninja 650R 2011 @ 50,000KMs

nah, there is no ABS in any 650 model sold as of now here

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There is hardly any difference in naked n faired. except the wind blast which can be leveled by windscreens. however, I like naked because its easy to access interiors and add accessories