The 650 class has always kinda been this budget sports touring class but with the looks of a full on supersport rather than the typical kinda bloated, big windscreen look. But there's some interesting new players coming in like Aprilia and Triumph who might actually spice things up and start pushing manufacturers to develop these platforms more. Also definitely agree that nothing teaches you to ride properly quite like a low power bike, currently only own KTM 390s, been on track 8 times so far and I rarely share the track with bikes that have similar power yet I've overtaken Daytona 675s, R1s, GSXR1000s, RC8R, all these insanely fast bikes yet the riders just lack the skill to do anything other than open the throttle on a straight and zoom off
Mega bike review that mate, awesome work indeed - would be great to see you do more.. Surprised the UK bike magazines aren't snapping you up as their overseas writer!!
Great bike, and i know for a fact that it can go fast. At least i've seen Jens go quite fast on that one. Great memories of scotland with this one Dale. 😂
Hit the nail on the head again. Last year as a new rider I checked out the Z650RS for it's looks and the Versys 650 for its practicality (that 21l fuel tank!). The Versys 650 was quite top heavy, but the Z650RS was an absolute gem, the motor as you say is so much better than it looks on paper and loves to work through the revs. The handling felt telepathic. But I did succumb to the 270 crank fake v-twin and got an XSR700 instead.
I think. That is the way. Kawasaki Designed the Ninja 650 /Z650 put the Power in the Midrange Down on Power To the Old ER 6 But Massively Down on Weight By 17 Kilo with the New Trellis Frame ...I was. Thinking what You Said in The Video ..270 crank. now Common It's the I80 crank. That is now more Unique. LoL
It's entirely wrong to call the 650 Ninja a beginners bike. It is for riding on the road, and for that it has more than enough power. If you want a track bike or a race bike, then get one!
1000% agreed. I started out on a ninja ZX1100 and I've ridden up to 1300 cc's. I'm having the most fun right now on a Ninja 300- 2013 SE. I'll admit it's a little sluggish uphill but plenty fast and plenty power around town and on the highway. I won't shatter the sound barrier but I'm having a blast whipping it around and not having to worry so much about babying the throttle. I'm a tall and heavier guy so at this point it could use some new springs and fluid adjustment to help with how soft and spongy it is. But for getting around town and having fun, absolutely perfect. A 650 is more than double this 300 so I can't imagine why it's a beginner bike. I've been guilty of the same but after 15 years of riding and finally trying out a 300, I'm a believer!
Nice fast track, I was never on a track in my life at all. Maybe I should go there, it's just 415km from my home. I don't have a sport bike and my car is old. 🙃
bought a 2006 sv650 after selling a bandit 1200 and ver felt the power was an issue and the gains in less weight, better cornering and easy cold start were a huge gain. Around 70hp is peefect for street use and highway solo if you are not going above 140kmh. sold sv650 in may and miss the bike a lot. Probably will buy next year a z650, sv650. The gsx8s and hornet are good and more powerful but the anual tax in my country is more than double for the sv or z650.
As a guy who lives here, and has ridden here for over 20 years, I'm still not 100% sure. There's no signage anywhere on site, the marshals don't know when you ask them directly, and nobody I know has ever been warned about overtaking on the wrong side. If somebody from the management wants to make a sign at the pit lane exit explaining the rules, I'm sure it would help clarify the situation on the GP track.
Yes but ancient, carbed, a lot less torq and not even close in riding quality when compared to modern bikes. In the 80s and 90s big hp numbers were priority and no emission laws or problems with high fuel consumption.
@mricemantoyou i didnt say they where bad (i used to Ride a similar cbf500) with 58hp that also did 55mpg. Also had a bandit 1200 and sv650 from 2007. I now own a z650 from 2017. Modern bikes handle weight a lot better and fuel injection and ABS makes you forget the limitations that euro regulations impose. Also, 68hp on a sub 200kg bike is amazing for road use, cant complain at all about my z650 performance
@farmoboy83 totally agree. My gpz500s now has a gpz400r swing arm, custom caliper mount, 2:1 delkevic with a custom 29mm baffle, fog mod airbox, hi flo filter, up jetted carbs, braided hoses, twin disc front end (std e10 2004), sv650 rear shock absorber and modified mk1 gpz500s alloy drop links. So I forget sometimes it's a bit away from standard. They do loose power if not looked after but I think there's some good old carburettor bikes out there being looked after
This motorcycle is a shame. They gotta improve the engine to compete in the category. 95hp and 270 crank is a must nowadays for the class. As well as a lighter frame and a little more aggressive triangle. I mean, come on Kawasaki, this bike is more boring and weak than the Ninja 500.
First of All great Video, im speechless of your corner speed with this littel Bike l like your Videos cant wait to see the next one
Thanks a ton! 🫡
Oh!!! Ride all of the 650 class bikes the same way. YZF-R7, Daytona 660, CBR650R, GSX-8R ❤, RS660
Excellent riding and commentary as usual!
Thanks! That means a lot! 🫡
The 650 class has always kinda been this budget sports touring class but with the looks of a full on supersport rather than the typical kinda bloated, big windscreen look. But there's some interesting new players coming in like Aprilia and Triumph who might actually spice things up and start pushing manufacturers to develop these platforms more.
Also definitely agree that nothing teaches you to ride properly quite like a low power bike, currently only own KTM 390s, been on track 8 times so far and I rarely share the track with bikes that have similar power yet I've overtaken Daytona 675s, R1s, GSXR1000s, RC8R, all these insanely fast bikes yet the riders just lack the skill to do anything other than open the throttle on a straight and zoom off
On the curves you proved the ninja650 is #1.
Mega bike review that mate, awesome work indeed - would be great to see you do more.. Surprised the UK bike magazines aren't snapping you up as their overseas writer!!
Very kind words, sir! Thanks!
I love the way you ride the little ninja❤
Thanks mate!
You know it's a good bike when he's trying to say the bad, but he's still saying good things about the bike ❤️
Great bike, and i know for a fact that it can go fast. At least i've seen Jens go quite fast on that one.
Great memories of scotland with this one Dale. 😂
Cracking review Dale and your the man to put a bike through its paces 👌
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks very much
Nice review and riding. Looks mighty dangerous with the cars and the closing speed of the fast guys.
Hit the nail on the head again. Last year as a new rider I checked out the Z650RS for it's looks and the Versys 650 for its practicality (that 21l fuel tank!). The Versys 650 was quite top heavy, but the Z650RS was an absolute gem, the motor as you say is so much better than it looks on paper and loves to work through the revs. The handling felt telepathic. But I did succumb to the 270 crank fake v-twin and got an XSR700 instead.
Thanks for sharing! Yeah, the fake v-twin is hard to ignore in this segment, I have one too! :D
I think. That is the way. Kawasaki
Designed the Ninja 650 /Z650 put the
Power in the Midrange
Down on Power To the Old ER 6
But Massively Down on Weight
By 17 Kilo with the New Trellis Frame
...I was. Thinking what You Said in
The Video ..270 crank. now Common
It's the I80 crank. That is now more
Unique. LoL
What, besides an additional disc and caliper, makes a 650 ABS retail for $3000 more than a 500 ABS?
You can have a lot of fun on most bikes and being able to ride faster than the bike can deliver is awesome fun ....as demonstrated by Dale !
Couldn't agree more! And thanks for the compliment :)
It's entirely wrong to call the 650 Ninja a beginners bike. It is for riding on the road, and for that it has more than enough power. If you want a track bike or a race bike, then get one!
1000% agreed. I started out on a ninja ZX1100 and I've ridden up to 1300 cc's. I'm having the most fun right now on a Ninja 300- 2013 SE. I'll admit it's a little sluggish uphill but plenty fast and plenty power around town and on the highway. I won't shatter the sound barrier but I'm having a blast whipping it around and not having to worry so much about babying the throttle. I'm a tall and heavier guy so at this point it could use some new springs and fluid adjustment to help with how soft and spongy it is. But for getting around town and having fun, absolutely perfect. A 650 is more than double this 300 so I can't imagine why it's a beginner bike. I've been guilty of the same but after 15 years of riding and finally trying out a 300, I'm a believer!
Agreed. While a beginner can absolutely handle it, it’s a perfectly practical bike for a veteran rider to daily around town.
Nice fast track, I was never on a track in my life at all. Maybe I should go there, it's just 415km from my home. I don't have a sport bike and my car is old. 🙃
bought a 2006 sv650 after selling a bandit 1200 and ver felt the power was an issue and the gains in less weight, better cornering and easy cold start were a huge gain. Around 70hp is peefect for street use and highway solo if you are not going above 140kmh. sold sv650 in may and miss the bike a lot. Probably will buy next year a z650, sv650. The gsx8s and hornet are good and more powerful but the anual tax in my country is more than double for the sv or z650.
nice vid ! no bs and lots of onboard
Thanks! I'm still working on the sound, and one of my DJIs has started acting up. But the only way is up!
Great Video video!
Thanks a lot Lot! ;)
😂
@@btgmoto wanted to say great great video😁
Erm… the Ninja 650 does have preload adjustment on the rear! You just need to get the hook wrench out…
WAaat... I must have been looking at the wrong end of it 😂
Love this 🏁
Thanks Paul!
Agree about learning on a middle wt v high power bike. Nice skilled riding.
Thanks ✌️
My rear shock is adjustable
Has he done MT07 in comparing the two ?
I would love to see a full lap…
I'll put something up just for the supporters 🫡
id just like if they made it 75hp and more revs
they dont have 360 cranks...
Are tf gp overtaking rules different to nordschliefe?
As a guy who lives here, and has ridden here for over 20 years, I'm still not 100% sure. There's no signage anywhere on site, the marshals don't know when you ask them directly, and nobody I know has ever been warned about overtaking on the wrong side.
If somebody from the management wants to make a sign at the pit lane exit explaining the rules, I'm sure it would help clarify the situation on the GP track.
Gpz500s is 60 hp
Yes but ancient, carbed, a lot less torq and not even close in riding quality when compared to modern bikes. In the 80s and 90s big hp numbers were priority and no emission laws or problems with high fuel consumption.
@farmoboy83 mine pulls hard to 11000 rpm and does 55 mpg. Plenty of torque too. They just need more regular maintenance to keep their performance
@mricemantoyou i didnt say they where bad (i used to Ride a similar cbf500) with 58hp that also did 55mpg. Also had a bandit 1200 and sv650 from 2007. I now own a z650 from 2017. Modern bikes handle weight a lot better and fuel injection and ABS makes you forget the limitations that euro regulations impose. Also, 68hp on a sub 200kg bike is amazing for road use, cant complain at all about my z650 performance
@farmoboy83 totally agree. My gpz500s now has a gpz400r swing arm, custom caliper mount, 2:1 delkevic with a custom 29mm baffle, fog mod airbox, hi flo filter, up jetted carbs, braided hoses, twin disc front end (std e10 2004), sv650 rear shock absorber and modified mk1 gpz500s alloy drop links. So I forget sometimes it's a bit away from standard.
They do loose power if not looked after but I think there's some good old carburettor bikes out there being looked after
This motorcycle is a shame. They gotta improve the engine to compete in the category. 95hp and 270 crank is a must nowadays for the class. As well as a lighter frame and a little more aggressive triangle. I mean, come on Kawasaki, this bike is more boring and weak than the Ninja 500.