07 Ninja 650
I kept hearing how amazing Kawasakis new-for-2007 Ninja 650R is, so I just had to ride it. Well, I finally had my chance in the saddle of this newest addition to the Kawasaki Ninja family, and now I know what all the excitement is about.
The bike is dialed in so right; its effortless to ride. What I mean by effortless is that it's light, low, and precise giving the rider added confidence to lean it over in the twisties or turn up the throttle in the straight-aways. A true-blue sportbike can be intimidating to novice riders. The 650R blurs the lines between delivering sporty performance but in a sport-touring package.
Before this middleweight Ninja was introduced, the entry-level Ninja sportbikes consisted of the 250R and the 500R. The 650R builds on those two models giving novice riders an added option without feeing like theyre making a jump to a much bigger bike. The seating position on the 650R is more upright than leaned over like on the smaller Ninjas. The handlebars come up to the rider as opposed to the rider having to lean down to reach them. This riding position is all part of a new approach Kawasaki took when designing the 650R.
Engineers started designing the 650 with the rider in mind, not the motorcycle. After studying every kind of rider and all types of riding, engineers focused on the human-machine interface. Different riding positions were examined to discover which instilled the most confidence. The feel of a lower seat achieved by making the bike narrow, low effort hand controls, and easy to reach footpegs all played into the design effort.
The extremely light weight of the Ninja 650R at 393 pounds make it a breeze to handle the 31-inch seat height—a standard height for sportbikes, but on the tall side for average height female riders. The seat is narrow, as is the distance laterally between the footpegs allowing riders more leg length with which to reach the ground. A textured seat as opposed to smooth, keeps the rider planted in the saddle so no sliding forward when you dont want to. Footpegs are angled behind the knees just slightly, but not too far back to force a sportbike riding position. For those who still want the look and power of a sporty bike, the 650R displays all the sporty characteristics of a Ninja with its upswept rear cowl and powerful parallel-twin 649cc twin cylinder engine.
At the flick of wrist, you can feel the 650s power take hold. This responsive is due in part to the fuel-injected engine and the way the bike is tuned. A microprocessor works in conjunction with the ECU (engine control unit) to control the timing. The result is an engine that delivers precise performance. Flicking through the six gears is smooth. The transmission is very forgiving if you find yourself in the wrong gear for the speed of the bike. No choking or sputtering.
Most of the torque is found at the lower to mid-range of the powerband, which comes in handy when negotiating traffic. Kawasaki specs indicate maximum torque of 48.5 foot-pounds at 7,000 rpm. At high speeds the engine starts to thin out a bit; downshifting from sixth to fifth to pass on a highway I discovered less torque available to me, but this is a 650cc motorcycle. It performed as a middleweight sportbike should, with most of its guts felt at roll-on in lower gears. Nonetheless, novice riders will find plenty of power for their taste. It's worth noting that experienced riders wanting a solid, steady ride for daytripping or commuting will love the Ninja 650. It has enough get-up-and-go to satisfy those who desiring an easy to handle, reliable bike.
The brakes do a good job of stopping you. Dual petal design rotors offer improved cooling and warp resistance; petal design means the edges are shaped like a flower petal as opposed to a perfect circle. This is the same rotor design found on the Ninja ZX-6R and ZX-10R supersports machines. Twin-piston calipers squeeze the 300mm dual discs up front while a hydraulic caliper in the rear applies force to the 220mm disc.
The 4.1-gallon fuel tank is large enough to allow you to do some serious touring without having to stop for fuel often. The windshield is a little higher and fuller than whats available on the other two Ninjas, again, a feature lending itself more to spending long lengths of time in the saddle.
Considering this is a newer model, I was surprised Kawasaki used "old-fashioned" analog controls when so many bikes today feature digital speedometers and tachometers. With that said, I actually prefer the look of analog controls because I like to see the whole spectrum of speed. The odometer and trip meters on the 650R are digital though.
I like that the Ninja 650 blurs the lines a bit in the middleweight sportbike category. Nothing was sacrificed in terms of engine performance. The 650Rs precise handling inspires confidence in riders to lean it over just a little farther in the corners like one would a sportbike; but the upright ergonomics and rider comfort are what sets this bike apart from others in its category.
The Specs at a Glance: 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 650R
Displacement: 649cc
Seat Height: 31.1 inches
Fuel Capacity: 4.1 gallons
Dry Weight: 393 pounds
Price: $6,499
WRN Recommendation
I know a couple of moto-journalists who liked the Ninja 650R so much after they tested it, they actually bought one. This bike is downright fun to ride. Its versatility allows it to satify the tastes of those desiring a lot from their motorcycles. Its also ideal for those who cannot decide between a sportbike or a sport touring bike. This bike straddles the line delivering qualities of both very well.
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Source: https://womenridersnow.com/motorcycle-review-kawasaki-ninja-650r-blurring-the-lines/
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