Ninja 650 Advice

312 Views 19 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Zed7, 3 d ago

Snōw_

Discussion Starter · 17 d ago

I intend on getting a bike and also want to avoid the problem of getting a bike then wanting more power once I’m used to it, so I figured the 650 would be great.
It’ll be my first bike in general and wanting to know any tips I’m general like shifting, etc. Thanks I’m advance all and hopefully I can be riding soon!

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Zed7

· #2 · 17 d ago

I had a 2009 650 Versys. This is how I feel about the 650.
It is plenty quick for the street and has a nice non threatening manner about it and very easy to ride. It’s a perfect first bike since your main goal is learning to ride, not how fast you can go. (But make no mistake, it can go fast. Not 200 mph but over 120, which is fast.)
And once you learn how to ride well you’ll find that nobody will be able to get away from you on the twisty roads. And since that’s the case, why sell it? It’s as reliable as a chopping block and economical to own.
So, if you avoid the siren song about the need for a 180 hp motorcycle, it’s quite possible you will keep it forever.

Reactions: 1

Snōw_

Discussion Starter · #3 · 17 d ago

Zed7 said:
I had a 2009 650 Versys. This is how I feel about the 650.
It is plenty quick for the street and has a nice non threatening manner about it and very easy to ride. It’s a perfect first bike since your main goal is learning to ride, not how fast you can go. (But make no mistake, it can go fast. Not 200 mph but over 120, which is fast.)
And once you learn how to ride well you’ll find that nobody will be able to get away from you on the twisty roads. And since that’s the case, why sell it? It’s as reliable as a chopping block and economical to own.
So, if you avoid the siren song about the need for a 180 hp motorcycle, it’s quite possible you will keep it forever.

Aye that’s awesome to hear, really! For me as a person, I like acceleration a lot more than pure speed, but hearing it’s a good starter bike is awesome! Multiple times a day, if it’s nice out, I just think “man I want a bike” so I think it’s about time to make it a reality.

Zed7

· #4 · 16 d ago

Snōw_ said:
Aye that’s awesome to hear, really! For me as a person, I like acceleration a lot more than pure speed, but hearing it’s a good starter bike is awesome! Multiple times a day, if it’s nice out, I just think “man I want a bike” so I think it’s about time to make it a reality.

You should first take a basic MSF rider course. They’re not expensive and you will learn a thing or two.
Depending on what side of the "need more power" bell curve you are, the 650 is fine. Because of the trouble my ZZR1200 was causing me, I sold it and bought a 650 Versys. I wasn’t sure if I could get along with a smaller displacement bike after owning one that could cruise all day in the triple digits and go 180 mph.
So I demo’d the Versys and was surprised how fast it got up to speed. It has a nice engine and I believe the newer ones put out more than the 60rwhp that mine did.
As long as that Ninja fits you comfortably, go for it.

Reactions: 1

Snōw_

Discussion Starter · #5 · 15 d ago

Zed7 said:
You should first take a basic MSF rider course. They’re not expensive and you will learn a thing or two.
Depending on what side of the "need more power" bell curve you are, the 650 is fine. Because of the trouble my ZZR1200 was causing me, I sold it and bought a 650 Versys. I wasn’t sure if I could get along with a smaller displacement bike after owning one that could cruise all day in the triple digits and go 180 mph.
So I demo’d the Versys and was surprised how fast it got up to speed. It has a nice engine and I believe the newer ones put out more than the 60rwhp that mine did.
As long as that Ninja fits you comfortably, go for it.

Yeah I do intend to first get my permit then take some courses. I know a friend who works at Harley Davidson and they have courses, pretty sure I can take the course through them which is ideal. Thanks for all the help!!

Zed7

· #6 · 15 d ago

Snōw_ said:
Yeah I do intend to first get my permit then take some courses. I know a friend who works at Harley Davidson and they have courses, pretty sure I can take the course through them which is ideal. Thanks for all the help!!

That’s the right way to go about it.
When you take the course at a Harley Davidson dealer, heed my advice… If they offer you a glass of Cool-Ade… DON'T DRINK IT! 😵‍💫

Reactions: 1

simply2fab

· #7 · 10 d ago

I was in your same spot and decided on an '08 650R that I spent the winter tuning and getting ready for this spring/summer. After a dozen or so rides, I can tell you that I am not regretting my purchase, at all. It's fast enough to get out of trouble, but not so fast that I feel like I am going to get into trouble.

TMF

· #8 · 7 d ago

This year is my 50th of riding and my hard skull has absorbed a few lessons along the way. I still recall my thinking in the early 70's of the perfect bike. It would start easily and reliably without scraping skin off the shinbone. It would retain power when hot. It wouldn't foul plugs. It would have torque and could therefore be ridden smoothly. The engine would purr. It would cruise all day at any speed you wanted while getting good gas mileage. It would be easy to work on but that work would happen infrequently. The chain would not require adjustment every 50 - 100 miles. Steering would be light and accurate. The bike would be nimble and handle without pogoing through the corners. Mix that all together and you have any of the Kawasaki 650 twins. I have 8 bikes right now and an '07 650R is my favorite of the bunch. Like most people you'll be inclined to move to a liter bike in a year or two. Just remember what you give up with a liter bike - tire life, light and nimble overall feel which is the real fun of motorcycling and gas mileage.

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Zed7

· #9 · 7 d ago

TMF, if having a cassette style gearbox was also on your list, (meaning you can pull the gearbox out of the side of the engine leaving the engine in the frame and without splitting the cases like the MotoGP race bikes) ... the Kawi 650 twin has you covered there as well. 👍

TMF

· #10 · 7 d ago

Zed7 said:
TMF, if having a cassette style gearbox was also on your list, (meaning you can pull the gearbox out of the side of the engine leaving the engine in the frame and without splitting the cases like the MotoGP race bikes) ... the Kawi 650 twin has you covered there as well. 👍

Most of my gripes concern a certain 1972 Kawasaki 500 H1B that I rode for way too long. It's successor was a 1976 Suzuki GT500 which was superior in almost every way, very reliable and still one of my all time favorites.

Reactions: 1

Mindcrime79

· #11 · 3 d ago

Get a 600. You'll never need another bike. If you really get into riding/racing the 600 will serve you well. 650 is just a commuter bike. Easy to learn. Shifts easy. Well made. But very upright and slow.

Zed7

· #12 · 3 d ago

I find in-line four 600’s irritating and a PITA to ride. No torque. You have to rev the snot out of them just to move off the line. A 650 twin will give you good power at low and mid rpm, where you need it, and highway cruising is much more relaxing.
That Kawi 650 twin will get your bike up to 90mph in no time and top out above 130. If you find that is not fast enough for your riding then by all means get a bigger engine.

TMF

· #13 · 3 d ago

Zed7 said:
I find in-line four 600’s irritating and a PITA to ride. No torque. You have to rev the snot out of them just to move off the line. A 650 twin will give you good power at low and mid rpm, where you need it, and highway cruising is much more relaxing.
That Kawi 650 twin will get your bike up to 90mph in no time and top out above 130. If you find that is not fast enough for your riding then by all means get a bigger engine.

Ditto. Torque and linear throttle response are the only ways to ride around on the streets in a smooth, relaxed manner. I have a Triumph TT600 in the fleet with 95 or more HP and a 14K redline. It's a thrilling ride but at some point you don't want to constantly soak in adrenalin. Even my 39HP '88 Honda Hawk is satisfying because of the throttle response. On monster motors like my Suzuki SV1000S you give a little gas, hit 60, 70 or 80, the fun is over and you have to upshift from 2nd to 6th. It's more fun to play the exhaust note like an instrument while revving and shifting at points of your choosing.

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Zed7

· #14 · 3 d ago

I had a Speed Four which is a naked TT600. I loved it at first but that constant need to rev it eventually got to me. Sold it. (But miss it).

TMF

· #15 · 3 d ago

Zed7 said:
I had a Speed Four which is a naked TT600. I loved it at first but that constant need to rev it eventually got to me. Sold it. (But miss it).

My 2000 TT was the first fuel injected 600 and the ECU map was subpar to say the least. I've actually gained a bit of notoriety in the TT world because I remapped with TuneECU over 30+ generations of changes. The result was outstanding. I saw enough complaints about lean running, stalling, flat spot, etc. in the FaceBook group that I started sharing the map. It's getting rave reviews from both US and European riders. My '07 650R is flawless, wouldn't change anything.

Zed7

· #16 · 3 d ago

If I recall, my S4 had a stumble when slowly accelerating from 3000 to 4000 rpm. Maybe 3400 rpm. After that it was flawless.
That Speed Four had the best brakes of any bike I ever owned tho. One finger could haul it down quickly from any speed. Beautiful handling.

TMF

· #17 · 3 d ago

Zed7 said:
If I recall, my S4 had a stumble when slowly accelerating from 3000 to 4000 rpm. Maybe 3400 rpm. After that it was flawless.
That Speed Four had the best brakes of any bike I ever owned tho. One finger could haul it down quickly from any speed. Beautiful handling.

Sounds about right. Cams were different and maybe compression ratio between the two bikes. I'd jump on a Speed 4 if one came up at a good price. That flat spot can be fixed.

Zed7

· #18 · 3 d ago

TMF said:
Sounds about right. Cams were different and maybe compression ratio between the two bikes. I'd jump on a Speed 4 if one came up at a good price. That flat spot can be fixed.

I believe the S4 got the dreaded "tuned for torque" treatment with the cams. It was down a couple of HP compared to the TT but torque was barely more. Maybe they just moved it around in the rev range. The little ******* was quick.
Compression ratio was the same, me thinks.

TMF

· #19 · 3 d ago

Zed7 said:
I believe the S4 got the dreaded "tuned for torque" treatment with the cams. It was down a couple of HP compared to the TT but torque was barely more. Maybe they just moved it around in the rev range. The little *** was quick.
Compression ratio was the same, me thinks.

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Zed7

· #20 · 3 d ago

My S4 was tangerine orange. 👍

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