I've been drooling over the way the new 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 looks. Not only looks, this hell of a cougar just turned into a Mid twenties sexy chick as its shed weight, got more muscle and looks badass! I mean, its a lot of change for someone who's used to looking at the boring old Ninja 650 on Sunday rides but the new one just blew me, not yet literally though! Below are some pointers to look out for on this new Kawasaki Ninja 650-
Weight loss:
The update Ninja 650 has shed a massive 19 kgs to what it once weighed earlier! So with a full tank of fuel, the motorcycle would weigh around 190 kgs which is pretty impressive considering the output that middleweight motorcycle offers. The new trellis frame and aluminum swing arm are major contributors to the weight loss, making it a pretty light weight 650cc motorcycle. I've seen motorcycles shed like 5 kgs, 11 kgs but a 19 kg weight shedding can only happen when an old fashioned motorcycle is replaced with parts that are of today's times. Hence, you don't see the ugly old swing arm and the nose heavy look anymore. I can finally say that the Ninja 650 looks modern, even though I thought I'd never say that in my entire life! Time for me to hot the gym soon, I've got my cup of inspiration. :)
Engine & Power:
Ok so 72 HP 'umph' that the parallel twin motor churned out has lost 3 BHP in order to fit under the Euro 4 regulation. That will definitely result in a much better fuel economy as the engine is tweaked to do so but in terms of power to weight ratio, the advantage lies with power as this upgraded Ninja 650 produces around 363 horsepower per tonne, compared to its previous model that produced an output of 341 horsepower per tonne. That is a significant improvement, especially after considering the upgrades Kawasaki has done to the existing model that was probably as old as the stone-age era. What I wish for though, is a change in the exhaust note because I am currently looking out to buy a practical middle weight motorcycle. I definitely wouldn't want a motorcycle that looks this good, to sound like a motorcycle having a 100cc motor.
Handling and Slipper clutch:
Yes, you read that correctly. Kawasaki has finally added a slipper clutch to its 650cc model that could give those hard downshifts a smoother feel. The front suspension is a conventional 41mm RWU fork which can't be adjusted but the rear suspension now sits above the swing arm and is adjustable for preload. I feel that this motorcycle would handle better than its predecessor, considering the change in geometry, loss of weight and the addition of a better frame.
Brakes and Ergonomics:
You get better stopping power in the 2017 Ninja 650 that comes with the lightest ABS in market today- the Bosch equipped 9.1M ABS. The Ninja also comes with new Nissin brake calipers, an upgrade that this model needed desperately. The new windscreen is 3 way adjustable, the much better looking tacho and the LCD screen are new too. A shift light has also been included in the tacho so when you're nearing the shift rpm, it glows pink (I hate pink!) until the point when it turns red after you've reached the shift rpm.
The looks on the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 have undoubtedly been obtained from the Kawasaki ZX- 6R. Further details about the motorcycle are yet to be obtained but it's great to see that Kawasaki's been making the much needed improvement that riders have been looking for and more importantly, the improvements that this motorcycle deserved! I can't wait to get my hands on it!
By: Ssaajan Manoj Jogia
Weight loss:The update Ninja 650 has shed a massive 19 kgs to what it once weighed earlier! So with a full tank of fuel, the motorcycle would weigh around 190 kgs which is pretty impressive considering the output that middleweight motorcycle offers. The new trellis frame and aluminum swing arm are major contributors to the weight loss, making it a pretty light weight 650cc motorcycle. I've seen motorcycles shed like 5 kgs, 11 kgs but a 19 kg weight shedding can only happen when an old fashioned motorcycle is replaced with parts that are of today's times. Hence, you don't see the ugly old swing arm and the nose heavy look anymore. I can finally say that the Ninja 650 looks modern, even though I thought I'd never say that in my entire life! Time for me to hot the gym soon, I've got my cup of inspiration. :)
Engine & Power:Ok so 72 HP 'umph' that the parallel twin motor churned out has lost 3 BHP in order to fit under the Euro 4 regulation. That will definitely result in a much better fuel economy as the engine is tweaked to do so but in terms of power to weight ratio, the advantage lies with power as this upgraded Ninja 650 produces around 363 horsepower per tonne, compared to its previous model that produced an output of 341 horsepower per tonne. That is a significant improvement, especially after considering the upgrades Kawasaki has done to the existing model that was probably as old as the stone-age era. What I wish for though, is a change in the exhaust note because I am currently looking out to buy a practical middle weight motorcycle. I definitely wouldn't want a motorcycle that looks this good, to sound like a motorcycle having a 100cc motor.
Handling and Slipper clutch:Yes, you read that correctly. Kawasaki has finally added a slipper clutch to its 650cc model that could give those hard downshifts a smoother feel. The front suspension is a conventional 41mm RWU fork which can't be adjusted but the rear suspension now sits above the swing arm and is adjustable for preload. I feel that this motorcycle would handle better than its predecessor, considering the change in geometry, loss of weight and the addition of a better frame.
Brakes and Ergonomics: You get better stopping power in the 2017 Ninja 650 that comes with the lightest ABS in market today- the Bosch equipped 9.1M ABS. The Ninja also comes with new Nissin brake calipers, an upgrade that this model needed desperately. The new windscreen is 3 way adjustable, the much better looking tacho and the LCD screen are new too. A shift light has also been included in the tacho so when you're nearing the shift rpm, it glows pink (I hate pink!) until the point when it turns red after you've reached the shift rpm.
The looks on the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 have undoubtedly been obtained from the Kawasaki ZX- 6R. Further details about the motorcycle are yet to be obtained but it's great to see that Kawasaki's been making the much needed improvement that riders have been looking for and more importantly, the improvements that this motorcycle deserved! I can't wait to get my hands on it! By: Ssaajan Manoj Jogia
