New stable mate

[rwilli1228]

2009 Kawasaki Ninja EX650R.....VROOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

[rwilli1228]

Here's my old Honda Shadow VT600/VLX...

[rwilli1228]

Another of the Ninja....

[Tryvelcro]

Grats, I really dig the 650r

[JordanA]

Dude, where is your left hand in that last picture??

[JB1290]

Nice bike. Like Jordan said...Where is your hand? Looks like you've got one in the first pic. 

[happycommuter]

I'd say I looked at the Ninja 650 before getting the Nighthawk, but in reality there were none around at the time.  they sold out quickly that first year.  Usually reviewed as 'not quite' up to the SV650, but being comparable is praise enough. 
The real question is, how does it compare to the Nighthawk?  Should have a bit more pep, a bit more harshness and less comfort, but steers and stops like crazy, amirite?

...and in case the OP wants to be spared repeating himself, the photos show what is there.

[luckylindy]

  on the Ninja. 

[Hondo]

2009 Kawasaki Ninja EX650R.....VROOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

Cool- the folks at KLRWorld.com Forums would sure like more details (in the Versys or Stablemates forums) - 

[green427]

Cool bike. My neighbor has one too, had it for almost 3 years, put $2000 into aftermarket items, and let it sit in his driveway covered up. Only has 1400 miles on it. Chain is rusted now. I've tried to get him to ride with me at least a dozen times, but he is never in the mood.

About riding with one hand; anything is possible if you adapt. My father-in-law was able to do everything with one hand his entire life, including tying his shoes.

I am legally profoundly deaf without my aids, and I've had several people ask me how I am able to ride without hearing anything..... 

[JB1290]

Sorry Green, I honestly thought the pic was messed up. I didn't mean any disrespect or to be rude. I really like the bike though. I always wanted some kind of rocket but, I also figured the faster the bike is, the quicker I'd end up getting myself killed. I'm a speed addict and would be willing to bet that I couldn't resist grabbing a handful of throttle on one of those quite frequently.

[JordanA]

Cool bike. My neighbor has one too, had it for almost 3 years, put $2000 into aftermarket items, and let it sit in his driveway covered up. Only has 1400 miles on it. Chain is rusted now. I've tried to get him to ride with me at least a dozen times, but he is never in the mood.

About riding with one hand; anything is possible if you adapt. My father-in-law was able to do everything with one hand his entire life, including tying his shoes.

I am legally profoundly deaf without my aids, and I've had several people ask me how I am able to ride without hearing anything..... 

rWilli1228, we're just curious about the pictures.  Do you just haveyour hand inside your sleeve in the second picture, or did you lose it at some point?  I'd really like to know more about how you ride if the latter is true.

I like the 650.  How does it compare, power wise, to the NH?

[rwilli1228]

Human nature never ceases to amaze me...  I'm missing my right hand since birth.  It's no big deal.  It's 100% normal just like it's 100% normal for people who have two hands.  Hell... you ought to see me play electric guitar...

www.myspace.com/electricvoodooblues
 
The bike has no alterations to it.  I am able to operate all controls in their stock positions.  Just ask Jen (coffee brake).  I could keep up with her in the mountains no problem. 

Compared to the CB750...

Handling:

The Honda handles a lot easier.  You know how Nighthawks are... just think about leaning one way and it seems the bike does it automatically.  The Ninja you have to muscle around a bit.  It was really uncomfortable and scary to lean at first but once you get familiar with it there is no stopping that machine.  It leans better at speeds above 55mph.  The Nighthawk I think is still a better bike for the mountain twisties.  As far as stops go, the Ninja is way better.  Dual front discs.

Speed/Acceleration:

After riding on the Ninja the Nighthawk feels like my 250 Rebel did.  It's very slow compared to the parallel fuel injected twin the Ninja has.  Then again the Ninja is a 2009 and the CB is a 1993.  The Ninja also weighs a lot less.  I could barely get the front tire off the ground with the CB but on the Ninja I thought the thing was going to flip back on top of me!  It's also a pain to keep it under the speed limit in town.  The Ninja performs better at highway speeds.     

Comfort/Seat:

The Nighthawk seat is way more comfortable.  I think I'm going to put a Corbin on the Ninja.  My ass starts to hurt after 100 or so miles on the Ninja.  As far as riding position goes I feel the two are pretty close.  My shoulders, back, and neck are fine on the Ninja. 

 

[JordanA]

Thanks for the explaination and description about the bike. 

I hope I didn't offend you by asking about your hand, I was just curious.

Is the ninja torquey all trough the RPM range or is it more powerful at one end of the torque curve?

[rwilli1228]

no ont at all none taken....

It's pretty torquey all the way through.  A cuople of times from a dead stop I thought I was going to fly off the back lol.  When it hits that power band in 3rd and 4th around 6500rpm it is insane.  super fun! 

[hppants]

rwilli - hope you can join us on the dragon the weekend of May 21.  Human nature being what it is, I'd really like to see you ride your new machine.  Sounds inspiring.

[fishball]

Great bike rwilli, I was going to get a red one this winter for myself until I lost my job.

I test rode one this summer and my take was a bit different than yours.  I have a cb650sc and in many ways it and the Ninja 650r are very similar.  The handling of the 650r was much better than my Nighthawk, matter of fact I think they make comparable horsepower.  The power was about the same with a bit more torque for the Kawasaki.  The Nighthawk was more comfortable ergo-wise for me but I don't have any long distance saddle time comparison from a test ride.  I found the braking similar but again it was too short a test to weed out any subtle differences.  The only drawback for me about the Ninja was the vibration.  I could feel it in my hands and legs, it wasn't constant and it wasn't really strong but it was annoying.  Don't know if I would like that for a long ride.

They are fantastic bikes though and look fantastic.  When I get back on my feet job-wise I will try to get one, that or a Suzuki GSXF 650.  Happy riding!

[TC713]

Very cool bike man. Love the looks of those.

That Shadow is is cool too....i'm surprised I didn't end up with one of those over the NH. I kinda went for the best of both worlds....but I would still love a sport bike. Like someone else mentioned, I don't know if I would trust myself with the speed.

So out of all your bikes, past and present- which is your fave?

And again, congrats on the new ride 

[ERAU-944]

nice kaw!  i had a 1990 ex500 for awhile, those parallel twins are nice torque makers!  good new technology, great styling, and fairly inexpensive to boot!

i replaced my 500 with the cb700sc.  the jury's still out on whether or not i miss the ol' girl  

[FocusPlayer]

I always thought that bike looked like it was going fast...even when it's parked. 

I would have loved to have had one when the forward position was comfortable for me ( way back when <G> )  .
Nice ride.