Rode a 650r today

As the title says, I was riding with my future roommate today, he rides a 250 ninja as well. His dad owns the 650 and I was talking to him about how it was most likely my next bike. He told me to take it for a spin.

Things I loved:
-The bike is FAST compared to the 250. The book is incredibly smooth with the power when you roll it on. It passes the 250 like it is standing still (Obviously because of the displacement difference.)
-The much larger tires make the bike much more stable and enjoyable to ride especially at freeway speeds
-The seat is much more comfortable
-The digital display is great
-It cruises at highway speeds in 4th or 5th gear and has so much more power for passing
Things I didn't like:
-I'm not a fan of the look of the seat
-The handlebars give too much of an upright riding position (I would change them out for sportbars)
-Obviously not as easy to flick into turns
-You can feel the heat coming off of the bike much more due to the fairings not covering the engine as much as they do on the 250.

Overall, I love the bike so much. It is so much more fun to ride due to the fact that I'm not running the bike hard every gear just to get to 60 mpg quickly. It is more comfortable and stable making the ride much more enjoyable. I enjoy the 250 but from my experience of riding on dirt, I wish I would have started on the 650 (Hate me, flame me whateva ) My ninja has been on craiglist for a couple of days just so I could see what offers I would get, I wasn't too serious about selling it. But now that I have fallen so deeply in love with the 650 I think I'm really going to push to get the bike asap. I still love my little ninjette and I'll remember if forever but after 3k miles and counting I believe I've achieved enough experience to move up and learn on this higher displacement ninja. Especially because a lot of my riding is on interstate and I need that passing power and stability that a larger bike brings.

[Jiggles]

Get the 2012

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Get the 2012

I cant afford the 2012 My budget is like 4200 which can get me a low mileage 09-10

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by codestp202

I cant afford the 2012 My budget is like 4200 which can get me a low mileage 09-10

I will laugh at your pregen 650

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I will laugh at your pregen 650

LOL, I'm completely happy with the pregen as long as it has the digital gauges

edit: Anyone got a breakdown of the 650r generations? Can't find any on the internet

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Cluck

Sounds like you know what you want. COMPARING THE 250 to the 650 is apples and oranges. The 250 is horrible on the highway...I hate it.

Hor-ri-ble [hawr-uh-buhl
adjective
1. Being unable to perform wheelies at high speeds

"The 250 is horrible on the highway"

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by codestp202

LOL, I'm completely happy with the pregen as long as it has the digital gauges

Just ignore the fact that they upgraded every part on the new 650, including the gauge

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Just ignore the fact that they upgraded every part on the new 650, including the gauge

Not all of us can afford the 2012

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by codestp202

Not all of us can afford the 2012

Your 3k off, sell a kidney or some ****

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Your 3k off, sell a kidney or some ****

I already blew a huge piece of my savings on the 250, I can't afford another 3k for another bike when I need to pay for school and my car isn't in the best of shape.

[Jiggles]

I thot you were trying to sell the 250???

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I thot you were trying to sell the 250???

I am, im saying I can't afford 3k on top of what I get for the 250.

Originally Posted by Cluck

Here's the 250 on the freeway....WHORE-AHH-BAL

For real man.

[Jiggles]

I hate how it only goes to 100mph

Not that we all ride at 100 mph, its that I couldn't pass someone if I needed to in a hurry, the bike is completely maxed out, some of us don't like having to keep the throttle cracked completely open, and finally, the bike gets whipped around so much on the freeway.

[Jiggles]

Nah, you guys are just terrible at it.

[ajcadoo]

I like Skrillex.

Originally Posted by ajcadoo

I like Skrillex.

lol wut?

[thurt88]

I really don't get wwhy everyone says the 250 isnt good on the highway.


You are either very very very fat or you are staying in 1st gear.

I have not a single problem taking mine on the highway. Just say u want a bigger bike, don't make up things to justify it.

[Osiris]

I'm pretty sure his statement was meant to point out the direction of this thread :P

If you want a 650 get it, but I'm pretty sure they track these bikes for a reason. Highway speeds are ran around tracks on these bikes and they seem to do ok.

Originally Posted by thurt88

I really don't get wwhy everyone says the 250 isnt good on the highway.


You are either very very very fat or you are staying in 1st gear.

I have not a single problem taking mine on the highway. Just say u want a bigger bike, don't make up things to justify it.

If you ride a 250 on the highway then take a 650 you will understand I'm not trying to justify anything

[Jiggles]

^ find this guy a bike he never has to rev over 4k so he can be happy

If you're going to speed up to pass people at 80, then why not just go 90 all the time?

[Jiggles]

Challenges are fun... Fact... Ergo, riding ninjette on freeway >= fun

[Jiggles]

I will rape that horse

[Renner]

Originally Posted by ajcadoo

I like Skrillex.

I like turtles.

[NJ Ninjette]

mmmmnn....bacon....

[Bigballsofpaint]

I skipped the 650 stepping stone and demo'd the 1000 at americade. Im doing everything in my power to get one by next season, while keeping the 250 of course. You cannot beat the gas and low maintenance, plus its still very fun to drive. But the 1000 just felt perfect from the moment i sat on it, super comfy, good riding posture, the added weight wasnt too bad. Riding 3-4 hours on the 250 is just literally a pain in my ass (although i will be looking into a corbin seat). the 1000 was totally different, and i loved it. But i wont make an excuse on speed, it was TOO fast, and i couldnt stop smiling the whole time.

Thought my 2 friends demo'd the 650 and said it was really nice and smooth, plenty of pwoer.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by codestp202

.......Anyone got a breakdown of the 650r generations? Can't find any on the internet

You can see specs and features of each year here (choose your ride/top-right corner):

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/pro...ns.aspx?id=264

Originally Posted by Motofool

You can see specs and features of each year here (choose your ride/top-right corner):

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/pro...ns.aspx?id=264

Sweet thanks man

I'm officially doing everything in my power to get a 09-10 650. I love the fact that it comes with adjustable levers already.

[Motofool]

I would go for a Versys instead; but I am old and the appearance is less important for me than the higher torque and the riding comfort for long distances.

Best results from your shopping!

Originally Posted by Motofool

I would go for a Versys instead; but I am old and the appearance is less important for me than the higher torque and the riding comfort for long distances.

Best results from your shopping!

The versys looks pretty cool, but I'm trying to keep the sportbike look as much as possible

Originally Posted by Bigballsofpaint

I skipped the 650 stepping stone and demo'd the 1000 at americade. Im doing everything in my power to get one by next season, while keeping the 250 of course. You cannot beat the gas and low maintenance, plus its still very fun to drive. But the 1000 just felt perfect from the moment i sat on it, super comfy, good riding posture, the added weight wasnt too bad. Riding 3-4 hours on the 250 is just literally a pain in my ass (although i will be looking into a corbin seat). the 1000 was totally different, and i loved it. But i wont make an excuse on speed, it was TOO fast, and i couldnt stop smiling the whole time.

Thought my 2 friends demo'd the 650 and said it was really nice and smooth, plenty of pwoer.

The ninja 1000 is badass

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by codestp202

The ninja 1000 is badass

I'm prob getting one within a month. A little over 12k OTD, but I dislike the colors this year, black and grey or green and black. meh

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I'm prob getting one within a month. A little over 12k OTD, but I dislike the colors this year, black and grey or green and black. meh

So what has been going on with you getting another 250? And what's gonna happen to the 650?

[Jiggles]

I'm not going to get another 250 for a while and when I do it'll be a track bike. Idk if I will keep the 650, I wasn't planning on getting a 1000 so soon, it just kinda happened. I have this odd feeling that once I get the 1000 I'll hardly ride the 650 anymore. Maybe 650 for twisties 1000 for commuting? idk. Maybe if I stop riding the 650 I'll sell it and get another 250

[Bigballsofpaint]

thats the opposite of what i was gonna do jiggles. 1000 for fun, long trips, twisties, and my 250 for commuting. 60mpg cant be beat and i do like 75 miles a day. the 1000 gets like 35mpg and has a higher maintenance cost

[Jiggles]

250 was built for the twisties man!

[Bigballsofpaint]

i have enough twisties on my commute to work, so thatll have to do. we also dont have any tracks within 2 or 3 hours here

Lol drive the 650 up to me and I'll buy it

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by codestp202

Lol drive the 650 up to me and I'll buy it

7k