My Thoughts on the Kawasaki Ninja 650
The mid-displacement sport-touring motorcycle segment is a crowded one, and quite frankly, Kawasaki's Ninja 650 isn't all too inspiring. While there are some things I wish it would do better, credit must be given, it does a lot of things right.
I was lucky enough to purchase a 2013 Ninja 650 back in 2023, when I first got my motorcycle license. I've had the bike ever since, and after putting a few thousand kilometers on it, I feel like I've gotten to know it pretty well. Despite the fact that the overall consensus on the bike is that it's a bit "boring," I think the Ninja 650 should be remembered for what it is: reliable, comfortable, fun, affordable, and an excellent beginner motorcycle for new riders.
The Ninja 650 that I rode
My Ninja 650 has been relatively stock throughout my ownership of it (outside of the obvious aftermarket custom fairings) so I feel like I can offer a relatively true-to-life review of the bike. I mainly use it for commuting to school and work, but I also don't shy away from the occassional spirited riding with buddies.
One thing that I will say about the Ninja 650 is that I think it really benefits from common modifications that we typically see: exhausts and fender deletes especially. Currently, my bike has the stock exhaust and fender (yes I used AI to edit the fender out of the photo above) and I think it has an amazing silhouette (without the fender). My bike is equipped with brand new Dunlop Roadsmart IV tires, and like any motorcycle, tires make an astronomical difference in handling and feel.
Performance
The Ninja 650 is powered by a 649cc parallel-twin engine producing (don't say it...) 67 (argh) horsepower and 66 Nm of torque at 7,000 RPM (thats ~47 lb-ft for any Americans reading this). Most notably, this bike delivers power extremely smoothly, without any dips or jumps in the power band. Interestingly, the Ninja 650 creates a solid amount of torque relatively low in the rev range, which is slightly uncharacteristic for a sport bike. Which isn't what it tries to be (which may or may not be to your desire). It sits comfortably as a sport-touring machine, with a relatively upright seating position and a decently high handlebar.
Oftentimes, when my buddies and I go on rides, the super-sport guys will complain about their backs hurting and put their hands on their hips to give their wrist a break mid-trip. I don't have that problem on the Ninja 650, and while it can't exactly eat up kilometers like a cruiser, it is definitely a comfortable space to be in for longer periods of time.
The Competition
In this day and age, my Ninja 650 from over a decade ago is still a very enjoyable motorcycle to ride. However, given the plethora of options available in the segment, how does it stack up against its peers? The main competition that the Ninja 650 faces is from the Yamaha R7, the Suzuki SV650, and the Honda CBR650R. Each of these bikes has its own strengths and weaknesses (and we can go on and on about those), but they all offer a slightly different riding experience to the Ninja 650, leaving the Kawasaki to feel a bit more "boring" in comparison. Recently, many riders have been critiquing the Ninja 650 for its lack of character, due to its 180-degree parallel-twin engine configuration (in plain english: the pistons are firing at the exact opposite positions). But I think that "boringness" isn't entirely a bad thing.
The Verdict
My point is, since it lacks the "character" of the other competitors in the segment, the bike offers a really nice predictability about it. There aren't any unusual quirks about the bike, which is why I think it's an excellent bike for people who are new to motorcycles. One caveat I will mention is that I think it's a bit more geared towards the more mature beginner. Feel free to disagree with me, but I believe that the Ninja 650 is a great beginner bike for people that are looking for a bit more "oomph".
At the end of the day, the Ninja 650 doesn't need a myriad of mods and features to try and be something it isn't. It won't win any awards for being the most exciting or the fastest bike in the segment, but it will still spark some fun, and it'll do it without breaking down on you or surprising you with torque dips/spikes in the rev range. After three years and a few thousand kilometers, I can happily say that I have few to little complaints and I would highly recommend this bike to anyone looking. Sometimes even the most "boring" things can deliver the best pleasant surprises. After all, motorcycles are just a means to have fun, and as long as you're having fun, you're doing it right (safely with the proper gear).