Kawasaki Ninja 650 in the driving report

Kawasaki Ninja 650 in the driving report

Little fighter

Test editor and 2-meter-man Jens drove the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and reports on his first kilometers with the ER-6f successor.

Kawasaki expands the ninja family. The newest member of the range of sport bikes is the Kawasaki Ninja 650. It is new, but not completely unknown, after all, last year it was called ER-6f. Those familiar with the scene will immediately raise the index finger of the warning: What, please, will turn the entry-level sports tourer into a mid-size athlete? Good question. Hence one after the other.

Kawasaki Ninja 650 in the driving report

Little fighter

The new Kawasaki Ninja 650 costs 7.195 euros

However: The engine is now configured according to Euro 4, four HP less than the old ER-6, and has to make do with 68 HP at 8,000 rpm. Kawasaki has trimmed it around the bottom and up to around 6,000 turns for more torque – and sacrificed a few kilowatts upstairs. Not bad at all in everyday conditions, but somewhat questionable when viewed under the guise of sport. Finally, in the highest, sixth gear, the little twin turns at 100 km / h at almost 5,000 revolutions. If things are going happily and briskly, the two-cylinder often cheers around or above the rated speed – but with only meager propulsion and wildly flickering shift light.

Kawasaki Ninja 650 and Sport – this link doesn’t really fit. That would have been a bit of a surprise, after all, the seating position with the high and comfortably mounted stub and the tight, but comfortable bench emphasizes tourism rather than sporting talents. And MOTORRAD was able to experience that around Almeria at the presentation of the ninja. The Weight Watchers cure is noticeable from the first meter. The 650 now wipes around the corner with unusual ease, even in the tightest radius. In addition, the chassis absorbs a large part of the road construction negligence. When braking, however, the front fork sags quickly. And at the rear, the suspension strut, which now works via deflection, should like to work more sensitively. But: The new Kawasaki Ninja 650 does not cost the world at 7.195 euros, because the controller red pen cannot be hidden in all the details. Nevertheless: It is definitely the better ER-6f.

You can read the complete driving report in MOTORRAD 4/2017 or in PDF for download (see below).

 

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