Text: Neale Bayly • Photography: Kinny Jones, Rich Van Every

Poised to inject serious fun into the bargain-blaster segment of the market, the new Kawasaki Ninja 650R is a street hip, super sharp, smooth operator that flashes the boulevard with a most affordable price tag. Designed with the rider in mind, the bike's comfortable ergonomics, useful wind protection and energetic twin cylinder engine are part and parcel of a compact package bound to please everyone from the most experienced rider to the first-time buyer, without missing anyone in between.

Concept and Transformation
Starting with the rider first was something of a departure from the normal process of designing motorcycles for Kawasaki, and as a result the new Ninja 650 has been built specifically to meet the needs of both novice and experienced customers. A low seat height, relatively low foot pegs, and comfortable upright handlebars are used to ensure a confidence-inspiring riding position - and one that allows the rider to put his feet flat on the floor when it is time to stop. A lightweight chassis houses an all-new parallel twin 650cc power unit that is tuned to be flexible across a broad rev range. Modern fuel injection guarantees perfect throttle response, and also good fuel economy in all riding situations. Adequate wind protection from the integrated full fairing, and a broad, comfortable seat, give the Ninja 650 all-day touring ability if needed, while the light weight and short wheel base make it the perfect around-town companion. Add to the mix a modern triple disc brake setup, a neat mass centralizing exhaust system that houses a three-way catalytic converter, a sport-bike feature similar in design to Kawasaki's flagship ZX-10R, and the new Ninja 650 most certainly has a whole lot to offer.

Engine and Transmission
The 649cc engine powering the new Ninja is somewhat unique in its configuration, using a water-cooled, double-overhead camshaft, parallel-twin cylinder arrangement. Long-term Kawasaki fans will be familiar with the venerable EX500 that has been around since the 1980s, and the Kawasaki engineers were quick to point out this is an all-new engine, not just a simple overbore. Picked for its compact design, 83mm pistons run in 60mm bores and use a fairly modest 11.3:1 compression ratio. This is understandable with the bike being tuned more for its mid-range abilities, which is easily felt on the road as the meat of the power comes before 9000 rpm. Using a semi-dry sump design further aids the compact nature of the engine, as does the cassette-style six-speed transmission. This is Kawasaki slick, with the light cable clutch aiding effortless shifting up or down the gearbox.

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