Is the Ninja 650 a good touring motorcycle? POV New rider
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- This is my personal opinion on the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and its touring capabilities. Please feel free to drop any comments or questions below.
Also, I am 5 11 for anyone wanting to know my height. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Crazy never thought at 1:30am I’d be looking up ninja 650 videos and to see that you are riding around where I use to live. I grew up in New Stanton what a small world.
Sounds like me lol. I do that all the time when I can’t sleep. Of fr. Dude that’s pretty funny really. It really is a small world too. I had several people say they know the areas I ride. Crazy lol
Happy to see another upload on the ninja 650 I’m going to be watching it on my lunch break. I love the feedback/experience you give in your videos
Thank you lol. That’s what’s up. I’m happy the content is decent and good to watch. Really appreciate the support. If there is any idea or topic you would like let me know. Never have to many ideas
Loved your perspective on what touring is about 👍
Great vid! Just subscribed!
Yeah, and at 23:40 you cruised through West Newton, right by my church!!! Good video! I`m going to look at one tomorrow! I am older and have had a few all-out sport bikes. But they wear on you after an hour or so. My HD is ok, but I miss the light weight and handling.
That’s pretty cool I passed your church. I had a few people mention I passed close to them. Yea an all out sports bike is a lot from what I hear. I would love to ride one but I could never have it as my only bike. I like to ride way too much and go in long trips.
Light weight is one of the reasons I love the 650. Such a good bike for commute and traffic
Great vid my friend! 🤙🏻🔥
Thank you sir. Just watched yours lol. Good content
Great vid!
I had my Ninja 650 in the shop for periodic maintenance last week. Because the dealer is about 80km away from my place he gave me an H2 SX as workshop replacement vehicle... Awesome experience... Despite it's 266kgs it's easy to handle. Just use respect and mind when driving.
That’s nuts they Hooked you up like that. I bet that was a blast to ride tho.
@@CityNinja650 The dealer said he wouldn't give it to everyone... As I said, unexpected easy to handle. You don't feel it's size and weight at all. Just gently pull the trigger if you would like to survive the trip. Even in 6th gear you have Trans-warp...
Dude that’s got to be nuts. I can’t imagine. I definitely feel that if I got something bigger i maybe stupid with it every once in a while. Probably not to much but only takes once lol. That’s cool you got to ride that tho.
My guy, I recommend maybe changing out that keychain.
I've had a couple of friends who have scratched up their triple tree with excess metal swinging around. I can imagine that the paint on your tank could also get messed up after time with the metal rings laying on the tank like that.
I did a 500km ride the other day and I felt what you were saying about vibrations. I had to stop every 140km and also the wind was a huge influence most of the trip, mostly highways but I do enjoy riding it.
Im not sure if I said it in this one or the other but I think the windscreen might be adjustable. If it is that could be a game changer. Here in pa when we go from winter to spring we get crazy wind storms. It blows it around pretty good lol
I have to check that out @@CityNinja650
12V dc kit is well worth it, the oem one takes a few mins to fit (with help of a yt vid on removing the left fairing pieces). One of the first things I added, alongside a phone holder :)
Nice roads and nice ride, City Ninja. A good all-round and touring bike, yes. I'd say a big factor for crashes would be faster speed, cars pulling out and cars not looking before turning. Thankfully I've avoided those factors. Good point about the subtle Ninja 650 throttle vibration on the right hand which is my only complaint about this great bike. A thicker glove helps eliminate it along with leaning forward a bit to ease pressure on the hand. My left hand is fine, but the throttle has a subtle shake to it, which can make the hand feel numb if not easing off some pressure. Looks like you have thick gloves.
How do you handle potholes that appear out of nowhere if riding behind a vehicle or truck? I'll usually leave a cushion to get time to react, and also ride on their tire path. Just in case there is an oil slick, pothole or giant piece of debris between their tires that appears quickly as they clear it on the freeway.
Dude that’s a great video topic. What I do for potholes is leave a nice gap between me and the car and watch if it jumps or anything. Realistically we supposed to ride far left or right and not so much in the middle if we can help it. So a cars tire will hit that pot hole. If there is a car and I ride the middle and can’t see far ahead I’ll leave extra room. Came in handy a few times
@@CityNinja650 Cool, thanks! It looks like you have a good strategy too. One time I wasn't following that rule when I was starting and ran over a giant rock in the middle of the freeway. I was lucky it didn't affect my bike's path too much, but I definitely felt it. Then the potholes can be really bad too in places. The sides of roads too being pitfalls on some roads.
I typically put on 50-70 miles when I go out for a morning ride in southern Oregon before it gets too hot. I find I can comfortably ride about an hour or so before I need to stop, even for only 30 seconds at a quiet intersection, to stand and stretch and let the blood circulate through my butt and legs. Then I'm good for another hour. Bought the 2023 Ninja 650 new in May and now have about 3200 miles on it. I did the dealer first service with oil change at 650 miles, and I just changed the oil and filter myself at 3000 miles with Motul 7100 10W-40. I'll run it until the next service but I will perform my own oil/filter changes from this point forward, simply because the vibration has dropped CONSIDERABLY and shifting up and down have smoothened noticeably. I am convinced this oil is far superior to what the dealer uses. So, all this means that I too am planning longer touring rides and I already have good sized tank and rear pinion bags for extra gear. I think you're right on with your assertion that this is a sport-touring bike, perhaps not as big as others like liter-sized bikes (1000sx yes!), but certainly capable of decent length single-stage distances. The key is to take those easy micro breaks, stand up, get the blood circulating in the butt and legs, stretch the arms and back. It takes only 30 seconds and then you're good to go for another hour of continuous riding. Thanks for the super vids, greatly appreciated! PS Get the Kawasaki large windscreen, it made a huge improvement on the highway.
I would love to get that windscreen. Thank you for that. Ima look into it. I’m wondering if these windshields are adjustable. I seen videos of people adjusting them (never a 23 model tho) that would be cool if they were. I bet you got some nice views where you are at.
Ima look into that oil. I need a change soon and I’ll give that a try. I want the best for this bike as I’m sure you do too
Not adjustable as they bolt in permanently as does the stock, smaller windscreen. Yes, the roads I ride here are beautilful country, not unlike the farmland roads you also enjoy, just different trees and topographies. But deer, turkeys, fox and coyotes are everywhere and I have to keep a sharp eye out for them constantly.
Try some weighted bar ends to reduce vibration. They are really affordable and easy to install. They will be worth your time if you ride for long periods at higher rpms
I never heard of weighted handlebars. I’m definitely going to check them out. I definitely need something. Those really long trips get to be alot
@@CityNinja650 yeah. Bar ends would definitely benefit you for long rides.
To the accident:
1. Not expecting the unexpected (essential in blind curves)
2. abit of target fixation (could have easily leaned the bike abit to the left to not hit the gravel, but it's something you need to practice)
3. maybe abit fast for the road width (but it's always different, in Germany this would have been a 30kmh road or less)
3.2 hitting the front brakes is not a very good idea on loose surfaces, you can jam (not recommended) the rear and have less sketch of a time
having the rear brake on tap would have helped at this situation, because you can fairly quickly lose enough speed and at the same time steer the bike away without risking a front slide
A lot of what I broke down as well going over the video. One of the great things about doing this is looking back at your riding. That’s how I noticed the “bad habit” I picked up. Nothing wrong with admitting your wrong ya know. I’m a beginner plain and simple. Only get better by adjusting and practicing.
Of course you can tour on it, but Kawasaki also makes a motorcycle with the exact same engine in it set up for touring 😂
I love this bike, super comfy. My ass just hurts after 6 hrs. My back and legs , perfectly fine.
Isn’t that nuts lol. Absolutely love the bike for that. Such a well built bike for sure
Good video
Nice review. Does the fairing buzz at all at certain rpms? Thank you.
No I never hear any buzz with mine.
Thanks. That's good to know.@@CityNinja650
@@WilliamdThompson Front fairing buzzed on mine, until I fitted a new windshield. I just think there was some loose fitted panels that got fixed up when I removed and refitted.
Why not go with Kawa Versys 650?
How many miles have you put in the bike since the beginning of the year?
I bought it new mid February and have 6300 mi
@matthewleasure2396 nice. I have the same amount of mileage n the same amount of time lol. I don't commute to work as much. I mostly do my rides on my 3 day weekend; about 3 hours each time and only 2 long rides to Blue Ridge Parkway and Cherohala Skyway, Tail of the Dragon and Moonshiner 28.
That’s what’s up. Glad to see others ride it like I do. Just hrs at a time. Sounds like you live on a sweet spot that you have those destinations relatively close to you. That’s what’s up
@matthewleasure2396 I wouldn't say close. They're about 5 hours away to the dragon and about 3 hours to BRP. I love to ride, so whenever I get the chance to ride, they're long. Lol
@@MyLife-og2kr oh I see what you doing lol. That’s what I do. I try to go to places as far as I can in a day
That "almost" crash is solely on you brother. You were busy talking and thinking what to say and did not anticipate the road bend ahead. Hence, you almost ended up on the right side of the road.
I would agree with that. Accidents are never a single reason. Mostly a chain of events and not paying attention due to talking was the first event. That’s one of the reasons why I was reluctant to start a channel as a new rider. There is so much going on and it’s so important. I’m glad I started my channel but still.
1. You got lost in your thoughts while talking and failed to pay close enough attention to the blind hill left curve.
2. The right edge of the road receded past the driveway so there was not the same width of paved lane that you had before you crested the hill.
3. Speed was too fast for the hill/curve.
This is a sport bike. Lol. I know what you're saying but there is sport, super sport etc. enjoy