Introduction
A middleweight that's capable, practical, strong and fun to ride
With its cutting edge design and astonishing versatility, it
is no surprise the 2008 Kawasaki Ninja® 650R excels in real
world riding. Mating sportbike performance levels and a comfortable
seating position something rare in the same sentence as
sportbike the Ninja 650R is well-suited for slicing through
commuter traffic, running errands and hitting the back roads
or a track on weekend days.
This versatility is good, because the more time a rider spends
with the Ninja 650R, the stronger their desire to just ride for
any reason will become. Part of the charm of this sportbike
is its design clarity. It blends an innovative engine and chassis
into a package that doesn't truly project its intended engineering
outcome until the motorcycle a rider is melded into it. Kawasaki's
development team began with a unique posture focusing on
the rider, not the motorcycle and thus developed the 650R
to have broad rider appeal. Narrowing the distance between the
footpegs and striving for a low seat height and minimal effort
controls all played into the design effort.
A major component in the achieving the size-efficient nature
of the Ninja 650R is its compact liquid-cooled, fuel-injected,
DOHC, 8-valve 649cc parallel twin engine. Featuring a confidence
inspiring power delivery for new motorcyclists, the engine possesses
a smooth responsiveness that is tuned for rider-friendly low
and medium rpm ranges. The excellent mid-range characteristics
make the 650R a natural in commuting environments, and slipping
in and out of traffic will be a cinch thanks to its lightweight
trellis frame and responsive steering.
The 650R's engine may be tuned for manageable delivery, but it
also has excellent roll-on response for highway passing and more
than enough power to be an entertaining trackday companion.
Kawasaki engineers applied their vast experience building Ninja
supersport machines to develop a motorcycle with the performance
abilities that will be a match for anything currently available
in the middleweight arena, including those with larger displacement.
Exceptionally well-proportioned, the Ninja 650R is a motorcycle
both novice and experienced riders can be at home with and one
that is equally comfortable in daily commuting situations as
well as back-road-blasting on the weekends.
 |
 |
|
|
Features
Unique features
- Aggressive Ninja styling
- Powerful parallel-twin engine
- Compact size and weight
- Low seat height
Engine
- 649cc parallel twin-cylinder, DOHC engine
- Most compact engine is the in its category, even smaller than
the Ninja 500's, which helps reduce the dimension of the entire
motorcycle
- Tuned to deliver smooth, responsive power in the low-to mid-rpm
range with exceptional roll-on response for negotiating city
traffic
- Triangular crank and transmission shaft layout makes the engine
very short from front to back, a semi-dry sump oil system reduces
overall engine height, and the narrow pitch of the chrome composite
plated aluminum cylinders reduce engine width
- Muffler with 3-way catalyzer and bullet-tip opening is mounted
below the engine for a lower center of gravity and better weight
centralization
- 180-degree crankshaft plus balancer shaft for extremely smooth
engine operation
- Oil jets on the connecting rod big ends spray oil on the undersides
of the pistons to aid cooling
Liquid Cooling
- Coolant is routed through the engine cases to reduce external
hoses
- Maintains consistent engine temperatures for long engine life
and sustained power during hard use
- Allows closer engine tolerances for more horsepower
Digital Fuel Injection
- Sub-throttle valves in 38mm Keihin throttle bodies provide
optimum performance and rideability
- Located behind the main throttle valves, the sub-throttles
are controlled by the DFI® system ECU to give a precise throttle
response, similar to a constant-velocity carburetor
- Automatic fast idle system makes starting and warm-up easy
- Precise fuel injection plus exhaust catalyzer significantly
reduce emissions
Digital Capacitor Discharge Ignition (CDI) System
- Microprocessor-controlled timing never needs adjusting and
is ultra-responsive to engine requirements
- Spark plug mounted "stick" ignition coils are compact
and help reduce weight
Six-Speed Transmission
- Cassette-style transmission with the transmission shafts and
shifts in a single, compact layout that's easily removed from
the cases for maintenance
Trellis Frame
- High tensile steel trellis frame is small and light
- Optimum stiffness balance for better handling worked out in
three-dimensional computer design analysis
- Narrow at the knees and feet for rider comfort and control
Single-Shock Rear Suspension
- Short, compact frame and engine design allows a longer
swingarm and better overall handling
- Braced swingarm and offset, laydown single rear shock supplement
the integrated visual flow from the steering head to the rear
hub in the frame design
Triple Petal Design Brake Discs
- Petal rotor design like its Ninja ZX™-6R and ZX-10R
supersports brethren - offer improved cooling and warp resistance
Six-spoke wheels
- Six-spoke design uses the same engineering as the Ninja ZX-6R
and ZX-10R and requires much less material between spokes for
a thinner rim and a lighter wheel
Confidence-Inspiring Cockpit
- Low, narrow seat combined with the slim overall design allows
riders to firmly plant both feet on the ground when stopped
- Carefully designed ergonomics present a natural, comfortable
riding position
- Textured seat cover helps keep the rider planted
Bodywork
- Stylish full fairing with aerodynamic windscreen cuts through
the wind and helps protect the rider
- Integrated front turn signals with clear lenses enhance appearance
|
|
|
Technical Specifications
Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled,
DOHC, four-valve per cylinder, parallel twin
Displacement: 649cc
Bore x stroke: 83.0 x 60.0mm
Compression ratio: 11.3:1
Maximum torque: 48.5 lb/ft @ 7,000 rpm
Cooling: Liquid
Fuel injection: Digital fuel injection with two 38mm Keihin throttle
bodies
Ignition: Digital CDI
Transmission: Six-speed
Final drive: O-ring chain
Frame: Semi-double cradle, high-tensile steel
Rake / trail: 25 degrees / 4.2 in.
Wheelbase: 55.5 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 41mm hydraulic telescopic fork
/ 4.7 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Single offset laydown shock with
adjustable spring preload / 4.9 in.
Front tire: 120/70x17
Rear tire: 160/60x17
Front brake: Dual 300mm petal discs with two-piston calipers
Rear brake: Single 220mm petal disc with single piston caliper
Overall length: 82.9 in.
Overall width: 29.9 in.
Overall height: 50.0 in.
Seat height: 31.1 in.
Dry weight: 393 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 4.1 gal.
Colors: Lime Green
Sunbeam Red
Metallic Diablo Black
Warranty: 12 months
* Price and specifications subject to change
|
|
|
|
