Ninja 650R impressions (short) EDIT - GUSSET CRACKS ON 06 MODELS !

[ohgood]

Sorry, no pictures. Just hopped on a 650R for a test ride. Fuel injection was nice, smooth, and rolled on fine even completely cold. (aaaaaaah efi !)

Awesome ergonomics, better than a stock gs, better seat, higher bars, etc.

Quick turning, turn in was a little bit faster than a gs, more sport-bikish.

Acceleration isn't amazing or mind numbing. About right for a 650, but the SV pulls so much harder. According to wiki there is a 8HP advantage to the sv. The sv is smoother all around.

Sounds ? Sorry, the stock can is just plain sad. Sure, their is a neat little fuel injected twin providing the motivation, but it's strangled, stiffled, and sniffling. This bike really needs a pipe. Drain pipe, sewer pipe, hose pipe, just a pipe, any pipe !!!

8's in a parking lot were snappy and predictable. E stops are very similar to the gs. That's all I did, along with a very short 70 mph blast to check the gear box...... oh, the gearbox, your gs's is smoother. By powers, easily.


There ya go, on my scale of sucks to rocks, with rocks being a 10, I'll give the (2006) Ninja 650R a solid 8. Still have a 919, FZ1, FZ6, and sv650 (nekkid) to try out soon. I'm putting my money on the sv, with the fz coming in second. Just a hunch.

rock on gs'ers !


**********************

Edit: I've read on a couple of forums now about needing to apply a spacer to the inside of the frame gussets between the engine and frame. Apparently there is a small gap, around 1/32" that over time causes the (ugly) weld to fail.

Anyone looking at an 06 might want to take a peak.... really close

**********************

[brickerenator]

huh, cool!
but pics of teh sv are required


you made me not pick a 650 now, lol

[ohgood]

huh, cool!
but pics of teh sv are required


you made me not pick a 650 now, lol

hold on there pardner, RIDE IT, it's a cool bike. try her out and see... you may just love it.

btw, I don't think I'll ever give a 10 to a bike, cause... well, there are times bikes suck. like when it's snowing. or when someone plows into you. there ain't not 10 to be given to -any- bike in that case.

i'll post pictures of whichever one i get. no doubt. then i'll actually ride some, take some cool mountain-top shots, and get on with fuel-injecting my gs. i'm saving the xtra cash i -would- spend on efi for a better bike right now. once i'ts bought, the efi project will begin in earnest.

[The Buddha]

SV is great, ninja 650 is shitty steel, welded up by crappy slave chineese when they know their master is blind and deaf ...
SV, in spite if being a V twin ... yes is better than a parallel.
Cool.
Buddha.

[annguyen1981]

EVERY bike in it's stock form needs an exhaust...  except for the Duc's.

[ohgood]

SV is great, ninja 650 is oh my goodnessty steel, welded up by crappy slave chineese when they know their master is blind and deaf ...
SV, in spite if being a V twin ... yes is better than a parallel.
Cool.
Buddha.

ya, should have mentioned that. the ninja is a "30 footer" bike. looks GREAT from 30 feet. any closer, and her welds are not pretty, nor her paint, nor her plastics. the sv... wowzers. sweet

[intergalactic]

I really want to test ride a 919. I need a bike I can't snap the throttle open on. Well, maybe I don't. But I want one.

As much as I hate carbs, the 40/125 buddha kit rolls on from any speed.

[Roadstergal]

Ja, I was underwhelmed by the 650R.  I'll stick with my SV.

[jserio]

personally, i found the 650r way to hideous to even consider test riding one. but hey, that's just me.

[The Buddha]

I wont mind the ninja motor - parallel twin beats the V of the SV any day, but I really cant stand the sheite steel frame, the whole bike reeks of really being thrown together in a huge hurry. Weld splatter everywhere, and several spots that look like they should ahve been really designed better ... I mean ... the GS looks like its top shelf in comparison ...

The gladius from suzuki now combines the worst of both of these and puts it in a "ghey as liberace" package ... that is truly an acheivement ... and a testament to the fact that "we'll buy any crap if it can be financed".

So for me, its SV1000 all the way baby ...
Cool.
Buddha.