I agree. I had an 06 650R. Put 35k miles on it. After a VFR800 decided to go back to the 650 and now have a versys and love it. And its damn reliable. Kawasaki seems to listen to owners and update their motorcycles on a regular basis. Definitely the best line up in the US from the asian brands. Would love to have a C14 as well. And maybe the Ninja 1000.
Kawasaki's whole line of 650 twins are just excellent I'd love to see them switch to a 270 degree crank sometime though for a bit more visceral feel and sound, otherwise there's not much wrong with them and the pricing sure can't be beat.
Modern chains are so good centerstands are totally outmoded imo. Its just not worth the weight or ground clearance penalty to make occasional chain lubing ever so slightly more convenient. On the dual sport end Kawak nor any of the other Japanese makers are doing much. The Japanese makers easily lead the pack when it comes to purebread dirt bikes though.
agreed on the chain. a trailside jack can also work nice to hold the bike up too. as far as kawi leading the pack in dirtbikes, say what??? http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/SubCategory.aspx?id=11 same line up last year. maybe you're a 140cc kinda guy. sure they've got some nice mx bikes but...
I still dig the black. The Ninja 650 was a nice looking bike before, but the stepped seat makes it look better.
My girlfriend has a 2009. Great bike for her. Not having a centerstand is no big deal - it's easy enough to lift the rear of the bike to lube the chain, and at home we use a trackstands.
Agreed. It seems like they really are listening to the customer. Now there are undenied rumors of a Versys 1000 as well. I love both new Ninjas. Very easily made into sport touring machines.
I think he meant MXers when he mentionned ... But I never looked at that OFF ROAD lineup! Wonder how they would pull with my 240lbs ass on it!
Even the 250cc MX'er would haul you around effortlessly, they are quick and the 450s are insanely fast. MX bikes are just a whole different ball game. A KX250F will out-accelerate my XR650R at least at low-mid speeds (maybe the XR650R would pull harder at 70+mph). For reference, a KX450F has 10hp more than my XR650R and weighs 50lbs+ less. A KX250F has ~5hp more than a DRZ400S and weighs ~80lbs less. Also they've both got much more instant throttle response and lighter flywheels so when you tell the bike to go it goes straight away. The 140 wasn't what I had in mind, but FWIW it's without a doubt the best in its class by a big margin (way lighter than the CRF150F + better suspension + real brakes). My mom rocks one I don't know that I'd say Kawak is the absolutely best MX'er out there, but I wouldn't say that about any of them. Best really depends on what you want. All the major japanese MX'ers are astoundingly good and all capable of winning at a national level more or less as standard. I happen to like the feel of the Kawak quite well.
Just read that Kawasaki have sold 60,000 ER650s since launch, mainly in Europe. That's pretty impressive. I didn't realise how much has changed with the 2012, but this major revamp is an attempt to keep up with the Ducati Monster et al, at a lower price point. Not that that's a bad thing.
The new 2012 650r looks more aggressive than its previous model. Good on Kawasaki to up date this bike.
+1 I bought mine (faired) in 2007 and thought the naked version was very fugly. I even liked the Versys better (and wish I got that). The next naked version was a bit better, and I could live with it, but if I was buying new now, the naked wins (for me), no contest. But my 2007 is still going strong after 22k+ miles! This one!
