2012 Ninja 650 - Page 5

Grainbelt · 03-27-2012, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dranrab Luap

If you ever park your bike in a heavy wind, it is much more stable on a center stand. I was at an ADV gathering where a versys was blown over in a strong wind.

That, and sand/mud. I carry a little plastic disc in my tank bag that I got for free from some online mc part vendor. Before that, I just crushed a pop can.

Jim K. · 04-03-2012, 05:55 PM

Center stand is great for maintenance & garage parking, unweighting the rear suspension. On surfaces that may soften on you, like hot asphalt or dirt after an hour of rain, the center stand can present a problem. As the two center stand legs sink into the surface, the bike stays stable....up to a point. Remember, one leg of the center stand has a long foot lever that you use to lever the bike up on the stand. The other side has just the small foot on the bottom of the leg. In a sinking situation, the small leg continues to sink, while the leg with the foot lever (usually the left) stops & can't sink any further. If the sinking continues, the bike goes over to the right.

Matticus91 · 04-04-2012, 06:58 PM

Got a 2012 650 last friday and put 400 miles on it so far

Couldn't be happier with the bike.

So here's mine, where's yours???

Saying hi to the internet

ghostdncr · 04-04-2012, 07:04 PM

Sharp bike! Mine's still in west Texas, but may actually get picked up for delivery next week!

Matticus91 · 04-04-2012, 07:19 PM

Thank you! That's a great looking bike you've got there as well. I wish I lived out west I'd love to do some long trips on the roads out there. Have to go through so much city crap to get out of this state. Luckily I live in a relatively rural area haha

ghostdncr · 04-04-2012, 07:30 PM

One of my favorite rides in your area is following all the small river roads along the Susquehanna over in Pennsylvania. Been a few years since I was up that way, but start just west of Lancaster and head north to the Williamsport area. From there you might check out the Susquehannock State Forest area just to the northwest. Beautiful country and well within striking distance.

dddd · 04-05-2012, 05:13 AM

you would have been even happier with a 2009-2011.. this 2012 is disfunctional.

650r 2012 issues:
still missing abs option,
excessively protruding rear fender,
tail is even less able to hold luggage (shorter and no deeper),
seats are cheaply fitting/assembled
front upper cowling still 1 huge piece not split from console,
windscreen is begging to rattle and break (long dangling edges), and offers less protection,
windscreen too open for air and rain and will gather bugs in places hard to clean,
still only 15.5L tank,
still impossible to install solid nocut frame sliders.
2009-2011 red lcd was perfect, white lcd is too bright, needle rpm is such a regression,
swingarm is asymetric and looks accidented,
tank cowling gathers dirt and dust in cracks, and prevent magnetic tank bag use.
mirrors still not articulated to avoid breaking when falling over.
there are not grab bars, not even the option to install them!
cannot even install a rear rack using grab bar frame holes

revert to 2011 but then:
add the MPG et eco indicators to 2009-2011 red console.
review fairing for enabling no cut frame sliders.
add 2 more small hooks under front part of tail,
double perpendicular axis mirrors upgrades to avoid breaking when falling on side,
1 more inch on mirror bar length, and make it bendable steel, not this breakable shit.
make tail compartment 1 inch deeper for more room with flat bottom,
add a few liters by making airbox a tad smaller or lower,

ghostdncr · 04-05-2012, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dddd

you would have been even happier with a 2009-2011.. this 2012 is disfunctional.

Don't care much for Matt's 2012, huh?

Murphy Slaw · 04-05-2012, 05:56 AM

Nice bike.

That engine is really getting a following.

Matticus91 · 04-05-2012, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dddd

you would have been even happier with a 2009-2011.. this 2012 is disfunctional.

All of that was irrelevant to me lol... But thanks for the info I guess?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdncr

One of my favorite rides in your area is following all the small river roads along the Susquehanna over in Pennsylvania. Been a few years since I was up that way, but start just west of Lancaster and head north to the Williamsport area. From there you might check out the Susquehannock State Forest area just to the northwest. Beautiful country and well within striking distance.

Sweet my friend is about to get a bike and we were planning on doing some relaxed trips to get some seat time in. I'll definitely add this to the list!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy Slaw

Nice bike.

That engine is really getting a following.

Thanks man, the engine is great! A ton of low end torque, not to mention it really makes a great sound too

southwade · 04-05-2012, 05:07 PM

2012 Ninja 650 by Southwade, on Flickr

ghostdncr · 04-05-2012, 05:25 PM

That green's pretty sharp, Wade. Your pic has just enough blur to remind me of all the pre-dawn starts I've had. Standing alone at a gas station at 4:00am, most bikes are just a little out of focus like that.

dddd · 04-05-2012, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdncr

Don't care much for Matt's 2012, huh?

Fact is, if the insurer declares mine total loss, and gives me this 2012, I take the money instead. I would rather switch to fz6r. I am blasting every dealer with the same rant if they ask why I hate what I now call the worst regression of all 2012 bikes (although I can prove it, it is hard to mess up so much after only 3 years of a new design).

But the happy end: I phoned many dealers and I have found one 2011 nearly 100 miles away. I'll take it! I'm happy again!

southwade · 04-05-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostdncr

That green's pretty sharp, Wade. Your pic has just enough blur to remind me of all the pre-dawn starts I've had. Standing alone at a gas station at 4:00am, most bikes are just a little out of focus like that.

southwade · 04-05-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dddd

you would have been even happier with a 2009-2011.. this 2012 is disfunctional.

650r 2012 issues:
still missing abs option,
excessively protruding rear fender,
tail is even less able to hold luggage (shorter and no deeper),
seats are cheaply fitting/assembled
front upper cowling still 1 huge piece not split from console,
windscreen is begging to rattle and break (long dangling edges), and offers less protection,
windscreen too open for air and rain and will gather bugs in places hard to clean,
still only 15.5L tank,
still impossible to install solid nocut frame sliders.
2009-2011 red lcd was perfect, white lcd is too bright, needle rpm is such a regression,
swingarm is asymetric and looks accidented,
tank cowling gathers dirt and dust in cracks, and prevent magnetic tank bag use.
mirrors still not articulated to avoid breaking when falling over.
there are not grab bars, not even the option to install them!
cannot even install a rear rack using grab bar frame holes

revert to 2011 but then:
add the MPG et eco indicators to 2009-2011 red console.
review fairing for enabling no cut frame sliders.
add 2 more small hooks under front part of tail,
double perpendicular axis mirrors upgrades to avoid breaking when falling on side,
1 more inch on mirror bar length, and make it bendable steel, not this breakable shit.
make tail compartment 1 inch deeper for more room with flat bottom,
add a few liters by making airbox a tad smaller or lower,

The only things you metioned that bother me is the stuff about the mirrors and the frame sliders.

The rest I'm fine with.

04-04-2012, 06:58 PM	#63
Matticus91 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Millstone, NJ Oddometer: 272	Official Ninja Thread? Official Ninja Thread. Got a 2012 650 last friday and put 400 miles on it so far Couldn't be happier with the bike. So here's mine, where's yours??? Saying hi to the internet __________________ "Husky" 2011 Husqvarna TE250 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650R

04-04-2012, 07:19 PM	#65
Matticus91 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Millstone, NJ Oddometer: 272	Thank you! That's a great looking bike you've got there as well. I wish I lived out west I'd love to do some long trips on the roads out there. Have to go through so much city crap to get out of this state. Luckily I live in a relatively rural area haha __________________ "Husky" 2011 Husqvarna TE250 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650R

04-05-2012, 05:07 PM	#71
southwade ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Joined: Oct 2011 Location: NOVA/DC Oddometer: 1,232	2012 Ninja 650 by Southwade, on Flickr __________________ flickr / tumblr

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04-03-2012, 05:55 PM	#62
Jim K. Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: New Haven, Ct. Oddometer: 422	Center stand is great for maintenance & garage parking, unweighting the rear suspension. On surfaces that may soften on you, like hot asphalt or dirt after an hour of rain, the center stand can present a problem. As the two center stand legs sink into the surface, the bike stays stable....up to a point. Remember, one leg of the center stand has a long foot lever that you use to lever the bike up on the stand. The other side has just the small foot on the bottom of the leg. In a sinking situation, the small leg continues to sink, while the leg with the foot lever (usually the left) stops & can't sink any further. If the sinking continues, the bike goes over to the right.

04-04-2012, 07:04 PM	#64
ghostdncr Burnin' daylight... Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Oddometer: 1,131	Sharp bike! Mine's still in west Texas, but may actually get picked up for delivery next week!

04-04-2012, 07:30 PM	#66
ghostdncr Burnin' daylight... Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Oddometer: 1,131	One of my favorite rides in your area is following all the small river roads along the Susquehanna over in Pennsylvania. Been a few years since I was up that way, but start just west of Lancaster and head north to the Williamsport area. From there you might check out the Susquehannock State Forest area just to the northwest. Beautiful country and well within striking distance.

04-05-2012, 05:13 AM	#67
dddd Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Montreal, Canada Oddometer: 218	you would have been even happier with a 2009-2011.. this 2012 is disfunctional. 650r 2012 issues: still missing abs option, excessively protruding rear fender, tail is even less able to hold luggage (shorter and no deeper), seats are cheaply fitting/assembled front upper cowling still 1 huge piece not split from console, windscreen is begging to rattle and break (long dangling edges), and offers less protection, windscreen too open for air and rain and will gather bugs in places hard to clean, still only 15.5L tank, still impossible to install solid nocut frame sliders. 2009-2011 red lcd was perfect, white lcd is too bright, needle rpm is such a regression, swingarm is asymetric and looks accidented, tank cowling gathers dirt and dust in cracks, and prevent magnetic tank bag use. mirrors still not articulated to avoid breaking when falling over. there are not grab bars, not even the option to install them! cannot even install a rear rack using grab bar frame holes revert to 2011 but then: add the MPG et eco indicators to 2009-2011 red console. review fairing for enabling no cut frame sliders. add 2 more small hooks under front part of tail, double perpendicular axis mirrors upgrades to avoid breaking when falling on side, 1 more inch on mirror bar length, and make it bendable steel, not this breakable shit. make tail compartment 1 inch deeper for more room with flat bottom, add a few liters by making airbox a tad smaller or lower,

04-05-2012, 05:56 AM	#69
Murphy Slaw Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: Southern Illinois Oddometer: 897	Nice bike. That engine is really getting a following.

04-05-2012, 05:25 PM	#72
ghostdncr Burnin' daylight... Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Oddometer: 1,131	That green's pretty sharp, Wade. Your pic has just enough blur to remind me of all the pre-dawn starts I've had. Standing alone at a gas station at 4:00am, most bikes are just a little out of focus like that.