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Maybe it didn't appear as obvious as I thought in the story. Nevertheless, I'll restate that the engine is turning roughly 5,000rpm at around 70mph.

As to your questions about vibration and "maximum buzz", again I refer to the story but will repeat that the 650R is very smooth, especially considering it's configuration. Have you ever ridden a parallel twin?

Since this was a press intro, things like weights, HP, torque and the like are frequently absent at the time. Not in every case but it's not unusual. Of course if you'd like to send us your bathroom scale--sans body hair, toe nail clippings and "stains", we'll consider adding wet weights to future stories--Pete

 

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Re: Need an SV comparison

Good point about the grab rails, nweaver. Here in the U.S. Kawasaki wanted to keep the "aggressive" look of the Ninja line on this bike. As a result grab rails are an "option."--Pete

 

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Re: Need an SV comparison

Sorry, no talk of either. I couldn't even get a clear answer on why a cassette tranny. And more importantly, where this bike will leave the Ninja500. In my opinion, this new Ninja makes the 500 moot. But they claim, at least before the 650R, that the 500 is still a top seller.--Pete

 

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Bandit 1200. One of the best bikes ever put together, from other bikes. Ride proud my friend, ride proud.--Pete

 

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"You mentioned you had no buffering, but would have like to have the wind screen raised to take the windblast off of your upper body. How bad was this? Or was it simply noticeable and not problematic. How would the bike feel at highway speeds?"

To answer both parts of that question: Simply noticeable and not problematic.

"I don't recall seeing anything in terms of gas mileage. Any info on this?"

This and similar questions, i.e. "What was the wet weight?" Horsepower? Torque?, etc., have cropped up. To clarify again, this was a press introduction, one day ride. The answer to those questions, especially on a bike like this are almost never mentioned by the OEM, nor would we have any way to determine such in so little time. Rest assured we will be acquiring one as soon as possible to answer those questions. Additionally, trust that we want to compare it to an SV650 as badly as anyone.

To answer your larger question, I'd say this bike would be ideal for the kind of riding you describe that you want to do.--Pete

 

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Since no journalist in attendance was carrying a tape measure, we could only take what Kawasaki told us at face value. Additionally, a .9" variance against Kawasaki's claim could be perceived as negligible. Certainly there will always be debate on the actual measuring points. When I worked in the bicycle industry, this occurred routinely. Using the same method on different brands, all claiming the same frame size, actual measurements would vary widely.

I'm sorry to hear it doesn't seem to fit your wife. How tall is she? Or more correctly what is her inseam? Two of the journalists on hand (one was a woman) were well under 5'6", with one of them having a particularly short inseam. Both were happy with the fit. Perhaps you and your wife can find some adjustment. Ultimately I think she'll love the bike.--Pete

 

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Taking a stab (blindfolded and in the dark), the 650R will give the SV a competitive run in the handling dept. It is our intention, as soon as possible, to pit them against one another. So hold tight.

As for it's competitiveness, it has all the basics in place. I'm not certain that it will out pace the SV but with braking and suspension upgrades (usually the first stuff to go once it's headed to the track, no?) the 650R should stick like glue in every turn.--Pete

 

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Glad I answered some of the questions. I understand the range question as well. Unfortunately, as it is with many press intros, (childish journalists that we are) fuel economy is the first to go. What with wheelies being attempted right out of the gate and less than legal speeds for the majority of the day.

But due to all the advancements in the engine design and fuel injection, I don't see why you couldn't get at least 140 miles to the tank. My moderately breathed on Bandit 1200 did as much. But don't quote me here.--Pete

 

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Interesting. Although she stands 5'1" her inseam is only a couple of inches shorter than mine, yet I was adequately planted on the ground. Women typically have longer legs and shorter torsos than men. Guys are the other way around; longer upper body but shorter legs. Maybe that's why a woman's legs are so important to us men =)



I would speculate that her over all height seems like a disadvantage on this bike due to her upper body length. I'm guessing that this creates a bit of a stretch to the bars for her which would in turn pull her farther over the tank, effectively pulling her legs and feet back and up from the ground. Just a guess here.--Pete

 

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"180-degree crankshaft plus balancer shaft for extremely smooth engine operation. "



Straight from Kawi's materials.--Pete