News 7 Feb 2017

Review: 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650L

CycleOnline.com.au test rides the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650L.

Words: Matthew Shields

Kawasaki’s outgoing Ninja 650L was the odd bike out in the Japanese manufacturer’s new model line-up for a little while there. The mid-sized bike market is a far cry from what it was five years ago and while other manufacturers where giving their big learner sportsbikes racy makeovers, the Ninja 650L still looked like the ER-6f it was born from. As good a performer it was, a change in styling was needed and Kawasaki has brought it right into line with the rest of the sportsbikes in its range carrying the same moniker.

Although the new Ninja 650 looks a bit like the outgoing model there is a lot more to this new model than that. The chassis has been extensively redesigned, the engine has been updated and did we mention the styling is sharper and a lot more in tune with the rest of the Ninja range? As sporty as the machine looks, Kawasaki has ensured that the upright riding position, low seat height, low weight, easy handling and manageable power have remained as pertinent to learner riders as the old Ninja was before. 

Image: Nick Wood.

Like the Z650L that we tested on BikeOnline.com.au last week, the Ninja 650L has a learner-approved, 39kW, 650cc, parallel-twin engine. With a focus on strong low to midrange torque, the engine is easy to use below 3000rpm and noticeably stronger and most useful between 3000 and 6000rpm. On the road the engine delivers a level of performance that’ll satisfy and excite riders on any twisty backroad or urban commute. Dump the light-action clutch and wind the gas on from a standstill and you’ll rocket away with urgency that is only matched by one or two other LAMS bikes on the market that I have ridden.

This user-friendly nature extends to the proportions of the machine. On the Australian media launch north-west of Sydney, there were a range of rider sizes and not one complaint from the biggest through to the smallest of riders. It shows just how accomodating this machine is. Yes, it looks sporty but the handlebars sit at an easy and undemanding reach and there is plenty of room down to the centrally located footpegs. The Ninja 650L has the legs to carry a pillion easily and comfortably – a consideration if this is a machine you are going to hang on to long after your L and P-plates have been taken off the rear mudguard.

The parallel-twin engine has a naturally low and central centre of gravity and you can feel this at low speeds where the ease of manoeuvrability is yet another strength of the Ninja 650L. A light clutch action – a feature of the assist and slipper unit – precise gearbox actuation and linear power delivery off idle amount to one very easy to use package no matter how experienced a rider you are. All-in-all there’s nowhere this machine lacks in terms of engine characteristics and ergonomics to make riding easy, but its biggest strength would have to be the new chassis design.

Image: Nick Wood.

The new frame weighs in at 15kg and is one of the most significant contributors to a machine that weighs in 19kg lighter than the Ninja 650L it replaces. A high-tensile steel trellis frame, Kawasaki used analysis software to determine diameters, length and thickness of the steel tubes to optimise lateral and torsional rigidity – and boy does it work. With just half a degree of rake the only real dimensional change to the Ninja 650L, the lighter 2017 model machine and revised chassis has made a huge difference.

The suspension is similar to the Z650L with a 41mm front fork while the centrally-mounted rear shock has preload adjustment. Just like on the Z650L, compliance wasn’t questioned on a day riding some of Sydney’s bumpiest back roads though dialling in a bit of preload for bigger riders is a must as it is with any LAMS machine. While there is an easy-going nature about the chassis at slow speeds, Kawasaki has gone to a lot of effort with parts like the wheels, discs and even axles to minimise unsprung weight and deliver an excitingly fast-turning and precise package at any road speed.

Image: Nick Wood.

The braking package – without question – is excellent. Just like on the Z650L, it’s a step above similarly priced machines with Bosch’s excellent 9.1M system at the heart of it. Power is bang on, control is easily modulated and how good do those petal rotors look?! Speaking of looks, the detail in the redesign of the Ninja 650L has brought it into line with the styling of all the Ninjas in the range – from the baby 300 to the rip-snorting ZX-10R and maybe the H2 if you squint a little bit. Aspiration is a big factor when it comes to LAMS machines and Kawasaki has done a brilliant job of evoking the class-leading sportsbikes with this new package.

Kawasaki has the largest range of learner approved motorcycles in Australia at the moment and, as always, value for money is as good as it comes. This is a redesigned machine with the sort of refinement – especially in the chassis – that you don’t often see on a mid-sized motorcycle. It might be labelled a ‘learner-bike’, but the Ninja 650L is a lot more than that and is a machine experienced riders will get a lot of value out of. Priced at $10k, it’s pretty hard to look past this machine as a brilliant sportsbike to start out riding on.

Specifications

Capacity: 649cc
Power: 38kW @ 8000rpm
Torque: 66Nm @ 6500rpm
Wet weight: 190kg
Seat height: 790mm
Price: $9999 (KRT replica: $10,299) plus on-road costs
Detailed specs: www.kawasaki.com.au

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