2009 Kawasaki Ninja 650R

I've been riding for almost 40 years. Much of that has been on liter-class sport bikes. Last year, I "settled" for a leftover Ninja 650R. It was attractive because of the cost, styling and comfort (more on that in a moment) for riding two-up. I really hesitated. But I pulled the trigger and I'm glad ... I did. Power is very impressive, handling is precise and it has been reliable as a stone. Add in great looks (mine is red) and it's a wonderful, satisfying package.

However, the first two hour ride had me on the phone with Corbin. I ordered a Gunfighter and Lady which cost almost 10% of what I paid for the bike new! It transforms the comfort level and is worth every penny. The stock seat is junk.

Putting aside the seat for a moment, it's not perfect. The exhaust note is a bit flatulent and I would prefer conventional instruments instead of the LCD panel which looks like a cost-cutting measure. But these are really minor niggles rather than real issues.

This is a great bike, once you get a proper seat.

This is a great bike but unfortunatly i have to sell it with only 55 miles!!! 6000 obo bikes in orange county ny 845-309-5362 Justin

I got this bike used with about 6800 miles on it. For $5000, it was a pretty good deal, and I am in love with it. It's got plenty of pep to get me going at speeds that I maybe shouldn't be doing, but it's manageable enough to where I don't feel like I'm going to get slung off the back. The bars are ... setup so I'm not having to lay down on my tank. However, I will say that the bike is obviously meant for shorter riders. At 6'2", it feels a little undersized. The suspension handles very well, and the bike just feels planted when screaming around turns. A lot of reviews knocked the all-digital dash, but you do get used to the tachometer after a week or so. My only real big gripes with this bike are the amount of vibrations that you feel, the slightly go-kart-ish sound the engine makes, and the fuel gauge. To put it simply, the fuel gauge on my bike is worthless. There's five bars on it, and when you're sitting on 1/5 bars, you've actually got around half a tank left. I guess it's good to have that much of a cushion, but as an indicator of how much gas you're sitting on, it's probably about as good as having nothing at all. For day long rides, the seat can feel a bit too firm, but that's easy to fix. There's a good amount of aftermarket parts if you're into that kind of thing, and the bike is stupid easy to work on. I'd recommend this thing heartily to anyone who is looking for a good second bike (just start on a damn 250) that will keep them entertained.

After a 15 yr absence from riding, I decided to get back in the saddle. Being older, I was looking for a sporty touring bike that wouldn't break the bank. This is a great entry level sport touring bike.

I've had the bike for 2 months and have put over 3000 miles on it. My main use ... is commuting to work, but I like to "play" on the weekends. The riding position is ideal for my long commute to work (75 miles one way), but I can still take it in the canyons and enjoy it. It may not be the fastest bike out there but that's not what I'm looking for. It will accelerate quite quickly when you hit the throttle and still gets great gas mileage.

I would highly recommend this bike for anyone who doesn't want to pony up over $10k for a Concours or ST1300, yet still wants the comfort of a touring ride, that can also get out and play.

First bike, bought it brand new and its really easy to ride. Being new to riding, this bike has been really easy to handle and has so much more power then I have been able to tap into (still breaking in the motor). I was going to opt for the 2010 but there is really no difference between the 09 ... and 10 so I saved a few bucks and ran with the 09. You can ride this bike all day but the seat could use a slight upgrade, just a tad sore after 1 hour but not that bad. Im 6' 230 and the bike fits me fine. I looked at several different bikes and this one just made the most sense for everyday riding. Recommend- YES. The only reason why I didnt rate Performance great is because I havnt rode many other Sport Bikes.

Got it before I had my license, Fire ehgine red with sliders and windsheild black bubble mod. Love it but I hate when you make a complete left the tank hits the horn lol Got some honda cleaner and polish spray and when I cleaned it the first time it gave it that awesome shine. No regrets. Still has ... alot of untouched power I can't wait to tap into =) Got it at 0 miles and had it for 2 weeks and its already 200 miles. Plus a few numbers. Got a scorpion helmet exo 1000 glossy black =)

I've had it for 1500 miles now and no issues so far. It isn't the fastest bike but perfect for newbies.

Still no upgraded ( more padding) seat option for this bike for less than $500.00 Ridiculius.

Had first oil change and service at dealer. 600 miles. They changed oil,(Kawasaki oil) new oil filter, new fuel filter, reset the clock...again..it keeps its own time.... reset idle, adjusted chain, ... checked and adjusted tire pressures and checked some bolts and nuts for proper torque. Cost $69.00.

When I installed the 650 ninja shop tail kit, the hardest thing to do during the installation was trying to get the turn signal hold on brackets back into the rubber turn signal. Just not alot of room to work with, so take your time. Dont use wd 40 for this install as it will dry the rubber out,and lets the small metal brackets slip back out. use water.

No problems with bike at all. Got 38 miles per gallon average so far. Still not broken in yet. only 1000 miles on it.

I am an experienced rider and do enjoy the bike very much. It has really suprized me. And a few bigger bikes. Do not waste your money on a slip on exhaust. I have a friend who has a dyno and he put one on his 650r, only to gain 2 horse power at top revs. The noise and cost just isnt worth it to me. It does take some weight off though.

Overall glad I bought the bike. Will update again about seat.

For my first sportbike and much exploring various bikes...my decision to buy the 650r in lime green was right on. I love the comfort of the ride and the bikes appearance. It has enough power for me despite I am still in the breakin period. The dash looks great and easily shows me all I need. I miss ... my cruiser but THRILLED to own the Ninja 650r.

First of all, I really like this bike, looks, handling, power, are all good.Its easy to ride and has enough power to do what I want. The only problem I have is after about an hour in the saddle, the seat gives up, and so does my butt. They need to change the seat for more comfort on longer trips.This ... would be an easy fix for them. If Kawasaki had a replacement seat that was better I would buy it, but they dont, and I refuse to pay almost 700 dollars for a replacement.Im looking into the gell pads. Will follow up when it arrives.

I bought a red one.Dealer gave me a great deal, and was very nice.I rated this bike low on comfort because of the seat. Im sure it will be reliable, but i bought the extended warranty just in case.I called The Ninja Shop and ordered the new taillite kit for the bike. Looks better and tucks up close to the tail light, for a cleaner look. This bracket should cost 30 bucks...not 120.

I'm a complete noob at riding a motorcycle. i've had exactly 0 minutes of experience riding them when i bought my 09 ninja 650. after 5 min of instruction from my dealer, I was able to comfortably drive it home. Its a great beginner bike and it has tons of power that i havn't tapped into yet. It ... looks super awesome and is super comfy. The value of price to fun, performance, and styling is unmatched by any bike i have ever researched.

My last review rating was recorded incorrectly. This is how I rated this bike.

nothing but 10's for my 09 ninja.

love its comfort and performance.

styling is second to none. if you're considering it...buy it, you wont regret it!

I couldn't be more impressed with this bike. Its riding position is very comfortable without sacrificing the ability to throw it into corners. It's easy to ride and the engine is very smooth and manageable, but fast and powerful enough to more than satisfy seasoned riders. It might not be a screamer ... like the Ducati or Honda supersports, but in real world conditions (on the street and off the track), it's ability to do it all is unmatched. Twist the throttle and you're flying, lean it hard and you're carving, or sit back and enjoy a comfortable 200 mile cruise. And look damn good in the process. The styling is second to none.

I love this bike!!! After comparing it to Yamaha and Suzuki bikes in the same class, I chose this. I'm very happy I did. It is easy to ride, has a comfortable riding position, is very smooth, has plenty of power for me, and is fun to ride.

i think its a great all around bike