2023 Kawaski Ninja 650L Quick Review

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

I test ride the updated for 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 650L in this quick review, a restricted version specific to the Australian market, for LAMS, which is available alongside the full power version.
The bike is down 17 hp and a little torque but otherwise is the same as the full power Ninja 650, which adopts traction control for 2023, but retains the traditional forks.
Standout features include a TFT display, upright and relaxed ergonomics, sporty Kawasaki ZX-R styled fairings, but a more roadster focused ergonomic, all at a competitive price.
MotoHub in Sydney were kind enough to lend me their demo Ninja 650L, so check them out if you're in Sydney and would like a test ride:
www.motohub.com.au/
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motojournokris.com/youtube

Пікірлер: 46

  • @therainbwflame
    @therainbwflame10 ай бұрын

    Probably the best review I have ever seen in the 15. 6 years of my life so far. Thanks man 👍🏻

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    10 ай бұрын

    Thanks!!!

  • @thodoris3790
    @thodoris3790 Жыл бұрын

    you are doing good presentations mate..go on....

  • @sean...
    @sean... Жыл бұрын

    Great review Kris :-)

  • @KpopNiDontStop
    @KpopNiDontStop Жыл бұрын

    This color and graphic really does look great in person.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep much better than I captured in the video!

  • @justinlambertoutdoors6313
    @justinlambertoutdoors63133 ай бұрын

    Ive put around 4k miles on myn and have 100% pushed it to its absolute limit and you can absolutely use it as a sports bike could see it as a great beginners track bike

  • @florme6494
    @florme6494 Жыл бұрын

    Leads to the discussion ninja 400 vs 650. Although the 650 is better built like you clearly out lined. The value of the 400 is probably the winner for me. The light weight and playfulness of it is what makes it so special in all classes. It begs to be thrashed. Perfect power plant for the road. 650 seems to have more torque and smoothness to it. Which is very nice depending what you are after.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    The value factor of the Ninja 400 is hard to pass up really.

  • @christiancarino4931

    @christiancarino4931

    11 ай бұрын

    What if you can find a good condition used 650 for a fair price?

  • @florme6494

    @florme6494

    11 ай бұрын

    Depends what you value. I would choose the 400 because I find it more interesting and fun to ride. I’m sure Kris would have a different perspective. It really is something you need to explore from what you are after in a motorcycle.

  • @121080hulk

    @121080hulk

    5 ай бұрын

    The 400 just sounds like a scooter 😢 . Thats what kills it for me

  • @florme6494

    @florme6494

    5 ай бұрын

    The 400 is a parallel twin (as is the 650). Scooter are predominantly single cylinder. They should sound different. If more noise is what you are after then a slip on makes a big difference. I must admit as far as tunes go the parallel twins are probably at the bottom for me. Prefer the sound of a single cylinder scooter.

  • @victornita2978
    @victornita2978 Жыл бұрын

    Like it. This one is my favourite so far. KN 650... Pray for me, guys, to have one soon, riding from home to my job in the film Industry... Pinewood or WB in London-UK... 🙂☘️💰🎬

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    Good luck!

  • @administrator9490
    @administrator94902 ай бұрын

    where u riding in the vid? looks chill

  • @Uwnorab
    @Uwnorab Жыл бұрын

    Could you determine if the handlebar vibration at 5-6k rpm is present in the previous model?

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    There was definitely vibes, felt more like approaching the 7k rpm mark that they became noticeable.

  • @lachlancannard
    @lachlancannard Жыл бұрын

    For daily commuting and occasional touring, would you recommend this in the same class as something like the 1000SX or GSXS-1000GT? I like the weight and riding position on this, but unsure how it would compare to the more expensive sport tourers.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    It's similar, but very basic in most metrics of comparison, if you're looking at it like that. Just depends how much power you want and the suspension and brake setup you'd be happy with.

  • @lachlancannard

    @lachlancannard

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MotoJournoKris Not taking a pillion so 68 horses is enough.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    @@lachlancannard Should be plenty, just depends if the 'more power' bug bites at some point in the future! I tend to think 50-70 hp is an ideal all-round power figure, one-up at least!

  • @lachlancannard

    @lachlancannard

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MotoJournoKris Picking up my 650 this weekend. Should be a nice upgrade from my BMW 310R.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    @@lachlancannard Wicked, that'll be huge. Congrats on the new bike!

  • @ajjohnsonjohnson9441
    @ajjohnsonjohnson9441 Жыл бұрын

    Looks so freaky weird driving the opposite way on the road mate!

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    Yea, it weirds me out when I watch stuff from the US and other parts of the world, so I know what you mean. Especially roundabouts!!!

  • @leny5543
    @leny55437 ай бұрын

    Is it possible to get the 650L derestricted if so what would be involved ?

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    7 ай бұрын

    I'm a bit out of the loop honestly, from what I understand it's certainly possible, it just depends on year model what is involved. I think Dynobike in Melbourne have a video on it, which would be worth watching. Check it out here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hXiKyLuGiNace8o.html&ab_channel=Dynobike1992

  • @leny5543

    @leny5543

    7 ай бұрын

    @@MotoJournoKris yeah a fair bit involved and costly. I’ll keep it as is so I could sell it later as a LAMS bike. It’s got enough get up and go as is, just wanted a louder exhaust (not too loud)

  • @manosmanos4663
    @manosmanos466310 ай бұрын

    Compare with z650 the ninja is better for trips 250 300km ?

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    10 ай бұрын

    For 200-300 km I'd be pretty happy going with the nakedbike in the Z650 and losing the wind protection, or just adding a screen. They are pretty similar otherwise.

  • @chrisfowler7199
    @chrisfowler71995 ай бұрын

    how tall are you? as in how does the seat fit for your height?

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    5 ай бұрын

    I'm 180 cm, 32 inch inseam. It was good for me, easy reach to the ground, fairly comfortable for this style of bike.

  • @thomaselliott831
    @thomaselliott831 Жыл бұрын

    How tall are you Kris ?

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm about 180 cm. 32 inch inseam.

  • @saistark6899
    @saistark68998 ай бұрын

    Hahaha at 14:22 "the need to not really rev it's tits off" 😂😅

  • @hotbar6218
    @hotbar6218 Жыл бұрын

    The bike looks small. How tall are you? answer in cm

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    Жыл бұрын

    180 cm.

  • @hotbar6218

    @hotbar6218

    Жыл бұрын

    @@MotoJournoKris thank you

  • @cenkgonen4485

    @cenkgonen4485

    Жыл бұрын

    Biggest in 650cc category. İts way bigger than honda cbr 650 suzuki 8s ducati and others

  • @naception
    @naception Жыл бұрын

    What's a 650L?

  • @kalnwi2023

    @kalnwi2023

    8 ай бұрын

    lowering kit already installed

  • @Jm99467

    @Jm99467

    2 ай бұрын

    Learners bike, restricted power

  • @amisfitpuivk
    @amisfitpuivk16 күн бұрын

    I couldn't buy this after comparing it to it's competitors. It just loses _so much_ power compared to the others in it's class, and sounds like poop. I payed a little more and got an insanely fun ZX4RR for msrp. If I didn't have the money I'd get a ninja 500 for half the price. The ninja 650 needs a new engine, it's by far the worst twin in its class. The R7 will make 8-9 more hp, and sound good. The SV650 (naked) will get ~12hp more for less money. The CBR650R and ZX4RR will shit on it for about ~$10000 (insurance/ECU aside.) This is Kawasaki's worst bike tbh. Features are nice, but the engine is too dated. I forgot the GSX8R, a few hundred more than a Ninja 650 and it will feel faster than anything else I listed because of the ridiculously torquey engine it has. The power curve is earlier than just about any bike. That's probably a scary beginner bike though, it's quicker than a ZX6R up to 9k RPM.

  • @MotoJournoKris

    @MotoJournoKris

    14 күн бұрын

    I'd say the Ninja 650 is still a solid motorcycle. The R7 is far more aggressive than the Ninja 650 as far as ergos differentiating them quite a bit, the SV650 isn't even in the same class, lacking a fairing, even if it is a good value machine with other weaknesses. The CBR650R is probably the fairest competitor and it has more pizazz I think, with the four really helping there. A GSX-8R is a really cool machine, but falls well outside the 650 class, same as the ZX-4R/RR, which probably won't be a common pick for a sports tourer, which is where the Ninja 650 generally lands. The Suzuki is probably the best value mid-capacity sport available though at this stage, unless I've forgotten something, thinking 650s up to 800 cc without any real emphasis on being beginner suitable. But I don't really think peak power is that meaningful as a comparison point, especially just spec sheet figures. Torque and character will be far more important in real world use and the Ninja has the torque covered handily against other 650s and in that comparison absolutely clobbers the ZX-4RR. Obviously some people prefer the revvy nature of the ZX-4R's little four, so that comes down to a preference. The Ninja 650 would benefit from a little something in the character department though, but some people prefer the linear, predictable no nonsense approach Kawasaki have taken and it's been in an enormous amount of motorcycles in various forms. Obviously you've got to pick the important factors or features to you, when figuring out what'll be your best choice.

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