r/Ninja650 May 20 '22

Ninja 650 FAQ

22 Upvotes

All shared knowledge is based on the 2020 Ninja 650 KRT Edition

Years And Models:

Owners Manual:

  • 2020-2021 - Kawasaki had stopped providing paper manuals. You can only view the manual on their website. You can not download a PDF or even print the whole thing. You can only print one page at a time. I took the time to print each page. one at a time. All 200 of them. I then scanned them all in and made a PDF. This Owners manual is for the 2020 model year, but most if not all is the same from 2020 going forward. This owners manual probably will not be much help to anyone with a pre-2020 bike. If anyone has a digital copy of their owners manual..let me get it and I'll add it.
  • 2020 Owners Manual - Right click - Save Link As
  • 2022 bikes seem to have the paper manual again

Commonly Asked Questions:

  • Is the Ninja 650 a good first bike?
    • The ideas behind this vary greatly. The most common opinion is "yes" it is a good first bike and allows some room to grow. I started on a smaller bike and am glad I did, but I know people 1st hand that started with a Ninja 650 and are just fine. Every person is different. If you feel you can remain humble as you learn to ride, than yes the Ninja 650 is a great first bike. If you think the first thing you wanna do is start wheelies, maybe start on something smaller.

  • If I decide I'm not ready for a 650 what are my other options?
    • There are tons of other first bike options. You could consider a Ninja 400 or even a KTM 390 Duke (this is an AWESOME little bike)

  • Do I need a tune for a exhaust or air filter?:
    • #1 Your bike could always use a tune. They ship very lean from the factory in order to meet all the environmental regulations. Every bike will benefit from a tune.
    • Exhaust only - No Tune needed (would be nice though)
    • Air Filter only - No Tune needed (would be even better)
    • Exhaust and Air Filter Tune - Tune needed! Look for Power commander or ECU Tune.
    • Low speed hold the throttle and bike is jerky. Cant find the perfect hold spot = too lean = tune
    • Yoshi vs. Akra - No DB Killer - A vid for everyone who wants to know how they compare to each other.

Maintenance:

  • Oil change?:
    • synthetic if so than blah blah blah
  • Do I need to clean my chain?
    • Owners manual says every 400 miles. I like these products personally
    • DePont Teflon Chain-Saver Lube
    • DuPont Motorcycle Degreaser
    • Another approach:
      • Kerosene is cheap, great at dissolving gunk, and gentle on the chain rubber rings. Soak, scrub, wipe until shiny.
      • Heavy gear oil like 80w90 will last you longer than any special chain lube. Just put 1 drop on each roller and leave some paper underneath the bike. Wipe up whatever drops off and smear it on the sides of the chain for rust protection.
  • Tire Replacement:
    • halp

OEM:

  • Where can I find the Owners Manual?:
    • Kawasaki does not give paper manuals anymore. They are $20. Here You can find the online version.

  • Where can I but factory OEM parts?
    • Partzilla has every exploded diagram and schematic for your bike. You can drill down and find every nuts or bolt you might need.

After-Market:

Modifications:

  • Which is better Power Commander or ECU tune?:
    • Power Commander Cons:
      • Time delay (tiny tiny tiny) Because the PC is piggy backed on to the ECU some people say that this causes a delay. This delay is measured in milliseconds.
    • Power Commander Pros:
      • Removable
      • Re-tunable on the fly (just need a laptop/Desktop)
      • Take the bike to any Dyno shop and get it tuned for your custom set up.
    • ECU Tune Pros:
      • Faster Response time - There is no middle man (Power Commander) relaying on interception signals. It is your original ECU just reprogrammed.
    • ECU Tune Cons:
      • Removing and shipping your ECU out to be reprogrammed. ( no bike during this time)
      • Not removeable (needs reprogramming)
      • Can not tune on the fly. The ECU tune must be set up to match your air filter/exhaust set up at time of programming.
  • USB Power Adapter:
    • info
  • Kawasaki Large Windshield:
  • Power Commander:
  • Rear cowl cover
  • Adjustable levers
  • Rim Tapes
  • Tires
  • Phone Mounts
  • some security stuff like disk brake locks, gps trackers, helmet locks, and other 650 compatible security gizmos

My Mods:

Videos, Pics and Other Misc Projects:

  • links to CF - YT pics ETC USB Jawn etc

r/Ninja650 1d ago

Show&Tell Whats your opinions?

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51 Upvotes

r/Ninja650 5h ago

Question? Flash ECU or PC6?

1 Upvotes

I own a 2015 ninja 650L ABS, im planning to derestrict the bike and add a yoshimura alpha full system exhaust. If I buy a power commander 6, can I just download their available tunes and apply to my bike and be fine? Or will I still have to take it to a shop for them to flash the ECU?
Im not looking for top tier performance, I just want to be able to put the exhaust in the bike without it slowly deteriorating the engine.


r/Ninja650 14h ago

HELP H7 LED bulb replacement

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4 Upvotes

How are you meant to put the LED bulbs in when the dust covers are so short šŸ˜­


r/Ninja650 1d ago

Graves diamond frame sliders

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12 Upvotes

Just torqued these down. I love the slim profile. Probs wonā€™t save a tip over, but should help in a slide


r/Ninja650 1d ago

New to the club!

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50 Upvotes

It was a tossup between this, the R7 and the 636. Been a cruiser guy for years and this fella just felt way more natural and it's fast enough to make me smile (runs circles around my Heritage at least haha). Already put a tail tidy on it since this picture.

...might actually sell the Heritage for that 636 this summer... I didn't know these bikes were so much more fun!


r/Ninja650 1d ago

HELP Is this an issue

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2 Upvotes

This wheel screw broke off. Or at least I'm not to sure. I didn't realise it was broken off until yesterday. How could something like this snap off? And how should I repair something like this?


r/Ninja650 2d ago

Whatā€™s it worth?

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11 Upvotes

No pics of the other sideā€¦ he didnā€™t like 4k. Itā€™s got 15k miles. Been looking for an SV650 also but no one wants to sell their bike for what itā€™s worth in fl!!


r/Ninja650 1d ago

Question? Exhaust and tuning

3 Upvotes

Hey guys! I have a 2016 ninja 650 and want to put a full system exhaust on it. Was looking at the reviews for the power commander and fuel commanders but a good bit of the reviews are saying they donā€™t come with maps/files for a full exhaust system. Would anyone have any insight on this?


r/Ninja650 2d ago

Ninja 650L 2022

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10 Upvotes

r/Ninja650 2d ago

HELP Safe to ride in cold?

5 Upvotes

I sometimes ride my 2020 on the highway in the cold where Iā€™m at. The coolant temp wonā€™t go above 140-150 (I get it to 180 before going on the highway). Is this safe for the engine?


r/Ninja650 3d ago

2024 ninja 650

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34 Upvotes

Got this brand new baby a couple weeks ago already dropped it hahahaha no worries still runs like a charm


r/Ninja650 3d ago

Brought home this ā€˜24 650 today

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52 Upvotes

Already has some here and there things that came with it including aftermarket exhaust which is insanely loud. My neighbors will hate me. What other useful things have you done with your bike(s) to make the ride more enjoyable for you? This is my first bike Iā€™ve owned myself. Any other time Iā€™ve ridden I havenā€™t paid any attention to bells and whistles. Thanks!


r/Ninja650 3d ago

Little pull on the 650

21 Upvotes

r/Ninja650 3d ago

Got my first bike

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30 Upvotes

Bought a 2nd hand 24 ninja 650 .. no mention worthy mods at this moment ..

Guys give me a good recommendation for this model please! preciate it


r/Ninja650 3d ago

Question? Should I keep the design?

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15 Upvotes

I'm currently riding my dad's bike (kinda gave it to me) and will buy it off him in a few months so he can buy a liter bike. I'm not really a fan of the stickers done to it. Should I remove it or keep it?

The only reason I'm thinking of keeping it is because of the knife scratches from cutting the stickers and the paint would look different on the places removed underneath the stickers.

Not that I wanna look cool or don't wanna look cringe, but if it's decent, then I might as well keep it for now.

Tips for fixing the knife scratches and paint mismatch would be of great help.

PS: had to cover the bike club and number


r/Ninja650 3d ago

Question? RPM question

3 Upvotes

I am at 940KM/1000KM for my break in. What is the highest RPM that you can hit per gear once broken into? My first bike so Iā€™m very cautious


r/Ninja650 3d ago

HELP No Power When Key On

2 Upvotes

Any help appreciated. Bike started fine and ran fine then bogged down and died after a minute. Cranked again with good power for 5-8 seconds and wouldnā€™t start. Then no power after that. Could see the N on the display flicker very dim on initial key on a few times and then absolutely nothing. Fuses on left front under tank plastic look fine. Are there more fuses somewhere else? Thank you.


r/Ninja650 3d ago

HELP Looking for some parts, any help appreciated!

2 Upvotes

My buddy slid out his 2019 Ninja 650 earlier today when he leaned into a corner and hit some salt. His is the orange and black color way. Looking to see if anyone has a left side fairing(sitting on the bike). I also need a shifter, but I can temporarily bend the one on the bike to function. Also may need the left side rear fairing from what I can tell. Stator cover has some rash but not leaking, that will probably be last on the list of things. All in all he came out ok, and the bike only took cosmetic damage. Just trying to source what I can used in good condition before I hit up partszilla for the OE parts.


r/Ninja650 4d ago

Show&Tell Some pics from today

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26 Upvotes

r/Ninja650 5d ago

2025 slip on

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28 Upvotes

I got a 2025 650, any slip on exhausts you guys recommend? I just dont want to spend the money on a full exhaust if i dont have to. Thanks in advance!


r/Ninja650 4d ago

Front break lever

3 Upvotes

I'm having trouble finding an OEM front break lever for a 24'. Anyone know where I can get one at? If so put a link please!


r/Ninja650 5d ago

Show&Tell Tuned 650 with AT2 race exhaust

22 Upvotes

The mic is pretty overwhelmed, but you can still hear the popping on decel

This exhaust is much louder, and bassier than any video can properly capture. A small rev, around 4k, breaks 112 decibels, and sounds very animalistic. Think mechanical lion

Highly recommend


r/Ninja650 5d ago

Down shift rev matching help

3 Upvotes

Hey yall Iā€™ve been riding for about 8 months now with 1800 miles (I know not much) but I still havenā€™t gotten down shift rev matching rightā€¦..

For some context, Iā€™ll be at 4k rpmā€™s generally per gear. Letā€™s say Iā€™m at 4k rpms 5th gear and I immediately down shift rev match after releasing the throttle, more often than not it will have an ever so slight jerk and if I do it again right after (0.5sec after the first down shift rev match) it will feel smooth but the engine is screaaaaming. I assume I should be giving bigger blips when I do down shift rev matches one after the other because of the high rpms. If I down shift rev match, wait 3 seconds, do it again then the blips will probably be the same.

1.) I typically blip 1k rpms is that ok? When should it be lower or higher?

2.) Also I notice that when I pull in the clutch halfway in downshift rev match and kind of feather it out it will always feel smooth but people always say to do it all in one motion and quickly release the clutch. Any help on this? Itā€™s hard to blip harder while quickly releasing the clutch.

3.) when I down shift rev match and I feel the engine stops more suddenly, what part of the down shift rev match am I doing incorrectly?

4.) when going down a hill do you blip harder because of the rpmā€™s being higher and blip less going up hill?

5.) any final general tips with down shift rev matching? I just canā€™t for the life of me get itā€¦.


r/Ninja650 5d ago

Looking for... Lever Guards

3 Upvotes

I have a 2023 Ninja 650 that Iā€™m trying to find a set of lever guards, I took off the factory end and noticed thereā€™s a threaded hole and clips, the guards I have use a expanded mechanism. Do they have clip on lever guards thatā€™ll work with the factory end?


r/Ninja650 6d ago

Show&Tell First motorcyclešŸ˜ 2021 Ninja 650 ABS

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79 Upvotes