It’s a year of significant updates for four existing Kawasaki models. The headlining news is the ZX-14R mega-sportbike, using a bigger, more powerful engine and receiving hundreds of other revisions to finally leave Suzuki’s Hayabusa in the rearview mirror. So much was changed it deserved its own
But Kawasaki’s R&D department has been busy upgrading other streetbikes in its lineup, including a significantly updated Ninja 650, ABS added as an option on the Ninja 1000, and the Vulcan 1700 Voyager is equipped with an innovative heat-management system.
2012 Ninja 650
Like the new ZX-14R announced today, the 2012 Ninja 650 celebrates six years as part of Kawasaki’s street lineup. And also like the big Ninja, the 650 gets significantly updated for 2012.
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The sporty but fuel-conscious 649cc parallel-Twin powering this middleweight Ninja streetbike sees updates in the exhaust system, including a new header-section connector pipe and a three-chamber muffler design. This new exhaust is a key contributor to improved gains in mid-range power according to Kawi.
Holding the engine is an all-new twin-pipe perimeter frame – nearly 2 inches (50mm) narrower in the knee/footpeg area – and is joined by a cool, new twin-pipe swingarm.
New twin-tube style swingarm is prominently displayed; it creates a less-cluttered look and better matches the lines of the new frame. A new footpeg hanger is also well-integrated visually.
All-new instrument panel includes an analog tachometer, which should prove much easer to read than the digital tach on the previous 650’s all-LCD gauge cluster. The Ninja 650 also gets a new, 3-position windscreen.
Both are said to provide increased rigidity over the previous 650’s frame. A new backbone-type subframe also offers a 10% increase in maximum carrying capacity. Rake and wheelbase remains the same as last year, while trail sees a nominal increase from 4.2 to 4.3 inches.
Revised suspension settings, including a 0.2-inch increase in travel front and rear (4.9” front, 5.1” rear), are apparently aimed at improved rider comfort. Although Kawasaki doesn’t specify as to the suspension updates other than the moderate increase in travel, we speculate minor internal changes for improved damping performance.
Effort at the clutch was reduced, new brake pad materials promise a slight increase in braking power, and Dunlop’s new Roadsmart II tires are now standard.
Rider ergos see comfort improvements in the form of a 20mm wider handlebar and a two-piece seat assembly with foam that’s wider and thicker. Seat foam thickness likely accounts for the 0.6-inch increase from last year’s seat height that’s now at 31.7 inches. Both the handlebar and saddle are rubber-mounted, along with the footpegs, to help mitigate vibration from the inherently buzzy vertical-Twin engine design.
A new instrument panel features an analog tachometer situated above an LCD info-panel showing speed, trip meters, fuel consumption, remaining range, etc., and the ignition is now located at the fuel tank assembly in order to give a clear view of the gauge cluster.
Bodywork was updated for better aerodynamics and improved engine-heat dissipation, while styling was influenced by the ZX-14R’s appearance. The manually adjusted, three-position windscreen we like so much on the 2011 Ninja 1000 was apparently a big hit elsewhere, as the 2012 Ninja 650 now also sports a three-position shield. However, unlike the Ninja 1000’s simple hand-operated, tool-less shield adjustment, the Ninja 650’s shield requires the use of tools to alter positions.
Fuel capacity of 4.2 gallons is up 0.1-gallon from last year, and battery size was decreased. Also up is curb weight, going from just under 450 pounds in 2011 to a little less than 461 pounds on the ’12 model.
The 2012 Ninja 650 comes in Metallic Spark Black, Candy Lime Green or Passion Red, and has an MSRP of $7499.
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