Ninja 650R

[Tower18CHI]

If you want something in that range for a first bike, the 650r is a better choice than the SV650, IMO. Having never ridden the 650r, I'm guessing it isn't as much of a stump-puller as the SV650 is. Grab a little too much throttle of an SV650 even as low as 3000 RPMs in first gear, and you're going nose up. My SV650 is my second bike, but I'm pretty sure I'd have made a mistake on it as a first bike.

[Nalian]

This is a sport-touring bike.

Nope.

Unless you're going with a strict manufacturer-definition of a sport tourer, I disagree with you and agree with Joelseph. Actually so do most of the folks on sport-touring.net as well as lots of other owners..a lot of folks feel it's a nice small sport-touring bike.

Actually I agree with Joelseph as well on the review of the bike. Having ridden an '07 250 and owning an '07 650, I think he summed up the 650 pretty well.

[storysunfolding]

That's fair. But it begs the question what's your definition of a sport tourer? To me it's a bike with all the regular amenities for touring but based on a sport bike chassis. It sounds like you're saying that it's any faired, or in this case partially faired bike that you can tour on.

So the ninja 250r- sport tourer? GSXR 750- sport tourer? Ducati 848- sport tourer?

[Erg0n]

i got a 650R '07 and I have to say I love this bike. The only problem is the seat, you'll want to get off in about 2 hours

[Nalian]

That's fair. But it begs the question what's your definition of a sport tourer? To me it's a bike with all the regular amenities for touring but based on a sport bike chassis. It sounds like you're saying that it's any faired, or in this case partially faired bike that you can tour on.

So the ninja 250r- sport tourer? GSXR 750- sport tourer? Ducati 848- sport tourer?

Err, sorry if I started a mini-hijack.

I think that we're likely disagreeing about where the 650 falls then, as a model on it's own. To me it's exactly as you described - a sport bike base that easily lends itself to touring with very few after-market changes. But the bike itself, in it's "default" configuration is a sport bike with good ergonomics for comfort. Is it in the same kind of class as the inline 600s? No, of course not. But I don't think those are the only kind of sport bike out there - I think an sv650 is also a sport bike. I don't know, maybe I'm off with that.

At any rate, if we aren't disagreeing about whether or not the 650r is a sport bike, then I could see you not giving it the classification as a sport tourer based on what they come with. You have to add luggage and electronic goodies like heated grips, etc. If only bikes that come with that by default are sport-tourer, then yeah I guess it's not.

So for the other bikes:

250r- sport tourer: depends on whether you consider the ninja 250 a sport bike or not. It's definitely a very capable tourer if properly equipped.

GSXR 750- sport tourer: I think you would have to do a lot more modifications to it to get it there - I don't think this bike easily lends itself to this class like the 650r.


Ducati 848- sport tourer: Same as the GSXR.

I think some bikes lend themselves easier to becoming sport-tourers than others. I admit that my definition could make things muddy - basically a sport bike with friendly ergonomics. But, I also have a feeling that the goal of most folks who buy the RR type bikes don't have a sport-touring idea in mind. Whereas it's a lot more plausible that someone doing research on a small sport-tourer might buy a ninja 650r for that purpose.

Where would you say it falls?

(sorry for the hijack.)

[dean owens]

reading this discussion (sport-touring).... i read that term for the fz6 all the time. to me, it's not. but it could be turned into one. i wouldn't call the ninja 650 one either. but that's just me.

[dean owens]

...

As far as deferring other costs go, people will say you will drop your bike. I am one of those people. I dropped my bike. Twice. Guess what, plastics are plastics, and it doesn't matter if you ruin your 600RR plastics, or your 250r plastics, they are still expensive. Invest in some $100 frame sliders, they saved me thousands.

...

as others have said... great advice. and the advice about the frame sliders is another one. and you have a point that plastic is plastic. but plastic on a $1500.00 used bike that has scratches verses the plastic on a brand new $9000.00.... my bike is used and i've dropped it. i know that one of the scratches is mine. and i'm sure there are others but i don't know which are mine and which ones came with the bike. my b-i-l on the other hand knew that every scratch he put on his bike was his. scratches on a 83 - not so bad. scratches on a 08 - not so good. that's my only point.