Okay, so, I’ve been wrenching on bikes for a while now, and I recently got my hands on a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja. It’s a sweet ride, but I figured I’d share my experience tinkering with it, ’cause why not? It’s always fun to document these things and maybe help someone out in the process.
Getting Started
First off, I spent some time just looking the bike over. It’s a 650R, and I knew they were popular back in the day. They were all about being comfy and stable, especially compared to some of the other bikes around then, like the SV650s or the FZ650, which were either too naked or too racy. This Ninja seemed like a good middle ground. I read somewhere it gets about 45 mpg, which is pretty decent.
Digging In
First things first, I wanted to see what this thing could do on a dyno. Now, I’m no pro racer, but I figured it’d be fun to get some baseline numbers. I’m not gonna get into the weeds with every little detail of the bike’s different versions – like those 250s or 1000s – but I wanted a general idea of the 650R’s power.
- Checked the fluids: Oil, coolant, brake fluid – the usual suspects. Everything looked pretty good, but I topped off the coolant just to be safe.
- Tire pressure: Always important! Set them to the recommended levels. I’m not a fan of guessing games when it comes to tires.
- Chain tension: It was a bit loose, so I tightened it up. A loose chain is no fun, trust me.
The Dyno Run
I found a local shop with a dyno and booked some time. The guys there were cool and helped me strap the bike down. We did a few runs, and honestly, the numbers were pretty much what I expected for a 650. Not a rocket ship, but definitely enough power to have some fun. Also, I am not a big guy, so this 650 is enough for me.
Riding Impressions
After the dyno, I took the Ninja out for a proper ride. Like I heard, the riding position is pretty relaxed. It’s not like those sportbikes where you’re practically kissing the tank. This thing is way more comfortable for longer rides. I could see myself cruising on this all day. I mean, it is a great starter bike for a bigger person, but I am 5’1 and 120 lbs, and it is good enough for me.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the 2009 Ninja 650R is a solid bike. It’s not the fastest thing out there, but it’s fun, comfortable, and gets good gas mileage. If you’re looking for a good all-arounder, it’s definitely worth checking out. I’m planning on doing some more work on it, maybe some mods, so I’ll probably share more about that later. But for now, I’m just enjoying the ride!
