I Rode the Kawasaki Ninja 650 at Nürburgring and Here's What Happened!

[@IgorMuller]

I would bet healthy amount of money that 99 percent of people laughing at ninja 650 and saying it's a not enough bike aren't able to perform at 50 percent of this level. Thank you mate, i now have a solid argument about what bike is enough or not.

[@btgmoto]

Glad you enjoyed it! Personally, I've never been a quick enough rider to fully exploit 150hp bikes. I do love me some 50-100hp race bikes though! :)

[@IgorMuller]

@@btgmoto thing is most people can't ride track at all but have a strong opinion about what can be considered a sports bike or not. You did great mate , a pleasure to watch.

[@Ternesio_Terys]

I think the older cbr600f 1999 is a better option , it’s much cheaper and much faster and also 4 cylinder and reliable 👌

[@IgorMuller]

@@Ternesio_Terys yeah and you cant really ride it daily since you its impossible to rev her to comfort zone in the city without putting yourself in a real danger and the seating position will kill you in more then 1 hour, you cant tour on it for the same reason, its a carburetor engine (good luck with 25 y/o carb engine, mate), no ABS not even talking about tracktion control. Brilliant idea if you want a raw bike for a track only (tho i still wouldn't go carb way), not a brilliant idea for a good "do everything" sporty bike.

[@JustAGuyOnTheInterwebs]

I have one that is track prepped.such a good bike, it’s not breaking any speed records on the straights but it’s easy to work on and ride well. My R6 is significantly better on the track but extremely expensive it fix if I bin it.

[@arrow0872]

Back in the late 80s I was quite smitten by this bike’s forefather, the GPZ500. I always liked the honesty of the Kawasaki parallel-twins, and this bike also seems to have that quality as well. I think you just made a whole bunch of Ninja 650 owners very happy with this video by the way 😀.

[@btgmoto]

Haha! I hope I did! It's a great little bike!

[@Kwikasfuki007]

I would tend to agree. Most Ninja 650 owners take some heat for owning such a "beginner" bike and when one grows up they'll get a real motorcycle. LOL. The rivalry is part of the culture, which is fine, but to be more useful with this commentary, I owned one as my first bike (2010 model), had it for just shy of 14 years, and it's still going strong. The bike is plenty quick for the street. It won't set any landspeed records, but it's plenty to keep you entertained while your grow your skills. The only reason I sold it, other than wanting something different (now on a 2023 Z900 SE), was primarily the suspension. It just wasn't right. As BTG stated, it's too firm for regular street use (front is anyway) and the rear too soft. And when you started to really push it, it would bounce all over the road. Upgrade the suspension a little bit and you have a great bike to grow with until you want something different.

[@highflya2709]

Wow! I have a 2018 Ninja 650, and cannot imagine doing that with it. Well done!

[@btgmoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@eyesdry]

Awesome to see someone push this bike pretty far!

[@btgmoto]

Thanks! I have it for a few more weeks yet :)

[@tjcleave2646]

great video man, helped me make my decision about the 650, stoked for one now!

[@btgmoto]

Glad I could help! It's a fun bike, and built well. Enjoy! I just uploaded another video with this one

[@russb4755]

Love that 360 footage! Editing is really improving too, I feel like the editing is getting better and better!

[@btgmoto]

Appreciate it!

[@alienmotorbike]

Riding a Ninja at Nurgburgring? Dream! Amazing video tho, from a 650 owner, this video makes justice to a bike that is often ridiculed for not being "fast".

[@laz1go286]

Well, because it isn't fast. My 600 supersport brakes from 250km/h on a similar sized track and puts out a 100RWHP where's the 650s make 60RWHP at best..

[@zenmoto369]

@@laz1go286 Good for you!

[@Kurby99]

I've had my 23 ninja 650 for nearly a year and a half, no track time yet but on the back roads it carves through it almost with ease, but I definitely resonate with the suspension comment lol

[@davidhindley1096]

Great video!!! Love the ninja 650. Would love to see a road test video, country lanes etc

[@JordyPressman]

You certainly know how to ride! Very nicely done.

[@mr.darknight416]

What people dont understand is that this bike is made more for sport touring and not just sport, thus u sit in a more comfortable position. If u want a racing bike get the zx6r. Plus for the price 650 is faster than most cars on the road. And its plenty fast for the road especially if u dont live in germany.

[@AnthonyNichol-yp1yt]

Absolutely love mine , comfy reliable and good all rounder

[@1pyroace1]

Very torquey

[@bonsaibmw7095]

Hi this video is the answer of all my questions It means for me some fun laps With this bike are ok , dont need 200 ps for the Ring Thanks a lot for this video

[@btgmoto]

Thanks for watching and thanks for leaving a comment!

[@stephentravis8383]

Just Bought a Ninja 650 you make it look fast :) Well done

[@daniellundback3334]

Like your videos. Onboard filming, angles, quality and funny commentary 🙌🙌👍👍😊😊

[@btgmoto]

Thanks! 😃

[@grtbgf]

amazing video, sound recording, video recording, commentary, everything. It's damn hard to find a great video making such as this one. Everyone does YT biking but it's mostly trash.

[@btgmoto]

Thanks very much!

[@Sideburns892]

Cracking video showing your technique, good of you to comment on the full package (handling, suspension, brakes etc) and not focus on the horsepower figure. Sometimes less is more.

[@btgmoto]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the constructive comment!

[@timothymills733]

Good video. I believe too many people, professional journos included, have too high a benchmark for what they consider good, or even acceptable. Since the Suzuki and the new Daytona have come out, they won't even include this bike in the discussion, which is silly as this is the offering Kawasaki produces in the class, and there are things about it that would appeal to many buyers if it weren't being dismissed out of hand by reviewers. There is plenty of performance here for the road, and truth be told, for the track as well for the vast majority of riders. The way I have always looked at it is if I rode this bike on track, and then a professional racer rode it, there would be a large time gap, and then, why do I need a "faster" bike? I should work on getting a faster me 🙂 This philosophy is why, after decades of riding, my daily is a K9 SV650, which still has potential I have not fully tapped into; chasing this is where the fun is.

[@btgmoto]

Woah there, pardner. Dangerous opinions like that could stop the motorcycle industry in its tracks. Ducati would never sell another V4R again! I mean... On one side - I get it. A GSX8S or Tuono 660 is leagues ahead of the Ninja, and the price of the Kawasaki is still too close to these objectively better bikes. But also, it's not a 'bad' bike in any way. It works well, and it's fast enough to keep a hot-hatch behind you, just. I like it!

[@timothymills733]

@@btgmoto Ha! funny you mention the V4R. I was at my local Ducati dealer picking up some parts for one of my old Dukes and the manager showed me a new V4R they were modding with go-fast bits from the catalog for a wealthy fellow who is a track day rider. I could only think to myself that someone should contact Ducati and tell them there is a local track day rider that is faster that a stock V4R 🤣 and on the Ninja 650, I agree it is certainly a sportbike, and the difference in speed between it and the other bikes in class is for the most part meaningless, unless you are sitting around the pub comparing spec sheets 🙂

[@Adam-mo2qw]

Exactly. To me it's similar to seeing a middle aged tubby guy out on his carbon fibre road bike wearing expensive skin tight clothing. He will only ever scratch the surface of its potential.

[@aidenlothian9642]

@@Adam-mo2qw Not really about that tho. I would love a ninja H2 or one of the new zx10r's. All that matters is the ownership experience. Just becuase you have a fast bike doesn't mean you need to ride it ridiculously fast or ride faster than someone can on a smaller machine. You can go out on a 1000cc sportbike and some guy on a zx6r or maybe even a ninja 500 blasts past you over the speed limit & so what. Thats fine if he just wants past to enjoy his riding. Unless he's an ego rider who is just convincing himself he doesn't need a expensive bike. When he can't actually afford it in the first place. Its pretty much jealousy. Also that thing of having to use all the rev limit in all the gears or all the speed has killed alot of guys. It's all in your head. It's ego riding. Same with guys in nice Porsches or Ferrari's they get tormented by people in shitboxes. I was out on my bike two days ago in rural Scotland and a guy crashed his bike into a street lamp at high speed. Bike was in bits he got airlifted to hospital. He might've been already dead. Road was shut for hours. Motorcycling is simple. Get the bike you want. Enjoy YOUR ride. Ride for yourself.

[@gabrielgonthier5049]

Excellent!

[@jjstuartonwriting8150]

same motor as the Vulcan 650?

[@jensnoeske]

Yes, same engine…

[@jensnoeske]

I hope to see more ninja content soon🫶🏻

[@btgmoto]

Definitely 😁

[@albertleffler962]

Looks like loads of fun. Nice riding.

[@p4vulon]

Did You have factory tires?

[@chrissunde1104]

How does the ninja 650 compare with the Trident on the N.ring?

[@btgmoto]

That is a GREAT question! All I need is a Trident 660 for a few nights...

[@thetellerofstories]

more videos of ninja 650 please

[@btgmoto]

Absolutely gonna be happening!

[@jensnoeske]

Will there be a lap on the gp track?

[@btgmoto]

Definitely! I couldn't make tonight's session, but I will the next...

[@CbrHooniganSendit]

No its not a sportsbike its closer to a sports tourer learner friendly that being said in the right hands it can still crack on with some good pace

[@RASTAWILL93]

Nice lap, No idea how you can talk whilst riding like that 🤣

[@btgmoto]

Me neither 🤣

[@mafiozozpruszkowa9419]

Bro I just subscribed. You’re great. What do you think, I drove a gsxr 750 for 5 years, now i was driving a 1500 chopper 😂 and I’m thinking to buy a bike with a little sporty character. I’m not driving at tracks. Aprilia rs660, Ducati 950 and cbr650r are to expensive. I’m thinking about the ninja 650. What do you think? It’s better to buy an older sports bike 600-750cc or this one? Is that 68ps enough to drive sporty and safe on the streets?

[@CaptainFeathersword]

Those turtling cagers are such a pain....and hazardous too.

[@btgmoto]

It's literally called touristenfahrten... tourists driving. They're just touristing, it's fine.

[@valenarg1449]

i would love to take my 2010 650 to the track ;p

[@achraf9946]

Where have you been missed your Videos

[@rtvidmitry239]

we need more uploads 😁

[@btgmoto]

I'm working on it! What do you want to see next? More 'Ring? More reviews? More travel?

[@rtvidmitry239]

@@btgmoto reviews of bikes that people can actually afford! ninja 650, VFR are just those ones 😎

[@andrewaarons5058]

i think this is a sport bike for the real world it's affordable everybody says it's comfortable and you can Tour on it anybody want a tour on a CBR 600 or Yamaha R6 or a Kawasaki 600 sport bike anybody want to ride all day on those bikes my choice would be the 650 Ninja with a few performance upgrades.

[@mannybrar7501]

Yes. I think for a complete Ninja 650 you need: a higher windscreen, better rear suspension, abs, frame sliders, a phone holder and a tail bag and off you go!

[@rosswebber9904]

If you know what’s next smaller capacity bikes carry more speed and can be much faster that the big

[@epoDope]

I like that your key chain is an organ donor tag 😅

[@btgmoto]

Waste not, want not 😂 I doubt it would be an open coffin anyway 🫡🏍️💨

[@alanssnackbardailyrelaxati8155]

Cool.

[@btgmoto]

Thanks!

[@mloclam6917]

Top riding

[@a8f235]

Most people can only afford one bike so it's only natural that you want to maximize that choice. Personally I want to know I am the limitation, which is why I've had less mistakes and learned more by riding more powerful bikes. That's worked for me, but I know we are all different. I've tried lots of different bikes and scooters and what not and even laughed my ass off riding a Burgman 650 scooter on tight twisty roads. I know you can have a laugh on any kind of bike, but because most people cannot afford several bikes I feel it's wrong to judge(mostly from the comment section) people for wanting to pick from the top shelf. People should rather be glad there are variations. I enjoy watching this video, but I personally would never purchase that particular bike because I like more torque for the street. I'd rather purchase a super motard(if I for some reason had to pick a less powerful bike) because that's all about fun in more moderate speeds than sportbikes are capable of.

[@BikersMirror]

1976 Kawasaki Z650 - 126 mph 64bhp

[@btgmoto]

1972 Kawasaki H2 - 72hp, 205kg. Both were crazy awesome bikes in their time! Now these numbers aren't even considered 'fast'...!

[@csllover]

Very cool

[@btgmoto]

Thanks! 🏍️💨

[@TheScortUK]

It's a Happy Shopper

[@mister-Dynand]

Great content Dale! can you do a Lil sexy 360 with that suit on next time tho? 😏

[@btgmoto]

That's the OF content my man, you gotta subscribe for that, and don't forget; bike ratings cost extra. Original content on demand! ;)

[@jboive]

It’s not the rider it’s the bike. 💪🏻 But that is one painfully slow bike! 😆

[@mannybrar7501]

Nah, you're just very experienced. Older rider but still a newish rider on a Ninja 300. I think I'll get a Ninja 650 and stay there, since I prefer casual riding mixed with a bit of fun and the occasional longer trip. Wouldn't this be perfect for that?

[@jboive]

@@mannybrar7501 I think it's a solid start. No point in getting a 1000cc and riding around scared all the time.

[@Johnathan.David.Trewhitt.]

Nice moped 😂

[@btgmoto]

Thanks 😅 I'll do a lap on my racing moped one day... If it doesn't seize half way around!

[@stfu6397]

If I was in the Nurburg area or lived there I would lend you my CBR650R for a comparison on the ring… but I live too far sadly 🫥

[@PopsRacer61]

..that's why I bought both bikes. A 2018 Ninja 650 & '23 CBR 650. The Ninja is def quicker from about 0-50 mph or from stop light to stop light. But after 2nd gear, you're looking at the CBRs rear end😅 IMO, the CBR is better for highway riding and country back roads. So Smooth! The Ninja is good on both in addition to riding around the city without burning a lot of gas. A little more comfortable riding position too. 🤔