Kawasaki Ninja 650 on Track - Silverstone - 19/09/18

My R1 wasn't feeling very well so I took my commuter on a track day! This was in the intermediate group and as you can see, I can't keep up with anything along any straights ;)
The changes I've made are:
Scorpion end can and ditch the cat
EBC HH brake pads
Metzeler Roadtec 01 tyres
Stock suspension, although the front is so soft I had to be super smooth on the brakes so as not to upset the bike too much.

[@yvonfaub]

Pretty competent rider there. Geting ovetake only because of power, but keeping up because of skills

[@BlackAfro77]

So this is what every bike KZbinr mean when they say that unskilled riders on fast bikes can still get passed by experienced riders on slower bikes lol

[@DanMAD]

Also helps that it has a good power to weight ratio and you don't need to be that sensible with the acceleration, compared to a sport bike. But you can see the rider is skilled, the Ninja 650 can go fast, but it has a soft suspension, made for comfort.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

i was a 4cyl guy but with time i fell in love with those inline 2...i even love the sound now. here i said it

[@GoodBalak]

True bro, true!

[@Illness.og.]

@No_Name which is why if you have 4 cylinder bikes keep them.

[@KpopNiDontStop]

It truly is an all around bike.

[@davereeves1967]

Well, you ride better than the back half of the group, that's for sure. They just happen to have supersports vs your (and my) shitbox parallel twin, so they cut you up on the straight. Good riding, thanks for showing me what our machines are capable of.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

i dont know who you are but jeez smooth braking and corner exit

[@StormAutoAdventures]

Great video and awesome camera angle, but why were you shifting at about 8,000 rpm instead of near the 10,000 rpm redline while you were racing on the track? Does the 650 Ninja power fall off after 8k rpm? Just curious.

[@matlane602]

Thanks bud. There's nothing after 8k rpm due to the parallel twin engine so it's better to use the grunt to accelerate.

[@christiancarino4931]

What mods do you have on this bike, I’m looking at getting a ninja 650

[@RobertNixAlternativeArtist]

That ninja 650 is an incredible bike-are you 'trail braking' going into the turns?

[@zombiedeathkill666]

How did you put an end can on? My 2019 650 has a 1 piece system. Need a bit more noise !

[@matlane602]

It's a full system so replaces the headers too

[@emmyjasin]

great n safe rider. liked n subscribed

[@JDeezle21]

I have the same Garage set up. 05 R1 Built and 13’ & 20’ 650’s

[@mrmuncheez374]

Great video, your a good rider. I have a few questions.. I bought the 2019 Ninja 650 Aug 6th of this year (2019). I got the orange and black one :) It's my first motorcycle and I'm enjoying it and learning to ride on the streets (getting comfortable in traffic e.t.c). I'm not new to riding a machine, I've ridden dirt bikes and atvs since 14 yrs old, but motorcycles imma newb..lol. I'm 45 now. I can say though, I am a bit nervous when it comes to cornering, I'm afraid to really lean the bike over. Part of it is my inexperience on a motorcycle, but also it's upright position and stock tires, I feel like I might lowside. I know these tires need time to get warm. Matt, are you able to lean your Ninja over like the pros do on track? It looks like you lean the bike over more than I do, but you're also on a track. I'm just curious of your experiences with it on the street? Should I just trust the bike or is this not the motorcycle for heavy lean angles?

[@matlane602]

I don't tend to ride as fast on the roads as I do on track (that's why I love the track!), I live in an area where there's too much traffic, police and you can't see around the corners most of the time. My advice if you're new to riding on the road is don't rush it, as your experience grows you'll get more confident to lean the bike over further. Move your body over ready for the corner (tons of advice online about body positioning), the same advice applies on the road than it does to track riding. Using your vision is also important, you go where you look, so if you look into the corner too early you'll turn in too early and ruin the flow of the corner. The suspension on the Kwak is very cheap and you'll find yourself pogo'ing around if you rush the corners so you have to make it work by being smooth and let the bike settle before entering the corner. This was highlighted when I went to Brands Hatch after Silverstone. Silverstone is a nice smooth and flowing circuit, but Brands has harder braking zones and a bumpier surface. Even though Brands is a slower circuit where I thought the Kwak would go better it was actually much worse because I struggled to get any front end feel. And finally, those stock tyres are absolute dogsh*t, there's no feel from them at all, especially if it's cold or wet. Get rid of them ASAP! Hope that helps :)

[@mrmuncheez374]

@@matlane602 Thanks for the reply. Good advice! I've been watching YT videos on the topic like a feind lol. I think you're right, suspension and tires make a huge difference and this bike is just bare bones. It's a great starter bike but I'll upgrade to a better bike in the next 2 years. I'll prob keep the Ninja though, it's a nice comfortable sport tourer :) I'll probably keep these tires for now, it's the end of season, but during the winter I'll do some other mods and by spring I'll put on better tires. There's so many choices, but the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III's look great, Dunlop Q3's or one of the many choices from Michelin would work too. Any are better than these Sportmaxx's..

[@earthelucidator]

Trust the bike. It wont fall over unless your fear makes it fall over.

[@knicksfan3647]

Have you tried counter steering yet, i counter steer more than i lean with the bike. You can push it pretty low.

[@spiedey8]

Hello! Do you recommend 180 rear on this bike? What suspension upgrade do you recommend for this bike? Is it worth it? It feels too wobbly on the track and I don't feel as confident as you do.

[@matlane602]

I wouldn't go for wider rear, imho, the bike doesn't need it. If I were to do more track days I'd definitely look to do the suspension, it's way too soft. I got away with it at Silverstone as it's such a smooth circuit. I have another vid of me at Brands Hatch and I was very slow because it's bumpy and has elevation changes

[@spiedey8]

@@matlane602 Thanks. The bad thing is that most suspension upgrades are, imo, overpriced. Ride safe!

[@willlongden477]

@@spiedey8 wider tyres just reduces grip by pinching the tyre totally agree with mat on suspension tho, it's a waste of time riding on the stock suspension as you aren't gonna learn how to go faster, you'll just learn what bottomed out forks feel like if youre spending £500+ for a day on track (yes it is at least that much, for this layout of SS your looking at £259 for the track time, at least £100 tyre wear, £20+ brake pads, the better part of a service (oil/ oil filter etc) , chain wear , 4.5l fuel per session x7) and don't even get me started on crashing, which WILL happen Then you can afford to spend an extra few £100 to make sure the bike is properly prepped for the job and has the suspension you need

[@spiedey8]

@@willlongden477 I agree as long as you hit the track at least once per year. I would prob. upgrade the bike insetead of paying +2000 euro for some Ohlins.

[@willlongden477]

@@spiedey8 you dont need ohlins, just get some springs that actually fit your weight rather that the 55kg rider they are sprung for (wherever they are, who knows) can get front and rear springs and fork oil for probably £150/200, throw in aftermarket preload adjusters and your strides ahead sure you haven't got fast+slow comp and reb adjustment etc but its stil 80% of the way for

[@mreyesxix]

Why does it sound like it jas an auto transmission?

[@alexlevinson8629]

Some great riding. Very impressive. Did you do a sprocket change? I noticed the fast acceleration but lower top end speed

[@rickatherton1370]

Hi Mat - if you can recall :-), which tyre brand/model where you using on the track? how did they feel? Thanks

[@matlane602]

All the mods are listed in the description. Tyres were great, for my speed and the bike's power I never felt like I needed stickier rubber

[@MjrPayne-bf4pe]

Just 110?

[@Renanrodskt]

i think it is mph

[@earthelucidator]

@@Renanrodskt still slow

[@ToneysReviews]

Can the 650 beat the 400 on a track? I didn’t see this bike hit 112 like I have the 400.

[@earthelucidator]

😂650s get close to 150. Ive had mine over 140

[@itsmeagain1745]

@@earthelucidator 150 kilometers per hour = 93 miles per hour. Are you using the same units?

[@madhank7598]

Hello, the exhaust sound is excellent. If it’s ok could you upload the exhaust note video? I’d be very glad to hear the exhaust sound while the bike is parked and while revving

[@matlane602]

That's not the exhaust you can hear but the air intake. The exhaust sounds a little weedy with the baffle in (still better than stock), but without the baffle is pretty offensive!

[@encefla0n]

Why goes it so slow? My ninja 650 gives 170km/h in 9000 rews, not only 105.

[@austinmorris8490]

MPh

[@linkenparis9562]

fuck i forgot you're using mp/h again, I thought your bike was getting to 100 km/h very slowly lol

[@trackaddict8490]

What group and date was this?

[@matlane602]

20th Sept 2018 in Inters

[@matlane602]

I man 19th, whoops!

[@trackaddict8490]

Cool, I was there. Mint green r6

[@trackaddict8490]

I didn't get any footage, my camera disappeared on track at snetterton, a couple weeks back!

[@matlane602]

That's no good :( Happened to me a couple of years back too, I now lockwire the camera to the bike

[@CS_Mango]

**sad engine noises**

[@facelesscovers763]

Really comes to life with an "ak" or a "Yoshi"

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Kawasaki continues to take performance out of this 650 twin every time it gets "updated." Really wish they'd stop letting Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki stomp all over their 650 twin. That said, it's a durable engine, as it's used on the Isle of Man TT twins class, modified to a whopping 90 hp. Also used in the AMA flat track racing bikes. Just don't like the 180° sound and vibration. 270° interval sounds so much better and can be made to run smoother with shafts. Instead of warming up an old engine, Kawasaki needs to do a V-twin or 270° parallel, and give us 690-700cc with Euro4/5 compliance. Just over 60 hp for a 650cc twin is really dull, Kawasaki. Some footage of highly modified 650s: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5K5qoGufKmHeJY

[@patrickkenney2259]

I ride a 2015 Ninja 650. I have 71 horse power and an incredibly responsive ride every time. The twin is solid. Sorry to hear you can't enjoy it.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@patrickkenney2259 Have you verified that on dyno? Everywhere I look the newest Ninja 650 is in the low to mid 60's, roughly 10 hp down on Yamaha and Suzuki. Honda of course is upwards of 85-90 hp with the 4-cylinder.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

180 is better for high rpm balance

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@ragimundvonwallat8961 90° Vtwin is better than any parallel frankly.

[@ragimundvonwallat8961]

@@exothermal.sprocket depend what better is for you...and the choices are few and far between. but i like vtwin, i would like a sv650 full fairing

[@blackstar5325]

Tira quelle marce!!!!

[@julesvandeven897]

don't quick shift

[@carllachance7788]

It's actually quicker to quick shift than to ring it out all the power comes up between 5k to 7.5/8k RPM. I have the z650 and nothing is going on in the top of the rev range really...It's a twin afterall.