2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650 Review - First Ride (2024)

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Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing

2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650

Editor Score: 85.0%

For 2020, the Kawasaki Ninja 650 receives mostly aesthetic upgrades along with LED lighting, Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires, and a TFT display featuring integrated Bluetooth connectivity through the Rideology app.

The new Ninja 650’s styling falls in line with its sporty siblings with a face nearly identical to the ZX-6R and Ninja 400. A redesigned windscreen integrates seamlessly into the new wider upper cowl and is said to be angled more upright to offer the rider more wind protection. During my ride on the freeway, the difference between sitting upright in a normal riding position versus fully tucked with my chinbar on the gas tank made zero difference in the amount of windblast I received to my helmet. Kawasaki offers a large accessory windscreen for those looking for more protection.

The new 4.3-inch TFT display is a first for the Japanese middleweights and was easily visible during our ride in varying light. The background can be adjusted from black to white and brightness adjusts automatically with ambient light. Plenty of information is available on the new screen such as trip data, average fuel consumption, gear indicator, coolant temp, voltage, service reminders, and Kawi’s ECO riding indicator among other data.

With Bluetooth connectivity, riders can now download the Rideology app which will allow them to take a look at all of those parameters (if paired when the bike was last on) before they go out to the garage in the morning to see if they need gas, etc. Connectivity through the Rideology app also includes telephone notifications which will show on the TFT screen, the ability to adjust some display settings, and a riding log that tracks route, distance, and time which can be shared and stored for playback. Unfortunately, on our ride full of quick stops for photo passes and the need to start/stop the ride log on the app while simultaneously making sure the phone was connected before restarting the log, the app didn’t work as well as I had hoped. A quick look at the app’s ride log post-ride also showed a line as the crow flies throughout the area we rode, and all of my GPS settings were on. The app may need a little work.

To some, the changes listed above for 2020 may not sound like much, but let’s not forget that when the 2017 Ninja 650 was released Kawasaki claimed it had shed 42(!) pounds, a substantial drop in weight that makes the bike easy to maneuver, be it through twisty roads or commuter traffic. This is a trait that’s just as apparent in the 2020 model as it was in 2017.

The Ninja 650’s 649cc Parallel Twin remains unchanged with Kawasaki reporting 67 hp at 8,000 rpm (via the EU site) and 48.5 lb. ft @ 6,500 rpm. The motor delivers nice mid-range power with the ability to be spun up when riding aggressively. Fueling is crisp, though driveline lash makes for some abrupt on/off throttle applications. The Kawasaki Air Management System’s (KAMS) radiator fan ducts channel hot air away from the rider to the ground which should make the Ninja 650 more pleasant to commute on during the warmer months of the year. At higher revs, some vibration can be noticed in the seat, but it’s nothing too intrusive.

The slick gearbox is ultra-positive allowing the rider to click through the gears snickety-split. The compact cassette-style transmission uses a slip and assist function to combat excessive engine braking caused by aggressive downshifts, ensuring the rear wheel doesn’t hop. Pull at the lever is also effortless guaranteeing one won’t tire during stop-and-go traffic.

Ergonomics, again, are carried over from previous years with the 2020 model receiving a slightly thicker rear seat for passenger comfort. The Ninja 650’s upright bars and standard footpeg placement make for a neutral seating position that left me mostly comfortable after riding all day. My only complaint is that the seat-to-footpeg measurement seems fairly short and if I was noticing at the end of the day with a 30-inch inseam, I’m sure taller riders were stretching their legs before I was.

Stopping power is provided by Nissin 2-piston calipers gripping 300mm petal-type discs up front, while a single Nissin caliper chomps on a single 220mm disc out back. No real complaints in the braking department. The Nissin components get things slowed down comfortably and efficiently. ABS and Non-ABS models are available from Kawasaki, with the latter offering slightly lower weight and price. That being said, we’d probably spend the extra $400 for ABS (and maybe in the racy KRT livery).

The 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650’s suspension is one of the few things I feel could use some refinement. The thing is though, it’s just fine most of the time. When the pace picks up and the road isn’t perfectly smooth, you can be caught out. The fork works reasonably well and is even a bit stiff in the initial stroke but, once you blow through that on the brakes, being smooth is key to keeping things in check. The horizontal back-link KYB shock doesn’t feel totally matched to the front end and feels like it could use some more rebound damping. Alas, preload is all you have to work with.

2020 Kawasaki Ninja 650

In Gear

• Helmet: AGV Sportmodular Tricolore $850

• Jacket: Dainese D-Air Misano $1,700

• Gloves: Dainese 4-Stroke Evo $160

• Pants: Dainese New Drake Air $260

• Boots: Dainese Axial D1 $530

Credit: Photos by Kevin Wing