I am seriously thinking about selling my 2006 Ninja 500 or trading it in for a Ninja ZZR600 or Ninja 650. Any pros ,cons or just good ole solid advise is welcomed.

 

I was telling the parts guy where I go all the time I liked the way the ZZR 600 looked and he told me never buy that bike, apparently its a nightmare for parts and stuff. Ive read alot of reviews in magazines when the new 650 ninja came out, it got very high ratings and got better ratings than the SV650 did too, maybe not quite as quick in the quarter mile but the overall package is better.

Of course with it being a brand new bike on the market it may not have near as many aftermarket accessories available just yet. They are both very appealing to me, but I would choose the ZZR just because its a 4-cylinder-for some retarded *** reason that grabs my attention. The Ninja 650 is fuel injected though, the zzr still using carbs, so the 650 has it beat there.

 

I think that of the two, the 650 is more popular. I am digging the frame and setup of the shock. Does not mean it is better though. Yes, it is a twin but nothing wrong with that.

As mentioned above, parts on anything Kawi in the first year are tough to get. If the 650 turns out as popular as the 250 or the 500, then I would think the 650.

 

I must respectfully disagree with Jamie and state that his parts guy is full of dookey on the availability of ZZR600 parts. The ZZR600 is identical to the '00-'02 ZX6R and has been unchanged (save color) since '05. Getting parts will NEVER be a problem for this bike. In fact, if the 650R flops (which doesn't appear too likely), it is conceivable that parts for that bike could be more difficult to get in the future.
Also, the ZZR600 is MUCH faster on top, gets nearly as good mileage, it has massively better brakes, a MUCH smoother transmission (better than any bike I've ever ridden) AND adjustable suspension that is even better stock than what you can get aftermarket for the 650R.
The 650R is a new, untested design and I haven't met anyone with more than 20,000 miles on their engine. While that ZX6R platform has been around for most of the millenium and will almost certainly last >80,000 miles if treated properly.
The ZZR600 costs $1000 more, but if you are really looking for bang-for-your buck, the ZZR comes out on top here.
No offense Jamie. I would carefully consider that parts guy's advice su****ious in the future.
-CCinC

P.S. I seriously considered buying a 650R and joined a 650R forum: http://www.ninja650.com/phpbb/index.php
It looks like a nice bike, but in addition to the weak brakes and suspension, I'm very su****ious of the longterm wear of the electroplated aluminum cylinders on that bike. (The ZZR uses the traditional iron-sleeved cylinders.)

 

P.S. I would rather buy another 500R than the new 650R. The new 650 looks slicker and will turn more heads, but I don't even consider it as good a bike as the 500.

 

I've read many of your posts...how do you know so much about all these types of bikes...just curious. At times I can't even remember my home number!! Thanks for the advise.

 

Thanks for the kind compliment, Wax.
My ex-wife had a 2002 ZX6R, which is (aside from color of the tank and fairing) identical to the 2005-2007 ZZR600. When Kawasaki produces a winning bike, they usually stick with it, and the platform migrates 'downward' (for lack of a better word) from their flagship models to their "B-team."
All of the companies do this. Yamaha's current YZF600 (which was still in production the last time I checked) was Yamaha's premier supersport-600. It has since been replaced by the R6. Same thing with Suzuki's current Katana, (which is essentially their old GSX600 with superficial plastic changes.)

I've been actively riding streetbikes for 14 years now, have ridden more than a quarter million miles, and I used to read a LOT of motorcycle magazines.
And I'm active participant in the information age! Whenever I consider buying a new bike (like the Ninja 650R), I subscribe to a forum and read first-hand accounts of the strengths, weakness and problems with a model. I decided NOT to buy a Moto Guzzi after participating and asking questions for several weeks.
My real education came when I spent 7 months and more than $7,000 completely rebuilding my '98 Honda Superhawk when the engine wore out after only 47,000 miles. I learned more about engines, physics and people in that profound life experience than in my 7+ years in the Army. I also learned to mistrust electroplated aluminum cylinders (the same kind that the Ninja 650R has.) I also performed all of the functions done in the factory service manual, from lapping valves to what Prussian Blue and plastiguage are used for. Apologies if that sounds haughty, but you did ask.
Then when I was shopping for a Ninja 650R, I borrowed the service manual from my local dealer and had a good look at the design decisions Kawasaki made on this bike. There are advantages (I've come to prefer shim-under-bucket valves over the 500R's rocker-arm valves) but I consider the disadvantages too much for me.

Whenever something is interesting or important to you, it's remarkably easy to remember. If you met a beautiful woman who rode motorcycles, I bet you wouldn't even have to write her number down.

And on that note, here's a photo of my ex-wife on our trip from San Diego to Philadelphia and back.

 

P.S. I've also made friends in forums like these, ridden around and met some of them, swapped bikes and compared notes. It's a lot of fun to trade bikes with people for a few miles and you learn something new every time, (even if its that you're lucky to be riding the bike that you have.)

 

Nice write up calamarichris
You see ex's in Red all of the time now? lol
I would have to agree with iron cylinders. Cheaper to play with on overbores. But, how often does a street rider actually overbore?

 

I agree, pretty self contained with low maintenance