The first thing that happened at the INTERMOT 2016 in Cologne was the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 650 unveiled. The company shared its specifications and also listed all out the changes with the reasons. It is inspired by the new ZX-10R and has shed quite a lot of weight. The new model has been subjected to both cosmetic as well as mechanical changes. The 2017 Ninja 650 has a fuel economy which is 6.8% better than the former variant. Let us have a brief look at what has changed this time.
Design
First of all, let us talk about the design. The design department has seen a total overhaul. It now looks much more aggressive and sharp as compared to previous Ninja 650. Firstly, it has the twin headlamps which have been borrowed from the ZX-10R. Similarly, the tail is also ZX-10R inspired. However, the raised handlebars mean that the rider will be in an upright position. This means that this bike will still fall under the sports tourer segment. The instrument panel has grown a lot bigger. It won’t be wrong to say that it is a sports bike that is practical enough for you to easily use it for your daily commute.
Engine
The bike is powered by a Euro IV compliant 649cc parallel-twin engine. The engine has been fine tuned in order to enhance the lower and the mid-range torque. While this tuning has resulted in a loss of 2 PS of power, the reduction of weight by a healthy 19 kgs will easily make up for it.
Misc
It has a 6-speed gearbox. The braking system has also been upgraded and now features revised calipers from Nissin and Bosh 9.1 ABS system. The fuel tank can hold maximum 15 litres of fuel. This may sound less but it is a sacrifice that the company has made in order to save weight which in turns improves the performance. The new frame itself weighs merely 15 kgs. All these weight savings will contribute in improving the bike’s handling and will significantly enhance the performance.
It will be available in 4 colours. These are Candy Burnt Orange, Lime Green, Metallic Black and Pearl White. The launch might happen anytime in the early months of 2017. It is expected to land in the Indian subcontinent somewhere between April to June. The current version of the bike cost Rs.5.37 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and we reckon that the 2017 version might cost somewhere around Rs.5.5-5.8 lakh, ex-showroom, obviously!
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