Kawasaki Ninja 650R
Enter the SV Assassin
Yes, Kawasaki's intriguing twin-cylinder Ninja 650R is coming to America and no, it's not a warmed-over, punched-out version of the pre-primordial EX500. Wrapped in more marketable plastic skin, U.S.-bound bikes are infinitely easier to look at than the minimalist neo-jellybean ER-6n Kawasaki sells in Europe. Those are both good things, and the story gets better from there. Billed as a sporty all-rounder and aimed at the jugular vein of Suzuki's popular SV650, the green team's latest middleweight looks like a refreshing alternative to uncomfortable, expensive, track-sharp 600s.
Because a V-twin would have been too long for what Kawasaki's engineering brain-trust had in mind, power comes from a liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 649cc parallel-twin. Working under two cams and eight valves, the new Ninja's relatively oversquare (83mm x 60mm), fuel-injected cylinders are tuned to produce the sort of mid-range power favored by rookies as well as aspiring experts.
If a four is too wide for your design and a V-twin is too long, build a parallel-twin. A semi-dry-sump lubrication system helps reduce engine height. Plated, linerless aluminum cylinders help keep it slim as well. To keep things cool and simple, coolant flows from the crankcases to the cylinders and head via internal passages--no ugly hoses outside to muck things up.
A balance shaft geared to the 180-degree crankshaft should cancel most of the twin's vibration. Stacked transmission shafts keep the new mill short, while a semi-dry-sump design--oil stored in the gearbox allows a shallow pan--similar to Kawasaki's KX450F motocrosser's helps keep it short. Such compact engine dimensions keep seat-height low, with room left over to sling that stylish muffler directly underneath. Though Kawasaki hasn't released official horsepower numbers, expect something close to the Euro-only ER-6n's 72 bhp at 8500 rpm--comparable to the SV650.
Using a lattice of steel tubes rather than slab-sided aluminum spars, the 650 bolts its single shock to its steel swingarm with no linkage in between. Petal-style 300mm front rotors are paired with dual-piston calipers to save a few bucks, but stopping power should be sufficient for sporting street duty. Though it's too soon to tell if it's capable of dethroning Suzuki's little SV, we'll say this much: The 650R looks like very good news for anyone in the market for a simple, stylish, affordable roadster.