By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Honda CBR650R (RH01) vs Kawasaki Ninja 650 (EX650P)
Honda CBR650R vs Kawasaki Ninja 650: one garage spot. Here's what should decide it.
You'll feel the Honda CBR650R turn in lightly, then sit planted on the line you picked. The Kawasaki Ninja 650's flickable from the moment you push on the bar. It tips over at a nudge, even at walking pace.
So which one do you buy?
The CBR650R has the edge if…
Racetrack use
A touch ahead: CBR650R
The CBR650R pulls a nose ahead on track. Don't count on it doing the work for you.
The Ninja 650 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Inches ahead: Ninja 650
For the money you spend after the purchase, the Ninja 650 nudges ahead. The gap is too small to plan a budget around.
Daily commuting & city riding
Edges it: Ninja 650
On the way to work, the Ninja 650 asks a little less of you. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
Which one's the smarter buy
Depends what you want it for
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The Ninja 650 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
CBR650R
There's a split personality in the CBR650R's inline-four, tractable at the bottom yet eager to rev. Low revs bring little shove. The throttle wakes the four once the needle swings high, and it keeps building from there. The front brake's bite keeps growing with every squeeze.
Ninja 650
From low revs up, the Ninja 650's twin pulls cleanly and climbs at an even rate. Once you're off the brake lever at a corner exit, the twin drives out without fuss. The seat puts the rider upright. At highway speed, the fairing's screen pushes the wind aside.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Ninja 650 has the lower seat: 31.1 in (790 mm) vs 31.9 in (810 mm).
- The Ninja 650 has the lower wet weight: 425 lb (193 kg) vs 456 lb (207 kg).
- The CBR650R makes more peak power: 95 hp (70 kW) vs 68 hp (50 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not their thing
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
There's no real gap on twisty roads. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CBR650R
What owners say
Strengths
- Smooth, flexible inline-four engine
- Strong, progressive brakes
Trade-offs
- Needs revs for excitement
- Noticeable vibration at highway speeds
Ninja 650
What owners say
Strengths
- Agile handling and lightweight feel
- Comfortable upright ergonomics with good wind protection
What they cost used
These prices compare a 3-year-old CBR650R with a 3-year-old Ninja 650.
- CBR650R
- about $9,200
- Ninja 650
- about $7,200
At three years old, the Honda CBR650R sits around $9,200 while the Kawasaki Ninja 650 lands near $7,200. That's a $2,000 gap in the Ninja 650's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Displacement
- 649 cc
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Torque
- 47 lb-ft (64 Nm)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| CBR650R | Ninja 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 456 lb (207 kg) | 425 lb (193 kg) |
| CBR650R | Ninja 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Inline-four | Parallel twin |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 68 hp (50 kW) |
| Peak power at | 12,000 rpm | 8,000 rpm |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 6,700 rpm |
| CBR650R | Ninja 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.1 US gal (15.4 L) | 4.0 US gal (15 L) |
| CBR650R | Ninja 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 310 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 160/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.1 in (1450 mm) | 55.5 in (1410 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CBR650R | Ninja 650 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Standard | Option |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
