By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Supersport
Kawasaki Ninja 650 (EX650P) vs CFMOTO 675SS (MY2025)
Kawasaki Ninja 650 vs CFMOTO 675SS: fast is a given. What sets them apart isn't.
Swap from the Kawasaki Ninja 650's upright perch to the CFMOTO 675SS, and you'll feel it at the first turn-in. The 675SS is eager to fold over at the first nudge on the bar, and it's light on its feet as the bend tightens.
So which one do you buy?
The Ninja 650 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
Nose ahead: Ninja 650
The Ninja 650 is a touch easier on the wallet to run. Condition still matters more than the model.
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Ninja 650
On the way to work, the Ninja 650 asks a little less of you. Thank lower running costs for that. Close enough that the test ride should settle it.
The 675SS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: 675SS
On a twisty road, the 675SS edges ahead. Credit harder acceleration and more feel through the bars. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Racetrack use
Narrow edge: 675SS
The 675SS pulls a nose ahead on track. That comes from better suspension and a sportier chassis. Don't count on it doing the work for you.
Which one's the smarter buy
Even on value
The Ninja 650 and the 675SS sit close enough in price that neither is the clear better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
Ninja 650
From low revs on up, the Ninja 650's parallel twin drives smoothly out of a corner with a build-up that won't catch you out. The twin doesn't snatch in traffic. A bump goes into a conventional telescopic fork, and there's nothing up front to dial in. At highway pace, the full fairing shoves the wind aside.
675SS
There's pull everywhere in the 675SS's inline triple, from the middle of the range to a hard rush at the top. The throttle never goes unanswered. On the Back of the Dragon, the chromoly frame doesn't let the bike wander mid-corner. The exhaust's snarl climbs with the revs.
Nils rode the 675SS in China in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
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 675SS has the lower wet weight: 414 lb (188 kg) vs 425 lb (193 kg).
- The 675SS makes more peak power: 94 hp (70 kW) vs 68 hp (50 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Both miss here
Neither of these is a mile-muncher. If big days are the plan, keep looking.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Ninja 650
What owners say
Strengths
- Comfortable upright ergonomics with good wind protection
675SS
What owners say
Strengths
- Punchy triple-cylinder engine with character
- Exceptional value with high specification
- Lightweight, flickable feel
- Striking, aggressive MotoGP-inspired styling
What they cost used
These prices compare a 1-year-old Ninja 650 with a 1-year-old 675SS.
- Ninja 650
- about $7,500
- 675SS
- about $7,200
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.0 US gal (15 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front brake
- 300 mm
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Ninja 650 | 675SS | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 425 lb (193 kg) | 414 lb (188 kg) |
| Ninja 650 | 675SS | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 649 cc | 674 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin | Inline-three |
| Power | 68 hp (50 kW) | 94 hp (70 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,000 rpm | 11,000 rpm |
| Torque | 47 lb-ft (64 Nm) | 52 lb-ft (70 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,700 rpm | 8,250 rpm |
| Ninja 650 | 675SS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fork | Telescopic | Upside-down (USD) |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 55.5 in (1410 mm) | 55.1 in (1400 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Ninja 650 | 675SS | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Option | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
