Thanks man, I just bought a brand new Z650 and had the same concern about the temperature. It did reached the maximum and the warning light came on during the very first ride out of the dealer. I called the dealer immediately and they said it must have been a bubble in the coolant system and it shouldn't happen again. Within a few minutes it cooled down and had never heated up that high again. It's only been 230 miles, so it's comforting to know they run warmer during break in.
Thanks for the video I enjoyed it very much. For me it was a tough decision between the 650 Z in the Vulcan s. I was really torn between these two bikes so while standing in the dealership I flipped a quarter heads came up and that's what I gave the Vulcan. I really like this bike but the one complaint that I have or had I should say was the Twitchy throttle and engine braking. I put a booster plug on it and that solved my complaints. Smooth shifts and you actually get the friction Zone back on the clutch for slow-speed maneuvering works perfect. Hope that helps ride safe.
I have the z650 and noticed a pretty bad metallic noise during the first few hundred miles. Turns out the dealer had the chain loose with 3+ inches of play. Tightened to spec from the manual and the noise went away completely. Mainly happened during engine breaking. Other than that, this bike is so great. Good call on the throttle control. I'm a noob and this is my first bike. Took all of 1000 miles on it to understand how to utilize the throttle and clutch properly with the ungodly amount of torque pull when you barely touch the throttle.
This is one reason I do all of my own maintenance. A lot of dealerships have untrained people doing the service work and don't get checked behind like they should be.
A big jerk in the transition between no and 1% throttle is partly because of the engine having large cylinders and mostly because of the fuel mixture required for meeting emissions regs. I've got a 650cc single from 2002 and I always pull the clutch in when I close the throttle when creeping along in traffic, otherwise I get surprised by the jerk as it comes off throttle.
Great video, great info. This is very likely going to be my first zero miles bike, so o appreciate all the break in info. Right now I've got an 01 klr650 and while the engine breaking is pretty bad it's something I can live with. All that's left to do is keep stashing my nickels and wait for the price slash when the 2018 models hit the shops!
Glad you enjoy the videos! Between now and January is a good time to pick one up! Lot of dealers are offering rebates and bonus cash that can be applied toward the purchase price.
I love hard engine braking. What I don’t like is the throttle chop (on/off) in 1 gear around tight corners. The bike pegs is probably only for shorter riders. At 5’11 my feet touch down 4 inches in front of the pegs. This bike does fit smaller riders better. I’m thinking of buying wider bars and lower the pegs for a little more wiggle room.
I noticed on my new Ninja 650 the grinding sound coming from the chain. Usually moving slow around 10-15mph and slowing down or accelerating. I'm taking it into the shop next week for the 1st service so hopefully they can get it sorted out.
I had some vibration up front at about 3000-3500 rpm. It turned out to be the lock cylinder in the fuel cap. I stuck some thin foam to the flip cover, problem solved.
Great Guy...great Bike...great Videos....seriously u shoulda get paid by Kawasaki for that....keep up the great work...thank you so much....u helped a lotta ppl out there being happier and safer riding that bike than any bike reseller ever would put that effort in it....
Good video. I couldn't have summarized the experience with my Z650 2018 any better. I just have two issues with the bike, the vibrations are actually quite annoying. Without gel gloves I have numb hands within 15 minutes of driving. I have the vibrations at all refs higher than 3500rpm. Even in the seat it sometimes feels like ants crawling up the pie hole. I wonder if this is beyond the normal or if I'm just sensitive. Another outdid I have is that the gear box is extremely rough. From neutral to 1st gear, the bike almost jumps and you hear loud cluck. Actually that noise is present for the first 3 gears. Also, from 3rd down to second the gear is not going in instantly, but jumps in as soon the clutch is released. I can hear and feel that. I told my mechanic from day one, but did not get much of an reaction. Wonder what you think about this.
About the vibration it’s normal between 3k-6krpms, should always be wearing gloves though.. road rash is no joke. Also, the gear box is very dramatic, I’m sure you could tell by how much engine braking there is when you let off the throttle. The clucking noise is pretty cool with shifting into first, it’ feels sturdy, and mechanical, very engaging, makes it feel like everything is working as it should.
Great info,I’ve had mine for about 4 weeks now,love it.My clutch cover and engine cover on the sides get very hot.What is your thoughts on that? After 8-10 miles riding to work. Normal or not?
Great video!! Thanks for your tips and how-to I own the same motorbike and I have noticed that over 80km/h it vibrates a lot. I feel the vibrations under the seat. My girlfriend told the same when she was seated behind me. It's that Normal in a new motorcycle? My previous one was a scooter ( Suzuki burgman k8 125cc) and it did not vibrate that much. Do you guys have experience that? May be useful to modify the seat with gel?? Thanks in advance!! Cheers!!
Yup thats normal.i took my bike back to dealer for tick noise, they showed me 2 brand new bikes on showroom floor with exact same noise. So that normal for this engine i guess.
Fuel mapping and timing adjustments, which I should be able to correct with the Rapid Bike system, or an ECU reflash, once the hardware/software are available.
Tremonte Ah I see, thank you. And would you say that the cost of an exhaust is worth it just to help bring down the power of the engine braking (not to mention the fantastic sound it would make)?
@@Budagrande Hi too slow compared to fast vechiles ,pretty fast if your a newb like me or first time rider !!! Mines tops out at 119 mph . My honda goes faster then 120 mph . My friends truck goes to 150 mph . I lost to a mazda speed 3 , so in reality they are pretty slow . But fastt if your not use to it . My bmw e36 did 145 mph on the freeway one night with everyone in the car . So in my eyes my bike is slow . But in traffic or city it feels fast . It does take off fast like i believe 3 seconds to 0-60 mph , but thats it , Anything after 100 mph it starts to lag on power .
Hi Tremonte, I recently noticed something quite unsettling on the Z650. Happens Rarely but thought I needed to get it clarified. When I am coming to a stop , Clutch disengaged, and rolling over a small undulation on the road (In India its pretty common) , I hear a cluck in the the engine bay like something is loose, and there is a slight lateral movement of the bike due to the force of whatever it is that is moving. From the outside everything looks perfectly normal and nothing seems to be loose. Any similar experiences for you? Any clues as to what it could be?
+samson philip that sounds unusual to me. Do you have the ABS model, and does it occur only when stopping? I would check to make sure the brake calipers are properly tightened and not loose. Also, look for the rear motor mounts and check the torque of the bolts to make sure they haven't loosened. I can't think of what else it could be without experiencing it myself.
If I buy the bar end mirrors from amazon will I need to buy all those other accessories you had to find yourself? Or does it already come with all of those extra items you had to use to make them fit correctly?
Also, when it comes to the throttle, i definitely feel like the it will greatly be improved by a tune. My old kz750 had the same kind of on off throttle at low speed until i upped the jet size and ran it a bit richer. They run new engines so lean out of the factory nowadays that im sure that could be the cause.
Hi, I have noticed some strange noises while downshifting and engine braking. Its like buzzing and its not so quiet. Sometimes is more of this noises sometimes is less... Is it normal? The bike is almost brand new, just 360 kilometres. Do You have any ideas?
Is this at idle and sitting still, or under load while riding? I’ve not experienced this, but I changed to Motul full synthetic at 600 miles and haven’t had any valve chatter. I use 89 octane, nonethanol fuel and she runs like a champ. If you have concerns with the bike, take it back to the dealer while the standard warranty is still in effect.
+ninja rider I haven't heard any unusual noises from the valves. Everything sounds normal. As long as there isn't a hard knocking sound, a light tick is fine. The exhaust valves can be heard to some degree.
So I have been looking at buying a Z650, mainly because of the riding position as well as the seat height. But what I don't want to happen is regret not getting the z900 with a bigger engine since I have ridden a zx6r and feel like I might get bored of the 650... How do be you compare it to the 900
+Josue Herrera it mostly depends what type of highways you ride, how long you’ve been riding, and how tall you are and how much you weigh. For me, the Z650 is the perfect machine for where I ride, and the comfort level I was after. The z900 would be better if you plan to ride a passenger or do long commutes. But, if you want light, agile, no passenger and torque for days.... the 650 will be more than enough. Coming off an R6, the Z650 is a much better machine for me personally. Less fatigue, and it will straight up out accelerate the R6 in the corners. (I have done a fair amount of tuning though) Top end it falls behind. But again, top speed wasn’t what I wanted. It all comes down the what you’re ultimately going to do with it.
Tremonte , So I am 5'4", about 163lbs. And I am primarily using it to commute to work and am looking to be doing some distance riding up to NY from Florida. I just want something I won't have to tune to get the extra power and will update minor things such as exhaust, mirrors and some other astetics and comfort items. I also love the look of the z900 but I am liking the price of the 2017 z650 right now. Lol I have been riding pretty much since I was 14. I started on dirt bikes and eventually moved up to the zx6r. I just want to get something that I will have for years to come.
PLEASE. turn off the background music while you are talking, especially if you want your listeners to hear a noise of some kind! Can't hear any sounds because of the blasted MUSIC! Also very difficult to concentrate on what you are saying.
Thanks man, I just bought a brand new Z650 and had the same concern about the temperature. It did reached the maximum and the warning light came on during the very first ride out of the dealer. I called the dealer immediately and they said it must have been a bubble in the coolant system and it shouldn't happen again. Within a few minutes it cooled down and had never heated up that high again. It's only been 230 miles, so it's comforting to know they run warmer during break in.
Thanks for the video I enjoyed it very much. For me it was a tough decision between the 650 Z in the Vulcan s. I was really torn between these two bikes so while standing in the dealership I flipped a quarter heads came up and that's what I gave the Vulcan. I really like this bike but the one complaint that I have or had I should say was the Twitchy throttle and engine braking. I put a booster plug on it and that solved my complaints. Smooth shifts and you actually get the friction Zone back on the clutch for slow-speed maneuvering works perfect. Hope that helps ride safe.
I enjoyed this video! It's reassuring to me that I made the right decision on this bike. Still counting down the days until I take delivery mid-June.
I have the z650 and noticed a pretty bad metallic noise during the first few hundred miles. Turns out the dealer had the chain loose with 3+ inches of play. Tightened to spec from the manual and the noise went away completely. Mainly happened during engine breaking. Other than that, this bike is so great. Good call on the throttle control. I'm a noob and this is my first bike. Took all of 1000 miles on it to understand how to utilize the throttle and clutch properly with the ungodly amount of torque pull when you barely touch the throttle.
This is one reason I do all of my own maintenance. A lot of dealerships have untrained people doing the service work and don't get checked behind like they should be.
by the way, thanks for the vids. Your reviews and tips on the z650 are part of why I ended up with mine. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for mentioning the peg placement. My husband acted like I was complaining about nothing.
A big jerk in the transition between no and 1% throttle is partly because of the engine having large cylinders and mostly because of the fuel mixture required for meeting emissions regs. I've got a 650cc single from 2002 and I always pull the clutch in when I close the throttle when creeping along in traffic, otherwise I get surprised by the jerk as it comes off throttle.
I own a 2018 done 2000km and no vibration wat so ever up to 6000 rpm and I am enjoying it
My only pet peeve about the Z650 is that the high-bean indicator light is way too bright at night.
Great video, great info. This is very likely going to be my first zero miles bike, so o appreciate all the break in info. Right now I've got an 01 klr650 and while the engine breaking is pretty bad it's something I can live with. All that's left to do is keep stashing my nickels and wait for the price slash when the 2018 models hit the shops!
Glad you enjoy the videos! Between now and January is a good time to pick one up! Lot of dealers are offering rebates and bonus cash that can be applied toward the purchase price.
I love hard engine braking. What I don’t like is the throttle chop (on/off) in 1 gear around tight corners. The bike pegs is probably only for shorter riders. At 5’11 my feet touch down 4 inches in front of the pegs. This bike does fit smaller riders better. I’m thinking of buying wider bars and lower the pegs for a little more wiggle room.
Thank you for the awesome video! Just got the ninja 650 about a week ago and have 800 miles already. You answered all the questions I had on the bike.
You're welcome! Congrats on the bike!
Tremonte Thank you!
Great Vid bud.Got my first motorcyle last week, and picked up my Z650 last friday.
Umer M thanks! Enjoy the bike!
Could please make a video on how to adjust mirrors on a 2025 z650. I can't adjust by hand and I'm scared to force the mirrors to move
I noticed on my new Ninja 650 the grinding sound coming from the chain. Usually moving slow around 10-15mph and slowing down or accelerating. I'm taking it into the shop next week for the 1st service so hopefully they can get it sorted out.
Also, I'll see if I can get some video with audio of the sound.
+Richard Kim thanks. Looks like you are the second person that I've heard that experienced this.
I had some vibration up front at about 3000-3500 rpm. It turned out to be the lock cylinder in the fuel cap. I stuck some thin foam to the flip cover, problem solved.
Great Guy...great Bike...great Videos....seriously u shoulda get paid by Kawasaki for that....keep up the great work...thank you so much....u helped a lotta ppl out there being happier and safer riding that bike than any bike reseller ever would put that effort in it....
+benjamin1985BS thanks for the kind words. I'll try my best to keep putting out useful info!
Hi nice video, how to increase the ground clearance of this bike?
ajaysarvapalli customizing your exhaust system “full exhaust system” will give you more clearance and lighten up your bike by at least 8 pounds
Good video. I couldn't have summarized the experience with my Z650 2018 any better. I just have two issues with the bike, the vibrations are actually quite annoying. Without gel gloves I have numb hands within 15 minutes of driving. I have the vibrations at all refs higher than 3500rpm. Even in the seat it sometimes feels like ants crawling up the pie hole. I wonder if this is beyond the normal or if I'm just sensitive. Another outdid I have is that the gear box is extremely rough. From neutral to 1st gear, the bike almost jumps and you hear loud cluck. Actually that noise is present for the first 3 gears. Also, from 3rd down to second the gear is not going in instantly, but jumps in as soon the clutch is released. I can hear and feel that. I told my mechanic from day one, but did not get much of an reaction. Wonder what you think about this.
About the vibration it’s normal between 3k-6krpms, should always be wearing gloves though.. road rash is no joke. Also, the gear box is very dramatic, I’m sure you could tell by how much engine braking there is when you let off the throttle. The clucking noise is pretty cool with shifting into first, it’ feels sturdy, and mechanical, very engaging, makes it feel like everything is working as it should.
Great info,I’ve had mine for about 4 weeks now,love it.My clutch cover and engine cover on the sides get very hot.What is your thoughts on that? After 8-10 miles riding to work. Normal or not?
That's normal. They typically cool down fairly quickly.
I have a question. How tall are you?
Great video!! Thanks for your tips and how-to
I own the same motorbike and I have noticed that over 80km/h it vibrates a lot. I feel the vibrations under the seat. My girlfriend told the same when she was seated behind me. It's that Normal in a new motorcycle?
My previous one was a scooter ( Suzuki burgman k8 125cc) and it did not vibrate that much. Do you guys have experience that? May be useful to modify the seat with gel??
Thanks in advance!!
Cheers!!
+Luis Ortigonover use a torque wrench and check that all motor mounts are the proper tightness. 35 ft-lbs or around 44nm
So, it should vibrate that much?
+Luis Ortigonover no. There should not be a lot of vibration under the seat
ok, i will let the mechanic know and check that in the first revision ( it least 500km)
Thanks a lot
2017 z650 crank but does not start
Great review . Thanks .
anyone experiencing a "ticking" noise at idle ? Kinda like lifter tick.
Umer M me too
Yes! That’s why I’m here! You guys figure anything out on that?
Yup thats normal.i took my bike back to dealer for tick noise, they showed me 2 brand new bikes on showroom floor with exact same noise. So that normal for this engine i guess.
What would be another way to reduce engine braking beside replacing the exhaust system? I really appreciate this vids you make, very helpful.
Fuel mapping and timing adjustments, which I should be able to correct with the Rapid Bike system, or an ECU reflash, once the hardware/software are available.
Tremonte Ah I see, thank you. And would you say that the cost of an exhaust is worth it just to help bring down the power of the engine braking (not to mention the fantastic sound it would make)?
Between the weight reduction, added power, lower running temps, and being heard in traffic. It's worth it.
Tremonte excellent, I'll definitely make this a priority mod as soon as I get my bike. I appreciate the help. :)
i bought this bike for my very first motorcycle
+Prodigy congrats on the bike!
Prodigy hows the experience so far mate?
jack meHoff my first bike also , regret :( too slow
@@erickmartinez-fx1pw Seriously? A 650cc too slow? 🤔
@@Budagrande Hi too slow compared to fast vechiles ,pretty fast if your a newb like me or first time rider !!! Mines tops out at 119 mph . My honda goes faster then 120 mph . My friends truck goes to 150 mph . I lost to a mazda speed 3 , so in reality they are pretty slow . But fastt if your not use to it . My bmw e36 did 145 mph on the freeway one night with everyone in the car . So in my eyes my bike is slow . But in traffic or city it feels fast . It does take off fast like i believe 3 seconds to 0-60 mph , but thats it , Anything after 100 mph it starts to lag on power .
Where we can fix a pair of LED fog lights in Z650?
Hi Tremonte, I recently noticed something quite unsettling on the Z650. Happens Rarely but thought I needed to get it clarified. When I am coming to a stop , Clutch disengaged, and rolling over a small undulation on the road (In India its pretty common) , I hear a cluck in the the engine bay like something is loose, and there is a slight lateral movement of the bike due to the force of whatever it is that is moving. From the outside everything looks perfectly normal and nothing seems to be loose. Any similar experiences for you? Any clues as to what it could be?
+samson philip that sounds unusual to me. Do you have the ABS model, and does it occur only when stopping? I would check to make sure the brake calipers are properly tightened and not loose. Also, look for the rear motor mounts and check the torque of the bolts to make sure they haven't loosened. I can't think of what else it could be without experiencing it myself.
Check your chain tention, too loose it makes similar noises
If I buy the bar end mirrors from amazon will I need to buy all those other accessories you had to find yourself? Or does it already come with all of those extra items you had to use to make them fit correctly?
+Diego Garcia if you want to keep the bar ends, you will need to locate the various spacers. Should be able to find it at any hardware store
Tremonte
Would you be able to tell me what I need to get them exactly how you did it?
+Diego Garcia at the end of the bar end mirror video, and in the description, the components are listed.
I can confirm that my z650 runs far cooler with just an exhaust. I have not touched any other emissions equipment yet.
Excellent! That points us toward a common solution for the temperature. Thanks for the info!
Also, when it comes to the throttle, i definitely feel like the it will greatly be improved by a tune. My old kz750 had the same kind of on off throttle at low speed until i upped the jet size and ran it a bit richer. They run new engines so lean out of the factory nowadays that im sure that could be the cause.
@bob345 who did you do exactly? I mean who did you do the exhaust?
Thanks in advance
I got the yoshimura alpha exhaust
and with that new exhaust it refrigerates better? how expensive was it? why that and not the arrow one?
where did you got it?
thanks a lot in advance!
Hi, I have noticed some strange noises while downshifting and engine braking. Its like buzzing and its not so quiet. Sometimes is more of this noises sometimes is less... Is it normal? The bike is almost brand new, just 360 kilometres. Do You have any ideas?
I had similar noise, and found it to be the pillion latch. Try to press down on it when you hear the buzzing and see if it goes away.
Hi again. It was just a chain...too loose. What is interesting - dealer serviceman forgot to thighten the counter screw of chain regulation...
Anybody notice any valve chatter or maybe timing chatter? I'm at 650 miles, it started at 500 and has gotten slightly louder since.
Is this at idle and sitting still, or under load while riding? I’ve not experienced this, but I changed to Motul full synthetic at 600 miles and haven’t had any valve chatter. I use 89 octane, nonethanol fuel and she runs like a champ. If you have concerns with the bike, take it back to the dealer while the standard warranty is still in effect.
Tremonte I changed my oil again to a full synthetic instead of mineral and the chatter has gone away completely.
how can i increase the ground clearance
Hi there question for you does your engine sound like the tappets need ajusting as like mine on the ninja 650 2017 model ?
Brian
+ninja rider I haven't heard any unusual noises from the valves. Everything sounds normal. As long as there isn't a hard knocking sound, a light tick is fine. The exhaust valves can be heard to some degree.
Tremonte
ok that's for your quick response be safe.
The 2017 does it come standard with ABS?
There are two models. One with ABS and one without. ABS models will have extra wheel sensors.
Whered you get those mirrors?
Anyone get a really light rattling noise that sounds like its somewhere underneath you while riding below 4k rpms?
Yeah i got it too, it got louder when i let go of the throttle, when the rpm drop
looks like someone has a reef tank? CaribSea box there XD
Yessir.
@@Tremonte Cool!
what was that black you removed from the exhaust system?
Air injection system
So I have been looking at buying a Z650, mainly because of the riding position as well as the seat height. But what I don't want to happen is regret not getting the z900 with a bigger engine since I have ridden a zx6r and feel like I might get bored of the 650... How do be you compare it to the 900
+Josue Herrera it mostly depends what type of highways you ride, how long you’ve been riding, and how tall you are and how much you weigh. For me, the Z650 is the perfect machine for where I ride, and the comfort level I was after. The z900 would be better if you plan to ride a passenger or do long commutes. But, if you want light, agile, no passenger and torque for days.... the 650 will be more than enough. Coming off an R6, the Z650 is a much better machine for me personally. Less fatigue, and it will straight up out accelerate the R6 in the corners. (I have done a fair amount of tuning though) Top end it falls behind. But again, top speed wasn’t what I wanted. It all comes down the what you’re ultimately going to do with it.
Tremonte ,
So I am 5'4", about 163lbs. And I am primarily using it to commute to work and am looking to be doing some distance riding up to NY from Florida. I just want something I won't have to tune to get the extra power and will update minor things such as exhaust, mirrors and some other astetics and comfort items. I also love the look of the z900 but I am liking the price of the 2017 z650 right now. Lol I have been riding pretty much since I was 14. I started on dirt bikes and eventually moved up to the zx6r. I just want to get something that I will have for years to come.
Aaah... Its the same dilemma i have right now
So sorry to whine but if the music was softer I could hear the speech so much better from the distant mic used
Yes the music was distracting when trying to hear the bike sounds sometimes.
Seems to be a short guy bike.
how is ground clearance ??
It’s good. I have no issues with ground clearance. It’s better than any super sport because of no fairings.
PLEASE. turn off the background music while you are talking, especially if you want your listeners to hear a noise of some kind! Can't hear any sounds because of the blasted MUSIC! Also very difficult to concentrate on what you are saying.