The Kawasaki Ninja 650 Arrow Performance offers the same well judged middle weight sports tourer with an Arrow full system exhaust and a more comprehensively finished specification. It is the choice for a rider who wants the Ninja 650 lifted above standard, with the practical extras included as well as the performance parts.
The 649cc liquid cooled parallel twin remains the reason this bike works so well. It makes 50.2kW, or 68PS, at 8,000rpm and 64Nm of torque at 6,700rpm, a spread that puts genuine drive exactly where road riding uses it. A six speed gearbox handles the ratios, and the engine’s willingness low down means the Ninja 650 rarely feels like it needs working hard. The Arrow full system, homologated to Euro 5+, is lighter than the standard exhaust and gives the twin a noticeably richer, more resonant tone through the midrange.
Handling is deliberately friendly. The 41mm telescopic fork and Horizontal Back link rear shock with adjustable preload are calibrated to absorb British roads, and dual semi floating 300mm petal discs with two piston calipers provide reassuring stopping power. On 120/70ZR17 front and 160/60ZR17 rear tyres, at 193kg kerb weight with a 1,410mm wheelbase and a 790mm seat, it steers lightly and holds a line without demanding physical effort. The 15 litre tank gives sensible range between fills.
A wet multi disc assist and slipper clutch makes the lever light in traffic and keeps the rear composed under hard downshifts, and CO2 emissions of 107g per kilometre keep running costs sensible. Where this edition pulls ahead is the breadth of its kit. Alongside the exhaust it carries a single seat cover for a tidier tail, a smoke windscreen for better wind protection with a darker look, a tank pad to stop zips and buckles marking the paint, a dashboard screen protector and a Kawasaki tag keyring. It is the more thoroughly equipped of the two Performance editions and the one to choose if you want everything included. Visit GT Motorcycles in Plymouth, your Kawasaki specialist for Devon and Cornwall, where our team can explain finance options and book you a test ride.
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