When you think of Kawasaki’s Ninja 650, you don’t usually think of racing.
After all, you’re a lot more likely to see Kawasaki’s ZX-6 or ZX-10 models at the racetrack. There’s probably even more Ninja 250s and EX-500s on the track, than Ninja 650s. The middleweight parallel twin is a competent bike, but it’s usually purchased with everyday use in mind.
That might change in the future, though. Roadracing World says Kawasaki recently had a Ninja 650 racer concept put together, just in time for the 650’s North American press release in California. The machine features an Ohlins shock, steel-braided brake lines, Woodcraft-CFM clip-on handlebars, and Dunlop racing slicks.
Could this machine simply be a one-off, or could it be that Kawasaki’s got bigger plans ahead for their revamped 650? If we find out, we’ll let you know.
This is nothing new, Gary Nixon and Jay Springsteen raced one (among others) as the Pair O’Nines team in the late, lamented Moto-ST series. The machine was a resounding success. What are they hinting about now, a spec. series ???Â