‘Hold on tight for Suzuki’s GSX1400’
New tech and styling may give budget middleweight the edge
Kawasaki will be keen to keep price competitive
Kawasaki have given the popular Ninja 650 a revamp for 2020.
The middleweight has packed decent performance at a sensible price and now looks to add a bit of modernity to the mix with a high tech dash, Bluetooth connectivity and a styling revamp.
The 650 replaced the old ER-6F in 2017 and immediately appealed to the cost-conscious with a competitive £6599 price. The new bike gets a new 10.9cm full-colour TFT dash – with reversible display – complete with Bluetooth connectivity via a smart phone app, which includes a navigation function. There are also new LED lights front and rear and Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tyres as standard. The bike also gets sharper styling while the pillion seat has been redesigned to make it more comfortable. The parallel-twin engine, producing 67bhp and 49ftlb, remains the same as does the tubular steel trellis chassis. The 2020 Ninja 650 will come in three new colour schemes; green and black, black, or white and black. Although prices have yet to be announced, Kawasaki will be keen to keep the machine competitively priced so we’d expect it to arrive in dealers at around the £6750 mark. Released alongside the new bike is a raft of official accessories that will enable owners to tune the personality of their new Ninja to suit their needs. Highlights include panniers, a topbox, bigger screen, seat cowl, tankbag, radiator protector and bespoke crash protection.