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After pretty much all the old 600cc bikes kicked the bucket, a phoenix has risen from their ashes. That phoenix comes in the shape of a parallel twin.
With emissions restrictions strangling the life out of the old, outdated, and in many ways inefficient small displacement inline-4s, we have seen the market change shape in a rather dramatic fashion. Old 600’s were anything but approachable, making an enormous amount of power all the way at the top of the rev-range, meant they would regularly catch out novices. The new parallel twins make less power and delivers it in a more linear way, which does take some of the theater away, but it makes them considerably cheaper to both purchase and own. Thanks to the strides manufacturers have taken in chassis and suspension development, these bikes are able to make the most of their power, too.
Manufacturers are still split on how they want to market these bikes, some want to emphasize their sportbike attributes and others want to focus on their all-round ability. This divide couldn’t be more apparent when we look at the Kawasaki Ninja 650 and the all new Yamaha R7.
8 Ninja: Price
Kawasaki has a knack for offering more, for less. The 650 is no exception, it gets pretty much everything you would want on a modern bike at a bargain-basement price.
As is the case with everything in life, you get what you pay for in this regard and the fit and finish isn’t quite up to standard and if you opt for the less bold (maybe gaudy) color options you will notice just how dated the design is.
7 R7: Performance
When Yamaha went on a mission to plop their CP2 engine into every conceivable type of motorcycle you can purchase today, we were not surprised when they announced this middleweight sportbike.
What did surprise us was how they packaged it. The 70-odd horsepower the bike produces doesn’t paint the full picture. Its incredible torque means it pulls hard, it actually makes for an aggressive little middleweight, and Yamaha emphasized this by giving the bike proper sportbike ergos.
6 Ninja: Approachable
One thing they made clear to everyone, is the fact that this can indeed be a sportbike for everyone. With a low seat height and an upright riding position, this is a bike designed with first time riders in mind.
Its power delivery is also predictable and easy to handle, making it a top choice for a first time rider that might be concerned that a smaller displacement bike will get boring.
5 R7: Better Chassis
We need to stress the fact that no matter how much some random salesmen may try to convince you otherwise, the R7 is not a bike that was designed with the beginner market in mind.
It might seem confusing, but a more experienced Yamaha salesman will gladly steer you toward the more practical MT bike if you are after a beginner-friendly machine. The R7 has a taut chassis that is designed for dynamic and aggressive riding on a track, not for the daily commute. It should be your first sportbike or track bike, not your first actual bike.
4 Ninja: Practical
Few sportbikes are going to be as versatile as the Ninja, it is something that can genuinely get your pulse up on the right road and still nail the daily commute.
It will lose out when it comes to out-and-out performance, but if you want a bike that looks and feels like a sportbike but can actually be used every day, the Ninja is the perfect bike.
3 R7: Trackable
Not to say you can’t take the Kawa to the track, but the Yamaha will show it (and some larger displacement bikes) a clean pair of heels.
It really is that good on track, the uprated suspension, stiffened steel trellis frame and tuned CP2 all work beautifully in unison. If you put the R6 next to it (arguably still the best track bike money can buy), you will see why immediately, the dimensions and rider triangle are near identical.
2 Ninja: Comfortable
With a rider triangle that will make you feel like you got on a naked bike (Z650 has the same ergos) or a sport tourer.
It is a bike that can be ridden for days on end, with the only drawback being its sub-par seat, which incidentally is still more comfortable than most dedicated sportbikes. This is really a bike you could buy and ride every day.
1 R7: Fun
If you want a new sportbike, and you are constrained to a certain budget, you should not look too much further than the R7.
It loses marks in terms of daily usability, something quite literally nobody was expecting, but it makes for the most fun and engaging motorcycle in this particular market segment. You could make a decent argument for the practical streak of the Ninja, but if it is practicality you are after, there is a bevy of naked bikes (including the aforementioned MT-07) that all do an even better job.