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Kawasaki ninja 500 on long trip

1.2K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  Cynjut  
#1 ·
I'm wanting to know how would a 500 ninja on on a long trip with a passenger on a long trip I'm not talking about cross country but a couple hours from home to start with and would love to ride to the great Smokey mountains which is about 400 miles. I have looked at the corbine seat for the ninja anybody used the gunfighter and the lady seat they make.
 
#2 ·
Solo, it would be fun. The Ninja 500 is quick and agile. With a passenger, the bike will do it, but it is going to be crammed, and of course, even though they have a passenger seat, mid or small bikes are not really meant to carry a passenger on very long trips.

A passenger is a heavy load, and a motorcycle for really coping with it without affecting much performance, it needs at least 60 ft-lb of torque. You are talking 900 cc territory here. This is to do it in confort and still enjoying the quickness of the bike.

Of course, am from the third world originally and over there it is very common seen 150 cc bikes carrying the rider, a female passenger with a stroller in hand, and a small child on the tank, and the bike still manages, but it is not pretty.
 
#3 ·
Would a 650 be any better or would a zx series be better I just like the sitting position on the ninja 500 how would the zx be on long trips. I have thought about a 750 Vulcan I just don't like a cruiser like a sportbike
 
#4 ·
The size of the motor is one issue (horsepower to the road under load). For this, two people on a bike on the highway is asking for something a little more like an 800+ CC bike to obe comfortable.

The style of the bike is a completely separate issue, and the position of the rider and passenger will depend a lot on the people. At my age and inclination to ache, I wouldn't do a 500 mile trip on a Ninja of any flavor, alone or with a passenger, but I'd have no problem with a super-ironbutt on either of my KZs.