I have a 2009 650R in the Kawi Green and I've had it for a couple months now and is in great condition. Bought it used with all standard equipment on it and the only thing I have done was lower the back wheel 2in because I am not the tallest person in the world. I am now coming into some extra cash with a new job and am looking into possibly adding some new modifications/upgrades to it. The only thing is is that i dont know what the best brands are or what to even change. Need some help, want to make it look completely awesome while still getting some sort of overall performance upgrade.
Tail-tidy and mini rear indicators are always a win!
But in my point of view, There's no point messing with the performance too much otherwise you might aswell buy a faster bike haha
I have a 2011 with sport bars, Leo Vince GP slip on, and frame sliders. Upgrades depend on what you will be using the bike for. I'm using mine for comuting and ocassional track days. If I planned on keeping it for a dedicated track bike I would fork out the money to upgrade brakes, suspension, etc.
Best thing you can get is a slip on exhaust... (I have the Arrow one), it will change the whole 'smile factor' of the bike and not to mention losing quite a few pounds in weight over the stock one.
You should also get a tail tidy (i have the R & G one) and crash protectors (frame sliders).
These are all easy upgrades to fit yourself and not too expensive.
From there on, I'd recommended some braided lines and racing pads for your brakes. Many people also go for sports bars from the ninjashop, but it depends on whether you want it to feel like a sports bike or not. It will handle better in the twisties but you will have more weight on your wrists for normal riding.
I have Renthal superlows (I think), Yoshimura TRC exhaust (w/baffle), tail tidy and integrated tail light
For a street bike I think that + an HID projector retrofit is about the extent of mods worth getting for the avg Joe. I would switch the Renthals for sport bars though.
I outfitted mine for commuting and some touring. The prior owner had put on:
Yohimura Exhaust
12-Volt Socket
Trickle Charger Pigtails
LED lighting kit under the fairing
Tidy Tail
Adjustable, Flip-up levers
I added:
GSG-Moto Framesliders
Givi Pannier Side and Top Case Racks (V35 side cases on the way)
Oxford Heated Grips
Twisted Throttle Fuse Block
Power Commander - smooths out the power band, not for power
The only thing it needs now are some hand guards I can mount on the bar ends, and a new seat. My local shop owner says he can fab some guard mounts for me, since there is no room on the bars for standard guard mounts. He'll slip the mount between the bar end weights and the grips. As for the seat, I have an upholsterer buddy who is going to build my seat up using some better filler and a LUImoto seat cover.
Definitely a slip-on for better sound. The weight reduction and slight power increase aren't bad either. From there it depends on how you use the bike. For my riding, heated grips and some luggage capacity would be good practical mods.
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2007 Ninja 650R-Scorpion slip-on, formerly lowered, still cosmetically challenged.
2006 Ninja 250R-Totalled by an inattentive Toyota driver while parked.
Can't remember the company name but I put heated grips on my 919 last year and it only cost me about $40. Only problem was I could not then put on a throtle lock.
The trick is to decide what is wrong about the bike for you, then mod to correct it.
Learning how to properly control the bike at low speed is a good mod and saves having to lower it, which affects the steering geometry, making the bike slower into corners. If you balance that by lowering the front fork yolks you restrict ground clearance and lean angle.
When you decide what you don't like and what you need to change, come back and ask how to make that change. Mods for the sake of mods is a stupid idea. Changing a slip on because you don't like the sound is a good thing to do. Changing it if you're happy with it is not.
Upgrades/Modifications
Linear Mode
