Featured
Paul C Jiw

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

To get repair

Kawasaki - To get repair
Explore video interviews
Advertisements
Discussed with warranty department. They just stone walled. Called customer service and left multiple messages and the ignore They will not stand behind their product. Will never deal with Kawasaki again. They. are a rip off I want all to know that the engine had less than 100 hours and a year left on the warranty. The warranty is worthless
View full review
Loss:
$4000
Pros:
  • Reputation
Cons:
  • Will not honor warranty

Preferred solution: repair under the warranty

User's recommendation: Buy from a reputable company. Kawasaki fails in every way

Anonymous
map-marker Spartanburg, South Carolina

Warranty

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I bought the Cub Cadet ZT1 50 with a FR691V Kawaski Engine The engine has approx 60 hours on it with a year left on warranty using as much oil as gas smoking terrible contacted Kawaski was usless will not back engine
View full review
Nicholas KRX

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Recall part failure

Kawasaki - Recall part failure
Kawasaki - Recall part failure - Image 2

Good afternoon, I recently purchased a 2020 Krx 1000 from a private party, the only owner, within the last year. Low mileage on the unit and just out of warranty in may of 23.

This past weekend I was riding my unit on a familiar trail with minimal resistance and was caused to wreck due to the lower knuckle on the driver side sheering off. Due to the disconnection it threw me to my right side and snapped the right lower knuckle in the exact same spot. I have heard and read many things in regards to the problem that I believe became a company wide recall.

Being this was a known issue, is there anyway to replace my damaged oem parts through kawasaki with no charge to me? Thank you in advance, disappointed, otherwise loving my KRX owner.

View full review
Loss:
$2000
Pros:
  • Strong machines
Cons:
  • Unknown

Preferred solution: Replacement parts due to recall part failure.

User's recommendation: Buy extended warranty as long as you can and own your unit

Kevin W Zwt

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Trying to get a part

Dear Sir I have had my kawasaki vn1500 classic D 2 from new and I have loved it the best motorcycle I have ever had but I have bin trying to get a u joint for it with no look can you please tell me why I can get 1 I wood be very grateful if you can help thank you for your time and trouble Kevin
View full review
Pros:
  • Great products
Cons:
  • Do not answer your email

Preferred solution: I wood like a answer

User's recommendation: Customer services not good

Jason P Fzm

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Renfrew, Ontario

*** company

I bought a 2023 Teryx 4SE in June of this year. Not even 1000km and the front tires are done.

Right from the beginning I told the dealership in Renfrew Ontario I told them something was wrong with the alignment and they argued nothing was wrong. I called Kawasaki Canada and they said to take my bike to Ottawa at the good time Center so so took a day off work and drove the hour and a half to bring it so they could properly align it. I spent all day there. The good time Center did have good customer service and they are limited to what they can do as I didnt buy the bike there but they gave me a work order to send back to Kawasaki Canada.

After sending it in they said they said their hands were tied. They asked for proof so I sent pictures and work orders as they asked and then come back with theres nothing they can do. As for the Dealer in Renfrew they have the worst customer service. They asked for me to bring it in so I did.

They worked on it for 2 days and refused to give me a work order as to what they did to the bike. They said they only put air in the tires but meanwhile when I got it back the tires were switched from side to side and said they took measurements from the canter and said it was within the limits but the good time Center said it was off by 3/4 of an inch. I will never buy another Kawasaki again. I shouldnt have to buy new tires when my bike didnt even have 1000km.

It was not aligned from the beginning. It was an expensive lesson to learn not to buy Kawasaki.

View full review
Loss:
$1500
Cons:
  • Bad customer service

Preferred solution: Price reduction

User's recommendation: STAY AWAY

Anonymous
map-marker Fredericksburg, Virginia

Lawn mower

Kawasaki - Lawn mower
Kawasaki - Lawn mower - Image 2
Kawasaki - Lawn mower - Image 3
Kawasaki - Lawn mower - Image 4
We're the oil cooler hooks to the block the press in machine fit bung blew out of the block blowing oil everywhere just lucky I smelt oil and cut the machine off .It is on a 29 Hp Kawasaki engine on a Bobcat zero turn lawnmower tried to find out some information but no luck no body has ever seen anything like this just wondering if anyone has had this happen to them
View full review
Russell J Ejv

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Union, Missouri

Faulty equipment

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
The very first my clutch came apart They fixed and 2 weeks later it came apart again.this time it is taking longer to get it back.I have not made 1st payment on it and Jim Trenary will not get any of my business from here on.on a scale from 1 to 10 they are in the minus in my book .I have plans that I have to cancel because of this inconvenience. THANK YOU JIM TREANARY MOTOR SPORTS
View full review
Cons:
  • No communication with customers

Preferred solution: Price reduction

User's recommendation: Do not buy anything from these unprofessional.sadly run busses

Kevin B Ysg

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Laconia, New Hampshire

Problems with motorcycle

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

Hi this message is for service for Sam Kevin Buckland.

The Ninja 650 and Ninja 1000 are both models from Kawasakis popular Ninja lineup.

The Ninja 1000 is a sport tourer that offers sportbike-esque performance yet is comfortable for long-distance rides. The Ninja 650 is a versatile middleweight motorcycle that can handle everyday commuting and the occasional canyon-carving run.

x

0 seconds of 0 seconds

Loading ad

Both bikes are excellent options, but they have some flaws, which well outline in this article.

Here are the most common problems associated with the Ninja 650 and Ninja 100:

Table of Contents

Kawasaki 650

The following are common problems owners experience with the Kawasaki 650:

1.

Handlebar Buzzes During Acceleration

Owners report feeling pronounced vibrations from their bikes handlebars.

According to them, the issue occurs mostly at high RPMs (4000 RPMs 8000 RPMs). While it doesnt pose much of a threat to safety, one could find riding such a machine an uncomfortable experience.

Per multiple diagnoses, the problem is because of the fairing rattling while the bike is moving. This problem is widespread among Ninja 650 owners.

Kawasaki once issued a recall for the bikes affected at one time, hoping to fix the problem. What they did was to remove the fairing and place foam pads in strategic places to reduce the vibration.

From the continued complaints, its obvious this fix didnt solve the problem completely.

While there is a dearth of confirmed fixes for this problem, here are some suggested DIY solutions:

Keep the fairing bracket bolts tight

Get weighted ends for handlebars

Buy foam grips (to reduce numbness caused by the vibration)

2.

Repeated Cases of Backfiring and Surging

Engine backfiring is a fairly common issue on many Kawasaki Ninja bikes.

Many owners have reported experiences with the problem.

Backfiring usually occurs when something is wrong with the engines air-fuel mixture. Either the bike is running too lean (excess air) or too rich (excess fuel).

Ninja 650 owners report cases of their bike stalling because of an engine backfire. Surging is a different problem. Typically, your bikes speed should only decrease or increase when you change gears.

However, Ninja 650 owners report that their bikes speed fluctuates (surges) even when they keep the speed steady.

Apart from the jerking motion, you may see the tachometer showing different RPMs.

From reports of mechanics, the backfiring and surging problems are caused by similar factors namely, leaky vacuums, restricted fuel injectors, and faulty air filters.

A malfunctioning intake system could also be responsible for the erratic engine performance.

3.

Gear Shift Problems

The transmission is among the most important components of a bike.

Per reports from Ninja 650 owners, the transmission on this motorcycle is prone to several issues. Hence, riders tend to experience problems with the gear-shift process.

Some of these include:

Difficulty in shifting: The gears get stuck in one position and the rider cannot up-shift or downshift i.e. change gears.

Dropping out of gear: The rider changes gears, only for the transmission to pop back into the previous gear. Say, you attempt to switch from 4th to 5th gear and the transmission pops back into 4th gear, instead of 5th gear.

Other times, the tranny literally drops out of gear.

In such cases, the transmission cannot engage when you switch gears, akin to the bike hitting a false neutral.

A bike dropping out of gear will lose speed rapidly and puts you at significant risk.

As said earlier, this problem is usually the result of a malfunctioning transmission. Worn clutch plates can also be responsible, especially for the slipping transmission.

Still, wed advise that you have your motorcycle looked over by a trained technician. That way, youd be able to get an accurate diagnosis of the issue.

Here is a link to our article that talks on 5 Most-Common Problems With Kawasaki Motorcycles

Kawasaki Ninja 1000:

The following are widespread issues with the Kawasaki Ninja 1000:

1. Multiple Electrical Problems

Electrical problems can affect how a bike runs.

Some Ninja 1000 owners have not had good luck with the electrical systems on their bikes.

From their complaints, its obvious that the Ninja 1000 is plagued with electrical issues of its own.

Some of these include:

Bike refuses to start: According to some users, their bikes only start after multiple attempts or dont run at all.

In particular, some owners say the lights on the bike come up, yet the bike doesnt start.

Bike battery doesnt hold charge: Per reports, the Ninja 1000s battery sometimes drains too quickly, causing the bike not to start. In some cases, the bikes battery drains overnight, after a full charge. At other times, the battery drains after sitting unused for an extended period. Both instances arent normal, as a battery should hold power for a long period, not drain off rapidly.

Possible causes include:

Defective battery

Faulty electrical components, e.g., stator, regulator, rectifier, starter relay, etcetera.

2.

Gasket Leaks Oil

Oil leaks are every bike owners nightmare.

Many Ninja 1000 owners say they experience oil leaks on their bikes. This problem is most common with the 2016 model year bikes and is likely caused by a faulty oil/water pump seal.

When the seal is broken, oil leaks and passes through the weep hole (near the pump) and onto the floor. You may discover that the oil leak is coming from the left side of the bike.

The reason for this is that your bike leans to the left on its side-stand.

As such, the oil from the weep hole runs down and spills on the left side of the motorcycle.

3. Sticky Clutch Issue

If you own a Kawasaki Ninja 1000, especially a 2011-**** model, you may experience whats called a sticky clutch.

Typically, when you press the clutch lever, the clutch should disengage, allowing you to change gears.

If the clutch delays before it disengage, then you have a sticky clutch problem on your hands.

This problem is likely to affect your Ninja 1000 bike if your clutch plates arent getting enough lubrication.

Hence, check if the oil is worn or burned.

We advise checking the clutch plates to see if they are getting lubrication at all. This is because many owners traced the issue to dry clutches.

Other causes of this problem include worn/bent clutch plates. The clutch plates may need replacement. This would explain the hard shifts that often come with the sticky clutch issue.

Some mechanics have also suggested that using an aftermarket clutch lever can cause this problem.

If thats the case, replacing the aftermarket clutch lever with an OEM variant should solve the issue.

4.

The Bike Stalls Repeatedly

Per complaints from customers, the Ninja 1000 seems to have a tendency to stall.

However, the details of this problem vary across different individuals. Some report that the bike stalls mostly when it is idling, such as during pre-ride warm-up.

On the other hand, some say the stalling occurs when the engine reaches a certain temperature.

Here are some possible causes for this problem:

Lean air-fuel ratio

Engine idle level set too low

Low fuel pressure

Malfunctioning throttle position sensor (TPS)

High engine temperature

Pros of The Kawasaki 650 & 1000:

Kawasaki Ninja 650:

Here are some pros of the Ninja 650:

1. Suitable for Use in Hot Weather

Riding bikes in summer can be an uncomfortable experience.

The engines temperature will rise and the hot air that comes out from it will make your riding less-than-comfortable.

Luckily, Kawasaki designed the Ninja 650 with large side radiator cutouts. This feature helps redirect hot engine air away from the rider.

With this design, you can ride in comfort even in the hottest summer.

2.

Beginners Can Ride With Ease

With its 649cc twin-cylinder engine, its clear the Ninja 650 offers considerable performance.

However, what separates the motorcycle from its bigger Kawasaki cousins is its street-focused ergonomics and control, which makes it easy to ride for beginners.

You should also be reading our article which talks about 7 Most Common Problems with Kawasaki Ninja 250, 300 & 400

Kawasaki Ninja 1000:

The following are merits of the Ninja 1000

1. Impressive Versatility

The Ninja 1000 is a bike that wears many hats.

Thanks to its sportbike spirit and speed-minded technology, it offers enough performance for canyon-carving runs.

Still, it features improved rider ergonomics that make it suitable for long-distance touring.

All these combine to make the Ninja 1000 a versatile bike.

Cons of The Kawasaki 650 & 1000:

Kawasaki Ninja 650:

Handlebar buzzes under acceleration

Multiple gear-shift problems

Engine backfires and surges

Kawasaki Ninja 1000:

Intermittent electrical problems

Bike stalls on occasions

Sticky clutch problems

What Do the Reviews Say?

Kawasaki has improved Ninja 1000 on several fronts to make this a very accomplished sport-tourerThe neat luggage system and factory accessories such as grip warmers and 12V on the dash make it even more capable of comfortable sporty touring.

[Source: Motorbikewriter.com]

If youre after a fun, light, versatile middleweight sport machine, the Ninja 650 should be on your shortlistThe Ninja 650 kicks it up a notch with a TFT display and other updates that please our visual sense, while still satisfying our performance needs in the class.

[Source: Ultimatemotorcycling.com]

What Is the Resale Value On the Kawasaki 650 & 1000?

Here are resale figures for the Kawasaki 650 and 1000:

ModelYearMileagePriceNinja 650R20182,126$6,195Ninja 650R20132,347$4,492Ninja 650R200738,267$3,999Ninja 650R201625,006$6,495Ninja 10002****,029$6,900Ninja 100020****,077$5,999Ninja 10002****,720$8,995Ninja 10002****,886$9,999

Was this article helpful?

Post navigation

Previous Post

Next PosT

I want to let you guys were 100% wrong this is twice my bike has been at HK powersports in Laconia New Hampshire Kawasaki dealer for the same problems due to the all the technical issues that were called back so on and I have serious accident due to the clutch and the shifting and I have probably a broken femur and there's damages to the bike now twice in the repair shop they're not fix the original problems I would like a replacement of my bike please it's not safe to drive and many reasons why if you call HK powersports in Laconia New Hampshire

603- 524-****

View full review
Loss:
$8
Pros:
  • Normally reliable
Cons:
  • Parts selection
  • Product
  • Bad engine

Preferred solution: Bike replaced

Anonymous
map-marker Vancouver, British Columbia

Jet ski

I couldnt get ahold of anyone and have been 3 yrs dealing with the situation and need someone to talk too and that seems hard to do.
View full review
Anonymous
map-marker Sacramento, California

Add someone to the account

I want to add someone to the account, his name is Christianhow do I do that?? My number is 707653****, I want to be able to add him
View full review
Dustin P Tns

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Doylestown, Pennsylvania

No spark Need help

Hey my name is Dustin and I recently bought a 2006 KLR 650 from a buddy. Well I ran into a problem with my electrical wiring harness and I'm getting no spark. Can you send me diagram of it along with the CDI diagram? I would really appreciate it you have no idea. Thank you for your time.
View full review
Yiannis K Tke

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Question about my new stx160 jet ski

My complain is that I have no answer from you in my question means that I ask you what's the difference of fuel consumption between slow and fast immobilizer? I have a jet ski rental place so I need to know Thanks a lot YIANNIS from greece
View full review

Preferred solution: An official answer on my question

Yiannis K Tke

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Athens, Attica

Question about my new stx160 jet ski

I didn't have any answer from you about my question for slow and fast immobilizer and differences of fuel consumption ... I use it for professional use so I need to know
View full review
Anonymous
map-marker Wheeling, Illinois

Financialni help in attempting to buy a bike

I believe had he really wanted to he could have located a bank to work with us our credit is not that bad score of low to mid 600
View full review
Anonymous
map-marker Wheeling, Illinois

Financial no help

The salesperson did nothing acceptable did not pick up the phone and explain our situation toany one
View full review
Myint S

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Amsterdam, North Holland

How to disassembly of radialpluncar pump

dear sir, our ship install hydraulic steering gear model R 11-140VHR type is travel we did assembly pipe we found some material from pump replenishing valve.So I would like to know how to take off Drive Shaft from Casing.Please reply to me ASPS. Thank You Sir.
View full review
Harlyn Kjs

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Chicago, Illinois

Dealer complaint

Bought new Kawasaki in step of2022. The decals were bad so they promised me a new set. Still waiting on decals. Theyre waiting for me to forget the decals. Please help
View full review

About

Summary

American Kawasaki Motorcycle Corp. was started in March of 1966 in Chicago. The first bikes sold were under the brand name of Omega. Today JET SKI watercraft brand is a leader in the market. At the present time, Kawasaki's annual revenue hits 1.6 billion dollars. There are approximately 480 employees and more than 1,500 dealers. Company's bestselling Ninja sport bikes, classic Vulcan cruisers, rugged ATV and Mule utility vehicles and exclusive JET SKI watercraft form the foundation of the company image. Except for the headquarters building in Irvine, California, Kawasaki operates regional sales offices and/or distribution centers in Piscataway, New Jersey; Fort Worth, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. of Lincoln, Nebraska operates a small engine manufacturing plant in Maryville, Missouri.

Kawasaki reviews and complaints

Kawasaki is ranked 58 out of 364 in Motorcycles and ATVs category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

Why Trust Reviews on PissedConsumer?

  • Professional auto and live moderation
  • 100% user-generated content
  • Equal opportunity and protection
  • Zero tolerance for fake reviews
  • Verified content
  • PissedConsumer is on the Inc. 5000 list

For more information read Blog article