Initial days with my Kawasaki Ninja 500: 1st service & 600 km solo ride

One thing I observed is the engine performance does vary with higher octane fuel.

BHPian sasmit recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

1700 kms update :

Did my first service around the 800km mark as it was one month, nothing much done. Oil and filter changed, chain cleaned and lubed, set me back by 8K.

Found no perceptible change in the engine behavior. Performance has remained more or less the same. One thing I observed is the engine performance does vary with higher octane fuel. Although this is a relatively low compression engine (11.3:1) compared to super sports stuff, it does seem to benefit from xp95.

Went on a small solo trip to my paternal village which is a 600Kms round trip. Carried my Viaterra tailbag, which thankfully fits on the Ninja very well.

Its a breeze on the open road, cruises beautifully from 80-120. The route takes you though a brief section of the 6 lane Kolkata Chennai - NH16 and then turns on to state highways which pass through some very scenic extended eastern ghats.

Fuel efficiency i got was 27 kmpl ! with cruising speeds raising from 80-130 on the state highways and few bursts of 160 on the 6 lane NH16. Some clicks I took on the way .

Starting from home, all suited up.

Beautiful tree canopy on a state highway section

A not so full reservoir of an earth dam closer to my destination

The steed

On a beautiful jungle section in the Satkosia tiger reserve

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