For us, this bike as a lot to live up to; replacing the ER-6N is always going to be a tough job as it was such an easy, all round package and the ‘Z’ heritage is filled with 40 years of incredible machines – meaning a combination of the two for this bike could be an absolute winner.
Yet we’ve always wanted that little bit of extra spice for the ER-6N as this is Fast Bikes after all; a practical bike that is a blast when its fast, and that is much harder to find than it sounds. Yet luckily for us (and you), Kawasaki really do mean business: the Z650 is Lighter, punchier and has looks that replicate an angry Transformer because of their ‘Sugomi’ design approach (basically lean and mean), which automatically fill us with high hopes for the newest addition to the Z family.
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I mean, even the introduction clip in the presentation is a stunt-esque video brimmed with fast-ish riding, skids and wheelies. Could this be the perfect middle ground between price, performance, passiveness and madness? If you’re one of the 12,000 people who has already put an order down on this bike, you’re going to like the answer…
Check out next months mag to find the full review!
Price: £6099
Specs:
Type: 649cc Liquid cooled, double overhead camshaft, eight-valve parallel twin
Compression: 10.8:1
Power: 67BHP @8,000 RPM
Fuelling: Electronic fuel injection with 36mm diameter throttle bodies
Frame: High tensile steel trellis
Front Suspension: 41 mm telescopic front forks
Rear Suspension: Horizontal Back-link rear suspension
Front Brakes: 300MM dual discs with 2 piston Caliper
Rear Brakes: 200MM Single disc with 1 piston Caliper
Dimensions: L-2055MM W-775MM H-1070MM
Seat Height: 790MM
Kerb Weight: 187KG
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