When manufacturers surprise the riders with new motorcycles, it gives the enthusiasts a feeling that is one level higher to a launch that is planned. Kawasaki surprised the Indian market by launching various line-up of motorcycles. Enthusiasts like me are so eager to lay our hands on those motorcycles. The Z650 is the successor of the Er-6n- one of the most renown motorcycles for its refinement levels. The Z650 an entry level middleweight superbike is placed in between the Z250 and the Z900 at an affordable range. Its major barrier is the TNT600i ABS from Benelli. Benelli offers 2 cylinders more for some extra money that is paid. Can the Z650 overcome its major barrier, the TNT 600i ABS the highest selling a 600cc motorcycle in India?
Design & Style:
Upfront the Z650 looks all new and refreshing when compared to its predecessor the Er-6n. It retains some of the characteristics of its older sibling the Z900. The low placed headlamps give it a pure streetfighter look and feel. Kawasaki calls its riding position fierce-predator. It has a seamlessly integrated cowl and a windscreen.
The Z650 carries out the similar trellis frame as seen on the Z900. The exhaust is positioned like the Ninja 650. The tail light is similar to the other Z series of motorcycles from Kawasaki. The Z-shaped LED headlights look special. Kawasaki has offered wider seats and upright handlebars to make the riding experience easy and pleasurable. The wide handlebar will help in maneuvering the motorcycle with ease.
Kawasaki has retained the same instrument panel that we had seen on the Z900. The instrument panel gets a speedometer, tachometer, trip meters, odometer, clock, gear shift indicator fuel gauge and low oil and battery indicators. The Z650 doesn't look as huge as the Tnt600i, it looks compact. The design looks very promising. The motorcycle weighs 187kgs with a seat height of 790mm. The overall length of the motorcycle is 2055mm with a ground clearance of 130mm. It is said to have a massive 15 liter fuel tank enabling the rider to ride happily without stopping much for fueling.Engine:
Powering the new Kawasaki Z650 is a liquid-cooled parallel twin motor churning out 67BHP at 8000 PM, which is a drop of 4BHP in comparison to its predecessor, but the new machine is Euro 4 emission norms compliant. The motorcycle produces a peak torque 67.5Nm at 6500RPM. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox which now comes with a slipper clutch to assist the rider during aggressive downshifts preventing lockups. Kawasaki says the engine has been tweaked to deliver improved low to mid-range performance. Its rivals are stronger in terms of engine figures, in almost every aspect. But the refinement level that is provided by Kawasaki is just so unbeatable. The motorcycle is said to provide a fuel economy between 20-25 Kmpl, which is a decent figure for a 600cc mill. Brakes and Suspension:
The front end gets a dual semi-floating dual piston 300mm petal disc. The rear gets a single 220mm single piston disc. The Z650 gets ABS as standard and is sourced from Bosch. Kawasaki has planned to stick on to the conventional 41mm telescopic forks with 125mm travel. The rear gets a mono shock, horizontal back-link with preload adjustment with 130mm travel. The front tire is 120/70 ZR17 and the rear gets a 160/60 ZR17 tire. With rivals like the Benelli TNT600i, Honda CBR 650F and Triumph Street Triple let us wait and watch how the Z650 can compete against and overpower its rivals. The motorcycle looks fresh and promising, so let's wait until we get our hands on it.
By: Rishath Suresh
