| December 13, 2016
The past few years have witnessed a major sea shift in customer tastes and trends, favoring practicality, functionality, and ride-ability. Nowhere is this more true than in the naked class, quite specifically the middleweights. Manufacturers are clamoring for a piece of the middleweight naked pie because it’s becoming a key entry point for people interested in getting into motorcycles.
It’s a great time to be newbie with more exciting, yet easy-to-ride and affordable motorcycles emerging on the scene like the all-new Kawasaki Z650.
Kawasaki’s response to this burgeoning, consumer-driven class is their all-new Z650 for 2017. The intent was to create a machine that attracts new riders into the fold—granting enough performance for the newbie to evolve into—while at the same time providing a mount that can keep more experienced riders entertained. The end result is a bike with exceptional functionality as a daily rider matched with enough performance to reward a day in the canyons, capable of some spirited riding.
By Jeff Buchanan | Photos by Kevin Wing
Kawasaki began with the proven parallel-twin plant that powers their Ninja 650 and wrapped a new tubular trellis frame around it, sculpting an attractive motorcycle by incorporating its technical bits as aesthetic design cues. What little there is in the way of body parts carry a modern, wedged theme throughout, from the gas tank to the tail section, tastefully augmented by the bikini fairing, all contributing an impressive and attractive aura to the Z650.
What justifies the “all-new” moniker for the Z650 is the trellis frame, the exposed tubes working as much a visual design element as a stress-bearing unit (especially in the Pearl Flat Stardust paint scheme that presents the frame in a striking green). The angles of the trellis chassis are comprised of short lengths of tubing, with as straight a bend as possible, rendering a high degree of lateral and torsional rigidity to reduce frame flex, which is key to stability and more precise handling. The trellis frame is mated with a high-tensile, hollow-pressed gull wing design swingarm. The swingarm was designed to have the straightest line possible from the pivot bolt to the axle to provide optimal rigidity for minimal flex.
These are two of the three color options for the Z650.
Squeezed into the trellis frame is a 649cc liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve per cylinder parallel-twin engine. The 83mm x 60mm bore and stroke engine has a 10.8:1 compression ratio. The platform is a good choice, with an easy-to-ride disposition and forgiving nature courtesy of decent low-end, which translates to easier pull away from dead stop. The engine is a proven performer, especially where durability is concerned. Kawasaki recently used the parallel twin as a base to power the manufacturer to the 2016 AMA GNC1 Flat Track Championship, which speaks volumes about the potential of the bike’s internals, as well as its reliability.
Engineers focused their attention on power delivery to support everyday riding as opposed to the type of top-end performance rarely achieved on the street. Twin 36mm throttle bodies feed slim, downdraft-styled intake ports that favor low and midrange response with relatively crisp throttle response and acceleration as opposed to top-end speed. The bike is emboldened by delivery of useable torque at lower rpm—which gets to the rear wheel via final chain drive.
The Z650 doubles as a fun commuter and weekend road bike.
The Z650’s parallel twin has a relatively torquey disposition (the torque rating of 48.5 lb-ft @ 6,500 rpm exaggerated by the bike’s low weight—406 pounds (wet), which helps it to get off the line with relative ease. Surprisingly, despite the small displacement, the bike can be driven into a corner a gear high and still provides enough low-end to pull it through without scrambling for gears. The engine also has a sporting characteristic that welcomes a strong hand to get it into the higher revs—if so desired—with surprising response for a parallel twin. The resulting exhaust note from the stubby header pipe when the bike is in the higher revs is sweet mechanical music (which begs one to wonder what an aftermarket pipe might sound like).
As with most small displacement parallel twins there is a vague hesitation in throttle response directly off idle. Consequently, if the throttle is chopped mid-corner this momentary hesitation can be disconcerting to a newer rider. The remedy is simply to maintain revs and throttle setting through the corner. I mention this primarily for new riders who have more of a tendency to vacillate throttle application through corners.
Scheduled for release this month, we won’t be surprised if these things fly off the shelf.
The six-speed transmission is well-spaced, with ratios that accommodate the Z650’s middleweight power. Shifting is aided by an assist/slipper clutch with a very light pull (intended to reduce rider fatigue) and smooths out aggressive downshifts by gradually matching the rear wheel speed to engine rotation, helping to tame any rear wheel hop. The only complaint suffered was the gearbox’s reluctance to up-shift smoothly when the throttle was wicked open. This was easily remedied by more precise (read; less sloppy) shifts and a more concentrated chop of the throttle.
For suspension the Z650 sports 41mm KYB forks in traditional telescopic design, providing 4.9 inches of travel. Though they provide adequate suspension for the majority of riders opting for the machine, the forks do bottom when slapped with divots or ruts. A slightly thicker oil at first service would probably do wonders to help stiffen things up. For the back end, the gull wing swingarm is suspended by a KYB shock (with adjustable pre-load and offering 5.1-inches of travel) mounted in a horizontal back-link with progressive ratio design to prevent bottoming. The factory settings provided a plush ride over a range of surfaces as well as providing a planted feel in corners.
The gull-wing swingarm looks full race. Overall, the Z650 is a looker.
A good deal of effort went into ergonomics to ensure a comfortable ride for a range of heights and body types. The seat-to-peg relation provides comfortable knee bend and is complimented by an equally comfortable, relaxed reach to the bars. The seat is surprisingly comfortable despite its narrowness, and height is an unintimidating 30.9-inches, enhanced by the bike’s narrow midsection that allows unobstructed leg reach when stopped. These measurements, when combined with the litheness, make the Z650 extremely easy to maneuver, especially at low speeds.
Braking duties are handled by dual Nissin 2-piston calipers mated to 300mm discs on the front and a single caliper grabbing a 220 disc on the rear. These brake components, when coupled with the bike’s feathery weight, provides exceptional stopping power with an even, consistent feel in the lever. The Z responds favorably to trail braking, without any jitters or any noticeable tendency to try and stand up. The bike tested was equipped with ABS, specifically a Bosch 9.1M unit. Under heavy braking the levers maintained consistent feel without any oscillation. Five-spoke, 17-inch wheels are mounted with Dunlop Sportmax rubber and provide excellent grip.
The Z650 is available with ABS ($7399) or without ($6999).
Nimble and maneuverable on the street and in stop and go traffic, when unleashed on a twisting canyon the Z650 exhibits a pleasantly sporting nature. The upright bars provide a high degree of leverage for muscling the machine around and lend themselves to a more precise turn-in. Despite the bike’s light weight, it’s relatively stable under hard braking and has midcorner stability reminiscent of a larger sportbike. A great deal of effort was devoted to centralized mass—right down to the stubby, under-slung muffler—which contributes to the Z650’s responsive and intuitive handling.
Nice touches abound on the Z650, from rubber inserts on the footpegs to help absorb vibration and provide a degree of cushioning, to the mirrors, which continue the wedged design cues and provide surprisingly effective functionality (as opposed to merely being attractive). Clever luggage hooks are built into the rear pegs as anchor points for a rear bag. The whole design package is rounded out with a “Z” pattern rear taillight.
Here is a starter motorcycle that you’ll want to keep even after you’re master of the roads
As for instrumentation, Kawasaki has long been the masters of stuffing a whole lot of useful information into a very small plot of real estate. The Z650 continues this tradition with a compact, easy to read display with a user-selected tachometer—three choices—which incorporates an inventive design of digital artistry which makes the tachometer highly visible. Packed into the dash are a digital gear indicator, shift light, digital speedometer, clock and trip meters, engine and oil warning lights, high beam and turn-signal indicators and a neutral light.
At the end of the day, what the 2017 Kawasaki Z650 offers is a fun-to-ride motorcycle perfect for someone brand new, or relatively new to motorcycles. The Z650 is a great bike to learn on, yet possesses enough performance to accommodate a rider’s increasing demands as they mature into higher levels of ability. A perfect daily commuter, the bike’s nimbleness makes maneuvering city streets and congested traffic a breeze.
Even well-experienced riders will enjoy the Z650 on roads like these.
To fulfill the creative brief of building a motorcycle that would attract new riders, Kawasaki worked hard to deliver an attractive motorcycle (available in Pearl Flat Stardust, Metallic Spark Black, Metallic Flat Spark Black) with an equally attractive (read: low) MSRP. Priced at $6999 ($7399 with ABS) the 2017 Z650 provides a lot of motorcycle for the buck. CN
2017 Kawasaki Z650 Specifications
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ENGINE:
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Liquid-cooled, DOCH, 4-stroke, parallel twin
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DISPLACEMENT:
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649cc
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BORE X STROKE:
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83 x 60mm
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COMPRESSION RATIO:
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10.8:1
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FUEL SYSTEM:
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DFI with Keihin 36mm Keihin throttle bodies
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IGNITION:
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TCBI with electronic advance
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TRANSMISSION:
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6-speed, return shift
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FINAL DRIVE:
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Sealed chain
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FRONT SUSPENSION:
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Telescopic fork
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REAR SUSPENSION:
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Horizontal back-link with adj. preload, swingarm
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FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:
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4.9 in.
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REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:
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5.1 in.
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FRONT TIRE:
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Dunlop 120/70 ZR17
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REAR TIRE:
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Dunlop Sportmax D214
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FRONT BRAKE:
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Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with 4-piston calipers, ABS
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REAR BRAKE:
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Single 220mm petal-style disc w/ABS
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FRAME TYPE:
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Trellis, high tensile steel
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RAKE/TRAIL:
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24.0°/3.9 in.
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GROUND CLEARANCE:
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5.1 in.
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SEAT HEIGHT:
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30.9 in.
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CURB WEIGHT:
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ABS: 410.1 lbs. / Non ABS: 405.7 lbs.
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FUEL CAPACITY:
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4.0 gal.
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WHEELBASE:
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55.5 in.
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COLORS:
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Metallic Flat Spark Black, Metallic Spark Black, Pearl Flat Stardust White/Metallic Spark Black.
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WARRANTY:
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12-Month Limited Warranty
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