New Kawasaki Z650 and Z900
A new smaller sibling for the Z1000 and a replacement for the ER-6n
AFTER taking the covers of new models at Intermot this week, Kawasaki took the unusual step of releasing pictures of two more ahead of their debut in Milan next month.
They are the Z900 and the Z650.
The Z900 (pictured above) uses an all-new steel-trellis frame housing a 948cc in-line-four, delivering 124.5hp in an ‘extremely manageable’ way, according to Kawasaki.
The plant’s based on 1043cc in-line-four from the Z1000.
A 3.9kg aluminium swing-arm contributes to an overall weight of 210.5kg with ABS, ensuring ‘nimble handling’, Kawasaki says, with an accessible seat height of 794 mm.
It’s got wide bars, a ‘sporty riding position’ and comes with an assist and slipper clutch, to make the lever easier to pull and reduce back-torque on down-shifts.
It’s got inverted forks with step-less rebound damping and spring pre-load adjustability. The horizontal rear shock also features rebound and pre-load adjustability.
It comes in grey and black, green and black, blue and grey or metallic black and ‘spark’ black.
The new Z650
The Z650 is effectively a replacement for the ER-6n (just as the new Ninja 650 replaces the ER-6f).
It’s got a 650cc parallel-twin in a new steel-trellis frame, offering ‘strong low-mid-range torque’ in a ‘slim, compact middleweight package’ according to Kawasaki.
It also comes with an assist and slipper clutch and is easy to manoeuvre, with a ‘relaxed and sporty’ riding position and a manageable seat height of 790mm, Kawasaki says.
It comes in white and black, green and black, ‘raw titanium’ and black or metallic black and ‘spark’ black.
Both new models are set to debut properly at the Eicma motorcycle show in Milan, Italy, on November 8.
