KAWASAKI Z650RS (2022 - on) Review

The bike is comfy and stops well. It's at its best on a decent stretch of B road, and is fun to flick around even on my commute. Even though I've test ridden a bigger bike, I still get a thrill when I open up the throttle as I come off a roundabout onto the long wide sweeping bends of the mile long run into my village. It's also good in urban traffic or motorway queues (I've done the Dartford crossing many times) as it's small enough to filter easily. On the motorway when there's no queue the bike is fine, although the increasing number of trips I'm making of this type is one of the reasons I'm thinking of switching to something bigger. It's not that the Zed struggles in any way, more just it's not made with motorway riding in mind. It's windy, noisy and if the weather is bad it's pretty grim. I've done the run several times in autumn/winter and once in the summer where it was more fun, but I'd recommend some music in your ears unless you like the white noise of wind for several hours! The smaller fuel tank forces you to stop every couple of hours or so on the motorway, but even without that I think you would want the break anyway. Once you get closer to your destination and come off the big roads, it's back to fun around town or down a B road again so you'll feel better before you park up.

I've had zero problems with the engine - it pulls away well enough from start, delivers power well peaking around 8-9Krpm but will keep going up to 10Krpm if you need it. Easily hitting 60mph in 3-4 seconds with no problem. It doesn't burn through oil really at all, and the engine braking is plenty for if you need to slow up again - only really need the brakes if something forces you to use them. It's great for a beginner, and will still offer fun to the more experienced rider. It sounds fine too - I recently rode a Tiger 1200 explorer and I actually prefer the grunty sound of the Zed's twin over the more razzy sound of Triumph's triple. It feels more characterful I found, even though it has less power. Maybe I'm getting too attached to it! Anyway, it runs well and has never let me down.

In the 2.5 years I've owned this bike, very little has gone wrong with it. I discovered that the problems with the chain I mentioned in my April 2023 review was due to the fact that I wasn't using an all weather chain lubricant, so the wintery weather had simply washed it all off! The one other issue I have had was that something went wrong with an electrical relay, which caused the bike's thermometer to skyrocket, even though the bike was normal temperature (or indeed cold when switched off). This meant it was tricky to start the engine in colder weather as the bike assumed it was already hot and wouldn't put the choke in, and then once it did finally start the display temp would hit the top and the fan would go bananas. A trip to the garage and a new relay later and all is well again. Apparently it's just one of those things. I had the first MOT on it last year - passed with no problems. The chap I use who is a very reputable local garage said he is impressed with how well the bike has been as I've had him do all the work on it over my time owning it. I've done over 10K miles on the bike myself in all weathers (even got caught in the snow once - never trying that again!) and it's stored outside. Aside from some very minor surface rust on the chrome surround on the central joint of the front column, no problems have arisen. The minor paint issue I mentioned last year was due to a stone chipping it, nothing to do with shoddy quality. I'm thinking it will soon be time for a bigger bike now (I'm 6'8" and sometimes have to do longer motorway rides, so this little retro isn't always the best choice) but I know that this cracking little bike will see me through as long as I want it to. I will be loathed to part with it when the time comes, but sadly don't have the space or the wallet for more than one bike!

I get through tyres at a decent rate given my fairly high mileage. The tyres that come as standard are a bit of a soft and sporty compound. This is great for grip, but they wear a bit quick and are expensive so I've switched to a mid ranged varied compound (harder in the middle, softer near the edges) which last longer and cost less. I burn through about £25-£30 of fuel a week with roughly 100 miles a week riding on average. It's perfectly reasonable I think - I'm sure there are more fuel efficient bikes out there but I think this is pretty good for it's size. I work the engine hard being tall and heavy, and I enjoy the thrills of quick acceleration so I'm sure I could burn through less fuel if I lost some weight and rode more slowly. The insurance remains surprisingly high but a lot of that is due to it being stored outside - premium would nearly half if it was stored in a locked shed, even though my bike is chained to the foundations of my porch. For reference I pay roughly 70/month in insurance for fully comp cover through Kawasaki Insurance.

The tyres I mentioned above that come as standard are Dunlop sporty ones. They're fine and I imagine if you only rode for small amounts or just for leisure they're probably a great choice. As I said, I found I wore through them too quickly and opted for a cheaper, firmer compound. I haven't really noticed a drop in performance so I'd say the standard ones are probably a bit overkill for this style of bike. The other thing I think would be useful is a centre stand - I had to buy a rear paddock stand for chain adjustment and cleaning. The side stand is fine for parking on the level, but if you're parking on a hill or need to work on the bike, it's just not quite good enough. Having to wheel the bike back and forth up and down my garden path just to clean and lube different parts of the chain was very cumbersome and time consuming. I can't imagine a centre stand would add too much weight, but that said there might not be room with that stubby exhaust that fills out most of the space under the bike. My favourite feature of the bike that came as standard is the retro style dials and the brilliantly bright headlight. I love a needle even though digital displays are easier to use - there's just something about that retro styling. If you're keen to ride this bike in winter I'd recommend heated grips and also maybe a long handled socket set for extra oomph when you need to tangle with a particularly stubborn centre nut on the rear wheel for chain adjustment after a bit of winter riding. My bike came with the optional chrome grab bar on the rear - I'd recommend that as it's makes wheeling the bike around far easier than having to wriggle your fingers under the saddle strap.

Personally l find the ride quality very good although in some occasions the rear suspension is a little rough (especially over bumps). I have maintained the factory setup and if l would probably tried the adjust the rear suspension, l could have solved it,but dlso probably l could have turned the bike less stable and less predictable. Also adjusting the rear suspension imply some work to dismantle and put back several body parts. The regulation of the rear suspension is not as easy accesible as in many other bikes. On highway once you passed 60-65 mph things gets tricky because you get all the air in your body and helmet, so maintaining highway speeds doesn't seem too appealing. At those speeds, in 6th gear you hear only the wind, no engine noise. The bike has no issues at these speeds, or higher rhythm, the limit is the biker. This is a motorcycle better suitable for country roads and city commuting. The seat is generous for 2, even if l drive it mostly without pillion. I don't find it especially comfy, but if you need to use it after a rain, the seat cover has a texture which helps it dry almost instantly. I have 5,10 and for me the seat height is perfect. The position is quite relaxed and neutral while riding. Cornering is very easy, it leans with no effort, quite natural, loves the windy roads, but the cornering angle is limited, so at single digit speeds it doesn't maneuver easy in small spaces.

For me it sounds better than the Honda, Suzuki or Yamaha parallel twin. It pushes well once you reach 3000-3500 rpm and is extremely lineal till 9000 rpm. It has some burbles under 3500 and sounds very round in acceleration after 4000 rpm. It pushes hard in any gear. The engine brake is very efective. In town l mostly use the brakes from stopping 15 mph to a halt. The rest of the job from 50 mph to 15 is made by the engine brake.

I live in a dry region in Spain so here there aren't many corrosion issues. I find the overall built quality quite high. Some plastics (the circles around the speedometer and tachometer l would prefer to be made of real metal) damage the overall good image. The plastic cover of the LCD screen is easily prone to scratches.

For nowadays standards the engine, the gearbox, the brakes are all in the business for quite while and, with little tweaks, all these components are used in several models. This approach from Kawasaki gives them the possibility of maintaining the parts reliable and accesible if needed. I could have opted for a 660€ 3 years free maintenances when purchased, but then another dealer told me it's not worth it because the first 2 scheduled maintenance visits are about 100€ each, mostly consisting in engine oil and filter change and throughout check-up (brakes, chain, lights, paint, etc) and there's no point to buy the 3 years maintenace plan.

Personally being able to have a bike available with analogue dials in 2024 seems like a treasure. The little screen between the dials gives me plenty of information and quite accurate. I find awkward Kawasaki offers a USB support only optional and there's no Rideology app connection available for this model, but is not a bike to use for longer trips. l have mounted a phone holder on the bar and from time to time l consult the phone for the roads and itinerary. Also l use Pirreli Diablo app on my trips and gives me a lot of accurate feedback about my ride). It doesn't have traction control. So far l didn't need it, but l am not a very experienced rider so l would like to have it active.

Brilliant ride quality despite having no adjustments on the forks, I have kept it as I bought it and it's great on normal roads, brilliant on b roads where the bike comes into its own especially on the Twisties as it's so light and flick able and really puts a smile on your face. I traded in a speed triple and this is way more fun on real roads that I use.

This is the smallest capacity engine I have had from having 16 bikes in 15 years, the largest being the Rocket R. This 650 twin is a revelation to me, you can use all of the available power and really enjoy really riding the bike which is great. I love the vibiness of the engine, it's got character and I have found the sweet spot is in fourth gear between 50 and 65.....its a brilliant engine which makes me smile and to me thats what its all about.

Lovely paint and finish quality overall, plastic around the clocks and mirrors is a little low rent but bike is brilliant in its finish every where else. Adjustable levers are a bonus. Fork legs being black seem like they may be a bit vulnerable to stone chips.

Bought used and 4 months old with 400 miles on the clock from a Yamaha main dealer. Was a good saving on the new price but even at new list price these bikes are great value for the money in my opinion. Very frugal on fuel and being a basic twin it should be cheap to service and replace consumables.

I have rated 5 as it does not need anything equipment wise in top of what it has, it has ABS, great brakes, slipper and assisted clutch, clear clocks, temp and fuel gauge....what more do you need to ride a bike ?

It feels best filtering traffic and on country roads. Highways and expressways are also not an issue but due to it's nature of a naked anything over 75 mph is not a pleasant experience. Rider feels great and comfy. Pillion much less so. Max. 1 hour for a pillion. All day for a rider no problem. Small tank will make you go off the bike in every 2-3 hours anyway.

NIce punchy engine. Can wheelie if one wants. Nice low and mid revs but a bit asthmatic just before the red line but it isn't too much of a problem as red starts at 10,000 rpm and max. power is already at 8000 rpm so perhaps it makes no sense to rev it till the end. Good economics. Mine takes app. 4.5-5.5 litres per 100 km.

The only problem I have is when it comes to pump the tires. The valves are not "L" shape and pumping up tyres at gas station without extensioner is not possible. I have no idea who decided about the location of those valves but I'm having mine changed into "L" valves. I also had was battery running low. Had it checked at the dealer and it looks like it's my fault as I should have switched off the scottoiler when I put it to winter sleep for a few months.

500 GBP includes annual service and insurance. (150 service and 350 insurance).

ABS, Range, Average and Current fuel consumption, anti-hopping clutch, LED lights and indicators. That is it and that is what it should be on a retro bike. You don't need traction control (2024 model already has it, not sure what for), colour TFT displays, phone connection. Not on this bike, no.

The bike still handles really well, although I’m not that confident in the corners so I could probably lean it more but I think that’s more of a “me” problem than a bike problem. Back brake struggles to be effective at anything above low speed but front brake works absolutely fine and I always have confidence in my stopping ability.

Engine continues to perform well - it confortably responds at any point within road speeds and has plenty more to give if you wanted it. I’ve done a lot of both local rural commuting, and a couple of 150 mile trips mostly on motorways and it’s fine with all of this.

I reviewed this a couple of weeks after I got it back in august 2022. Since then the bike hasn’t broken down or failed, although I did have to put a new chain on as the current one was seizing up. Whilst it has been ridden in all weathers and much of the 3K miles I’ve done since purchase has been through the winter, I expected the chain to last longer. I have kept up with the regular cleaning, lubing and adjustment…Otherwise all is pretty good. A tiny bit of surface rust and a smidgen of paint failure but nothing too serious to worry about, and it’s doing well given the very salty and wet local roads of the past 4 months.

I had a basic service that was an extra (wasn’t due one for another 3,000 miles but whilst it was having the chain done I asked them to change oil and do general light service to ensure things are in tip top condition. Not a dealer service, but a reputable local garage. Was happy with the price (about £150 without the chain etc.)

I wasn’t looking for a bike with lots of extras, and that’s what I like about this. The dials and TFT have enough info, and mine came with the chrome grab rail that makes moving the bike a little easier - without that it would be a pain to manoeuvre I imagine.

I should caveat this by saying that I am new to the full license world, having been on a 125 for 2.5 years. I test rode this, and the Enfield interceptor, and took my course on the standard z650. This knocks the Enfield out the park in terms of thrills, and the extra height makes the RS stand out from the normal z650 - really good for me as I’m 6’8”. It’s Easy to get beyond road speeds in third gear if you wanted to, and then when it’s time to pull up, the front brake does it’s job well. In slower riding, the rear brake is fine and the clutch works well for slow speed control - no cramping or aches! The bike overall seems happy enough pulling away at low rpm, and keeps going nicely into the top end. The engine noise is pretty smart as well, but I still think I’ll change the exhaust in due course just because it looks so silly with the dog leg and stubby pipe!

The engine is great - it doesn’t feel like it’s running out of puff at any point, and I weigh nearly 20st!

Bought it as a used model with 1300 miles on the clock. Really impressed with the quality - welding is secure and not messy, and all the fixings and features are really secure and look great. No signs of corrosion but time will tell of course! The dash has some helpful info like mpg, average mpg, gear indicator and a couple of trip counters. The analogue dials are refreshing - most cars and bikes seem to prefer digital these days so a return to needles was great

Insurance is quite high but then I’m a new rider and don’t have a garage. Fuel efficiency is impressive - I’ve done about 140 miles and haven’t exactly been trying to ride economically, but still the bike is reporting average 63mpg! Not a patch on my 125 but then what is?!Looking in the book, servicing intervals seem quite long - about once a year for my mileage. (It seems to require one about once every 7500 miles after the initial stuff)

The dash is nice, but other than that you don’t get much equipment. Mine came with added Oxford heated grips, a trickle charger connector and the chrome grab bar - all put on by the previous owner. I’ll probably be adding some luggage because I use the bike for commuting and can’t always fit everything in a rucksack. The LED headlight is great though! Although I’m sure other road users don’t like it, it shines clearly through the dark for a good distance even in dipped mode.

Front brakes very good, rear brake is certainly adequate for me. Overall very good stopping ability. Have not carried a pillion.Suspension is pretty supple/comfortable. Have not experienced a sore backside after an hours plus riding.Nice handling, is fairly light and very easy to manoeuvre on the road and in the garage. Surprisingly steady in blustery conditions. Have done a couple of short motorway stints at 70mph. Not too much buffeting at that speed but a flyscreen would help (if Kawasaki offer one later). Is fine up to 60-65mph without one.

Overall very impressed with flexibility, smoothness and economy after first 500+ miles. Plenty fast enough even using running in rpm limits.

Two months and 500 miles in at time of writing. Build quality/finish appears very good so far. Have the 50th Anniversary edition with Fireball colour scheme. The paintwork is very impressive, especially the “Z” on top of the fuel tank. It’s all paint as far as I can tell, is not just a decal with lacquer over the top like some bikes I have seen recently.

Annual servicing cost not known but expected to be reasonable on this model being an existing and proven engine.Getting high 60s mpg after the first 500 running in miles.

Would have liked the option of Kawasaki heated grips but the Oxford ones fitted by dealer work just fine. A flyscreen similar to the one available for the Z900RS would be ideal but by no means essential. Likewise a single “can” style exhaust would look better than the standard one but that works fine and is not too loud.My model came with the rear grab rail (optional on the other versions) fitted as standard, and personally I think it looks better with it.

Can crash over potholes, and can only manage 2 hrs before getting a numb bum. At 5 11 it's a bit small, bars are nice and wide but legs feel cramped. Pillion provision is ok and the genuine grab rail is a must.

Bit dated, but crude, notchy gearbox. But tried and tested, hopefully the gearbox will improve with miles, but so far it's not getting any better.

Surface corrosion after 3 weeks on chain, fasteners and exhaust, even though it wasn't used in the on salty roads and the chain lubed. Little disappointed as the bike us dar from cheap. Reliability so far has been good.

50 plus mpg, badic rain cylinder and cheap to insure snd run.

Abs... and basic clocks. Not a lot else.

Great fun, very nimble, stable and responsive when throwing around the twisties but well mannered in the town and for general commuting.

I've always liked this middleweight twin and it's got better over time. Delivers smoothly and little of the lumpiness (or 'character' depending on your view) associated with twins.

Never had or heard of a problem with this engine and between the ER6, Versys, Z650 and now Z650RS it's been around with various tweaks for a long time.

Quite simply it doesn't come with any frills and that's my biggest gripe. Love the style, the retro clocks, the looks but when you don't even get a helmet lock grab bar/handles or luggage hooks, it's a pretty poor show.