Is the Kawasaki Z650RS a real retro middleweight charmer? | MCN review

#Kawasaki#Z650RS#review
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[@trevormartin5459]

Love this bike and enjoyed the review.It's good to hear a motorcyclist talk who doesn't need to swear every second word.Thanks for taking the time.

[@chrisgraham9203]

Kawasaki hit a home run with this bike. In most ways, it looks better than the Z650B it pays homage to, particularly the styling around the tailpiece and rear fender. My only complaints are the asymmetric swingarm and trashcan exhaust, both retained from the Z650 it was developed from.

[@NoddyNodNod]

Superb footage guys. Brings the review to life and really shows the bike in a great light. We’ll done.

[@Eric-jr3od]

Absolutely Stunning

[@patricksandeberg8184]

I'd have a black one with the gold rims😙👌🏽

[@ThatV12MiataBruh]

With gold pin stripes

[@patricksandeberg8184]

@@ThatV12MiataBruh yeeeeeees! Mmmmmm gold pinstripes 🤤

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

That would be sick 👍🤙

[@vwt6wanderlust307]

Had a look at this today, stunning

[@natural9743]

It looks beautiful

[@kuchar326]

what's the model of that Arai helmet being hanged in the background? I love how it matches with the bike

[@goldilocks913]

I really wish it was a four but it’s growing on me! Excellent review too!

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

You know they've had the Z900RS even before this, right?

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

@@magellanicspaceclouds I'm sure he knows that. It's a 950 engine. That's the point.

[@lovelessissimo]

@@user-sw2lv3zp6o I don't think he knows.

[@Death666wish]

@@magellanicspaceclouds Some people don't want a liter bike.

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

@@Death666wish You'd be hard pressed to find a 4 banger in this class.

[@volter555]

good job, thanks for not using wide angle camera. nice on the move videos.

[@aeror115]

Great engine for this retro like bike! The price seems ok

[@jace7541]

i bought this bike and love it

[@muchasgracias6976]

Very nice. I like.

[@bigred8438]

Perhaps it is meant to look more like tge KZ 750 of the mid to late 1970's because that was a twin and the side covered merged with the tank.

[@simon-gw8qh]

I find it compares closer to the SV650 and CB650R than the MT07 and Scrambler. Your thoughts?

[@Drewqaz1912]

What is the track playing during the Intro???

[@theleveller6164]

I had an original Z1000 loved it. Heavy and unstable at speed. Tank slappers were frightening. Went to look at the Z650 and it took me back to my old Z1000. I liked the green my Mrs liked the black. So I bought a Royal Enfield GT650 Mr.Clean and am currently waiting for all the extras to be fitted. Strange how things work out because I was originally going to buy a Harley. Still might get the Z650 though.

[@JustForFun-zh7cy]

Looks brilliant - love the looks. Apart from the clocks, they look a bit "big" to me - just me? Maybe.

[@MegaVick30]

Is it possible to drag the footpegs?

[@matecaljkusic480]

I'am 6.2 tall and 270 pounds, would it fit me?

[@alexanderfaust4192]

My father just bought this exact bike. Absolutely beautiful. Slick as hell and more than enough power within the price point. Personally I hate bikes that are loud as hell. I think they are obnoxious. This bike doesn't have that problem.

[@_Azur]

Col de l'espigoulier south of France am I right ?

[@KGi4]

Let's wait for z400rs 🙌🙌🙌

[@Nick-Emery]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeep imagine…. in-line 4 400RS 😍😳😍😳

[@bwxmoto]

3:25 Z900RS Cafe dropped? Not here (US).

[@richguest66]

Bring out a gpz900r and I will buy one instantly

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*When that music and slow-mo is added, the video feels less like a review and more like an advertisement.*

[@WyreForestBiker]

That's because it is ... its MCN who are totally dependent on advertiser revenue..

[@marcusgeorge1825]

A really nice looking bike. 👍😎

[@fazerjohn]

It would have been nice to compare power, torque and weight to the original 4 cylinder Z650.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Throw another 2 grand on top if you want a heavier more complex 4-banger. Look at Honda for reference.

[@robertbrandywine]

Wikipedia says the KZ650 weighed about 50 pounds more, had the same horsepower, but more torque (57 vs 48).

[@bigred8438]

Looks very wobbly under mild braking. What is with that?

[@lowkingYT]

i wish they release a z400rs

[@perpetualgrin5804]

I remember when the original Z650 came out in 1976😅.

[@kabeemer]

Spoke wheels please..

[@duncanpollock8851]

I. want. one.

[@spiritofe629]

You any optional extras on it and it becomes way too expensive. RE still good enough for the price.

[@KAWA369]

How tall are you please.

[@kevinroberts2395]

Another vote for an inline 4, just like the original it is meant to imitate. It looks ok, but misses the detail that Kawasaki put into the Z900rs.

[@edwardwilliammorris1340]

Z650 ? There's two pistons missing, seems we are always getting less costing more 🤔🤔

[@pggp273]

Go on give that seat another pat, you know the more you pat the seat it will make the bike feel more loved

[@jefflambert8603]

I love My Z650 dont think the RS is Better just Different I f you like 70s Styling its the one to go for

[@eduardoolivares9653]

Katana 2022 ❤️

[@arthuralhimovich3808]

Wow! I just checked it's photos!!!

[@lorimcquinn3966]

in the USA, the Yamaha XSR 700 seems to be the Kawasaki's real competition. That said the Yamaha is $500 cheaper, has a larger fuel tank capacity and the 270 degree engine is a bit larger in displacement. IMO, it is going to be tough for the Kawasaki to gain solid footing in the market in this respect. The Z650RS's engine is a 180 degree piece, typically not as torquey and a bit buzzy up in the revs. I like the Z650RS appearance wise although even the green paint(my choice) is more $. It will a be a tough sell here in my opinion. What are you feelings/experience regarding this?

[@lordgibbness]

Yeah Jon mentioned that the cp2 engine is better in the modern nakeds

[@notstevelam]

when it comes down to retro bikes, the difference will be whichever you like that looks better. personally the z650rs looks WAY better than the xsr700. both are peppy enough to ride. if it was about performance, why even bother with the z650rs since you can just get the z650 for cheaper? same reason the royal enfield 650 has been a success, despite the horribly low HP (in comparison to other bikes in its class) and heavy weight. it just looks like a great bike.

[@chrisdownes5239]

Yamaha has the sounds man 😎

[@clasqm]

The 1970s Z650 was known to a be ridiculously over-engineered, utterly bulletproof motorcycle. This one? Time will tell. Meanwhile that exhaust has to go, there’s nothing retro about it. A suggestion of Honda CB400/4 in the headers, perhaps, but after that it’s just wrong.

[@boldstar69]

This kawi 650 engine has besn out since the 1st er6n/ninja650 in 2006-7 it's known to be bulletproof as well.

[@FAR2HIPMAN]

@@boldstar69 And it sounds like a wet fart!

[@FreddieB1957]

They should have made a 100 + hp 4 cilinder with a 4 in 1 exhaust and suspension like on the Z900RS What a review 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@bikerbeliever8169]

Is it just me or does yhe z650 rs look better than the z900, maybe just better paint schemes on the middle weight versions. They need to update the 650 motor with a 270 crank, it lacks character, it's quick good motor but just kinda meh as far as sound goes.

[@dsambernardo]

Sound on the MT07 is horrible. Sounds like a washing machine. I had one for 5 years. This 650 sounds like a V twin type which is what you're looking for in this kind of retro bikes.

[@Guuggel]

It's really cool but quite expensive.

[@mcscotty325]

Compared to what?

[@Ste197]

@@mcscotty325 tea bags

[@kevinmason6130]

It’s a cool bike but the value isn’t there. I understand the retro bikes tend to cost more but it shouldn’t be in the same price range as other retro bikes that he event admits have more performance

[@baronbristow8764]

Nice, but I think I still like the Ducati scrambler cafe

[@rubo1964]

Things Kawasaki missed truly doing it right. I4 not P2, Twin shocks not under tail bargain bin item! Twin Exhausts not horrid looking junk in there.For all these reasons its half baked pie vanilla nothing to get truly excited and Kawi wants 10k? For 10k choices get seriously expended.

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

The mid-size bike in the scrambler/retro class I'd least want.

[@savage22bolt32]

That first minute of absolutely crappy music almost shooed me outta here. Basically, just skip the first minute, unless you like that stuff.

[@ribalderr6052]

who ever thought the 77 kawy was some classic bike from the past? its lol-auble. who is this 1/2 the engine retro crap for? new kids on the block?

[@BN1960]

Really missed a trick by not making it a 4 pot

[@WyreForestBiker]

Not at all... fours are history for this capacity , too buzzy, no torque, thirsty and expensive to produce.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

CB650R or Triumph Trident 650 leads the class, both blow the MT07 out of the water

[@boldstar69]

Blows out the mt07 in what way? The MT07 still leads sales everywhere even though it's starting to show it's age but people still prefer the exciting CP2 engine, especially when partnered with an offroad package IE the T700.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

@@boldstar69 because Yamaha has the biggest fanboy following, and being cheap, kids in there late teens/early 20’s tend to gravitate towards them. The cheapness also reflects in the fit/finish and the chassis/brake components used. The Yamaha is lackluster in both braking and suspension. Both the Honda and Triumph are vastly superior values, with much better suspension, far better brakes, and higher levels of fit and finish. The Honda and Triumph also both make more power, and offer a more mature, timeless style. The real world price difference between the 2 is little at my local dealers. The better far better equipped Honda comes in at a little less then $1000 more then the Yamaha, if you can afford the Yamaha you can afford the Honda. You’d spend more on the Yamaha if you wanted to upgraded the suspension and brakes to be on the Honda’s level… the triumph is only about $500 more then the Yamaha real world price. The XSR is even closer in price, and that is arguably more of a competitor due to styling…

[@boldstar69]

@@sleeper.simulant7327 lol this just tells me you've never even ridden one or tried to own all three bikes. I've been in the market for a middle weight bike for city use so I can save gas. The yamaha is on par or even better with build quality than honda and if you've been following both bikes long enough you'd know that there are lots of MT07s that have done more than 100k kms and even one doing 300k kms doing trips around the world. Meanwhile lots of hondas are out here overheating in asia because they can't handle the heat, it's a simple ECU fix by setting the fans to go on earlier but it's stupid. In the northern hemisphere where they salt roads lots of honda 650Rs showed premature rusting where they were recalled for having stuck chain adjusters. So before you run your mouth about the MT07 being cheap, make sure you've actually done your research lol. The honda and trident are about 20kgs and 10kgs more too vs the mt07 and that's a lot considering they're just middleweights. The triumph is just boring and doesn't handle as well as the MT07 even with shitty forks that can bs easily remedied. Not to mention the service costs which is on par with the Striple, which is why most people just skip the trident and go for a striple base model and just stick it on rain mode. The mt07 is already more than a half decade old but still selling more than both the honda and trident combined which should tell you something lol.

[@sleeper.simulant7327]

@@boldstar69 haven’t ridden the CB just sat on it, have ridden the MT07. The MT07 feels a lot cheaper then the CB just sitting on it. The brakes feel cheaper, the grips feel cheaper, plastics are looser, suspension is pogo stick like, tail light and blinkers vibrate enough to give follower an epileptic seizure… also the MT07’s swing arm is prone to premature rust. And I live in the northern hemisphere, already have snow in my yard, have for 2 weeks. The CB felt worlds nicer. I’m sure the extra 21 hp moves it quite a bit quicker to with the smooth linear power of the inline 4. The MT07’s power plant was fun and snappy without being difficult to control, I’d definitely give it that. If I had to use 1 word to describe it though, I would say it’s immature. It’s rowdy, and doesn’t handle as good as I expected, not with my 6’ 210 lb frame on it at least… good power plant with a cheap chassis around it. And swapping out the components to get it on a stock CB’s level is going to run you a lot more then just buying the CB…

[@McCraezy]

wish it had inverted forks, not for performance, just hate the way the traditionals look now xD

[@mikemcallister3138]

Really a retro ? No. That would be the K3.

[@drifter1025]

but 180 crank

[@s.a.f.r.a6403]

That exhaust needs some length these short exhaust on Japanese twins need to stop they sound terrible generally

[@lorimcquinn3966]

I feel the 180 degree twin doesn't enhance the sound, a 270 cranks would help.

[@s.a.f.r.a6403]

@@lorimcquinn3966 it needs to be a 360 degree crankshaft like kawasaki used on alot of their twins

[@BarnettSpeedSuzukiThou]

No, sadly.

[@iodineclip]

really should have make it 270 degree crank, or any firing order for that matter, they all sounded better than 180 crank.

[@FirinMahLazer1]

100% agree. They took that same 650 engine and changed the styling around a few different bikes and it just doesn't work with the RS look or the Vulcan S for that matter

[@dsambernardo]

It's just the other way round. The MT07 sounds horrible

[@FAR2HIPMAN]

The hipsters bike sounds like a wet fart!

[@alan36753]

Needs to be a four. End of discussion

[@SuperImbadude]

They already have one! End of discussion.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Everything is great.... except for that 2006 engine which no matter what they do to it, is the most bland, vibration prone, characterless, raspy, and lowest power mill in the class. Comon Kawasaki, stop polishing a turd and get with the 270° crank program.

[@ruysk]

Yes, Kawa should develop a new engine in this class of bikes.