The 2023 Kawasaki Z650 is a GREAT motorcycle! - Complete In-Depth Review

The 2023 Kawasaki Z650 has some important subtle updates for the current model year. These two colours don't show up that well on video, but they continue to be showstoppers in the showroom. Want to see them in person? Connect with the amazing team at Jim Gilbert's PowerSports here: powersports.wheelsanddeals.ca...

[@Reapka]

Thanks to this review I decided to get a Z650 as my first ever bike. I’m mostly going to use it on city streets with occassional highways. I think this bike has enough power for a beginner rider. Thanks, Peter, for helping me make up my mind.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing that with me! Great choice!

[@trevor2830]

Peter, I'm sold!!! Its the full package. You did a damn good job on this presentation 👏 can't wait to see you do the upcoming Gxs 8s and the Hornet

[@4kWalkingandDrivingTours]

Another great Z650 review, thanks! Another important aspect of a slipper clutch is so you can coast into corners without a lot of engine breaking on deceleration. I have a few bikes, R1, R6, Supermotor 400 and Z125, but I feel the same as you how this middleweight naked bike would be a fun around town commuter bike, plus I’m 5’8” 😀👍🏼😎

[@aussiesoldier0177]

Another brilliant video....thanks again

[@kwakithailand]

Awesome job again, Peter 👍

[@jcsdesign]

Hi Peter, great overview. I wish you did this review back in 2017 when I had limited information about the Z650 back when I was shopping for a naked sports bike. You really give a good idea of what it is like owning this bike since most of the time you can't test ride a bike before you buy one. This bike is excellent on city roads and short highway distance. I would say if most of your riding is done in the city over the highway, this bike is excellent. I do think this bike is slightly under powered on the highway when trying to keep up with other large displacement bikes. Keep up the great work! I've been watching you since Brantford Kia days.

[@PeterLoweOne]

That's a great question about the performance not he highway. I want to be clear to anyone who's reading this and who, maybe, hasn't ridden these bikes. This is a GREAT engine for street use, and I think it's PLENTY powerful to be enjoyable. What I will say is that I think this bike accelerates very well in that 0-100 km/h area. That's actually not an area that I care as much about personally as the 80 to 120 km/h range. Beyond 120 km/h this engine does slow its rate of acceleration. I ended up moving from the Versys 650 to the Z900RS, and the reason I'm looking forward to the Z900RS is that it just NEVER runs out of power for street use. It has STRONG acceleration at any practical, on-the-road riding. So yeah, on the highway, beyond 120km/h it isn't unbelievably strong... but I can tell you that people say this bike goes to 200 or so, and I've (allegedly 😉) had my Versys up to the mid to upper 100's so it's not like it can't get there. (if law enforcement asks, that last part was completely made up to impress my friends!!) Thanks for following me here from the other channel!

[@waynewilliams839]

Thanks for your work, purchased a 2024 as my 3rd bike, and really like it !!😊

[@adilahnafkhan4349]

loving your videos!! would it be possible to compare the z650, the mt07 and the cb650R naked bikes side by side please?

[@UltraHossBoss]

Very good video! I have the Z900 and a buddy of mine who is looking to get into bikes wants to pick up the Z650. It might not be a hooligan bike like an MT, but for a normal street bike I think it's great

[@PeterLoweOne]

I love these bikes... much more than I expected to! You may or may not know that ended up buying the Z900RS. A bike that shares a lot of components with this Z900. Thanks for watching!

[@bobterrwillinger4502]

Picking my Gray/red on Saturday morning.. nice vid!

[@PeterLoweOne]

Awesome!! You're going to love it!!

[@carlosvejar3938]

That silver and red is gorgeous. I am going with the z650 instead of the z900. It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is to ride a fast bike slow. But to be honest 135mph is faster than legal

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, these look great in person. I have the Z900RS SE, and I love that bike, but I agree, no one NEEDS more power, these are great! Both are fun!

[@tomtowns9081]

So how do you do the Bluetooth connect ability that is the main thing I would like to know

[@elwood62]

If I had the money for a third bike you’ve convinced me it should be this one.

[@markgregoryrugman7136]

I think I'm going to buy one as well.

[@MatthewGooding-vf2rc]

I just picked up a 2023 Z650 with less than 1,800 miles for only 4k last night. First ride was amazing!!

[@PeterLoweOne]

Awesome! You're going to love it!

[@herrtomas6729]

Hi - you've done the double again!! Nearly missed this

[@PeterLoweOne]

Haha! Yeah, the last one wasn't my typical review, so I ended up with an extra today.

[@stephenastemborski1052]

Looking at this and the Vulcan s I’m not sure which one to go with my family don’t want me to have a sport bike, even though that’s the only bikes I’ve owned looking for something that’s great on long hwy rides

[@jonasdecroix6737]

Can you do e video of the ful nieuw display (phone conection and al of that pleas )

[@xziggy114]

I just bought a brand new 23’ Z650 a few days ago for $5800 and I am blown away with this bike.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Rotasa2]

Hi Peter Can you compaire Z650 with Hornet 750.... Because i love Z650...but Hornet has more power and more options like rider modes and whileecontrole Which Z650 does not have and in Belgium they have almost same price... Please help me😂😂😂 Thanks a lot i love you rewiews.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙏

[@jshemmotovlog9111]

Hello Sir Peter I have questions what's better Z650 or ninja 650 2023 both?

[@PeterLoweOne]

I don't know that one is better than the other. It will depend on your preferences. Here's a video that I did that compares both of those bikes side by side. Maybe this will help? If not, feel free to continue to ask questions! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX_HdGefmKeCmJo

[@yasseralsaidi1168]

This bike has everything I need nothing that I don’t need seriously

[@ZuanhardieFamily]

this bike nice

[@george4557]

Is it true that the red version only comes in non ABS?

[@PeterLoweOne]

Not here in Canada. They all have ABS and Traction Control for 2023

[@Jurica-mtb]

I've bought second pair of Mitas Touring Force tires for my Z650 which are affordable, grippy on wet and assure excellent mileage. Hepco&Becker engine crash guard looks killer on this machine as it visually adds volume. I really love how the engine is silent like a coffee grinder. I'm 182 cm tall and if I had earlier experience with motorcycles I'd choose VStrom 650 or Versys 650. Z650 is an excellent choice for newbie risers. I wouldn't recomend it for a long trip with a pillon passenger.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@thodoris3790]

what is the crank in this motor?270,180, or 360 deggres?

[@PeterLoweOne]

It's 180 on the parallel twin 650's in the Kawasaki line-up right now.

[@rocka07]

if this bike had the mt07 engine and upside down forks would be unbeatble, but now even new hornet came to beat this one

[@PeterLoweOne]

I think you're measuring bikes from a spec sheet. Specifications don't tell the whole story with motorcycles. These aren't laptop computers. If you like those other two bikes, I get it. But I guarantee that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from the saddle between these forks and upside down forks on another bike. Until you begin using very high end components, some of those arguments are purely about style rather than substance.

[@rocka07]

@@PeterLoweOne Dont get me wrong its not just specs. Its about what I want in a bike. I love mt 07 even its the cheapest and not really hi-tech. And I was thinking about getting the Z650 becuz Im moving to South Asia. If I could I would choose KTM 790 or 890, but they are not available as the big Yamaha's MTs. I rode the preview version of Z650 in 2021, it wasnt full led yet but as a MT lover I missed the engine sound and I know MT is more agreessive, more fun. Z is kind of begginer friendly, its more secure. I dont know the new hornet yet, but it has the 270 degrees twin cylinders, so I guess I will like the sound. And Honda makes secure bikes. They are also investing in good technology on the bikes, so, I guess it will be a sharp bike, but lets see. The upside down fork is more for the looks indeed, but Z900 has it, they are just saving bucks.

[@bernie917]

Very pretty and good, easy to ride.

[@PeterLoweOne]

Yeah, these are great bikes, with good power that are still easy to manage! I'm a fan!

[@bernie917]

@@PeterLoweOne Yes I had the first Er- 6n, just same as this. Was my first bike and so easy to ride, give me happiness

[@BrasilNewSP]

Top. 👏🏼👏🏼🙂

[@OnlyLike007]

Peter please,Z650 better or Yamaha MT 07?

[@PeterLoweOne]

I'd love to do that comparison! Maybe in the future!

[@NIGHTCOREgamer1]

2024 mt07 or 2024 z650? city ride for me mostly

[@PeterLoweOne]

Which one do you like? It's very difficult for me to decide for other people. I try to point out as much as I can about each bike in these videos, in order to equip people to make the best decision for themselves. One piece of advice that I will give to you is to NEVER buy a bike because someone else tells you it's the better bike. Also, don't purely buy based on a spec sheet. Motorcycles are about a passion, buy the one that you love, and you'll be happiest with that. Both the bikes you mention will bring a big smile to your face, and that's what it's all about.

[@yasseralsaidi1168]

You should got this one I love ninja nothing is like a ninja no matter what but seating position is annoying thing

[@cruzzindodge]

I have a z650 and two major things I dislike are the mirrors are garbage they vibrant way to much and can't see shit with them and the second is the suspension is way to soft for me.. 240 lbs and have the rear adjustment on the highest setting

[@PeterLoweOne]

I didn't find the mirrors too bad, but yes 240 does put you at the upper end of what this bike can handle. You could consider a suspension upgrade, or the Versys 650 comes with fully adjustable suspension to adapt to extra weight. I was able to take passengers with me on that bike when I owned it, and could quickly adjust the suspension to handle it.

[@cruzzindodge]

@@PeterLoweOne thinking about going with the zx6r... in your experience can it handle my weight and what about 2 up?

[@07Kimo07]

Lose about 50 lbs! It's good for you and the bike! Just teasin you! Peace!

[@thetruthspeaker5101]

They called them naked because they don’t have the body fairings

[@daddysnews]

Why is Kawasaki not providing upside down USD forks🙂

[@PeterLoweOne]

I assume it's about value. I'd argue that the average buyer of this bike wouldn't be able to tell the difference if you drove back to back identical bikes with only the front forks being the different style. They do give you upside down forks on the Z900RS. I would say that the Z650RS is more about being a very versatile bike, while the Z900RS is more performance focused.

[@newbesocool99]

Silver/red can’t be a z650. When I go look up the 2023 it’s giving me black

[@PeterLoweOne]

I film in Canada with Canadian models.

[@newbesocool99]

@@PeterLoweOne awe no fair. Most definitely would’ve gotten that color if it was offered in the us

[@PeterLoweOne]

@@newbesocool99 Another great reason to move to Canada! 🙂🇨🇦

[@yasseralsaidi1168]

Cell phones on full data we can Listen to fresh news from istanboll

[@soul77744]

No usd forks 😢 so bad Kawasaki

[@PeterLoweOne]

I hear you, but if you were able to ride this blindfolded and a competitor with upside-down forks, would you be able to tell? Probably not. Kawasaki is hitting a price point here, and I don't think the rider suffers in ride quality for the types of riding they'll do on these bikes. Having said that, you can get this engine in the Versys 650 and it does have USD forks that are adjustable if that's what you want.

[@soul77744]

@@PeterLoweOne Well, i don't compromise riding quality. But the z800 and z900 have a big bike look due to the usd fork, which is missing here. Maybe a big bike feel would have been available if the usd fork was also given.Can't agree with the exclusion of some things especially in the name of Japanese bikes cost cutting, because this bike is not that cheap among the 650 segment bikes.

[@1stfrompuertorico568]

1st

[@deaczorz]

too bad about the engine….

[@PeterLoweOne]

You're wrong, I've owned a bike with this engine and it's great for street use.

[@deaczorz]

@@PeterLoweOne most reviews online say that this engine is super boring. and that the whole bike is meh

[@UltraHossBoss]

@@deaczorz You aren't going to notice the 5lbft of tq difference between a 180 crank and a 270 crank lol. Most people just like the sound of p-twins with the 270 crank... so if you just want the sound then it makes sense. If you swap the stock exhaust for an aftermarket one, this bike can have character to put a smile on your face; most online reviewers are using bone stock bikes (and some people obviously have biases). Go test ride bikes yourself if you want to form your own opinion on it

[@deaczorz]

@@UltraHossBoss thing is most ppl are bias towards the 270 crank engines. must be for a reason. never tried one myself . boxers and 4 cyl engines in my bikes

[@UltraHossBoss]

@@deaczorz The reason mostly being the sound, not performance lol. It has v-twin like character, which I can 100% say is music to the ears. I still miss my SV650S sometimes just for the sound of it, but mine also had an aftermarket exhaust. I've heard plenty of parallel twins that sound good with aftermarket pipes on them

[@bradybona7801]

How do I get one in NB? Can’t find one anywhere, we only have 2-3 bike dealers in Moncton NB and none of them have these

[@PeterLoweOne]

Call Jim Gilbert's Wheels and Deals in Fredericton! We'll deliver! If you'd rather email, I let Zak Chandler know about your comment. Here's his email address. [e-mail]