Earlier in September, the Japanese two-wheeler maker Kawasaki introduced the Z650RS to the global markets, and finally, it has now launched in the Indian market as well. As far as pricing and deliveries are concerned, the bike is offered at a starting price of Rs 6.65 lakhs(ex-showroom) and deliveries are expected to commence in the coming weeks. At this price point, the bike has no direct rivals at the moment in the segment. However, the Triumph Street Twin, Honda CB650R and RE Twins can be considered as competitors.
In terms of styling and features, the new Kawasaki Z650RS is inspired by the Z900RS and features the same Retro-styling. It has been launched in India with two paint schemes, Candy Emerald Green and Metallic Moondust Grey. Moreover, the bike gets retro-themed instrument pods, fully-LED lights, circular mirrors, a tear-drop shared fuel tank and a split grab rail, which was seen on the test mule spotted near Mumbai.
Some other notable features include a single-seat setup, wire-spoke-styled alloy wheels, and an underneath exhaust. A number of elements, including the engine, frame, and swingarm, are blacked out for a more sporty appearance and feel. This bike is built on a high tensile steel trellis frame. Powering the Z650RS is a 649cc, parallel-twin, liquid-cooled engine that is capable of generating 68 hp of maximum power and 64 Nm of maximum torque.
In addition, the engine is coupled with a 6-speed gearbox and also equipped with an assist and slipper clutch. Suspension duties are handled by standard telescopic front forks and mono-shock suspension at the rear. Looking forward to the braking chores, these are performed by 300mm discs with two-piston callipers at the front and a single 220mm disc at the rear. For enhanced rider safety, the dual-channel ABS system is offered as a standard on the newly launched bike.