We drove - Kawasaki Z650 // Z'adetek in full

I won't lie, but all of us who often ride bigger bikes with huge power reserves are sometimes a little unfair to a machine like this Kawasaki Z650. There are six models in the Kawasaki Z motorcycle family. For teenagers the Z125 is here, for beginners driving schools, in less developed markets there is the Z400 and then the Z650 which I have driven here in Spain. Three more bikes follow for more experienced as well as more demanding riders: the Z9000 we recently rode, the Z1000 and the Z H2 with a positive-drive engine that can make up to 200 horsepower. The test Z650 is certainly not such an athlete and not a brutalist, but nevertheless it clearly indicates that it belongs to this green family. He does not hide his DNA record.

Outwardly, the new generation looks good, serious and aggressive enough modern to catch the eye of a motorcycle. In the three combinations we find kawasaki green, which also means sportiness. The color combinations available for the 2020 model are black with green, lime green with black, and pearl white with green. A brand new mask with a recognizable light makes her serious, adult. Even the sports seat with a short and pointed fastback, under which the taillights of the characteristic Ze'ev design lend sportiness. At the same time, of course, I always ask myself which passenger seat I would like to go to because it is so small, but if you squeeze them a little, you can quickly go to the sea or take a trip to the hills on the winding mountain passes.

That being said, I have to point out the ergonomics, which are deliberately made to fit slightly shorter people. This group also includes women, whom Kawasaki clearly thought a lot about. Thanks to the low seat and the triangle formed by the pedals and handlebars, it is comfortable for everyone who does not exceed 180 cm to sit on it. I myself am on this border, and therefore, even at the suggestion of Kawasaki employees, I reached for the raised seat at the presentation. This will raise the height off the ground by 3cm. Because it was better padded and also more comfortable, it was a smart move as I did the first part of the test lap more comfortably than the second part, when I had to give up the elevated seat to a fellow journalist. At standard height, my legs are too bent for my height, which I began to feel after a good 30 kilometers. However, for those with slightly shorter legs, the standard height will do. Personally, I wish the handlebars were a little more open and about an inch wider on each side. But then again, here’s the fact that my height is not what Kawasaki had in mind when they gained inches on this bike. Since it is compact and, of course, with a short wheelbase, it was expected to be very easy to drive. In corners and in the city, it is really light and perfect for beginners. While I underestimated the suspension a little at first, which doesn't look or show any frills, after I was able to open the throttle a little more concretely, I was surprised to find it rides reliably, calmly and very well, even dynamically. A novice rider will never go around corners as quickly as I do, but I still enjoyed the ease of shifting from corner to corner. Also in a secure turning position and with a fantastic motor.

Engines are a separate chapter. I have never driven anything like this in this class. The inline-two-cylinder engine, which develops 68 "horsepower" at 8.000 rpm, is incredibly versatile. Here it is helped by a good torque of 64 Nm at 6.700 rpm. However, in practice, this means little gear shifting in a good gearbox and the ability to go around corners in fourth gear, where third gear should normally be used. I almost never switched to another during the ride itself. Even when going around in circles, you didn't need to shift into second gear, but third and fourth were enough, and then you just moderately turn the throttle and accelerate well. This is one of the reasons why the Kawasaki Z650 is undemanding and great for learning to drive, as it is forgiving and doesn't bother you when you're too high in front of an intersection or turning in gear. Unfortunately, at 120 km/h it is already blowing hard, and the engine power is enough to effortlessly drive it around the track at a speed of 130 km/h. Kawasaki claims in the approval numbers that it reaches a speed of 191 km/h. Not bad for of this volume and not bad fuel consumption. Officially they claim 4,3 liters per 100 km, and the on-board computer at the end of the test cycle showed 5,4 liters per 100 km. But I should note that in between there was quite a lot of squeezing gas for the needs of photography and filming on the closed road. In any case, in our group on a mountain winding road, we brought it to the finish line quite briskly, because the road simply invited us to this pleasure.

I never thought I would like a bike that the manufacturer presents as an entry-level model. Noting that I also have to note at least two components. Reliable brakes with an ABS system, which is not advanced and adjustable, but very important and simple for such a motorcycle, but very useful. First of all, it is the only TFT color screen in its class. It is also compatible with smartphone and you can see on the screen if someone is calling you or when you receive an SMS on your phone. Of all the data available, I missed the outdoor temperature display, but I can praise the ease of use with just two buttons below the screen. It is uncomplicated, not the most technologically advanced, but transparent and useful.

And how much does the Z650 cost? The basic version will be yours for 6.903 euros and the SE version (special version: black and white) for 7.003 euros. The service interval is estimated at every 12.000 kilometers, which is also an important indicator.