Kawasaki Z650RS
Discussion
Looks like team green have hit the nail on the head with their latest retro.....
The green colour is perfect....
I had many happy memories on a Z650C2 in 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw5n5g0Llmg&t=...
The green colour is perfect....
I had many happy memories on a Z650C2 in 1980
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw5n5g0Llmg&t=...
The green colour is absolutely smashing - a really nicely styled motorcycle. I hope they bring that green to the Z900RS.
Being Kawasaki you know there will be a decent finance deal coming up at some point. The tank is small but these engines are seriously economical. Having seen the ER-6 used as training bikes the basic package is tough.
These have reminded me that I need to get my Fazer back on the road to trade it in...
Being Kawasaki you know there will be a decent finance deal coming up at some point. The tank is small but these engines are seriously economical. Having seen the ER-6 used as training bikes the basic package is tough.
These have reminded me that I need to get my Fazer back on the road to trade it in...
t IMHOLooks a nice bike. I like the gauges, the paint colour, and the high bars. Video was terrible though - presentation was clearly scripted and felt forced.
I see the prices are already up on the Kawasaki website. Starting price is £7,549 for the black or £7,699 for the green or the grey. Looks a tad expensive to me when compared with the Trident, CB650R, MT-07, and the SV650 but I guess you are paying extra for the retro style (Kawasaki did the same for the Z900RS when compared with the Z900).
I see the prices are already up on the Kawasaki website. Starting price is £7,549 for the black or £7,699 for the green or the grey. Looks a tad expensive to me when compared with the Trident, CB650R, MT-07, and the SV650 but I guess you are paying extra for the retro style (Kawasaki did the same for the Z900RS when compared with the Z900).
Ecosseven said:
I see the prices are already up on the Kawasaki website. Starting price is £7,549 for the black or £7,699 for the green or the grey. Looks a tad expensive to me when compared with the Trident, CB650R, MT-07, and the SV650 but I guess you are paying extra for the retro style (Kawasaki did the same for the Z900RS when compared with the Z900).
At first glance it looks like it's definitely at the premium end, although you'd have to get into spec-sniffing to really know. The SV650 starts at £6599, but you'd need to add the "Café Street Accessory Pack" for £785 to bring it into the same kind of kit level as the Z.Thanks for the thread. I was unaware of these.
I've yet to watch the video. I fast forwarded it and got to the two men playing chess with the bike in the background and then had to leave. Hopefully the video isn't as bad as the Hipster warehouse Triumph Bobber race. The gold coloured wheel looks good in the still, the twin exhaust headers less so. I get that the original Z650 is a 4 pot.
I could be interested in this. I almost bought a new, unregistered previous model Z650 a couple of years ago. It had been in the showroom unsold for 2-3 years. I liked it that the warranty could be extended to 4 years and the dinky size, though it sounds like I may need the optional tall seat to feel less cramped once on it.
I was going to look at a 20 plate sub 1,000 mile one in my preferred colour last week but wouldn't have got to the dealer before closing time due to a challenging, scenic detour after an accident resulted in an A-road closure.
W800s have caught my eye too. Objectively the RE Interceptor may be much better.
I get that Z650s can be vibey and boring but I suspect one would offer less temptation to my inner prat than an MT-07. But the MT-07 has a 270 deg. crank for that V-twin like sound. A W800 would offer less risk to limb and licence.
I like the Z900RS. This could be one way of having the sensibleness of the Z650 with some of the retro glamour of the W800 and Z900RS.
I've yet to watch the video. I fast forwarded it and got to the two men playing chess with the bike in the background and then had to leave. Hopefully the video isn't as bad as the Hipster warehouse Triumph Bobber race. The gold coloured wheel looks good in the still, the twin exhaust headers less so. I get that the original Z650 is a 4 pot.
I could be interested in this. I almost bought a new, unregistered previous model Z650 a couple of years ago. It had been in the showroom unsold for 2-3 years. I liked it that the warranty could be extended to 4 years and the dinky size, though it sounds like I may need the optional tall seat to feel less cramped once on it.
I was going to look at a 20 plate sub 1,000 mile one in my preferred colour last week but wouldn't have got to the dealer before closing time due to a challenging, scenic detour after an accident resulted in an A-road closure.
W800s have caught my eye too. Objectively the RE Interceptor may be much better.
I get that Z650s can be vibey and boring but I suspect one would offer less temptation to my inner prat than an MT-07. But the MT-07 has a 270 deg. crank for that V-twin like sound. A W800 would offer less risk to limb and licence.
I like the Z900RS. This could be one way of having the sensibleness of the Z650 with some of the retro glamour of the W800 and Z900RS.
I scrolled through the video earlier. Just seen the woman in the camel coloured top and green shoes. And the Z650 exhaust underneath the bike.
I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
carinaman said:
I scrolled through the video earlier. Just seen the woman in the camel coloured top and green shoes. And the Z650 exhaust underneath the bike.
I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
Isn't she from Kawasaki's marketing department though? It's not like when they used to sell bikes with bikini-clad models.I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
I'm not that fussed about the bike, but I'm not the target market I don't think. It's good to see Nish Kumar back in work, I didn't know he could ride a bike.
tdm34 said:
Looks like team green have hit the nail on the head with their latest retro.....
The green colour is perfect....
I had many happy memories on a Z650C2 in 1980
Snap! I had a blue C2 in 1981. The green colour is perfect....
I had many happy memories on a Z650C2 in 1980
But as good as that retro looks it has a couple of cylinders missing!
Maybe a project for Allen Millyard.
carinaman said:
I scrolled through the video earlier. Just seen the woman in the camel coloured top and green shoes. And the Z650 exhaust underneath the bike.
I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
Don’t be upset. Be happy instead… she can ride…I was looking forward to this. It's got my back up that they're using an attractive woman to market something at me. Is that chap mansplaining? I know it's a bike paying homage to a mid 70s bike but I want to know about the motorcycle and they're showing me a woman. I am not in the 70s.
Thanks Kawasicki. Eleanor van Winsen can ride far better than I can.
I'd just programmed myself in to watch a video on this bike when I had got home having seen the colour and knowing it was a nod to the Z650 of the 70s before I'd headed out for the day.
It's like a narrated motor sport video or an employment training video that has music in the background. BBC Radio 4 has done it on some of their programmes too, played music in the background of a narrated piece.
I didn't take the opportunity to visit a Kawasaki dealer today. Perhaps I'll do it on Friday.
I like the green. I liked the look and full length front mudguard of the green Chinese made Benelli 752S.
I'd just programmed myself in to watch a video on this bike when I had got home having seen the colour and knowing it was a nod to the Z650 of the 70s before I'd headed out for the day.
It's like a narrated motor sport video or an employment training video that has music in the background. BBC Radio 4 has done it on some of their programmes too, played music in the background of a narrated piece.
I didn't take the opportunity to visit a Kawasaki dealer today. Perhaps I'll do it on Friday.
I like the green. I liked the look and full length front mudguard of the green Chinese made Benelli 752S.
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