As someone who has owned the Z650 since January, most of the points you made are the same as what I have. Especially the part about chucking the tires for something better. As a shorter rider, the Z650 fit me better than any other naked sports on the market. As I also ride an R6, the more upright position for longer rides is indeed welcome. I have fully customized this bike from a Yoshimura Alpha exhaust, to a Rapid Bike ECU, tuned by Superbike Unlimited and dyno’d each step to show gains and improvements. I also have Vortex sprockets and chain ready to go on to edge up the acceleration a bit more. I ride mostly curvy mountain roads, so top speed isn’t what I’m after. Again, that’s what the R6 is for ;). For anyone looking at a great all around fun bike that’s nimble, you won’t be disappointed. You can also check my channel and site for full details and specs of everything that has been done and what’s to come on this bike.
Can I ask how tall you are? I'm a gnats eyebrow under 5'11. Researching my first bike- I think I'm likely to go for a used older bike, but if I can stretch to something new should this be on the list?
Niandra I am 5’3”. So not tall at all. The bike fits me extremely well, as I believe it’s mostly designed for either the shorter crowd, or people who are newer to motorcycles. I’ve heard some taller people say it’s a bit cramped for them in its stock form. One other guy I know that owns the Z added the extended height seat and says it helped a lot for him. He is 5’10. It would make a great first bike, but you may start to feel cramped in longer rides.
Hi Tremonte. I have been following your channel. I'm 5'5" and also 64. I have been riding for over 45 years. Now that I have done so much riding and still love to ride, I think that there are a lot of older riders that are ready to get lighter bikes that are fun and not loaded with so much power. I have my 2017 Harley Street glide for riding distances over 50 miles at one time. I also have a 2012 bonnie that I use for short distances that I'm looking to replace. I've been checking this bike out since my local dealer has 2 2017's on sell for $6300.00. Bikes like this needs to also be targeted to older riders that has a love for riding, like myself, that ride just for the love of it not for how fast you can go. I'm fortunate that I finally figured out that I'm a motorbike rider, not a motorbike racer, after 3 times going down and a few broken bones. Ride safe my friend and live long enough to enjoy every drop of life that you can.
As a 55yr beginner with short legs, this bike is Awesome! The ergonomics, body triangle points and low center of mass make this fit so comfortable and feel confident. and Honestly ... were you hungover for this video?
W'hey great to see the pro's in my neck of the woods! Nice review...wonder if I knock on the door of those folk in Bourne End they'd let me borrow one??
I'd like one of these, this amount of power is plenty enough for the streets, weird they ditched the unique white and green after only one year though.
I have a 2018 Ninja. I bought it because I believed (after a test ride of both) that it vibrated a lot less than the Z650. After only 200 miles I'm hugely disappointed in the amount of vibration in the bars...makes my hands numb after fifty miles. I love lots of things about this bike...but I'm afraid I'll have to sell it.
I like the heavier, more pedestrian, garden variety look previous Generation better. This one got too much "Transformers" styling to it. Here's something that bugs me about these OEMs and their sometimes sensible decisions. They bothered themselves with slapping on it some swanky super sport looking aluminium swing arm to later slap what looks like some $0.50 hardware store chain adjusters on it and make it look like some CHINESE outsourced piece of junk. This kind of strategy may seem acceptable in a 125cc motorcycle sold in Indonesia or India but not on a 650cc bike sold in first world markets. Way to go, Kawasaki ! Keep cutting corners, one day it'll buy in the Azz !
I wish they made it into a triple so it can sound decently at the very least. He made a good point in that it lost a few horses on this iteration but also lost weight. My problem is that they also made the fuel tank smaller. So now you have to fuel up quicker/more often. Like I said, I wish they'd made it a triple and add more power and kept the same size tank as before.
Looks like some kind of wasp-based Transformer, like most modern bikes seemingly. Considering the beauty of the original Z650, it seems a bit wrong to share the same name. I remember when all this were fields etc......
like a ''some kind of wasp-based Transformer'' ..as for every Japanese motorcycle. at least they got it right with the Z900RS but i really wish they do the same with this 650 motor. no everyone needs 100hp to have fun.
Having owned an FZ1, count me in the Yamaphobe camp. No ABS and an electrical system that would earn an F in tech school (ran +12V directly to the ignition switch and back, no relay. Damn thing never wanted to start and the electronics were iffy). As my Japanese coworker describes it: "Yamaha...theyyyyy make musical instruments."
I own a yamaha a kawasaki and a suzuki (so not a brand geek). but the Z650 is so much better looking than the MT-07, so i would take this one in a hearbeat. So no YOU would not buy this, but others would ;-)
I just realized when I become fantastically rich making money come out of my computer, I'm going to buy a 1299 Superleggera as a coffee table.
As someone who has owned the Z650 since January, most of the points you made are the same as what I have. Especially the part about chucking the tires for something better. As a shorter rider, the Z650 fit me better than any other naked sports on the market. As I also ride an R6, the more upright position for longer rides is indeed welcome. I have fully customized this bike from a Yoshimura Alpha exhaust, to a Rapid Bike ECU, tuned by Superbike Unlimited and dyno’d each step to show gains and improvements. I also have Vortex sprockets and chain ready to go on to edge up the acceleration a bit more. I ride mostly curvy mountain roads, so top speed isn’t what I’m after. Again, that’s what the R6 is for ;). For anyone looking at a great all around fun bike that’s nimble, you won’t be disappointed. You can also check my channel and site for full details and specs of everything that has been done and what’s to come on this bike.
Can I ask how tall you are?
I'm a gnats eyebrow under 5'11. Researching my first bike- I think I'm likely to go for a used older bike, but if I can stretch to something new should this be on the list?
Niandra I am 5’3”. So not tall at all. The bike fits me extremely well, as I believe it’s mostly designed for either the shorter crowd, or people who are newer to motorcycles. I’ve heard some taller people say it’s a bit cramped for them in its stock form. One other guy I know that owns the Z added the extended height seat and says it helped a lot for him. He is 5’10. It would make a great first bike, but you may start to feel cramped in longer rides.
Hi Tremonte. I have been following your channel. I'm 5'5" and also 64. I have been riding for over 45 years. Now that I have done so much riding and still love to ride, I think that there are a lot of older riders that are ready to get lighter bikes that are fun and not loaded with so much power. I have my 2017 Harley Street glide for riding distances over 50 miles at one time. I also have a 2012 bonnie that I use for short distances that I'm looking to replace. I've been checking this bike out since my local dealer has 2 2017's on sell for $6300.00. Bikes like this needs to also be targeted to older riders that has a love for riding, like myself, that ride just for the love of it not for how fast you can go. I'm fortunate that I finally figured out that I'm a motorbike rider, not a motorbike racer, after 3 times going down and a few broken bones. Ride safe my friend and live long enough to enjoy every drop of life that you can.
Good looking coffee table 😸. Like the combo of minimalist frame with banana swingarm and underslung pipe on multi-spoke wheels 👍
I love the frame and the colour of it.....looks mint....and rides well as i tested the 2017 model and was surprised.....
so much love on that bike
As a 55yr beginner with short legs, this bike is Awesome! The ergonomics, body triangle points and low center of mass make this fit so comfortable and feel confident. and Honestly ... were you hungover for this video?
Very informative, fantastic review. Subscribing now
Thank you for this great review. I think i convinced myself to earn and save money for this bike.
hey Bike World, what do you reckon is a naked bike with good pillion comfort?
Very low ground clearance !! If I chang the exhust pipe is it possible to get some ground hight??
Is this guy's right corner body lean angle wrong? Or maybe there's no right/wrong way to do it!
Are all bikes made for short riders nowadays? Seems like an SM or an adventure bike are the only tall options.
at least they offer a taller seat.
I like the intro
W'hey great to see the pro's in my neck of the woods! Nice review...wonder if I knock on the door of those folk in Bourne End they'd let me borrow one??
Thanks, you seem to be doing OK.
Big fan of urs...regards from INDIA..!!
5:29, nice position :p.
Good objective review though
How does it compare to the ninja 400
I'd like one of these, this amount of power is plenty enough for the streets, weird they ditched the unique white and green after only one year though.
Exactly, I've got mine since may and it is plenty fast ... 0-60 in 3.5 seconds flat. The white and green just sparkles in the sunset, it's amazing.
I have some review videos up on my channel about my z650! It's a great bike!
lol, that intro :))
not fit for indian road because 130 mm ground clearance
which one to buy ninja 650 or z650?
I have a 2018 Ninja. I bought it because I believed (after a test ride of both) that it vibrated a lot less than the Z650. After only 200 miles I'm hugely disappointed in the amount of vibration in the bars...makes my hands numb after fifty miles. I love lots of things about this bike...but I'm afraid I'll have to sell it.
I like the heavier, more pedestrian, garden variety look previous Generation better. This one got too much "Transformers" styling to it.
Here's something that bugs me about these OEMs and their sometimes sensible decisions.
They bothered themselves with slapping on it some swanky super sport looking aluminium swing arm to later slap what looks like some $0.50 hardware store chain adjusters on it and make it look like some CHINESE outsourced piece of junk.
This kind of strategy may seem acceptable in a 125cc motorcycle sold in Indonesia or India but not on a 650cc bike sold in first world markets.
Way to go, Kawasaki ! Keep cutting corners, one day it'll buy in the Azz !
#saarsquad(Saar production) youtube channel owner has this bike plzz check him out he's amazing.
Kawasaki Zed bikes should be inline 4
I wish they made it into a triple so it can sound decently at the very least. He made a good point in that it lost a few horses on this iteration but also lost weight. My problem is that they also made the fuel tank smaller. So now you have to fuel up quicker/more often. Like I said, I wish they'd made it a triple and add more power and kept the same size tank as before.
Looks like some kind of wasp-based Transformer, like most modern bikes seemingly. Considering the beauty of the original Z650, it seems a bit wrong to share the same name. I remember when all this were fields etc......
like a ''some kind of wasp-based Transformer'' ..as for every Japanese motorcycle. at least they got it right with the Z900RS but i really wish they do the same with this 650 motor. no everyone needs 100hp to have fun.
Damn this guy was not interested in doing this. *sigh* Things we do for money.
Nice review. Shame they didn't make it look like the original Z650.
By the way, the letter H is pronounced aitch not haitch.
Z900
Big boys club. lol. When I was looking to buy my first bike, I was told to get something over 600cc. I listened to that advice and never looked back.
Gerhard Symons Why would anyone tell you to get something over 600cc as your first bike
it's a 650, so there you go lol ,you passed the 600 mark, you are officially in the big boys club.
This review looked so bored.
Like someone FORCED you to do it.
Yep, we had a gun to his head the whole way through. Bastards we are.
Disagree
Vespertili Kildem It’s just this guy’s usual too-cool-for-school vibe. Compensating for the balding and the belly, methinks.
capitalism did, he's forced to do this in order to buy food
Should have given it 90bhp and people would rave about it
get the ZX-6R then if you want more power...
How very boring.
I guess only Yamaphobes would buy it over an mt07.
Jay B why so, mt07 ain't perfect, both are different in flavor though
Having owned an FZ1, count me in the Yamaphobe camp. No ABS and an electrical system that would earn an F in tech school (ran +12V directly to the ignition switch and back, no relay. Damn thing never wanted to start and the electronics were iffy).
As my Japanese coworker describes it: "Yamaha...theyyyyy make musical instruments."
Allah Turbo I don't know of any bike that is perfect out of the crate. That mt07 is a hell of a budget price bike tho
I own a yamaha a kawasaki and a suzuki (so not a brand geek). but the Z650 is so much better looking than the MT-07, so i would take this one in a hearbeat. So no YOU would not buy this, but others would ;-)
listepikster whoaaa, why is the Kawi better than the MT07? The MT gets way better gas mileage too. I need to know!
alternative disorder buy concrete dominate sector faculty surprised wipe.
So unenthusiastic. What an utterly boring presentation. Try smiling you might brighten someones day!!