Kawasaki To Launch The Z650RS In 2021?

According to a Japanese magazine, rumours are rife that Kawasaki might introduce a retro variant of the Z650 streetfighter in 2021. The motorcycle could look similar to the Z900RS, which itself is a retro version of the Z900. The magazine, Young Machine, has even rendered the motorcycle.

It has used the Z650 as the base and shaped the bodywork like the Z900RS. While it may look a little too similar to the 900cc retro bike, we aren’t complaining as it is gorgeous. To keep costs in check, the Japanese brand could retain the powertrain and underpinnings intact. Kawasaki doesn’t necessarily need to tweak the motor considering it’s a retro motorcycle meant for relaxed riding anyway. In the Z650, the 649cc parallel-twin liquid-cooled motor churns out 68PS at 8000rpm and 64Nm at 6700rpm.

Unlike the upswept exhaust in the Z900RS, this one gets the same underbelly unit as the Z650, but that doesn’t look out of place either. The rendering also highlights the twin-pod instrument cluster as opposed to the boxy-looking yet info-laden TFT screen with smartphone connectivity in the Z650.

Kawasaki chose to equip the Z900RS with radial calipers up front rather than the axial ones in the Z900. On the other hand, the rendering shows the retro motorcycle shares its braking and suspension setup with the standard Z650. Again, that wouldn’t be an issue for a motorcycle meant for laidback riding. The Z650 employs a traditional telescopic front fork and a horizontal back-link monoshock that’s adjustable for preload. Brakes include 300mm petal discs up front and a 220mm unit at the rear, with standard dual-channel ABS.

Z900RS shown for representation

Kawasaki brought the Z900RS to India via the CBU route, which pushed its pricing to an absurd Rs 15.70 lakh. Comparatively, the Z900, on which it is based, was priced at just Rs 7.69 lakh (both ex-showroom India). We hope Kawasaki doesn’t repeat the same strategy with the Z650RS when it is eventually launched in India. If Kawasaki manages to bring the motorcycle via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route, at a premium of around Rs 50,000 over the standard Z650 (Rs 5.94 lakh), we might just have a winner. It will also help Kawasaki take on the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, especially for those who want something a little more premium and performance-packed than the Royal Enfield twin.

Credit: Young Machine