Kawasaki ER-6n Review

No fairing, no extra bulk and pure muscle. Often a street-bike is a more practical buy for those who prefer to ride within city limits. And it's not surprising that we're riding another recently launched naked street fighter in the same week as the DSK Benelli TNT 600 i.

And this time it's the ultra refined Kawasaki ER-6n, the streetbike version of the popular Kawasaki Ninja 650. But unlike the smart look and fit for touring Ninja, the ER-6n isn't the best looking bike in the segment. Sure there are plenty of part sharing between the siblings -- like the shapely, and practical 16-litre fuel tank, seats, fender and the entire tail section are starkly similar. 

Sans the front fairing,  along with the extensions add some aggression to the Kawasaki ER-6n. The streetfighter's mass forward design language with exposed chassis tubes and beefy engine, underbelly exhaust and bright red springs of the rear suspension give it the desired 'don't mess with me' stance.

For now Kawasaki ER-6n will only be offered in the all-black body colour which doesn't do complete justice to the bike. A couple of more creative colour schemes would have added more attitude to the Kawasaki. And then it gets a stubby headlight a pair of fuel tank extensions and a sharp looking belly cowl which make the Kawasaki ER-6n look like a neckless beast, armed and ready to fight. 

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The split seats are carried forward from the Kawasaki Ninja 650, which are extremely comfortable even if you're considering the Golden Quad, but be ready for plenty of wind blast since it doesn't have a front faring. Even the riding position has to be altered slightly to better suit the fairing-less street fighter, so the bustling city traffic doesn't pin you down. 

The clutch and brake lever are reach adjustable and brush metal finished, and the feel is progressive. The compact instrument cluster is split horizontally, with the top consisting of an analogue tachometer and a fairly large digital speedo sits below. The Kawasaki ER-6n has well finished and built for use switchgear and body parts. Like most models from the Japanese bike maker, the ER-6n is well built motorcycle with great quality.

The segment offers an interesting mix of engine options. The Kawasaki is up against the likes of the Triumph Street Triple which comes equipped with a maverick inline three layout and DSK Benelli TNT 600 i  powered by a more desirable format of inline four. While the Kawasaki ER-6n comes with a practical parallel twin motor.

Like the Ninja 650, the Kawasaki ER-6n comes strapped with a proven 649cc, liquid-cooled motor capable of a modest peak power of 72.1PS produced at 8,500rpm and 64Nm of torque at 7,000rpm. The parallel twin transmits power to the rear-wheel via a six-speed transmission. Though the shifts are smooth, the gear chaining action takes a little effort and a while to get used to.

The ratios are quite well sorted and makes the motor deliver good, low and mid-range to suit the bike's street bike practical nature. It might not have a staggering top end, but there's always plenty of juice on the tap for overtaking. Having said that, the ER-6n feels faster than its rivals, thanks to clever gearing and the fact that the peak torque develops at lower revs. It's a strong motor, that gives the owner the peace of mind which only well engineered machine can offer.

The tubular diamond type frame with the engine mass position at the centre of the bike gives the Kawasaki ER-6n great weight distribution. Although at 204kg, it's not the lightest in the segment it's centralised mass and compact proportions makes it extremely nimble. This cause is supported by a 805mm saddle height, along with the well calibrated 41mm telescopic forks at front and an offset preload adjustable mono-shock setup at rear. 

We got the opportunity to throw some bad and even some flowing twisties on the Kawasaki ER-6n and it managed both with impressive aplomb. Sadly, our test bike wasn't in the best shape and the tubeless Dunlop tyres were past their glory days and couldn't offer adequate grip. Despite the handicap, the Kawasaki felt pretty agile and engaging to ride on open roads and was equally manageable within the city.

Braking duties is taken care of by dual semi-floating, petal disc brakes at front and single 220mm petal disc brakes at rear. And again, no ABS option offered on this Rs 4.78 (ex-showroom Pune) motorcycle either.

That brings us to the all important - should one buy this? The price is really tempting and being a naked bike, the Kawasaki ER-6n perfectly blends with the urban environment. So, if you're a city slicker then this Kawasaki is a smart option. But it's not the prettiest of the lot, isn't ideal for touring and not having an ABS in India is sourly missed.