Bike chooser: Kawasaki Z650

The new Z650 is fun and confidence inspiring

Kawasaki Z650 Expect to pay £6099 www.kawasaki.co.uk

Engine 649cc parallel twin Power 67bhp Torque 48lb.ft Kerb weight 187kg Seat height 790mm Fuel capacity 15 litres Fuel consumption 55mpg Licence needed: A

You can beat the traffic with the brand-new Kawasaki Z650. This economical but fun machine features a 650cc parallel twin engine with friendly gearing and strong low-to-mid-range torque to comfortably pull you out of corners – even if you’ve gone into one in the wrong gear. The slim, lightweight chassis is great for new riders and manoeuvrability is helped by low weight (187kg) and a low (790mm) seat height. There’s a lot of confidence gained by being able to put both feet on the ground.