Kawasaki Z650RS Spotted

IF YOU LOVE RETRO BIKES, THEN THIS IS ONE BIKE YOU SHOULD KEEP your eyes on. The Kawasaki Z650RS has been spotted testing in India, sporting some India-specific parts.

As is well known, Kawasaki’s 650 platform has a wide array of models ranging from streetfighters to cruisers and sports tourers to adventure tourers. Recently Kawasaki also unveiled the neo-retro Z650RS based on this popular platform. Powering it will be the familiar 649-cc parallel-twin motor that puts out 68 hp and 64 Nm, but the motor claims to have been tuned to improve low-end and mid-range grunt to suit the character of this classic-styled bike.

The Z650RS looks nothing like its siblings and sports old-school styling with a round headlamp, twin-pod instrument cluster, teardrop-shaped fuel tank with pinstripes inspired by the 1975 Kawasaki Z650. Completing the retro design is a flat seat and 16-spoke golden spoke-type alloy wheels.

The test mule spotted on our roads had a few other fitments to suit Indian customer needs and government norms. These include a split grabrail, similar to the one on the Ninja 650, and a high-mounted number-plate over the headlamp. We expect the bike to be officially launched this month with its price starting from about Rs 7.5 lakh.