Being one of the most sought-after naked middleweight motorcycles of the segment, the Kawasaki Z650 is considered to be one of the most preferred choices of the lot. With the sharp design language, razor sharp riding dynamics, and being one of the most easy-to-ride motorcycles of the lot, the Z650 became a favorite amongst both the newbies as well as the experienced riders. All of this has been carried forward to the 2022 iteration of the Z650, making it an equally alluring motorcycle to swing your leg over.
Available for a base MSRP of $7,549 for the non-ABS variant and $8,049 for the ABS variant, the 2022 Kawasaki Z650 is quite a value-for-money proposition of the lot. Powered by the legendary 650cc parallel-twin motor producing 68 hp and the Trellis high-tensile steel tube frame coupled with sorted suspension and brakes, the 2022 Z650 is easily one of the motorcycles that shouldn't be missed out by any enthusiasts.
10 Sugomi Styling Looks Aggressive
Carrying forward the coveted sugomi design language of the outgoing 2021 Z650, the 2022 Kawasaki Z650 looks like a million dollars due to it being designed similar to a predator's state before prancing on to the prey. The front and side view of this motorcycle looks eerily similar to the big brother Kawasaki Z900, and the beautiful Trellis frame highlights the design even further.
The striking alloy wheel and frame colors, silver and chrome accents, and the well-sculptured tank makes the Z650 look and feel more like a 1000cc naked supersport motorcycle. The exhaust headers, LED headlights and taillights, 3 color palettes, and the wide Dunlop tires add to the character too.
9 Tried And Tested Parallel Twin Motor
Powered by the legendary 649cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin motor that is capable of putting out a decent 68 hp and 42 lb-ft of torque, 2022 Z650 follows the pedigree of the rest of the Kawasaki motorcycle lineup that is powered by the same motor. This is one of those engines that requires absolutely no work, apart from the periodic fluid changes and wear and tear part replacements.
Being the same motor that does duties in the Ninja 650, this parallel-twin motor has been in continuous production for a long time and that has helped Kawasaki in fine-tuning and ameliorating this indestructible motor. This can be mainly seen from the stress-free power delivery and lower-than-average heat emitted from the motor, especially in comparison to the rivals like the Triumph Trident 660 and the Yamaha MT-07.
8 Comfortable Ergonomics
The 2022 Kawasaki Z650 offers a very comfortable riding position for most riders. Due to the low seat height of 31.1" along with well-padded seats for both the rider and for the pillion, the Z650 feels quite comfortable during those long freeway rides. The seats are adequately wide and contoured too.
With the handlebar mounted a bit forward and the footpegs pushed slightly back, the Z650 offers the perfect rider's triangle that helps the riders to be comfortable without losing too much on the sportiness. What makes it even more impressive is the well-positioned switchgear and the soft and light clutch.
7 Precise Handling And Balanced Chassis
Offered with the 41mm KYB conventional forks at the front and the KYB mono-shock with adjustable spring load at the rear, the Z650 turned out to be a competent motorcycle during both high-speed straight-line riding and on sweeping corners. Even though the front and rear forks are tuned to the softer side, they hold on to the roads like a leech.
As the speed rises, the stability is top-notch offered by this naked middleweight is top-notch. Along with the excellent suspension setup, what makes this naked motorcycle top the charts in the handling department is the stiff and well-engineered Trellis steel tube chassis. This chassis helps the motorcycle hold up pretty well in the twisties and that provides quite a lot of confidence to the riders.
6 Comes With Decent Gear
The 2022 Z650 retains all the required features like ABS, assist & slipper clutch, and multiple riding modes, all of which make this naked middleweight quite impressive for the price. Along with that, LED headlights and taillights are available as standard too.
This 2022 iteration of the Z650 carries forward the TFT dash display which offers all the required information like gear indicators, trip information, etc. The rider can monitor and connect with the Z650 with the Rideology smartphone app which gives information related to riding logs, telephone notices, navigation updates, and many more.
5 Comfortable Ride Quality
With the conventional KYB front fork coupled with the adjustable KYB shock with preload at the rear, the 2022 Kawasaki Z650 turned out to be the most comfortable offering of the segment. The front end is tuned to the softer side, which absorbs all the bumps on the road with ease.
Even the rear mono-shock felt to be made for more comfortable touring than being a track machine. However, even with the softer setup, the handling is spot on and remains confidence-inspiring. The handle is light and that helps during the slow-speed city riding.
4 Sharp Brakes Helps To Stop The Z650 On A Dime
One of the major deterrents of the older model years of the Kawazaki Z650 was the mediocre braking performance on offer. However, the braking performance offered by the 2022 Z650 turned out to be excellent, offering a sharp initial bit and an excellent progression.
The front end gets the dual Nissin 2-piston calipers with dual 300 mm petal discs, and the rear gets the Nissin 1-piston caliper with 220 mm disc. The excellent hardware coupled with ABS makes the Z650 stop instantaneously. Also, the feel and feedback from the front brake lever are excellent. The rear brake pedal offered a decent feel and feedback too.
3 Beginner-Friendly Power Delivery
The Z650 is a motorcycle that can be tackled quite easily by newbie riders. With the smooth initial power delivery and good low-end torque, beginner riders would find it a very tame motorcycle to ride around and polish their skills. Even the mid-range and top-end performance are not as frightening as the rivals like the MT-07 and Trident 660.
A few other positives that make it more beginner-friendly are the ultra-light clutch operation and butter-smooth gear shifts offered by the 6-speed gearbox. There were no false neutrals and the neutral was easy to find, unlike the Trident 660.
2 Unmatched Build Quality For The Price
Being a Japanese motorcycle, the Z650 has an impeccable level of fit and finish. The switchgear feels clicky and precise, just like how it should be. The same goes for the fiber parts too. The well-sculptured tank is rigid and doesn't feel like it's built to a cost.
Many of the owners of the outgoing Z650 has also reported no rattles or squeaks as with the rising number of miles on the clock. This suggests how well put together the Z650 is. In comparison, the Yamaha MT-07 remains a notch below the Z650 in terms of build quality.
1 One Of The Most Reliable Naked Middleweights Out There
The parallel-twin motor of the 2022 Kawasaki Z650 is synonymous with its outright reliability and bulletproof nature. With just regular maintenance including periodic oil changes, filter changes, and valve clearance checks, the Kawasaki Z650 could easily go more than 100,000 miles.
With no major complaints being reported, the Z650 also has a very low service cost. Along with that, the parts are readily available over the counter, which is an added benefit for newbie riders as they tend to crash more often than the others. Even the electronics and fiber parts of the Z650 hold up quite well over the years, as can be seen on RiderForum, which is a Kawasaki riders forum.