Beginner bikes have been steadily getting better and better, the 650cc platform that Kawasaki have is a good example and now has a brand-new bike out based on this popular middleweight.

Over the past few years, the retro motorcycle market has just exploded, with every manufacturer scrambling to get a piece of the action. Kawasaki already have the Z900RS out, but that is no beginner friendly machine, the 650, on the other hand, most certainly is by far and away more approachable and altogether more marketable.

Big enough to not be boring and small enough for first time riders, it is the perfect compromise, but how does it stack up to its rivals in what has become a fairly saturated market?

10 Retro Sport

A rider on a parked green 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS.
Via: Kawasaki

The RS on these bikes stands for Retro Sport, something of a new class within the retro motorcycle class that is also seemingly growing all the time.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is designed for an easy riding posture
Via: Kawasaki.eu

It certainly isn’t alone and is competing with several other capable bikes that have already been on the market for quite some time, but one thing we have to say is that Kawasaki got the design right. Both the Candy Emerald Green and Metallic Moondust Gray/Ebony color choices also look great.

9 More Comfortable Ergonomics

Kawasaki Z650
Via: Kawasaki

This is significantly more upright than the Z650 and Ninja 650 (which have a very similar rider triangle).

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS hd retro modern bike wallpaper
Via: Kawasaki

Although both those bikes are already more comfort oriented, the RS takes it another step further with wider, flatter bars that are positioned closer to the rider.

Related: 10 Things Every Motorcycle Enthusiast Should Know About The 2022 Kawasaki Z650

8 New Rider Friendly

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS iconic ducktail design view
Via: Kawasaki.eu

Although the displacement might seem deceptively large, this is no high performance machine, it has sufficient power without being intimidating.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS engine close-up view
Via: Youtube.com/kawasakimotorsEU

This is not a bad thing at all, it is a platform which now gives every type of rider an entry point into motorcycling without carrying the “boring” beginner bike tag.

7 Versatile Parallel Twin

2022 Yamaha XSR700 engine close-up view
via: YamahaMotorSports

With the 650 lump making just a shade under 70 horsepower, much like the Yamaha CP2 engine (above), they have now stuck it in almost every type of motorcycle.

The Kawasaki Ninja 650
Via: Kawasaki

So no matter what your preferred flavor, they have got you covered. If you are looking for Adventure; Versys 650, if you are looking for something sporty; Ninja 650, something conventional; Z650, something retro; the new Z650RS.

Related: The Kawasaki Versys 650 Gets A Big Makeover For 2022

6 Improved Mid-range

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS front third quarter cinematic view
Via: Kawasaki.eu

The fact that they are able to put the engine in so many different platforms now is largely thanks to one key improvement; a much better torque curve through the mid-range.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is a nimble machine made for the city
Via: Kawasaki.eu

At this particular end of the market, all of these bikes can do highway speeds comfortably, but the way they make their power makes all the difference. We would argue that it is indeed the least at home in the sportbike which would certainly benefit from a higher revving engine, but for the rest the punchy parallel twin does a great job.

5 Retro Suspension

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS front third quarter studio view
Via: Kawasaki.eu

Unfortunately the biggest let down for the RS is the suspension, it is clearly an area where they decided to keep costs down knowing full well prospective buyers won’t necessarily be all that keen on track days.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS side view with accessories
Via: Youtube.com/kawasakimotorsEU

It is still a disappointment, with conventional non-adjustable 41mm telescopic forks up front and a horizontal back-link shock that only has preload adjustment.

Related: Race Tech Fork Springs Explained And If They're Right For You

4 Modern Safety Equipment

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS instrument cluster layout view
Via: Youtube.com/kawasakimotorsEU

You won’t find any advanced safety features or electronics package on the Z650RS, but you will get exactly what you need; a high quality Bosch ABS system.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS top view
Via: Kawasaki.eu

Modern bikes with lean angle sensing computers are great, but you can still crash no matter what. What every new rider needs is ABS, it is arguably the most important safety innovation for motorcycles since the full face helmet.

3 Better Looking Middleweight

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS and its predecessor hd wallpaper
Via: Kawasaki.eu

Design wise, even if you don’t care for retro themed bikes, this one is still pretty hard to fault. It gets its beauty from its simplicity, and as much as they could have done better with the suspension, most of the other components they use on the bike are top notch.

2022 Kawasaki Z650RS tank close-up view
Via: Youtube.com/kawasakimotorsEU

Every middleweight bike has its positives and negatives, but for the latest retro Kawa, the design is a big positive, and they might well attract a fair few new bikers to team green with this one purely thanks to how it looks.

Related: Yamaha R7 Vs Kawasaki Ninja 650: Which Is The Better Middleweight Sportbike

2 Affordable Retro Machine

Kawasaki Z650RS side
Topbikes PH

At just under the $9,000 mark, this is a very affordable motorcycle and should provide retro enthusiasts a great entry point.

2022-kawasaki-z650rs-first-look-retro-modern-sportbike-urban-motorcycle-19
Ultimate Motorcycling

It is still just an entry point and although it should be a bike worth keeping, there are several competitors on the market that are worth looking at before you commit.

1 Flooded Market

2021-Honda-CB650R-2
Via: Honda

Honda recently launched the CB650, which they call a “Neo Café Racer” but we would just call it a pretty cool middleweight that actually has an inline-4.

Via: Yamaha Motor

Yamaha has had the XSR700 on the market for quite some time, and we would argue that it has the Kawa beat in every respect, except maybe looks. Then there is the slightly more expensive Aprilia Tuono 660 which is just so good it becomes impossible to ignore even though it isn’t even a retro bike!