This 2017 Kawasaki Z650 was a genuine ground-up rethink rather than a facelift, and it's one of the sweetest middleweight nakeds of its era. The 649cc liquid-cooled parallel twin produces 68 bhp at 8,000rpm and 65Nm of torque, retuned for stronger low and mid-range pull so it feels quick in the real world rather than just on paper, with an assist-and-slipper clutch making the lever feather-light in traffic.
The headline change was weight. A brand new high-tensile steel trellis frame saved 10kg and the gullwing swingarm another 2.7kg, taking 17kg out of the bike it replaced. At 187kg with a 1,410mm wheelbase and 24-degree rake, it's remarkably agile — it tips into corners with no hesitation and holds a line beautifully, which makes it as happy on a twisty B-road as it is filtering through town. Braking is progressive and confident from twin 300mm semi-floating petal discs with twin-piston calipers and a 220mm rear. Suspension is a 41mm telescopic fork with a preload-adjustable horizontal back-link shock. The 790mm seat is low, narrow and easy to get both feet down on, and the sculpted tank gives good grip when cornering. The updated dash is clear in direct sunlight and includes a gear indicator, fuel level and range readout with three display options.
This example features paddock stand bobbins, R&G tap tidy, datatag, two keys, owners manual and service book with a comprehensive history comprising of eight stamps . || At Superbike Specialists, we offer a top selection of HPI-clear used motorcycles (unless stated). Our bikes are mechanically prepared by passionate onsite mechanics, with a focus on exceptional customer service. Every bike includes a 30-day warranty, with options to extend to 6 or 12 months, a minimum of 6 months MOT, and a fresh service. UK mainland delivery starts at £50. Competitive finance and card payments are accepted. We are also an authorised Scorpion Datatool dealer, offering fully fitted S5 Thatcham-approved trackers from £299. ||