Words: Matthew Shields

Kawasaki’s Z-series should need no introduction, no matter what generation of rider you are. First released in 1972, the Kawasaki Z1 was the company’s response to the ground-breaking Honda CB750 launched a few years earlier. It was the first mass-production sportsbike to feature a DOHC, four-cylinder engine which, at that time, was a technology only on factory racers or limited-edition production sportsbikes.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Z is no longer a model name attributed to Kawasaki sportsbikes with the Ninja doing a class-leading job in that regard since the 1980s. Today, as much as it was true in the 1970s, the Z-series of machines Kawasaki produces are high-performance nakedbikes with a reputation for great reliability and soul-stirring excitement. From the cute and compact Z125 Pro through to the brawny Z1000, there was almost a Z for every kind of rider and now there is with the introduction of the new Z650L.

Image: Nick Wood.

To establish yourself as a serious player in the learner-approved motorcycle market a few boxes are required to be ticked before a bike will leave a dealer’s showroom floor. Look at the top-selling motorcycles in Australia and out of the top ten you will see a lot of learner-approved motorcycles, all very good ones at that. All these machines deliver the inimitable style of bigger bikes in each manufacturer’s range and only a few of them deliver a big-bike style of performance that will satisfy riders of all experience levels – just as the Z650L does.

Replacing the old ER-6nL in the model line-up, the Z650L uses a 650cc parallel-twin engine that delivers strong low to midrange torque. Easy to use below 3000rpm and noticeably stronger and most useful between 3000 and 6000rpm, the engine delivers a real-world style of performance that’ll satisfy and excite riders on any twisty backroad or urban commute. You can rocket away from the lights, sit effortlessly at highway speeds and loose your licence in the blink of an eye with the performance this new machine has on offer.

The user-friendly power characteristics are as a result of the parallel-twin engine format – something which also facilitates a very comfortable and roomy ergonomic package. The engine sits low in the frame and with a low seat height, narrow width between the legs (thanks in part to a one litre drop in fuel capacity) and easy reach to the handlebars, both tall and short riders aren’t going to find the size of the Z650L daunting. Kawasaki has also rolled in a neat ducting system off the back of the radiator so when the fan is in operation air escapes under the bike rather than blowing in and around your legs.

Source: Supplied.

This air ducting system is a simple yet beneficial way of improving rider comfort in traffic – somewhere this style of machine will more often than not be used for. Just as appreciated will be the light controls ranging from the smooth and slick gearbox to the assist and slipper clutch. The engine’s counter-balancer and damped lever mounts make for very little vibration at any engine speed and are another pointer to the amount of refinement that has been put in across the entire machine.

The engine is wrapped in an all-new trellis chassis design that not only looks fantastic but delivers superb feel and control on the Z650L. Optimised for shape and rigidity through a new computer analysis techniques, the frame weighs in at only 15kg and is a major contributor to the 20kg overall weight drop from the ER-6nL! Though the outgoing model has the same wheelbase, the Z650L gets a steeper rake and shorter trail to sharpen up the handling dynamic with no compromise to stability.

The suspension is similar to the ER-6nL with a 41mm front fork though the rear shock has gone from being mounted off the side of the frame to the traditional position at the back of the engine. With preload adjustment available on the rear, control wasn’t questioned on a day riding some of Sydney’s bumpiest back roads though dialling in a bit of preload for bigger riders is a must as it is with any LAMS machine. The braking package is excellent and best of all the rear brake delivers strong stopping power. The Bosch 9.1M ABS unit is, without question, superb in its operation and it’s a level of componentry you don’t always see on bikes under $10K.

Image: Nick Wood.

While the Kawasaki Z650L ticks all the boxes in a novice rider’s checklist as far as function and performance go, price is an equally important factor. At $9699 there’s no arguing that there is a lot of value to had from this machine especially when you start looking at the intricate details that Kawasaki says comes from its Sugomi design ethos. Things like the superbly crafted Z shape in the rear tailight, gorgeous sculpting of the frame and swingarm or styling key-lines on the engine cases, this machine feels like a whole lot more motorcycle than what it costs.

Though there is a lot to love about the new Z650L’s styling, this new machine features a whole lot more than just that. Kawasaki has taken a solid, honest performer in the ER-6nL and created a bike that delivers on performance and excitement – two words that aren’t often used with learner legal motorcycles.

The Z650L is a machine that will satisfy experienced riders that aren’t looking for complexity or high costs, while being learner-legal always means that your resale value remains solid if you do decide to step up to a bigger machine. At the end of the day it offers all riders a truly enjoyable and exciting riding experience and that’s just what you want when committing to a new motorcycle to start out, or continue, your life behind bars on.

Specifications

Capacity: 649cc
Power: 38kW @ 8000rpm
Torque: 69Nm @ 6500rpm
Wet weight: 186kg
Seat height: 790mm
Price: $9699 plus on-road costs
Detailed specs: www.kawasaki.com.au