Z Z
2017 KAWASAKI Z650
FIRST RIDE
P60
T
he past few years have
witnessed a major shift
in customer tastes and
trends, favoring practicality,
functionality and ride-ability.
Nowhere is this more true than
in the naked class, quite specifi-
cally the middleweights. Manu-
facturers are clamoring for a
piece of the middleweight naked
pie because it's becoming a key
entry point for people interested
in getting into motorcycles.
Kawasaki's response to this
burgeoning, consumer-driven
class is their all-new Z650 for
2017. The intent was to create a
machine that attracts new riders
into the fold—granting enough
performance for the newbie to
evolve into—while at the same
time providing a mount that can
keep more experienced riders
entertained. The end result is a
bike with exceptional functional-
ity as a daily rider matched with
enough performance to reward
a day in the canyons, capable of
some spirited riding.
Kawasaki began with the prov-
en parallel twin plant that powers
their Ninja 650 and wrapped a
HERE IS A STARTER
MOTORCYCLE THAT YOU'LL
WANT TO KEEP EVEN
AFTER YOU'VE MASTERED
THE ROADS
Z
MIDDLEWEIGHT
BY JEFF BUCHANAN
