Cycle News

Cycle News 2016 Issue 49 December 13

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/762384

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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

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