While Kawasaki has already revealed four new or updated models in the flesh at Intermot, it also revealed images of two new models which will be revealed at the EICMA show in Milan next month; the Z900 and Z650. While the Z900 may be an all-new machine and be a replacement for the Z800, the Z650 is a replacement for the ER-6n and shares its platform with the 2017 Ninja 650. And though Kawasaki has released images of the motorcycles for now, it says that there could be some changes to the final machines that will be displayed at EICMA.
Z900
This new Z900 from Kawasaki displays yet again, a new headlight cluster in the ‘Z’ series. Thefront bikini fairing is all new, so is the tail section, and it even exhibits a new exhaust design.
The Z900 is powered by a new inline-four cylinder 948cc engine that is based on the Z1000 engine and makes 123.6hp of peak power. Kawasaki has developed an assist and slipper clutch to make action at the lever lighter and assist with excessive engine braking.Kawasaki says, the engine offers linear power delivery with a noticeable kick after 6,000rpm. The engine has been equipped with a secondary-balancer, driven on the sixth-web of the crankshaft, to reduce some of the excess vibrations.
The engine is housed in an all-new, lightweight steel-trellis frame which helps keep weight down to 210kg (with ABS) and 208kg (without ABS). Kawasaki says the new frame weighs only 13.5kg, or about 1.5kg lighter than the similarly new trellis on the 2017 Ninja 650.The low weight is paired with a low seat height of just 794mm, making the Z900 a good proposition for shorter riders.
The 300mm front discs are gripped by dual opposed four-piston calipers, with an optional ABS system that is supplied by Nissin. The Z900 is suspended on 41mm upside-down forks, adjustable for rebound and preload at the front, and a horizontally-mounted shock with rebound and preload adjustability at the rear.
Z650
The 2017 Z650 from Kawasaki, will share its platform with the 2017 Ninja 650 and be a replacement for the older ER-6n. New styling brings the Z650 more in to line with the Sugomi styling of the naked Z class. The Z650 will share the same 649cc twin-cylinder engine as the Ninja 650, as well as the same new steel trellis frame that Kawasaki claims, weighs only 15kg.
The main differences between the styling of the Z650 and Z900 is that the latter is designed in the vein of the larger Z800and Z1000, while the wide, flat handlebar gives the Z650 a more upright riding posture. Without the full fairing, the Z650 weighs about 5kg less than its Ninja sibling, with Kawasaki claiming a curb weight of 187kg for the Z (or 185kg without ABS), and a seat height of 790mm.
The Z650 also gets the Ninja’s assist and slipper clutch, 41mm telescopic fork and horizontal back-link rear shock. The 649cc parallel-twin engine has been reworked to offer a smoother throttle response, better low-mid range torque and improved fuel economy. The Er-6n replacement uses the Bosch 9.1M ABS unit as opposed to the Nissin unit on the 900.
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
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