It’s looking increasingly likely - if you listen to the rumour mill - that Kawasaki are lining up a 2022 release date for their 650cc twin to be used in a middleweight retro Z-model range release.
When you look at it from afar, it seems like an open goal waiting to be scored - the Kwak 650 twin has already proven successful as found in the Z650, Ninja 650, Versys 650 and Vulcan S. There’s already a popular & growing fanbase of the Z900RS range, including new owner Jonathan Rea.
So why not put the two together, and give the people what they want - a middleweight 650cc retro that A2 riders can also enjoy?
What specs would a 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS boast?
The current 650cc twin produces a healthy 69 bhp and around 64 Nm of torque, and would certainly better the hugely popular and successful Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 which sits at around 47 bhp and 52 Nm.
We’d expect a middleweight Z to embody the same style as the Z900RS; teardrop tank, round headlight & instrument gauges, and two-seater single seat. It’s basically the perfect blend of retro style and modern tech, and there’s a strong penchant for all things modern-classic at the moment. Why mess with a winning formula!
These are not exceedingly new rumours, mind. Murmurs have been circulating since around 2020, and a new Z650 would reinvigorate the 1976 model of the same name.
We’ll keep our ears to the ground, and if anything happens it’s likely to be closer to Autumn where the annual bike-launch season begins to turn it’s wheels. Until then, keep it Visordown, as always!
Sources: Motorrad, Motociclismo
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