2022 Kawasaki Z650RS launched, prices start from Rs 6.65 lakh

The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is the newest addition to the bikemaker’s 650cc lineup. After unveiling the 2022 Z650RS earlier this year, Kawasaki has finally launched it in India, aiming to cash in on the big retro bike trend like many other manufacturers including the Triumph Trident 660, Honda CB650R, and the Royal Enfield Interceptor. Kawasaki says the 2022 Z650RS is targeted at people waiting for the ‘Retrovolution.’

The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS may look every bit like an old, retro motorcycle, but everything underneath is modern. Let’s focus on the aesthetics first, because the 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is a looker! We honestly can’t wait to look at it in the flesh but even going by the pictures it is simply gorgeous. The all-LED round headlamp, the slim 12-litre petrol tank with minimal artwork, the twin-pod instrument cluster and the tail lamp, everything just screams retro here.

As we mentioned before, the 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS is a modern motorcycle under the skin. The 2022 Z650RS shares the parallel-twin liquid-cooled 649cc engine with the Ninja 650 and the Z650, which produces 67bhp at 8000rpm and 64Nm at 6700rpm.

The Z650RS also features a slightly altered version of the trellis frame from the Z650. The horizontal back-link suspension is preload adjustable, while the 41mm USD forks do not feature any degree of adjustability. Speaking of brakes, the dual-pot calipers are mounted on 300mm twin discs up front, while at the rear there’s a single-piston caliper mounted on a 220mm disc.

There aren’t a lot of features on the 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS — the twin-pod instrument cluster is an analogue unit with a small multi-information digital display which includes a gear position indicator. You do get dual-channel ABS, a slipper clutch, and a positive neutral finder.

The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS will be offered in two colour schemes — Candy Emerald Green and Metallic Moondust Grey. Kawasaki says deliveries for the Z650RS will begin from either late November or early December 2021. The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS rivals the Triumph Trident 660, Honda CB650R, and the Royal Enfield Interceptor. Prices for the Z650RS start from Rs 6.65 lakh, which makes it more affordable than the Triumph and the Honda. The Interceptor produces slightly less power than the Kawasaki, but it undercuts the Z650 by a huge margin. Maybe a road test should help you decide how things fare in real life?