The Kawasaki Z650 S Performance Akrapovic combines the S specification of Kawasaki’s middleweight naked with a full titanium exhaust and a complete finishing kit. The S sits above the standard Z650 in equipment terms, and this edition takes it further still, producing a bike that wants for nothing.
Power comes from the 649cc liquid cooled parallel twin that anchors the whole Z650 family, an engine built around real world usability. It drives cleanly from low in the rev range, offers a genuinely flexible midrange and keeps pulling to a satisfying top end, all through a six speed gearbox. The Akrapovic titanium full system, homologated to Euro 5+, reduces weight where it has most effect and gives the twin a considerably sharper and more purposeful voice than the standard exhaust allows.
The chassis carries the S specification’s upgrades over the base bike while keeping the approachable character intact. Braking comes from dual semi floating 300mm petal discs with two piston calipers, and the suspension is tuned to keep the bike composed, which matters far more on a real road than on a spec sheet. The upright riding position and wide bars make it easy to manage at low speed and rewarding when the road opens up, while the LED lighting and colour TFT display with smartphone connectivity keep the technology current.
In detail the S makes 50.2kW, or 68PS, at 8,000rpm with 64Nm at 6,700rpm, weighs 190kg at the kerb and carries a slightly taller 805mm seat on the same 1,410mm wheelbase, with emissions of 103g of CO2 per kilometre. The Performance kit is the most complete on offer. A single seat cover sharpens the tail, a large smoke meter cover darkens the instrument surround, a tank pad protects the paintwork, a dashboard screen protector guards the display and a Z-50th tag keyring marks fifty years of the Z badge. Together with the exhaust, it makes this the definitive Z650 S and the one to choose if you want the whole thing sorted from the outset. Visit GT Motorcycles in Plymouth, your Kawasaki specialist for Devon and Cornwall, where our team can talk you through finance and arrange a test ride.
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