@DailyRider - it would be both helpful in pulling the trigger on a purchase (or not), & brilliantly entertaining to see the Z650RS' big brother, the Z900RS, make an appearance as a guest on the "Daily Rider" show! Please 🙏 make it happen, guys! Thanks in advance if you're able to bring that video to life!
Zack, for future videos can you can snap a profile picture of you sitting on each of the daily rider bikes, so we can see the human to bike ratio and ergonomics? Gracias mi amigo!
I would love it if you made a mention of headlight effectiveness in your ride... My "daily ride" often starts in the dark, on rural roads, and a good headlight is very important on my commuter moto... As always, great work on this piece. Thanks for the hard work you put in to keeping us all informed, and entertained.
I've also made this comment in many motorcycle reviews. I used to commute to work 45 miles over a mountain road before dawn and lighting was critical for my safety. I don't know why ALL these guys NEVER mention lighting. My 2004 BMW K1200RS had horrible lights. You'd think that all these guys only ride during daylight hours. Maybe that's it.
i own this bike and often have early morning or late evening commutes. The headlight is VERY good, and grerat coverage of the road with both low and high beams. Its LED, so its nice and birhgt. Also adjustable vertically if you need it.
Great review! Side bar: Even if RevZilla didn't have the industries best selection, pricing and customer service on motorcycle gear, I would still be tempted to buy from them to because of their excellent videos, reviews, reviewers, podcasts and Common Tread articles.
It lacks a voice. I like Kawasaki bikes. I noticed their are a couple of styling tidbits from the Triumph Bonneville. Put a small wind screen on it and a couple of canvas saddle bags and away we gooo! Vaughn
Agree! It might sound cheesy, but based on their video content - especially the extended trips with Zach and Ari - I’m proud to be a Revzilla customer and to help support them.
A good looking bike with a solid if uninteresting engine. But, my eyes keep getting drawn to that ugly ass radiator cap.😂 And thats a beautiful 66 Chevelle at 13:23.
I believe that MOST of the “it’s so boring” comments come from people who don’t actually ride. If you can’t have fun with a z650 because the engine is slightly less peppy than an MT07, you’re doing something wrong.
All parallel twins are boring IMO, doesnt really matter what style of the bike is or anything else about it. V twin? cool. Inline 3, funky and cool! Inline 4, great! Lightweight single cylinder? Nice! You can still have fun on one sure, but parallel twins are about as boring as it gets.
Yeah it’s a bummer. 5 years ago I got an almost brand new SV650 for under 5,000. The ergos were too sporty for me but it was otherwise a fantastic bike.
Does look awful. The sell some overpriced covers that fit on the side. But it just looks attached on the a few bolts never belonged there. The cap is horrible and the pipes just join on like they added it after it was forgotten.
About the upright seating position, I've found that a slightly more forward leaning position is more comfortable on a long journey because an upright back takes the full brunt of gravity and the bumps on the road.
That’s a sharp-looking bike. Too bad it’s let down by a jerky throttle and buzziness. My Vulcan S has those same two shortcomings; annoying, to be sure, but I bought the bike anyway. Go figure. The Kawasaki 650 engine is an excellent powerplant otherwise. Boring it isn’t, at least not in my book. The Z650RS looks like an excellent daily rider. Thanks for presenting this video.
@@sdpicturecard6858 That's too bad. I didn't notice any change in fuel economy with the RE, and it runs like a completely different bike. Like it was sick before.
I feel like I literally wished this bike into existence. I loved how z900rs looked, but it was out of my price range. Even when I bought my previous Kawasaki I was asking the dealership will they make 650 version of z900rs. I've owned z650rs for over a year and I still get excited when seeing, or riding it. I love it. Btw I have a green/gold color way.
It took that poor, broken-down old pallet 3 days to make it that far across the road, and then along comes Zack, riding around like Johnny Blueskies, and puts the pallet RIGHT back where it started from... Two sides to every story.
They just want so much for them to me you wait 5 years you get it for 8k instead of 14k. These z650s also cost a lot. 10k is a lot thats like used indian scout money for the scout 60.
Awesome review really appreciate that you put these up on Saturday, I can't think of anything else I like better than eating breakfast drinking some coffee and watching the next daily rider experience !! 😊 happy boy
Would love to see Zach review a Moto Guzzi V7 or V8. I wanted air cooled retro as a 2nd bike and ended up with a V7. Build quality is questionable but full of character and handles great even with the rear dual shocks
He did the V85 a few years ago, but wasn't too enthusiastic about the Guzzi quality and character, it seems. But I agree, would love Zach to do another run on a V7!
I have this bike and got it as soon as it was announced, yes based solely on the looks! 100% form over function! I know the Z650 is reliable and got fine power for me, and with this bike’s sweet looks I was sold! People say the engine and set up is boring, and that usually dominates the reviews, “why doesn’t it have a different firing order like the Yamaha” etc etc etc, really there are so many bikes with the trendy 270 crank that a 180 is almost interesting! I love the bike! Confirmation bias? Convincing myself of the purchase? To a degree… Absolutely! Where I live we have no Royal Enfields, and Triumph are twice as expensive as in other markets, so it makes this bike a better purchase! I do wish that it had a better looking exhaust like the Z900RS, and the it’s beyond me why they didn’t put fake cooling fins on the engine, the same engine on the 650 Vulcan S has them, and the Z900RS has them. Not sure how long this bike will be for this world, with Yamaha, and now Honda and even Suzuki with more modern and trendy engine platforms, maybe Kawasaki will go the same way with their 650 platform.
used to love the smaller c.c. bikes with 4 cylinders, 500;s 750s heck even the old kawi 350/3 cylinder` many if not all being replaced by twins = boring. and 9g for a econo twin 650... naaaa. now if it had a fuel injected 650/4,, but nope. 9g ? lol.
Just get the z900rs instead, owned one for a couple years and it’s so much better and not that more money. Bigger tank, better mpgs, more power and looks more filled in.
The fuel range/economy being about double and weather protection alone make the 500X a more suitable commuter or "daily rider" for sure, but I think he puts fun factor and style high in the evaluation.
Daily Rider is some of the best motorcycle content on the internet. Thank you for producing this kind of content. It is nice to see different bikes being run through the same course and compared using similar situations. Keep it up!
No, thank you Zack for answering my question! And yes i did came to this conclusion, it's not 35% less bike, but the 900 (yes i do own one) is worth the extra price (if that makes sense)!
Just passed 400 miles on my 23 model. Everything you said is spot on! It’s just all around good. To have no disappointments or regrets at all is a rare thing.
Why are street bikes so damn heavy? Yamaha WR450F is 112kg, KTM 690 Enduro is 139kg, Honda Montesa 4Ride is 81kg (all wet, no fuel). Saying that why are dirt bikes so heavy. Give me a 30kg push bike with beefed up frame and wheels and a 250 engine 😂
I often feel like a lousy motorcyclist because I can’t wheelie or back it in. But Zack has been riding his whole life and I’ve only been riding a year and a half. The main thing is we all enjoy it. I was deciding between this bike and the Bonneville T100. If Kawasaki kept the green gas tank and offered the red gas tank as a regular option I most likely would have gotten this one. But I ended up with the Bonnie. And honestly I think the Bonneville is much better for my skill level. Really good fueling (not herky jerky at all) and a lot milder of a riding experience. As Zack would say, very approachable.
Wheelies can be hard but honestly backing it in is pretty simple you just smash the rear break lmao. If you find your letting the rear end out too much or not stopping fast enough just supplement with front break.
I watched this video and heard: throttle meh; range meh; comfort meh; passenger comfort meh; buzzy at higher rpms meh. Retro design meh. Fun rating meh. And the you rate it your 2nd favorite daily ride bike so far this year? Why such the blasé tale on the ride? You talked me out of this bike for 95% of your ride. I am confused by your take
Since kawasaki "standarized" all of their dash with that tft unit one, I grew to prefer the z900rs and z650rs dash at least they have some kind of character to it.
Not just character. The tft display doesn't age well. 40 year old needles still look great. Early screens now are painful. I would rather have no screen than an old screen with hardly any features. Seen a 12 year old car with built in satnav ?
So the tractor has gone retro :D I really like the combination analog gauges with a digital gear indicator. P.S. How are the chances to see the Honda CB 650 R joining the comparison?
Great bike - had one as my first bike which I had for 14 months and did about 14000km. Bullet proof, fun, and more than adequate even on freeways and the track.
I'm struggling to see why someone would choose that bike at that price over an SV650 or the new parallel twins from Suzuki or Honda. But personally I'd spend a bit more and buy an MT09.
Another awesome review Zach it’s hard to knock off the sv 650 … I just want you to know your daily rider and you reviews are undeniably the best and I swear you better then a professional actor your personality and the video quality is hands down the best and I trust all of your opinions with all the knowledge you have and experience!!!
Very cool to see this review. I assume the US spec is the full power version and not the A2 compliant spec we have in Australia. I know looks are very subjective and a matter of personal taste, for me, z650rs is so far ahead of the sv650 it’s not even a real comparison. Just not a fan of how they sound with stock exhaust, but having heard ninja 650s with a decent slip on, I’m sure it would be a easy fix
Boring engine? Certainly, it doesn't have a deep sound, and the fact that the Akra exhaust costs a fortune is a real shame. However, noise aside, between 5,000 and 9,000 RPM it pushes hard, definitely more than a Triumph 900. In any case, it's sufficient for many, like myself, who use the bike for commuting during the week and for enjoying a ride on Sunday mornings through the hills of northern Italy.
You mean like everybody else and their grandma using a 270 degree crank. And i mean everyone. This and the very beige Honda 500 models run the 180 crank, and i believe Kawasaki with the W800 are unique in running a classic 360 configeration a la every post war Brit twin.
“Is there such a thing as too much style?” Well, yes, there are a entire brands that have for decades been sacrificing performance for style and “heritage” but with the right marketing, people will line up to pay too much for them.
As a daily rider the cb500x trumps the z650 in versatility, wind protection, price, fuel range and operating cost plus it is a fun bike to ride in spite of the little 471 cc mill's 178 cc disadvantage. The z costs too much like a iceberg wedge that was served without enough bacon bits and tomatoes.
I had prejudice against this 180 parallel twin until I rented a Ninja 650 and rode Angeles Crest…when you have that engine in the upper power band, it really sings
Kawasaki would be so much more competitive with Yamaha if they would update the 650 engine. Imagine an updated 700 twin more similar to the CP2. The Versys, Ninja, and Z 650 would all be so much better they would sell like crazy.
I don't think they need to make it any bigger or more powerful, but a 270 degree crank for the better sound would be awesome. I love the Vulcan S and the Z650RS but they are let down by their sound.
Still the best bike reviews out there. Love it. A for the bike... The astounding Z900rs ergos, quality and looks get my vote, even with the big bump in price.
40 MPG, I have no clue of how 😅 I avaraged 65 mpg with the 07 Versys 650 I had (which I believe is the first year of this engine). Also, not in this nor any other universe out there I would pay $9k for this bike with its 16 year old lawnmower engine.. It would however be an amazing choice if it had a detuned, short gearing 636cc ZX6R engine. But the most unobtainable dream I have atm is a Z400RS with the new ZX4RR 4cyl 😁
I think it's a common thing among bikers to dislike 180 degree twins, they sound utilitarian and from another era, and not in a good way. And to be quite honest, I think it's well beyond overpriced given the hardware, which feels dated. It's not an intrinsically bad bike, and some of it just looks downright magnificent, like that curve from the tank to the tail...
It's a nice looking styling exercise but by the time you add the radiator covers the chrome grab rail and green o And gold paint scheme the price is crazy for a 650 twin with low horsepower for the class, and a real small petrol tank.
The moment all parallel twins are 90 or 270 degree cranks, people will start complaining about how they all sound the same, and some company will make a V-twin with dual cranks giving a 180 degree effective crank angle. hehe! Complaining is fun though, it really is!
Zack, perhaps give us your inseam? Inseams vary, even for the same height. I for example am 5'8" tall, but have a 32-inch inseam. I have known guys that were a lot taller than I am, yet had much shorter inseams. Also, is this a 270 or 180 crank?
For a bike that is about style as its calling card it is real shame they could have not mounted or integrated the radiator a bit better. Cool bike regardless.
I really took this video into consideration before purchasing this motorcycle. I was fortunate enough to get this bike on sale $1500 off! So basically purchased it for sticker price with all the dealer fees. Just did the dreaded manufacture break in procedure, and I’m really surprised by how responsive this thing is all around! Night and day between my CBR 600RR. Thanks so much for your review!
Me seeing the video thumbnail and title: "Wow, what a nice looking bike! Like a budget Ducati Scrambler!" Zack: "With a MSRP of just over $9000" Me: "Wait what? How much is the Scrambler?" Google: "Scrambler Icon is $9696, Scrambler Icon Dark is $8895." Me: "WHAT!?"
I've been waiting for this review for a long time. I love Kawasaki, I love the old KZ models of the '70's, and this bike does such a good job representing those bikes while being modern and relevant. It just blows my mind that it costs as much as the Z900RS did when it was first released, and is only a couple thousand less than it now. The Z900 is an awesome bike too but it's really too much bike for me, ~400 lb sporty bikes are where it's at IMO. Even though I like this bike a lot more than the few other retro options out there right now, it's just too darn expensive. I feel like if this bike were priced more aggressively it would get a lot more riders into the Kawasaki ecosystem. Still, I'm really glad that it rides as good as it looks.
@@JDWDMC No, no it isn't. I own one. Owned everything from 250cc to 1450cc and everything in-between, including a 77 KZ650. This bike rocks. Sub 12.5 second 1/4 mile, 412lbs wet. A mid-range wayyy better than old inline fours. And sounds awesome when you crack the throttle in a way people watching videos can never know. No offense to anyone, I just find the internet criticism of this particular bike bizarre.
Even worse, in Australia, Kawasaki only sell it as a HP restricted LAMS machine, so you end up paying 85% of the Z900RS price for less than half the horsepower. No deal
@@stevewelebny2749 I agree, this bike makes nearly 20 more HP than my 78 KZ750 Twin and weighs less too. And I have seen reports of huge gains with an exhaust, secondary throttle delete and remap, like 10-15 more HP which is really impressive. I still wish it wasn't so expensive, lol.
Good review, as always. Regarding the on/off throttle response I've found with my Versys 650 increasing the idle rpm to 1400 to 1500 and ensuring the chain is correctly adjusted helps a lot. Or maybe I'm just used to it after 33000 miles 😁
@@blipco5 Fine is the best you can say about it. Barely adequate is a better description. Mines a Versys 650 as well. Every other bike I've owned has had a better engine. Every parallel twin I've ever ridden including Honda's new 1100s are agricultural and underwhelming. Manufacturers have defaulted to them because they are a cheap interim engine while they sort out BEV and hybrid powerplants for bikes. Get on ANY Triumph triple including the restricted 660cc bikes and the difference between a Kawasaki parallel twin and a real engine is stark. My Versys 650 has the distinction of being the bike that will end my riding career because anything I can afford to replace it with that I'm comfortable on is a parallel twin. I'm not paying to be disappointed again.
@@JDWDMC I wish the Kawi 650 was a 270 degree crank as they sound a little more exiting but here’s something you probably don’t know about the Kawi 650 twin… It has a cassette style gearbox same as MotoGP race bikes! That means, should something go wrong, you can remove the transmission from the engine without splitting the cases while leaving the engine in the frame! How’s that for apples? The Versys has a top speed of about 130 mph. If that’s not fast enough for you then Ducati makes V twins that really boogie. Or better yet, try an find that early 2000's MZ with the 1000cc parallel twin. Reading the reviews at the time, it outperformed the Japanese liter bikes.
hi, racking my brains trying to decide between a RE Hunter and a Kawasaki Z650RS. like the price, looks and mpg of Hunter and wonder if the Kawasakis is £3k better? Will it be more reliable and better built? Im 62, just passed my test and will use the bike for some 12 mile commuting and the odd 60 mile journey into London via A roads. Slightly put off with Hunter servicing every 6 months, not sure if that would be an issue for you. As a beginner, would the Kawa be "too much"?. Obviously its all subjective but would value your advice. Ps the Z650rs is a looker as well and comes with 4 yr warranty.
I’m 63 just got by motorcycle license. Just like you, I was really interested in the RE Hunter and the Interceptor but was concerned about the service intervals. I also had a little problem with where the foot pegs were on the Interceptor whenever riders are at a stop. I went to the show rooms repeatedly trying to decide. Japanese reliability? Fit and finish? In the end, I did get the Z650RS. I’d probably be happy with both.
@carltongayle5461 I sneak out for 2-hour rides some days. Mild winter here. Nothing startling or unexpected has happened. I put frame sliders on it and an after-market rear passenger grab bar. Not ever going to have a passenger - it’s to make hauling bags or what-not easier. I also added a power relay under the seat, along with in under-seat USB charger and a CarPlay display front and center. It fits quite well. The first oil change was easy to do. I’ve done some crowded, close-quarters 80mph/129kph highway riding, which I did not enjoy. Bike handled okay but I expected to do more city riding than I have. I lifted the front tire off of the ground just once when I inadvertently popped the clutch while leaving a stop. It felt stable doing that but I’m not into that sort of thing. I have not found the right brake lever adjustment to be useful - all settings feel the same to me. The left clutch lever adjustment is more useful but not as much as I expected. At 6-foot 1-inch, I’m big on the bike and I sometimes stand at stop lights if my butt starts getting sore or I need to stretch my legs. I still look forward to every chance to ride it.
The kawasaki z650rs the green model with gold wheels. Is a moving work of art. Wonderful bike. A perfect bike. If anything isn't quite right ...is the lack of a crome rear mudgaurd and the rear light fitted to the mudgaurd. But that's it. I would have one straight away
I'd EASILY have one if it had a decent tank. I don't know what's up with manufacturers that made them decide that modern bikes don't need autonomy. I might be suspicious to say so because I hate stopping for fuel, but why not give it an 18-litre tank? Thanks for another excellent video, Zack!
It's a good motorcycle, better than all the retro bikes in 650 range in every possible way. Where it lacks is the sound it makes, the exhaust sound trash even if you get a custom one.
I doubt that the difference in manufacturing costs of a z750 and a z900 is even $100. Too close to be worth it. There was a time when Kawasaki sold both a z750 and a z1000, but they eventually decided that replacing both with the Z900 made more sense.
I got this as my first bike last year and, despite some of the downsides Zach talks about--which I agree with--I feel like I could have done much worse for a pick. The biggest downsides in my experience are the fuel tank size because in west Texas towns are few and far between, the lack of cruise control can be annoying on the highway, and the throttle jerkiness, which--when paired with my lack of experience--has been problematic in the city. It's definitely like a 8/10 or 9/10 to me.
My Vulcan S, which shares this motor, greatly benefited from a Booster Plug! I never got a power commander but I’m sure that would help the fueling issue even further! Enjoy the bike
My first bike was a Rebel 1100 but I did my motorcycle license courses and exam o a Z650. I also think they are a bit jerky, particularly when you're new, but I think they you can get used to it.
I just got the 2022 version (colour scheme and signal lights shape are the only differences I noticed) brand new from a dealership for around 7,200 USD*. I sold my RE Int 650 for it, and the only pros of the RE vs. the Z650RS are: 1. stock engine and exhaust look and sound way better 2. smoother shifting (the latter does have a snatchy throttle at 1st and 2nd gear, too, though that disappears when you hit 3rd gear) 3. I feel safer going fast on the expressways (because the RE is terribly heavier, which, ironically, is the main reason I sold it) Overall still super happy with my choice. The Z650RS meets all my needs whether it be city commute or long rides to the beach. It's light, nimble, conveniently sized to easily lane split with, enough power to overtake and/or have fun (I could go on for days) *bought cash and I registered it myself (60% cheaper and 100% faster vs. the amount the dealership charged for handling the registration themselves). Cost of registration and insurance included in the 7,200 price
