Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

[Ak1765]

This is my first time posting on xbhp. Mods please let me know if I need to edit anything in a particular way..

So this has been in process for a long time. Been riding Royal Enfield's all my life and was yearning for a different motorcycling experience.. I wanted something that I could use both for office commutes and also short getaways !! Most importantly I wanted something that would make me grin like a little child whenever I would ride it.

My search went on for a lot of bikes.. but somehow I wasn't convinced. I could sit here and mention all the logical points to consider when buying a bike but for me it came right down to my gut. I test rode a lot of bikes (Yamaha fz25 to Triumph Street twin) but when I rode the z650 I felt like there was a bond. And that's all it was. Yes it is not the most logical choice.. the ground clearance is low and you will struggle over huge bumps. As you approach a bump there is a brief nano second of hesitation, but after that all you feel is pure adrenaline fun !!

I have just got the delivery today and I will never forget this amazing day !

Thank you Anzen Kawasaki Mumbai for making this such a smooth experience for me.

Few pics of my Hulk 😁👇👇👇




As of now I have fit only a radiator guard on my bike. Will be ordering the protectors online. I have considered ordering from AliExpress. Please do let me know if there any places in Mumbai / India I could order from. I know 6kiom also has these accessories.. also need to get some ceramic / glass coating on my bike to prevent scratches. If you guys could recommend some good place to get it done in Mumbai I would be grateful.

Will keep posting my experiences 😁

[The Monk]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Ownership Thread Approved

Congratulations on your new motorcycle

[ady2k]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

This is my first time posting on xbhp. Mods please let me know if I need to edit anything in a particular way..

So this has been in process for a long time. Been riding Royal Enfield's all my life and was yearning for a different motorcycling experience.. I wanted something that I could use both for office commutes and also short getaways !! Most importantly I wanted something that would make me grin like a little child whenever I would ride it.
Will keep posting my experiences ������

Congrats! Happy Riding.

Please read the manual once, It has got some good information on how to ride and maintain.

All the best.

[ManOnFire]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

As of now I have fit only a radiator guard on my bike. Will be ordering the protectors online. I have considered ordering from AliExpress. Please do let me know if there any places in Mumbai / India I could order from. I know 6kiom also has these accessories.. also need to get some ceramic / glass coating on my bike to prevent scratches. If you guys could recommend some good place to get it done in Mumbai I would be grateful. Will keep posting my experiences ������

Heartiest Congratulations AK! I can understand your elation as I got my 2018 Ninja 650 3 weeks ago as well. For accessories I ordered from R&G Racing but in hindsight you can just go with the package from ANZEN (Rs 26000 odd) if you want R&G products or go with AliExpress after researching the product. Also if you have been added to the Kawasaki group on whatsapp by Anzen you can check if anyone has experience with AliExpress - Im sure someone will have. I have been checking for tank pads and such and I am ordering them from AliExpress. Same for the power socket. For coating I did ceramic coating last week and I can provide the contact details of the place to you. I dont have any feedback yet since its new but I am told it will increase the life of the paint. But I can say it provides peace of mind for sure! I can provide you the details if you can leave my your number on here or contact me in the Kawasaki Group. (Ask for Omkar!).

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Congrats! Happy Riding.

Please read the manual once, It has got some good information on how to ride and maintain.

All the best.

Yes I have a copy of it on my phone which I keep referring to !

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Heartiest Congratulations AK! I can understand your elation as I got my 2018 Ninja 650 3 weeks ago as well. For accessories I ordered from R&G Racing but in hindsight you can just go with the package from ANZEN (Rs 26000 odd) if you want R&G products or go with AliExpress after researching the product. Also if you have been added to the Kawasaki group on whatsapp by Anzen you can check if anyone has experience with AliExpress - Im sure someone will have. I have been checking for tank pads and such and I am ordering them from AliExpress. Same for the power socket. For coating I did ceramic coating last week and I can provide the contact details of the place to you. I dont have any feedback yet since its new but I am told it will increase the life of the paint. But I can say it provides peace of mind for sure! I can provide you the details if you can leave my your number on here or contact me in the Kawasaki Group. (Ask for Omkar!).

Hey Omkar I am in the Kawasaki group as well ... I just felt that the accessories were a bit over priced so will order from AliExpress. I have a friend who orders regularly from them and he is quite satisfied.. if there is anything else I am sure I can always get in touch 😁

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Initial ownership experience ..

So I got my number just yesterday and now I am all good to go 😁 rode for the first time in peak traffic and I am so thankful that hulk is so nimble on its feet. My thunderbird felt more difficult to manuveour in traffic than this beast. My office runs aren't much thankfully. I cover about 6 kms one way so I intend to use it daily and will dash through the hills over the weekend !

Initial impressions : The bike with just 30 Kms on the odo does tend to heat up but the radiator does its job very effectively. I am sure it will dissipate heat more efficiently as time goes on. Also the Ergos are absolutely fantastic ! All the heat is directed away from you so it's extremely comfortable to ride.

The ground clearance was my major concern and still is two up but even with my bulky dimensions normal speed bumps are absolutely fine !

One thing I do need to point out is the amazing suspension set up ! It is set up perfectly for our Indian road conditions and kudos to Kawasaki for getting it right. I was considering adjusting the preload on the rear suspension but it's good as it is for me now.

The mileage indicator is saying that I am getting around 20 kmpl but I haven't actually tested it myself. I don't intend to as well. I am ok as long as it doesn't make me run to the fuel pump very often.

I also came across this shop called Crossroads in Mira road for biking gear and accessories.. am planning head there this weekend.. my next itch is to go for a ride which I won't dare unless I have proper riding gear..

[ManOnFire]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi AK. I'm also headed to Crossroads this Saturday for some luggage. On longer runs on highways (200km odd) I have gotten 30kmpl but I stayed around 4000rpm for the most part. I have seen several times in the city traffic that the temp gauge goes Upto 5 out of 6 bars then the fan kicks in and lowers it. I was initially concerned as the temp goes up rather quick.
Could you please check with your friend if he has experience with tank pads and tank grips (sides) on AliExpress?!

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi AK. I'm also headed to Crossroads this Saturday for some luggage. On longer runs on highways (200km odd) I have gotten 30kmpl but I stayed around 4000rpm for the most part. I have seen several times in the city traffic that the temp gauge goes Upto 5 out of 6 bars then the fan kicks in and lowers it. I was initially concerned as the temp goes up rather quick.
Could you please check with your friend if he has experience with tank pads and tank grips (sides) on AliExpress?!

Yes he has ordered tank pads from Ali express. No problems just took around 4 weeks to deliver..

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi AK. I'm also headed to Crossroads this Saturday for some luggage. On longer runs on highways (200km odd) I have gotten 30kmpl but I stayed around 4000rpm for the most part. I have seen several times in the city traffic that the temp gauge goes Upto 5 out of 6 bars then the fan kicks in and lowers it. I was initially concerned as the temp goes up rather quick.
Could you please check with your friend if he has experience with tank pads and tank grips (sides) on AliExpress?!

Also how many Kms have you covered on your bike ?

[Imam Jafer Ali]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Congratulations AK.
I was waiting for Z650 ownership thread.
Keep us posted about the bike service experience.

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

So this weekend was spent adding ceramic coating to my bike. Since my bike is brand new there wasn't much difference in the before and after but I am sure the glossiness of the paint will last much longer and also protect against harmful UV rays and minor scratches.. the whole process takes around 12 hours so please ensure that you can devote that much time to it. I got my detailing done at PMP Kandivali East and I must say kudos to Mr Sandesh and his team for being so professional and thorough with the detailing and coating. I would recommend this place to anyone in Mumbai who is keen to get their bike / car detailed. Here are some pics of the process



This was after the detailing..


I also went to Crossroad store in Mira road and met up with Nilesh and Rafique, Both incredibly knowledgable and passionate about biking. I felt like a kid in a candy shop ! Definitely recommended to all bikers. They have a large collection of biking gears and accessories.. since this was my first time buying gear, Nilesh was incredibly patient with me and helped me buy jacket and gloves. I got TBS jacket and gloves which I am told are decent quality and good for first time gear owners. I will upgrade knee pads / pants at a later date.

I also came across this amazing accessory for my bike called as gripdaddy. These handle bar grips are expensive but they have genuinely transformed my riding experience. The grips feel so good to hold and the added insulation is just perfect. I am glad in invested in these !



The one thing I did realise that I will have to save up a lot !! All the accessories I saw there.. I want to buy ram mounts, saddle bags, headlight bulbs, tank pads, pants, boots, sena, windscreen..whew The list is endless..

As of now I am just trying my best to run in the bike as efficiently as I can and take small steps forward in this amazing journey

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Congratulations AK.
I was waiting for Z650 ownership thread.
Keep us posted about the bike service experience.

Yes buddy.. servicing is due in the third week of Feb so will keep you updated

[jazzysaravana]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Congratulations and wishing you thousands of happy miles.

Z650 indeed is a pocket rocket like the Duke 390 and offers a similar supreme VFM and price to horsepower advantage. It's really hard not to recommend this to someone looking for a naked street machine.

The Kawasaki 650cc motorcycles are also the most safe, usable and efficient platform for our Indian roads.

Also, I love the stealthy appeal of the Z650 when I saw one in the parking lot of a mall, no one stared at while it slips under the radar like a FZ or Gixxer. This is a rare feature in a 650cc machine which is useful at times on our roads.

I'm not sure why the recent fascination with many manufacturers to come up with the India unfriendly "130mm" ground clearance. The new Street Twin-Triple, Ninja 650-1000, z650-900, etc have this clearance issue. It's a bit annoying to slow down almost to a halt before going over speed humps. One my friend's own the Street Twin and this issue is manageable with a rider, but with pillion its an absolute no. It not only scrapes but hits bumps with a strong thud.

So if pillion comfort is important and clearance issues are to be avoided, the Versys 650 is still the King in this aspect.

But for solo riders, the Z650 being almost Rs.2 lakhs less than Versys, makes you forget all worries when you open the throttle!

PS- If you don't mind, I'd like to know your height and weight, and how you feel the stock seat suits you.

Cheers!

[Ak1765]

re: Z650 Ownership Experience Thread

Congratulations and wishing you thousands of happy miles.

Z650 indeed is a pocket rocket like the Duke 390 and offers a similar supreme VFM and price to horsepower advantage. It's really hard not to recommend this to someone looking for a naked street machine.

The Kawasaki 650cc motorcycles are also the most safe, usable and efficient platform for our Indian roads.

Also, I love the stealthy appeal of the Z650 when I saw one in the parking lot of a mall, no one stared at while it slips under the radar like a FZ or Gixxer. This is a rare feature in a 650cc machine which is useful at times on our roads.

I'm not sure why the recent fascination with many manufacturers to come up with the India unfriendly "130mm" ground clearance. The new Street Twin-Triple, Ninja 650-1000, z650-900, etc have this clearance issue. It's a bit annoying to slow down almost to a halt before going over speed humps. One my friend's own the Street Twin and this issue is manageable with a rider, but with pillion its an absolute no. It not only scrapes but hits bumps with a strong thud.

So if pillion comfort is important and clearance issues are to be avoided, the Versys 650 is still the King in this aspect.

But for solo riders, the Z650 being almost Rs.2 lakhs less than Versys, makes you forget all worries when you open the throttle!

PS- If you don't mind, I'd like to know your height and weight, and how you feel the stock seat suits you.

Cheers!

Hey man I couldn't agree more .. I had my reservations about the ground clearance too .. so I diligently mapped out my daily commute and now I know which roads to avoid and which to take 😁..

As far as I go, let's just say that this bike looks way smaller with me on it ! Am around 5.9 blessed with bear like dimensions [emoji209] Although I must mention that normal speed breakers and usual undulations on the road are absolutely fine. The short wheelbase really comes in handy.

Haven't ridden pillion yet and I don't intend to unless it's absolutely necessary .. I bought the Z coz it moves with me when I ride, like an extension of me... And a pillion would just ruin that experience for me.