Kawasaki Z 650 RS versus Yamaha XSR 700 XTribute
Kawasaki Z 650 RS
Yamaha XSR 700 XTribute
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Optics & classical round instruments
- Weight & Handling
- good brakes at the front
- comfortable sitting position
- adjustable levers
- Design and material quality
- Processing
- Display
- easy to drive
- small tank
- some features not 100% retro
- Price
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.065 mm Height : 1.115 mm
Seat : 820 mm
Weight : 187 kg
Length : 2.075 mm Height : 1.120 mm
Seat : 855 mm
Weight : 190 kg
Engine
Displacement: 649 ccm
Hub: 60 mm
Hole: 83 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 689 ccm
Hub: 69 mm
Hole: 80 mm
Cooling: Flüssig
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 68 HP at 8.000 U/Min
Torque: 64 NM bei 6.700 U/Min Tank contents: 12 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 357 km
Performance: 73 HP at 8.750 U/Min
Torque: 67 NM bei 6.500 U/Min Tank contents: 14 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 326 km
Chassis
Lattice tube (steel) Front suspension:
41 mm telescopic fork (travel 125 mm) Rear suspension:
Horizontal back-link gas pressure shock absorber with adjustable spring base (travel 130 mm)
Rear suspension:
Two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 160/60ZR17M/C (69W)
Tubular bridge frame (steel) Front suspension:
Telescopic fork (travel 130 mm) Rear suspension:
Swingarm (travel 130 mm)
Rear suspension:
Suspension-controlled strut via lever system Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17M/C (58W) Tubeless
Rear tyres: 180/55 ZR 17M/C (73W) Tubeless
Brakes
Double disc Semi-floating 300 mm double brake discs. Double piston brake caliper (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc. Single piston brake caliper (∅ 220 mm)
Double disc (∅ 298 mm) Rear brake
Single disc (∅ 245 mm)
Conclusion - what sticks
The Kawasaki Z 650 RS actually drove straight into our hearts. Nice that Kawasaki now offers the retro theme in a 2-cylinder with manageable performance at a fair price. So even novice drivers and lighter pilots will like to approach the topic of retro. But this does not mean that the Z650RS is not for old hands - on the contrary! There will definitely be many experienced bikers out there who are only too happy to get off their 250+ kilo monster and get on this light and really nice bike to ride.The test bike was kindly provided by Heller & Soltau in St. Michaelisdonn. If you want to take a test drive or are interested in another Kawasaki (or Husqvarna), you should definitely consider a small trip to Dithmarschen. Beautiful country roads and a good coffee (!) await you.
Must be able to afford
Overall, the result is a rather quiet driving experience. The XSR is not a real athlete, it will never be with its visually very appealing mixed tyres in the stud look. But if you don't do anything, you just blew through the area.
So what to do or recommend? As I said, the MT-07 is a bestseller. The XSR, on the other hand, does not even appear in the top 20. Somehow you are always happy when you see one, it is something special.
It is logical ly not to blame it thanks to the great base. Logically, however, there is hardly any way to get there. You like them - or you don't like them. Is this look worth an additional 1,700 euros? I just can't decide. I'm still doing a round. Everyone else is doing nothing wrong with the MT-07.
The test bike was provided to us by Motorrad-Ruser in Haseldorf.
