Kawasaki Z 650 RS versus Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
Kawasaki Z 650 RS
Retro
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
Naked
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Built von 2022 bis 2024~
Built von 2021 bis 2024~
RRP 8.345 €
RRP 9.199 €
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Competitors
Pros:
- Optics & classical round instruments
- Weight & Handling
- good brakes at the front
- comfortable sitting position
- adjustable levers
Pros:
- 25% more power than its predecessor
- good gearbox, hardly any load changes
- Gimbal
- Pleasurable riding with a motorcycle with a strong character
Cons:
- small tank
- some features not 100% retro
Cons:
- inappropriate LCD cockpit
- Side stand with strange fold-out feedback
- simple equipment
Dimensions & Weight
Wheelbase: 1.405 mm
Length : 2.065 mm Height : 1.115 mm
Seat : 820 mm
Weight : 187 kg
Length : 2.065 mm Height : 1.115 mm
Seat : 820 mm
Weight : 187 kg
Wheelbase: 1.450 mm
Length : 2.165 mm Height : 1.100 mm
Seat : 780 mm
Weight : 218 (max: 428 ) kg
Length : 2.165 mm Height : 1.100 mm
Seat : 780 mm
Weight : 218 (max: 428 ) kg
Engine
Motor design: Liquid-cooled four-stroke in-line two-cylinder 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 649 ccm
Hub: 60 mm
Hole: 83 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 649 ccm
Hub: 60 mm
Hole: 83 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Motor design: V2-cylinder four-stroke longitudinal 2 Cylinder
Displacement: 853 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 84 mm
Cooling: Luft-Ölkühlung
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 853 ccm
Hub: 77 mm
Hole: 84 mm
Cooling: Luft-Ölkühlung
Drive: Kardan
Aisles: 6
Performance
Maximum speed: 200 km/h
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: 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
Maximum speed: 175 km/h
Performance: 65 HP at 6.800 U/Min
Torque: 73 NM bei 5.000 U/Min Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 429 km
Performance: 65 HP at 6.800 U/Min
Torque: 73 NM bei 5.000 U/Min Tank contents: 21 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 429 km
Chassis
Frame type:
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)
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)
Frame type:
Double loop frame (steel) Front suspension:
Hydraulic telescopic fork (travel 137 mm) Rear suspension:
Two hydraulic struts (travel 120 mm)
Rear suspension:
Alu two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 100/90 - 18
Rear tyres: 150/70 - 17
Double loop frame (steel) Front suspension:
Hydraulic telescopic fork (travel 137 mm) Rear suspension:
Two hydraulic struts (travel 120 mm)
Rear suspension:
Alu two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 100/90 - 18
Rear tyres: 150/70 - 17
Brakes
Front brake
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 Semi-floating 300 mm double brake discs. Double piston brake caliper (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc. Single piston brake caliper (∅ 220 mm)
Front brake
Brembo, floating brake disc, 4-piston caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Brembo 2-piston caliper (∅ 260 mm)
Brembo, floating brake disc, 4-piston caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Brembo 2-piston caliper (∅ 260 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.
Conclusion - what sticks
Well done, Moto Guzzi! The new V7 was touched in the right places. More power and more stability make the V8 850 the better Guzzi. Nevertheless, it has retained its character, which should please the potential target group.You can argue about the design, as I said we like the Special better, but also the Stone makes a visual appearance. She is immediately recognizable as guzzi and we would not opt for the black version, but for the one in blue - the black one makes us visually too much on "evil" - and it just isn't.
The test machine was kindly provided by Zweirad-Technik Schielmann in Bokel.
