Kawasaki Z650 BS6 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 BS6: Specification Comparison
Modified On May 28, 2020 11:31 AM By Praveen M. for Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
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Can the latest Japanese naked hold its own against the venerable, value-for-money homegrown retro twin, spec-wise? Find out
Kawasaki recently launched the BS6-compliant 2020 Z650 in India at Rs 5.94 lakh. This makes it Rs 25,000 more expensive than its BS4-compliant counterpart. So how does it fare against one of the most value-for-money bikes in the segment, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, on paper? Read on...
Engine
The 2020 Kawasaki Z650’s engine is inherently more sophisticated than the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650’s powerplant. Consequently, it makes more power and torque. Kawasaki also claims that the BS6-compliant engine offers increased mid-range torque while retaining the same power as the BS4 model. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Interceptor is a torque-biased motorcycle with greater emphasis on the low-end. That said, the Z650 should feel livelier, theoretically, thanks to its superior output figures and more importantly, lesser weight. More about the weight in the next paragraphs.
Underpinnings
A more powerful engine dictates the need for superior underpinnings and to serve this purpose, the Kawasaki Z650 features stickier Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tubeless tyres. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 rides on tubed Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tyres. In case of a puncture, tubed tyres tend to lose air rather quickly.
The Kawasaki Z650 also gets a more sophisticated twin petal disc setup up front. The petal discs have greater surface area than conventional discs of the same size, thus resulting in better braking efficiency. The monoshock setup should offer more uniform damping than twin shock absorbers.
Dimensions & Features:
Its measly 130mm ground clearance really shows that the Kawasaki Z650 is intended for developed markets. On the other hand, Royal Enfield has designed the Interceptor to be a global bike, and hence it gets a much bigger ground clearance. But for shorter riders, the Z650 should be easier to maneuver in tight spaces thanks to its lower kerb weight and lower seat height.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is an old school motorcycle both in terms of styling and features. It makes do with a halogen headlamp and a twin-pod analogue instrument cluster with a small digital inset for odometer, tripmeter and fuel level readings. On the other hand, the 2020 iteration of the Kawasaki Z650 gets an all-new full-colour TFT instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity. It also gets a sharper headlamp cowl compared to its predecessor and packs a full-LED headlamp. The tail lamp is LED too.
Price & Verdict
For a nominal premium of Rs 25,000, Kawasaki offers quite a lot of new features like better tyres, sophisticated instrument cluster with smartphone connectivity and LED headlamp, apart from a cleaner engine. It makes a good contender if you want a premium performance-oriented naked big bike with the reliability of Japanese engineering.
At Rs 2.64 lakh, the Royal Enfield Interceptor is currently the most affordable 650cc motorcycle in the country, period. It is ideal for those who want a retro-modern bike on a tight budget.
Both prices ex-showroom India.