Of course it was coming. After adding traction control to the updated Versys 650 this year, Kawasaki has applied that trick to the Z650 as well. But that’s all Kawasaki has updated on the 2023 Z650.
Personally, we don’t really see the point of it, but with more and more manufacturers, traction control is also starting to find its way to light motorcycles. Not that we’re against traction control, on high-power bikes that can be the difference between launching with a highsider or not, but on light bikes… come on.
Kawasaki also held that opinion for a long time, as witnessed by the Z900 alone, whose power of 125 hp was well above that of its predecessor Z800, but electronic assistants were strange at launch. Because according to Kawasaki, it was the biggest nonsense of all. Not that it was said so literally, but that’s what it came down to.
Superfluous or not, it is a path that has been taken by manufacturers in recent years, with the argument of improving passive safety. Just like ABS has done. Now there is something to be said for that, but where you have no choice with braking in an emergency and full-in-the-anchor ABS can be the difference between going on your plate or not, your right hand still determines how hard you accelerate.
Well, that said, back to the Z650 which has been given a minor update by Kawasaki for model year 2023. Starting with the addition of traction control, which is adjustable in 2 positions plus can be switched off: mode 1 for sporty driving and mode 2 for maximum traction. Because you also want full power in the rain.
In addition, the Z650 will receive the same beautiful LED turn signals for the coming year that Team Green has already applied to the Z900, among other things. Also, Kawasaki has put together new color schemes: Metallic Phantom Silver with red frame, Metallic Matte Graphenesteel Gray with green frame and Metallic Spark Black with black frame.
These new colors can be seen in the showroom at the Kawasaki dealer from mid-November, prices will be announced later this year. As in previous years, the Z650 is also available with a Sport, Performance and Urban package and of course it is also available in a 35 kW version. With the A2 version, the traction control is limited to only 1 position (plus switch off).
– Thanks for information from Motorfreaks.