OpenTube

Kawasaki Z650 RS would I buy this over my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Bike Riding Adam

42,393 views

I'm Bike Riding Adam, I am a Manchester based Biker who posts daily to social media, the mishaps and often unintentionally funny musings of commuting on my Motorbike around Manchester. I also post longer videos to YouTube, including motorbike reviews, rides, and mini adventures with my son George.

I have a regular YouTube series, Questions for Bikers which highlights the amazing people within the motorbike community, And I also help to promote and organise final rides, or funeral escorts for fellow bikers and often children or people who had a love of motorbikes.

Check out my website for discounts on all the kit I use and also link to rides, bike meets and events all over the UK.

www.bikeridingadam.com

I finally got the chance to test ride the Kawasaki 650RS… and honestly, it really impressed me.

When I bought my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 a few years ago, the Kawasaki was simply out of my price range. The Interceptor offered incredible value, and at the time it felt like the obvious choice.

But things have changed.

With the price of the Interceptor steadily increasing, the gap between these two bikes is now much smaller and suddenly the Kawasaki 650RS starts to look like a seriously tempting alternative.

So if I had the choice again today… which one would I buy?

In this video I talk about:
🏍️ First impressions of the Kawasaki 650RS
🏍️ Comfort, handling & performance
🏍️ How it compares to the Interceptor 650
🏍️ Whether the extra money is worth it
🏍️ Which bike I’d choose if buying again today

Let me know in the comments, Interceptor 650 or Kawasaki 650RS?

#Kawasaki650RS #Interceptor650 #RoyalEnfield #MotorcycleReview #TestRide #RetroMotorcycles

20 Comments

@ChimpyChimp-y8i 8 hours ago (edited)

13:06 Adam,
One of the biggest questions for me is the riding triangle / seating position (I think they call it ergonomics 😟).
- how much legroom between seat and pegs and are the pegs in a neutral / mid position ? Or are they rear set with your legs tucked up ?
- what about the seating position ? Is it upright ? Or are you leaning forward with pressure on shoulders, wrists etc ?
I had an impression that Kawasakis are generally smallish and suited best for someone around 5’8” or 170cm to 175cm.
24:43 😂😂😂

@Psicologia_das_Parábolas 4 months ago

Best review of the Z650RS! I loved your sense of humor. You helped me decide: I just bought the Z650RS 25/25 Black Edition.

@boothy6957 2 months ago

Picked mine up today. Same colour as this one. Yes, it’s not the best sounding bike on start up but that engine is lovely. The induction noise is beautiful when you wind it up and it pulls like a tractor. I was sat in 6th and went for an overtake, no problem! I’m so impressed with the bike. Yes I would like a better exhaust note but that would not put me off buying it again! Go test ride one, you won’t be disappointed. Adam, thank you for this video. Watched it about 30 times whilst waiting to pick mine up. It kept me sane whilst I worried I’d made a mistake. I haven’t.

@MoeALGAS 5 days ago

a beautiful bike. comfortable on long rides, so much fun on the twisties, and super fast and nimble. One of the best bikes i've purchased.

@williamplatt9827 4 months ago

Great review. Bought an RS Anniversary model in 2022, it's now become my keeper bike. The more miles you put on it the better it gets IMO.

@mattday756 4 months ago (edited)

Dad's bought one he's 80 ,its a great bike, the 2025 colours are better than this years ,light clutch comfy seat ,good brakes .We are have toured ,all day rides on it
It could do with a bigger tank ,maybe 3 or 4 litres as its range isn't great even though it's good on fuel .

@Sturmeyhack 4 months ago

I took a 2015 Versys 1000 across the continental US/Canada (and back again). It was pre-Skyhook suspension, with two-stage traction control; I just kept it in Road Mode.

It devoured the miles. Nom nom nom.

@edwardwilliammorris1340 4 months ago

Your talking good sense there. RE prices are creeping up , but I did buy a preregistered interceptor this week for an amazing £4700. When Enfield and kwack are the same price you'd have to rethink it . Cheers for the video 👍

@michaelstorm5299 1 month ago

Love the instrument design of the Z650 RS...analog dails, with LCD screen inbetween. Chrome bezels on speedo and rev-counter, and headlight ❤

@stubb72 4 months ago

This video is giving me flashbacks of being a motorcycle instructor on my gen1 fazer 600 riding around oxford in the pouring rain ,, great times . really need a second bike im still not taking my blade out in the rain 😁

@thorpyboy1402 4 months ago

I looked at the Z650 RS before I found my Trident. They are a cracking bike

@tonyhayden3385 3 months ago (edited)

Hi Adam😊 I've been watching your videos for at least a year now, and one of the main things I've got from them, apart from your love of bikes! Is the fact that I am SOOOOOOOOOO glad I don't live in Man'chest'taaaa! Because it would seem It NEVER STOPS FECK'IN RAIN'IN!!!!!😅😅😅

@manatag7 3 months ago

brilliant review!

@79comodo 1 month ago

I really enjoyed this video, it helped me imagine a bit what it is like to ride the RS. I have owned a 2008 Versys 650 for seventeen whole years now (before that, I had a KLX650 SM for five years, which I loved, but it was stolen—unfortunately, these things happen in Athens, though luckily I have moved away now and live in the province). I am so satisfied with it that I never found a reason to replace it. I use it pretty much for anything , from commuting to leisure rides and once or twice a year I go on a 1000-kilometer trip αller-retour. It has never given me any trouble, nor do I want a bigger bike; this displacement is plenty for me. However, I am thinking of changing motorcycle simply because it has over 120,000 km on it and just for the sake of change, without moving to the new Versys. I am not changing brand—by now, it would feel like changing favorite football team—so I am very seriously considering the Z, this color. Same displacement, engine, same tires, Kawasaki; what could go wrong.I know it does not have air protection like Versys, as it is naked, but small trips that i do are not so often and try to do them on good weather, not so difficult in Greece. Do you think such a move would be worth it?

@adamkaminski 3 months ago (edited)

Here where I live the interceptor 650 is 32k, and the Z650RS is 52k. It's a huge difference. But I test rode both and bought the Z650RS, anyway, because the feel riding them is also huge, it's not even close, feels like a completely different category bikes. I must say, though, RE interceptor is a very fair bike for its price, and if it is what someone can buy at the time, it will bring pleasure and happiness. I started with a Meteor 350 because it was what I could buy at the time, and I was very happy with it. Nowadays, I could choose a bigger bike, but I really don't need too. I love the looks of the Z650RS, it's very lightweight (which is important to me), it has more than enough power and torque for whatever situation, it's cheap to mantain, insurance is ok, fuel consumption is good (which counts here too because gasoline is expensive)...