Renowned Japanese Motorcycle maker Kawasaki has lifted the covers off the 2026 Kawasaki Z650 S — a middleweight naked streetfighter. The Kawasaki Z650 is a widely popular motorcycle from Kawasaki’s portfolio — Being a strong seller for the brand in European regions, Asian markets, and topping the sales chart in America in the year 2024.
It was way back in 2016 when Kawasaki introduced its beloved middleweight streetfighter to the world. Over its 8-year lifespan, Kawasaki incrementally upgraded the model to keep pace with the competition.
The latest Z650 S variant is no different; Kawasaki engineers marginally updated the existing model, with the latest tech and refined ergonomics to keep the motorcycle fresh for 2026.
The 2026 Kawasaki Z650 S stays true to its original iteration, carrying the same aggressive and sharp design philosophy, which Kawasaki famously dubs as the “sugomi” design philosophy seen on the other Z model lineup, such as the Z900 and Z1100, etc.
Now, there are a few changes stylistically speaking — the 2026 model year Kawasaki Z650 S gets a compact, two-piece headlamp cowl which harbours a full LED lighting, including dual low beams, layered tail section, and robust side panels, adding both a muscular posture and refined aerodynamic efficiency.
Additionally, engineers at Kawasaki made some tweaks to the rider ergonomics — the rider triangle has been adjusted to accommodate a wider range of riders and their needs. The Z650 S puts a greater emphasis on the rider’s comfort. To achieve this, engineers repositioned the footpegs and incorporated wider handlebars for a much more relaxed rider triangle than its predecessor.
The Kawasaki Z650 uses the tried and tested steel trellis frame, which is suspended by a conventional 41mm pre-load adjustable upside-down fork at the front and a monoshock at the rear — duly borrowed from the existing Z650 model. Whereas the braking duties are handled by a dual-channel ABS 300mm disc at the front and a 220mm disc at the rear.
At the heart of the Kawasaki Z650 S sits the proven 649cc liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine, well known for its smooth and linear power delivery. The engine produces 68 hp at 8,000 rpm and 64 Nm at 6,700 rpm. These figures are enough to propel the streetfighter from 0-60 mph under 4 seconds, and a claimed top speed of 132 mph.
A few standout upgrades over the predecessor include a 4.3-inch TFT colour display that integrates with Kawasaki’s Rideology app for smartphone connectivity and customisation. Another notable feature new for the Z650 S is the Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) system, ensuring optimum performance and safety in all types of conditions.
Kawasaki plans to roll out the Z650 S model globally — eventually replacing the existing Z650 model. Kawasaki has already launched the model in European and Asian markets.
