2026 Kawasaki Z650RS Launched in India with E20-Compliant Engine at Rs 7.83 Lakh

Kawasaki has launched the 2026 Z650RS in India at Rs 7.83 lakh, ex-showroom, and it sits firmly in the brand’s middleweight range. The new price reflects a Rs 14,000 increase over the earlier version. From a rider’s point of view, this update feels like Kawasaki sticking to its routine approach of small changes rather than big shifts. It retains the same role in the lineup, aimed at riders who want a mid-capacity motorcycle with a classic design but modern hardware underneath, without chasing trends or features that add cost without value.

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The 2026 Z650RS carries forward the same design that owners already know. It comes in a Metallic Ocean Blue colour, paired with gold-coloured wheels. The graphics remain unchanged, which means it still looks familiar on the road. Kawasaki continues with the round headlamp, teardrop-style fuel tank and two-piece seat layout. The instrument cluster remains the same, featuring an analogue tachometer alongside a digital screen that displays speed and trip data. For riders who like a clear layout without layers of menus, this setup keeps things simple and easy to read during daily rides or weekend runs.

Powering the Z650RS is a 649 cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine. It makes 67bhp at 8,000 rpm and 62.1Nm of torque at 6,700 rpm. The engine is paired with a six-speed gearbox. For 2026, the main update is E20 fuel compliance, which allows the bike to run on petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol. To support this change, torque output is slightly lower than before, but the overall performance figures remain in the same range as the outgoing model.

The motorcycle parts stay unchanged for this update. Suspension duties are handled by 41 mm telescopic forks at the front and a horizontal back-link monoshock at the rear. Braking is managed by twin 300 mm discs at the front with dual-piston callipers, while the rear uses a single 220 mm disc. Dual-channel ABS continues as standard. The bike runs on 17-inch alloy wheels, with a 120/70 tyre at the front and a 160/60 tyre at the rear, which is a setup many riders are already comfortable with.

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In terms of size and weight, nothing has moved. Ground clearance is 125 mm, seat height is 800 mm, and kerb weight stands at 192 kg. The fuel tank holds 12 litres, and the wheelbase measures 1,410 mm. In the mid-capacity segment, the Z650RS goes up against bikes like the Triumph Speed Twin 900, Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and others.