Middleweight 650cc motorcycles are one of the most popular categories of bikes today with riders coming to realize that bigger isn’t always better.
It doesn’t always matter how many cc’s your engine has, other factors like a bikes value for money, insurance costs, economical benefits of choosing bikes over cars or another vehicle can play into a person’s choice of which bike to purchase.
650cc motorcycles offer excellent value for money, with plenty of usable power for all real world riding situations along with good fuel economy.
They are cheaper to buy, insure and run than liter bikes while not being that much more expensive than the lightweight class 300cc motorcycles.
650cc motorcycles offer more grunt to those who want to move up a class from something like a Kawasaki Ninja 300 to the 650.
Equally if a rider wants to slow down a bit then a 650cc is an ideal choice for something calmer while still having the grunt if demanded for some fun.
Let’s take a look at some of the best 650cc motorcycles available today.
Kawasaki Z650
Specs
Max horsepower – 57hp
Max Torque – 65 Nm
Top Speed – 130 mph
Seat Height – 31.1″
Curb Weight – 410.1 lbs
MSRP Price – $7,749
The Kawasaki Z650 is equipped with a liquid cooled 649cc parallel twin engine that it shares with the Ninja 650.
Designed to look like the original Kawasaki KZ650, one of the motorcycles of the 1970’s, the modern Z650 is a retro middleweight naked bike through and through. It is aggressive, sharp, stylised to look and sound mean with plenty of mid-range power.
Features include a slipper clutch, smartphone connectivity, LED lights, TFT instrumentation, Traction Control and a version equipped with ABS brakes.
The lightweight chassis is easy to maneuver and the position is upright with adjustable ergonomics for the perfect fit.
This is a motorcycle ready for pretty much anything you can throw at it whether you want to cruise backroads or tackle city streets, it will do it all comfortably and with ease.
Kawasaki Ninja 650
Specs
Max horsepower – 64hp
Max Torque – 67 Nm
Top Speed – 130 mph
Seat Height – 31.1″
Curb Weight – 419 lbs
Price – $7,999
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 is a performance motorcycle that stands out in its class as it offers a riding experience that is just as at home on the track as it is on the street.
It shares the same liquid cooled twin engine as the Z650 but the Ninja models are tuned differently to allow for more power production although top speed remains the same.
The Ninja 650 is one of my favorite 650cc motorcycles, as it has all the sporty edge of the Kawasaki track-orientated bikes but much more comfortable ergonomics for everyday use. It is very much a sportsbike that could be turned into a middleweight tourer with relative ease.
Royal Enfield Interceptor
Specs
Max horsepower – 47
Max Torque – 52 Nm
Top Speed – 105 mph
Seat Height – 31.6″
Curb Weight – 445 lbs
Price – $6,149
Royal Enfield are dominating at the moment with new 650cc motorcycles appearing regularly with modern features and the lineup consists of a bike for everyone.
The Interceptor is equipped with Royal Enfields first big twin engine since their revival and has been one of their best sellers since its release.
The retro styling, throwback air-cooled engine, upright riding position are all huge positives about the Interceptor.
Classic looks are paired with a modern new chassis for excellent easy handling, great agility and precise steering. ByBre brakes provide excellent stopping power.
You will struggle to find little wrong with Interceptor 650 if modern-retro bikes are your thing.
Royal Enfield Continental GT650
Specs
Max horsepower – 47hp
Max Torque – 52 Nm
Top Speed – 105 mph
Seat Height – 31.6″
Curb Weight – 445 lbs
Price – $6,349
Royal Enfield released the Continental GT650 at the same time as the Interceptor and it shares the same twin engine.
The bike is for those who pine for the old days of classic Cafe Racers, it is for the riders who have a nostalgia for a simple motorcycle with a passion for speed.
The racing seat, stretched tank, clip on bars and choice of racing colors all feed into the cafe racer vibe in a classy but modern way.
Both the Royal Enfield Interceptor and Continental GT offer excellent value for money.
Honda CB650R
Specs
Max horsepower – 95hp
Max Torque – 63 Nm
Top Speed – 140 mph
Seat Height – 31.9″
Curb Weight – 445 lbs
Price – $9,399
Honda has a few 650cc motorcycles in their line up, including the CB650R and CBR650R, one of which is more of a naked street bike and the other a faired version.
Both share the same liquid cooled inline four engine and the same chassis with the same dimensions.
The cockpit of the CB650R is wide open, handlebars are raised and you can sit a little bit taller in the seat compared to the CBR.
The chassis is responsive, Showa suspension more than up to the task and ABS brakes have you stopping safely.
Honda market the CB650R as a do-it-all bike and I am inclined to agree with that.
Honda CBR650R
Specs
Max horsepower – 95hp
Max Torque – 53 Nm
Top Speed – 140 mph
Seat Height – 31.9″
Curb Weight – 445 lbs
Price – $9,899
The CBR650R isn’t a clone copy of the CB650R, the fairings provide wind and road protection and have true sports styling.
Riders can hunch over and unleash their sporty nature if they desire, Honda’s Selectable Torque Control allows you to adjust the engine power to optimize torque depending on your riding conditions.
The bars are still slightly raised and pegs neutral so riders can enjoy all day riding experiences as opposed to struggling with race-focused ergonomics.
The CBR650R is easily one of the best motorcycles in its class.
Honda XR650L
Specs
Max horsepower – 44hp
Max Torque – 52 Nm
Top Speed – 105 mph
Seat Height – 37″
Curb Weight – 346 lbs
Price – $6,999
Honda dual sports bikes are some of the most popular in the market and the XR650L is Honda’s biggest and oldest. Powered by a big 650cc single cylinder engine, it is a straightforward, no frills, go anywhere both on and off road bike.
The four stroke single-cylinder motor has a wide powerband, offers great fuel efficiency and is as low maintenance as a power plant can get.
It was the greatest dual sport available back in 1993 when it was released and the fact it is still around 30 years later should tell you all you need to know.
It is a truly simple, tried and tested motorcycle that makes a great commuter in all weather, but with the advantage of being able to hit the trails for some fun on the weekends.
Triumph Trident 660
Specs
Max horsepower – 80hp
Max Torque – 65 Nm
Top Speed – 130 mph
Seat Height – 31.7″
Curb Weight – 189kg
Price – $8,595
The Triumph Trident 660 is a whole different animal to the original Triumph Trident 750 from the 70’s but the nod to the past is a nice touch.
The all new 3-cylinder engine offers quality performance and the chassis is nice and light making for an exciting ride.
ABS, Traction Control, Triumph App Connectivity, TFT display, LED lighting and riding modes are just some of the features.
It is offering a lot of bang for the buck and sits in the middle of the class when it comes to price point, with the CB650R costing more money and the Z650 a bit less.
Suzuki SV650
Specs
Max horsepower – 75hp
Max Torque – 64 Nm
Top Speed – 130 mph
Seat Height – 30.9″
Curb Weight – 432 lbs
Price – $7,399
The Suzuki SV650 has a reputation for being a riders ‘first big bike’.
It is easy to ride, lightweight, the power delivery is smooth and the ergonomics neutral, all of these make the bike both beginner friendly and super fun to ride.
Daily commutes are a breeze with precise handling for tackling city streets and the bike is stable for highway stretches if needs be.
The price point is excellent and you get a lot of motorcycle for your money that both new riders and those more experienced can really enjoy.
Yamaha MT-07
Specs
Max horsepower – 70hp
Max Torque – 68 Nm
Top Speed – 133 mph
Seat Height – 31.7″
Curb Weight – 406 lbs
Price – $8,199
The MT-07 sits in the middle of Yamaha’s naked bikes.
The bike offers an exciting riding experience with plenty of midrange power and torque from the inline twin engine, the MT-07 is a wheelie machine and encourages the inner hooligan rider in all of us.
Despite not being as big as the MT-09 or the top of the range MT-10, the MT-07 has more than enough of everything to satisfy most riders and if you’re moving up from the MT-03 you are going to love the additional power.
It carries the same aggressive attitude of the rest of the Hyper Naked range, with a bold sharp design and standout color highlights.
Yamaha XSR700
Specs
Max horsepower – 70hp
Max Torque – 68 Nm
Top Speed – 130 mph
Seat Height – 32.9″
Curb Weight – 410 lbs
Price – $8,899
The Yamaha XSR700 shares the same motor as the MT-07 but it is offered in modern retro sleek design instead.
The XSR motorcycles display the power plant proudly as the stand out feature of the bike with everything else building around it.
It is as stripped back as modern bikes get, which is quite refreshing, allowing riders to just focus on riding as opposed to fiddling with electronics and tech – it is back to basics.
Aprilia Tuono 660
Specs
Max horsepower – 100hp
Max Torque – 67 Nm
Top Speed – 140 mph
Seat Height – 32.2″
Curb Weight – 403 lbs
Price – $10,499
Aprilia has the Tuono 660 and the RS660, with the Tuono being a more upright street bike, half-faired and the RS being more of a fully-faired sportsbike.
The Tuono is an excellent choice for those who want a modern, sporty ride with all the latest technology to adjust your ride depending on your circumstances.
Aprilia have loaded the bike up with features including: Traction Control, Wheelie Control, Cruise Control, Quick-Shift, Cornering ABS and different engine map modes.
There is no dispute that the Tuono 660 is a good looking motorcycle, it has the typical Aprilia attention to detail that you would expect and will turn heads wherever you go.
Aprilia RS660
Specs
- Max horsepower – 100hp
- Max Torque – 67 Nm
- Top Speed – 140 mph
- Seat Height – 32.2″
- Curb Weight – 403 lbs
- Price – $11,499
The RS660 has all of Aprilia’s racing DNA packed into a road-riding package.
It is one of the fastest 650cc motorcycles available today, and arguably one of the best looking motorcycles on the market with standout paintwork, red wheels and true race-designed bodywork.
You get a dynamic riding position which is suitable for both road and track and has been designed for excellent confident handling.
The RS walks the line between a straight up track warrior and a usable road bike, it does this very well and will satisfy both riders.
The RS shares the same tech features as the Tuono 660.
BSA Gold Star
Specs
- Max Horsepower – 45hp
- Max Torque – 55Nm
- Top Speed – 110 mph
- Curb Weight – 469 lbs
- Seat Height – 30.7″
- Price – Approx. $7000
The new BSA Gold Star will be available in America this year after a successful launch in Europe at the back end of 2022.
When the Mahindra Group purchased the BSA rights in 2016 and announced they would be launching a new Gold Star not too many were holding their breath for anything special.
Hats off to the Indian motorcycle giants though, they’ve done a cracking job of replicating the original BSA Gold Star.
This wasn’t a badging exercise, the company sent a team to set up camp in Birmingham, England, home of the original BSA company. Here the designers sought inspiration at the Motorcycle Museum and whilst the result may not be the best performing, it is arguably the finest looking ‘retro motorcycle‘ on the market today.
Currently costing £6,800 in the UK I expect the price to be around $7000 once released in North America. If you love the looks of the 1950’s British classics the new Gold Star will definitely pull at your heart strings.
Summary
There you have it, some of the best 650cc motorcycles on the market. Whether single, twin, triple or four-cylinder engines the 650’s have all the performance you could need and then some.
With such a range of models to choose from there is a 650cc motorcycle for everyone from street bikes to sportsbikes, modern retros and everything in between.