Kawasaki Z650 S Launched in India at Rs 7.59 Lakh

Kawasaki India launched the Z650 S on 3 November 2026 at Rs 7.59 lakh ex-showroom, with deliveries starting the same day, according to Autocar India and Auto India Daily. It is a restyled version of the Z650 naked motorcycle with a colour TFT screen, and it keeps the same 649cc parallel-twin engine. Kawasaki lists the model as the Z650 S (2027) on its India website. This article is current as of 3 November 2026.

Price and positioning

The Z650 S costs Rs 33,000 more than the standard Z650, which the reports price at Rs 7.26 lakh ex-showroom. Ex-showroom means the price before registration, insurance and other charges, so the on-road price will be higher and will differ by city.

For buyers comparing the two versions on paper, the trade-off in the published figures is simple. The Z650 S adds a larger set of styling and display changes for Rs 33,000, while the standard Z650 keeps larger brake discs and is 5kg lighter. Whether those differences matter in daily riding is not something these reports can say, because they are launch summaries and not road tests.

The sources also agree that the engine, gearbox and torque figure are carried over. In plain terms, a 649cc parallel-twin has two cylinders side by side, and the six-speed gearbox is the same one used on the standard model, so the performance numbers on paper are essentially the same.

• Z650 S: Rs 7.59 lakh ex-showroom
• Standard Z650: Rs 7.26 lakh ex-showroom (as reported)
• Difference: Rs 33,000
• Colour: one option, White/Green

Engine and numbers

The engine is unchanged from the Z650: a 649cc parallel-twin with a six-speed gearbox. Autocar India and Auto India Daily both give 68.25hp and 64Nm of torque. Another outlet, AutoX, lists 67bhp at 8,000rpm, so the power figure differs slightly between reports; the torque figure is the same. Kawasaki's own India page did not show full specifications for the model when checked.

Because the engine is the same, the reports describe the Z650 S as a styling and technology update, not a mechanical one.

What is new

• Styling: Kawasaki's Sugomi design language, with a new headlight and tail-light that the reports say resemble those of the Z900, plus updated bodywork
• Display: a 4.3-inch TFT instrument screen with smartphone connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation
• Accessory: a quickshifter is available as an optional extra
• First reports also mention traction control

What has been reduced

Not every change is an addition. According to Autocar India, the Z650 S has smaller brake discs than the standard Z650:

• Front discs: dual 272mm, against 300mm on the Z650
• Rear disc: 186mm, against 220mm on the Z650
• Kerb weight: 193kg, against 188kg on the Z650, which is 5kg more

The suspension is largely unchanged: an RSU (right-side-up) fork at the front and a back-link monoshock at the rear.

Global background

Autocar India earlier reported the global unveil of the Z650 S, with repositioned foot pegs, a taller handlebar and almost entirely revised styling, and a UK price of GBP 7,199. Those international details have not been confirmed for the Indian model by Kawasaki India, so treat them as background.

What is still unknown

The reports do not give tyre details or the warranty terms, and they do not name direct rivals. Readers who want the full specification and the on-road price in their city should check Kawasaki India's website or a dealer.

How to read the launch figures

Launch articles quote the manufacturer's numbers, and small differences between outlets usually come from rounding or from different units. Horsepower (hp), brake horsepower (bhp) and PS are close but not identical units, which is one reason 67bhp and 68.25hp appear in different reports. When figures matter for a purchase, the manufacturer's brochure and the dealer's quotation are the documents to rely on.

Sources

• Kawasaki Z650 S launched at Rs 7.59 lakh, Autocar India
• New Kawasaki Z650 S Launched at Rs. 7.59 Lakh, Auto India Daily
• Kawasaki India (official website)

Image credits: Cover photo: Kawasaki Z650 schwarz 2020 by Gamemaster669, CC BY-SA 3.0. Pictures from Wikimedia Commons.