Kawasaki’s sexy new ER-6n naked motorcycle has gained a fully clothed stablemate. The ER-6f, aimed at riders who enjoy the versatility of the 650cc twin but feel the need for more efficient streamlining and weather protection, is mechanically identical to its lively sibling, but comes with the option of ABS brakes.
Because the faired machine steers clear of the low-slung, clip-on handlebars of sports machines, it retains the user-friendly nature of the naked bike, making it a perfect choice for the commuter who wants to use it also as a weekend back-road blitzer, or the hard-riding enthusiast who intends to use his bike as a commuter from Monday to Friday.
Tucked away inside the high-tensile steel trellis frame of the ER-6f is Kawasaki’s brand-new 649cc fuel-injected ER-6 parallel twin engine. This silky-smooth, liquid-cooled unit is physically tiny — smaller even than Kawasaki’s 500cc ER-5 engine that powers the popular KLE 500.
The factory settled on the parallel twin configuration because a four-cylinder unit would have been too wide and a V-twin too long for the petite machine it envisaged. A superb six-speed, cassette-style gearbox, which aligns the input and output shafts in a triangular formation with the crankshaft, and a semi-dry oil sump both help reduce engine height.
The Lilliputian dimensions of the new engine allowed the engineers to slot it into a minimalist, lightweight trellis frame featuring an offset laydown rear shock mounted to a triangulated swing arm for an ideal balance of flex and rigidity. This revolutionary set-up allows the swing arm to be longer than normal, endowing the machine with excellent stability and handling despite its short wheelbase. An added benefit of the offset rear shock absorber was that the battery could be situated alongside it rather than beneath the seat, leading to a reduced seat height and a lower centre of gravity.
With 72,1 horses (53 kW) trying to burst out of the very tidy engine cases at 8Â 500 rpm, and 66Nm of torque available at 7Â 000 rpm, the Kawasaki ER-6f is a lively performer right up to its 11Â 000 rpm redline. Riding companions on superbikes might not be blown into the weeds by the little twin, but those who underestimate it and doze off on the start line will be taken aback by the pace exhibited by a wide-awake rider on this very affordable machine.
The Kawasaki exhibits none of the vices associated with vertical twins of yore. The fuel-injected, double-overhead-camshaft engine is silky smooth, with balance shafts counteracting the pulses generated by the 180-degree crank shaft, and the water pump routes coolant through passages within the engine cases to keep things tidy and absorb mechanical noise.
The full fairing fitted to the ER-6f houses an all-new instrument cluster that includes an LCD display with digital readouts for the odometer and twin trip meters, a clock and an LED water-temperature warning lamp. The analogue rev counter is home to a fuel-level warning indicator and an oil-pressure telltale light. Other instrumentation includes turn signal, high beam and neutral lamps.
The front direction indicators are mounted flush with the fairing, and a handlebar-mounted switch allows the flickers to double as hazard warning lights. Four tie-down hooks on the frame can be used to secure luggage or lock a spare crash helmet in position, and a large under-seat stowage compartment provides space for a rain suit, a U-lock or other items.
The ER-6f boasts the same under-engine exhaust pipe and six-spoke lightweight alloy wheels as its naked sibling. The triple petal disc brakes — twin 300mm units up front, and a single 220mm stopper at the back — are as fitted to the ER-6n, but the faired version offers ABS front and rear as an option.
As South African roads become more and more congested, with new car sales having more than doubled in the past few years and thousands of older cars working their way down to people who could not previously afford them, motorcycles are becoming increasingly appealing as commuters. Kawasaki has succeeded in developing a pair of brilliant machines that can be used to and from work daily, and then double as recreational mounts when the mood takes you.
The ER-6f and its naked stablemate, the ER-6n, will get you to work inexpensively and on time, in a good mood, every day of the week, and then send your adrenalin levels through the ceiling on Saturday and Sunday. The lively twins leave the 650cc single-cylinder supermotards, which cost about R10Â 000 more, for dead, and provide more comfort and practicality than any of the superbikes that are brilliant weekend toys but totally impractical for everyday use.
The Kawasaki ER-6n is available in yellow, black, or silver. The standard ER-6f comes in black only, and the ABS version in silver. All models come with Kawasaki’s 24-month, unlimited-distance warranty. At just R56Â 995 for the naked bike and R59Â 995 for the fully faired ER-6f (R64Â 500 with ABS), they offer the best combination of funky fun and functionality that money can buy.