Offering a wide range of motorcycles spanning the diminutive Z250 to the insanely powerful Ninja ZX-14R, Kawasaki has enthralled the Indian audience with its diverse products over the years. One of the most recent additions to the long list of its products in India is the ER-6n, the naked version of the Ninja 650. We took the versatile, rider-friendly machine for a rigorous testing session around the exotic environs of Lavasa and came back completely charmed.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/kawasaki-ER123.jpg" alt="" />
Design and styling As mentioned before, the ER-6n, in essence, is the Ninja 650 sans the fairing. The engine, the mechanicals and most of the layout remains similar to the faired version. Unlike the visually front heavy Ninja, the ER-6n looks more balanced with the visual mass of the motorcycle converging around the engine and the muscular tank. The minimalistic, angular headlamp is a daytime running unit and looks fantastic front on. Under the muscular tank, the ER-6n gets sharply styled shrouds flanking the radiator unit, enhancing the beefy look.
<img title="The exposed side mounted rear monosuspension unit on the ER-6n adds greatly to its visual appeal" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/Box-(1).jpg" alt="The exposed side mounted rear monosuspension unit on the ER-6n adds greatly to its visual appeal" /> The exposed side mounted rear monosuspension unit on the ER-6n adds greatly to its visual appeal
The signature side mounted rear suspension, painted in a contrasting red, adds to the bike's character. The red-painted, side-mounted rear mono-suspension is the only contrast on the all-black machine. Even the engine is painted black, and there is no getting away from the dark theme as this is the only colour option available in India. We really wish the ER-6n was available in the flashier Candy Flat Blazed Green/Metallic Flat Spark Black combo here. The bike looks much better in a two-tone colour scheme.
<img title="The powerful 300-mm twin front disc brakes endow the ER-6n with great braking power" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/Box-(2).jpg" alt="The powerful 300-mm twin front disc brakes endow the ER-6n with great braking power" /> The powerful 300-mm twin front disc brakes endow the ER-6n with great braking power
The rear of the naked 650 is rather minimalistic, though a step seat allows for proper two-up riding. The quality of handlebar grips and switchgear is top-notch. The instrumentation with it is white tachometer dial and the digital speedo/MID stacked below is minimalistic, but it looks smart and delivers all the information that matters. Like a whole bunch of parts, the tail lamps are shared with the Ninja 650. The short, stubby underbelly exhaust is tucked neatly under the swingarm and is also shared with the 650.
The ER-6n is a smart machine and looks muscular and aggressive from certain angles. The sculpted tank, the radiator shrouds, the rear suspension and the angular headlamps are the most notable bits on this bike as regards to styling.&nbsp;The bike, however, looks best in contrasting colour schemes, and the all-black treatment here hides the finer details&nbsp;which otherwise make this street fighter stand out. In the all-black trim, it doesn't grab too much attention, which may be a good thing for those who would rather keep their prized possession from prying eyes and save it from unwarranted notice, which sometimes also leads to tampering.
Engine and performance Powering the ER-6n is a 649cc, fourstroke, parallel-twin, fuel-injected liquid-cooled engine, shared with the Ninja 650. The power output is rated at a very respectable 72.1 PS at 8,500 rpm, while peak torque output is 64 Nm at 7,000 rpm. While the engine is the same as the one of the Ninja 650, the state of tune on the ER-6n is slightly different. Unlike the supremely linear power delivery on the Ninja, this naked version has the power stored slightly higher up the rev-band. There is still plenty of midrange punch at hand though, with brisk in-gear acceleration allowing for swift overtaking manoeuvres without the need to downshift. A slight step up in power can be experienced post 6,000 rpm, and the engine doesn't have much resistance to rev all the way up to its red-line marked at 11,000 rpm.
<img title="The instrument console is minimalist, but is smartly done and offers useful information through its digital MID" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/Box-(3).jpg" alt="The instrument console is minimalist, but is smartly done and offers useful information through its digital MID" /> The instrument console is minimalist, but is smartly done and offers useful information through its digital MID While 72PS does not sound like a lot of power for a parallel-twin 650-cc motor, the ER-6n is punchy enough to dispose&nbsp;whatever the Indian road conditions may throw at it with ease. The motorcycle has the capability to cruise at a very swift 160km/h all day long, and can touch a top speed of 210 km/h. With a sub-7 second 0-100 km/h timing, the ER-6n is all the motorcycle the motorcycle you need in this part of the world.
While the power on tap is adequate and the throttle response is crisp, we weren't very impressed with the refinement of the motor. The Ninja 650 we rode last year seemed to have smoother engine in comparison. The engine on the ER-6n has a slightly gruff character, well within the tolerable limits, though not as silken as expected. Even with the grunty engine, there aren't any vibes to be experienced though. The six-speed transmission, too, isn't the smoothest unit we have come across, and could well have been a bit more fluid in operation.
Ride and handling The ER-6n has a fairly rider-friendly seating position with the handlebars positioned in a rather upright position. The foot-pegs for the rider are a bit more rear-set than we would have expected though. Overall, the rider sits fairly comfortably, with the hands reaching the bars quite conveniently without having to slouch over the tank. The rider's weight bias is mildly towards the front, which aids sporty riding around a set of bends.
<img title="The underbelly exhaust is neatly tucked under the motorcycle&rsquo;s body. The exhaust note isn&rsquo;t too enticing" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/Box-(4).jpg" alt="The underbelly exhaust is neatly tucked under the motorcycle&rsquo;s body. The exhaust note isn&rsquo;t too enticing" /> The underbelly exhaust is neatly tucked under the motorcycle's body. The exhaust note isn't too enticing
From the rider's perspective, the ER-6n doesn't come across as a big, intimidating machine. It feels compact and presents itself as a nimble, easy to pilot motorcycle without putting too much pressure on the wrists and the shoulders. The suspension, which was set to the middle setting on our test bike, felt rather stiff, though this could be easily resolved by turning it down a few notches. We would have desired the motorcycle to be a bit suppler at the medial setting though. Stopping power is provided via big 300-mm twin-petal discs with dual pistons up front and single 220 mm petal disc featuring a single-piston at the rear. In conjunction with the Dunlop Roadsmart 120/70Z R17 front and 160/60Z R17 rear tyres, those discs do a great job of offering ample stopping power for the motorcycle. Braking is sharp, and in conjunction with grippy Dunlops, endows the ER-6n with powerful anchoring capabilities. We would have liked the brakes to feel a bit more progressive though. The bite, especially from the front brakes is sometimes too sharp and sudden and may take the rider by surprise. The ER-6n is sufficiently powerful, yet appreciably nimble, the seat design allows for a very convenient lateral movement for the rider while hanging off around sharp corners. Noticeably flickable, forgiving and fun to ride around a variety of roads, the ER-6n presents itself as an ambidextrous motorcycle which can be used for both long distance touring as well as for some apex hunting fun over a weekend.
Our verdict With an ex-showroom price tag of nigh Rs 4.8 lakh, the ER-6n is about Rs 40,000 cheaper than the Ninja 650. What you get for that money is a powerful, torquey engine with a strong mid-range and a dependable, performance-oriented&nbsp;motorcycle which can make you travel very fast interstate, and can also play the role of corner carver if you so wish. All Kawasaki motorcycles are built to exacting specification and the reliability and performance of this 650 twin is a given. At the price mentioned above, hardly anything else in the market presents itself as a more compelling buy in the 650cc range. There is the Hyosung GT650N, which retails for about R50K cheaper, but the engineering, refinement and build quality of the Kawasaki is decidedly in a higher league.
With its versatile, rider-friendly character, usable power delivery and dependable dynamics, the ER-6n appears to be a motorcycle custom-built for the Indian conditions. The lack of a windscreen can be a bit of a deterrent for the tourers, but that's no deal breaker by any stretch of imagination. A potent, grownup machine, which has established its authority across the world, the ER-6n makes a compelling case for itself if a potent motorcycle for R5 lakh or thereabouts is what you are looking for.
Technical specs kawasaki ER-6N Engine: 649cc, four-stroke liquid-cooled parallel twin Power: 72.1 PS @ 8,000 rpm Torque: 64 Nm @ 7,000 rpm Transmission: Six-speed
Power hungry
Benelli TNT600i
<img title="Benelli TNT600i" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/Rival-3-Benelli-BN600i.jpg" alt="Benelli TNT600i" />
Italian bikemaker Benelli, in association with DSK, is all set to start its operations in India. The company plans to assemble its motorcycles locally in the country, allowing for some savings on tax, and resultantly a lower price tag for its products. Among all their products, the Benelli TNT600i with an in-line four-cylinder engine looks tempting. With a high-revving, 82 PS engine, Italian styling and a rider-friendly character, the TNT600i will make a compelling case for itself. The prices have not been announced yet. Launch likely in January 2015. Expected price: Rs 8 lakh
Triumph Street Triple
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/rival-2-2014-Triumph-Street.jpg" alt="" />
The Street Triple represents the essence of Triumph Motorcycles as a brand. The alienface motorcycle powered by a triple-pot motor is great to look at and offers agility and fun character in a compact package. The Street Triple's 675cc three-cylinder engine's soundtrack is the most likeable in its class. A versatile machine, the Street Triple is a desirable bike. A rev happy engine with close to 80 PS on tap makes the Street triple a fun motorcycle to ride. Price: Rs 7.7 lakh ex-showroom
Hyosung GT650N
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jan/rival-1-Hyosung-GT650N.jpg" alt="" />
The Hyosung GT650N is the naked version of the GT650R in a fashion akin to the Ninja 650R and ER-6n. While it's not going to win any beauty contests with a rather old-looking styling, featuring a long upswept exhaust canister, the GT650N does offer unmatched value to the prospective buyer. Powered by a V-twin engine dishing out very respectable&nbsp;power and torque figures of 73 bhp and 61 Nm respectively, this Korean naked is the most economical big machine you can buy today. It's a well-built, capable motorcycle which does most things right, but doesn't quite have the brand value. Price: Rs 4.1 lakh ex-showroom

Performance, versatility and great value &mdash; the Kawasaki ER-6n offers a lot in one compact package

Mr Dependable: The Kawasaki Er-6n is a powerful motorcycle

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Performance, versatility and great value &mdash; the Kawasaki ER-6n offers a lot in one compact package

Mr Dependable: The Kawasaki Er-6n is a powerful motorcycle

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Mr Dependable: The Kawasaki Er-6n is a powerful motorcycle

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