All Tests – Test of the new Kawasaki ER-6n 2012: the K takes off! – The other Kawasaki bestseller

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2012 Kawasaki ER-6n review: the K takes off !

All Tests - Test of the new Kawasaki ER-6n 2012: the K takes off! - The other Kawasaki bestseller

Barely unveiled, the Kawasaki ER-6n 2012 version is already being tested on Site. The opportunity to check, on the beautiful roads of Portugal, if the third version of the little Kawa is indeed more stylish, easy and fun… First try !

Kawasaki’s other bestseller

Launched at the end of 2005 and updated in 2009, the Kawasaki ER-6 (n or f) has been the second best-selling Greens on the Old Continent for five years: "in all, more than 60,000 ER-6n have been sold to date in the five main European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Great Britain)", specifies Karim Mostafi, press manager of Kawasaki Motors Europe..

This is to say if the mission entrusted to Yoshifumi Mano (previously designer of the chassis of the twin-cylinder models, promoted "project leader" of this ER-6) promises to be perilous … Because the success of this new version is important to more than ‘a title for the Greens.

First of all, this Kawa is circulating in the juiciest market segment in Europe in general, and in France in particular. Its sales scores, admittedly lower than those of the queen Z750 – and its version R -, illustrate in themselves the weight which weighs on the shoulders of Mano San.

The 650 will therefore seek to steal customers from its rivals designated by Kawasaki: "XJ6, Gladius and CBF600", basic motorcycles, easy to live with and not too expensive. Because manufacturers have not offered 500 cc for a long time !

Available, colors and prices

  • Available: end of November (ABS mid-December)

  • Colors: Yellow "Pearl Shining", Black "Metallic Spark" or White "Pearl Stardust"

  • Price: not fixed, but close to € 6,499 for the 2011 model (ABS + € 600)

"The ER-5 and GPZ have indeed disappeared, but for people looking to approach the bike more calmly, we have in our catalog the Ninja 250 R", replied tit for tat the press manager !

The ER-6n is therefore also – and above all – aimed at beginners. And when you know the attachment that many bikers have to their brand of bike, it is essential to "shoe" them as soon as possible by putting their very first big cube in their gloves. !

This work begins with the apprenticeship: Kawasaki France estimates that the renewal of the "motorcycle school" fleet represents around 400 ER-6n per year. A volume far from negligible, that the future Kawa (available at the end of November) wishes to increase, at the expense of the Yamaha XJ6.

Motorcycle school officials will also be delighted to see that the exposed and expensive turn signals – because they are integrated into the radiator scoops – were replaced in 2012 by simple turn signals mounted on either side of the headlight….

Aesthetically still, we note a radicalization of the look, which is more or less directly inspired by the big brother Z1000: the arrival of plastic covers on the tank and on the fork – from a distance, one could believe in an inverted fork! – is certainly the most striking example.

We also note the migration of the contactor barrel towards the front of the tank "like on the Z1000", underline the Greens. Finally, customer surveys were formal: to boost the ER-6n, the use of a two-part saddle was required.

The optics, on the other hand, are barely changed, as are the shorter 10mm rear shell and the newly redesigned front fender. Because the ER-6n must nevertheless retain its own identity.

The same goes for the mechanical parts: the engine remains the same 649 cc (83 x 60 mm) twin overhead camshaft, eight valves with Keihin injection, set at 180 °, which fitted the previous versions. The data sheet indicates the same maximum power of 72.1 hp at 8,500 rpm.

The maximum torque for its part has been revised downwards: – 2 Nm compared to the 2009 model, i.e. 64 Nm now still at 7,000 rpm.

"We have made changes to the injection, added tubing between the two exhaust elbows and increased the volume of the muffler to improve engine performance below 7000 rpm, where it is used on a daily basis.", reassures us immediately the Kawasaki staff.

Akashi’s men add that new "Intake ducts supply the engine with fresh air, while their raspy note adds to the fun of driving". Finally, for the attention of the mechanics:"the air filter cartridge is made of paper instead of oil-impregnated foam, which improves air circulation and dust filtration".

The chassis has undergone more significant changes: the two steel tubes of the frame are now parallel and the swingarm elegantly resumes – on its right side, not on the left because of the chain – this new structure.

According to Kawasaki, "the new stiffness distribution"of the two elements should offer the ER-6n even greater maneuverability. The hunting and wheelbase values ​​however contradict the Greens: the column opens by half a degree, the hunting takes 8 mm and the wheelbase increases by 5 mm.

Identical in appearance, the suspensions have been refined: the travel increases by 5 mm from the front as from the rear and the fork is extended by 15 mm, so that the hardness of the springs could be reduced. "Of course, the damping settings have been revised accordingly", comment the Japanese engineers.

Purpose of the operation: "offer a more sporty behavior and better comfort"Comfort level precisely, special attention has been paid to the seat of the pilot: too round and too flat on the previous model, the saddle flattened and considerably padded in 2012.

Here again, the figures disclosed by Kawasaki are not telling: the seat height rises from 785 to 805 mm and yet, when you sit on it, the ER-6n remains as accessible as ever. The explanation is twofold: the softness of the saddle decreases its height once the rider is installed, and the thinner frame facilitates access to the ground..

"Bringing the swingarm axle covers closer together (authorized by the central single beam) reduces the distance between the feet by 50 mm on each side", specifies Kawasaki. On the long footrest plates mounted on silent-blocks – suddenly, it moves a lot at the end! -, we note another delicate attention…

Indeed, a transparent plastic pad prevents any premature wear … and observed on the old models: "this is one of the many details that the satisfaction surveys and the tests of the specialized press have enabled us to take into account", rejoices the Kawasaki Europe staff.

In three years then, thanks to MNC and its readers, the ER-6n will perhaps be equipped with black electrical connectors and not green and garish blue as is the case now? Once the handlebar neiman is engaged for example, these headlight components are a little too conspicuous … and ugly.

On the other hand, the review of Site is highly positive regarding the new instrument cluster and its original livery smoked cap. !

The new dashboard is very successful: the tachometer and its translucent blue needle are ultra-readable, as is the digital dial (on a night blue background or under the tunnels) located below. The latter offers all the necessary information: fuel gauge and clock are displayed continuously, and you can then choose between the odometer, partial A or B, instantaneous or average consumption, and the remaining range..

The small Kawasaki even pays for the luxury of an "eco" witness inaugurated on the big 1400GTR, allowing to know if the adopted conduct is economical. Turned off above 6000 rpm or as soon as the handle is opened a little hard, this indicator unfortunately still has almost no interest … An eco-friendly engine map would be, at a pinch, more relevant.

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