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Driving report, Kawasaki ER-5

Kawasaki ER-5

The Kawasaki program lacked an uncomplicated, inexpensive motorcycle with a broad impact. The ER-5 seems to have solved the problem.

Honda has the CB 500, Suzuki the GS 500 E, Yamaha the XJ 600 N – and Kawasaki was left behind. There was (and still is) the EN 500 (chopper), the KLE 500 (enduro) and the GPZ 500 S (athlete) in the half-liter program of the Greens, but not an unpretentious all-rounder with a low price instead of a lot of chrome or Plastic. Problem recognized, problem solved. With the E.The R-5 closes the gap for Kawasaki, and this gap filler has a good chance of an honorable placement in future registration statistics: The motorcycle looks good, is motorized with 50 (optionally 34) hp and is one of the class with a sales price of around 8,500 marks Particularly wallet-friendly offers. In return, it must be accepted that the ER-5 relies on long-serving – one could also say: well-tried – technology when it comes to drive. Which is not a handicap at all, as the engine is one of the contemporary representatives of the parallel twin species, regardless of its changeable career, which has now spanned eleven years. So he wraps his thermally stressed parts in a cooling and noise-absorbing water jacket, working four valves per combustion chamber in his upper room, and in the basement a spur gear-driven balancer shaft struggles to nip vibrations caused by the principle in the bud – there can be no question of a flaw of early birth. Especially since the twin shows good manners in practice. The short-stroke doesn’t seem particularly lively and lively, but it runs cultivated and gets down to business in the lower and middle touring range, so it offers good conditions for relaxed, shift-lazy driving Accelerating from standstill – and a relatively short final gear ratio – is good for proper pulling power in the last gear. The landing gear of the ER-5 is of a simple design. A broad tubular steel double loop frame tries to create the most direct connection possible between the steering head and the swing arm mounting with its upper parts. The front wheel rotates in a conventional telescopic fork with 37 mm stanchions, while the rear wheel is guided by a two-arm swing arm with two directly linked spring struts. The spring elements do not show any high-tech attributes, apart from the adjustable spring bases on the hindquarters, no adjustment options are offered. They are up to their task – at least in solo operation. They respond properly and offer enough travel and damping reserves to make ends meet on poor ground without bottoming out or rocking movements. In terms of chassis geometry, the ER-5 moves on tried and tested terrain. So it is not surprising that the new Kawasaki presents a selection of unspectacular but consistently positive character traits. On the one hand, she walks straight ahead at top speed; on the other hand, she circles the slowest turns without egg dancing. The machine, which weighs more than 190 kilograms, can be steered between these extremes without any significant effort. Encouraged by the leverage of its wide handlebars, the ER is open to quick changes of direction in order – once on course – to demonstrate a pronounced ability to persist, which is not marred by unevenness in the road surface. Sufficient ground clearance and proper steering precision also help to strengthen confidence in your own driving skills. Sudden braking in an inclined position, often a subject with course variations on broad-soled show bikes, leaves the ER indifferent: There are no noteworthy setup reactions. Sudden and health-endangering inclines when decelerating with an upright machine are also not to be feared: the risk of overbraking the front wheel is rather low due to the single-disc system with double-piston caliper, which can be adequately metered and which requires relatively high manual effort. So no catch on the new Kawasaki? Maybe with the equipment? No, from the fully equipped cockpit to the main stand, the new Kawa is a full-fledged motorcycle – and therefore on the road to success.

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