All Tests – 2012 Kawasaki ER-6f Test: and for a few euros more … – When the swallow is back …

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Kawasaki ER-6f 2012 test: and for a few euros more…

All Tests - 2012 Kawasaki ER-6f Test: and for a few euros more ... - When the swallow is back ...

Four months after discovering the new ER-6n 2012 on sublime roads in Portugal, Site is testing the streamlined version of the little Kawasaki roadster on the more picturesque departmental roads of Normandy. For 500 € more, what the ER-6f offers ?

When the swallow is back…

This first test therefore allowed us to verify that the flexibility and the driving character of the ER-6n 2012 were indeed present on the "f", perfectly serving its vocation as a small motorcycle responsible for leading its rider daily in traffic jams. , then to make him discover the neighboring regions at the weekend, well protected by the bubble and the fairing

On the other hand, the ambient temperature and humidity prevented us from validating the behavior of the chassis on the bumpy roads of Normandy, excellent judges in terms of road !

The rare perfectly dry and unsalted passages have given us the possibility of "typing" in the twin and confirming that the seasoned "païlotes" will blame it for a lack of reach and maximum power. The 72.1 horsepower achieved at 8,500 rpm, however, is not disappointing from a 650 cc twin. !

Unfortunately, the too random grip made it out of the question to put any stress on the rear axle when exiting a curve: no desire to damage one of the three ER-6f in the Kawasaki France press park! And it was the same during the braking phases…

"Attention, these ER-6f are devoid of ABS", the press manager rightly warned us when leaving."The ABS versions, which represent about 50% of sales of "f" (against 20% of "n") will arrive a little later, in April.".

It was therefore impossible to test the new ABS module and its "more sophisticated processor". It is also more difficult, without this assistance, to plant trappers’ braking – despite" Quebec "weather! – in order to check the neutrality of the nose gear when entering a curve…

In these conditions, the attack of the front brake is sufficient whereas we had found it a little timid on the Portuguese roads circuit during the launch of the ER-6n. Likewise, given the grip – or rather its lack! -, the effort required on the lever did not seem excessive to us to slow down the ER-6f wisely.

At the rear brake, however, the relative "softness" of the pedal is confirmed. The latter, whether on the roadster or the road, makes the dosages a little difficult.

To definitively validate his attack skills, it will therefore be necessary to wait until the end of winter. To quote Frederic Berat: "When the sun comes back sweeter, when nature is green again, when the swallow is back", MNC will go back to Normandy to test the ground clearance, angle braking and other high speed stability of the 2012 ER-6f !

But we can already tell our readers that the new instrumentation of the ER-6f is very satisfactory: the speed is displayed in large, the needle tachometer is perfectly readable and the amount of distilled information is impressive.

Odometer, trip A or B, instantaneous or average consumption, remaining autonomy, fuel gauge, clock … All that is missing is the engine temperature and that of the air – even if it was perhaps better not to know the latter for morale! -, as well as a gear indicator engaged.

We note in passing that the two buttons on the dashboard differ from those of the ER-6n and are particularly convenient: you scroll through the information without removing your big mittens !

The practical radius still, the small road 2012 embarks, exactly like the roadster with which it shares the rear part shorter than the models 2009, a small U or a disc lock. As for the same four hooks placed under the saddle and on the plate holder, they allow to consider the transport of a bag.

Much less practical, however: the little Kawette ignores the central stand, yet very useful, if only to lubricate the chain after miles in the rain. !

Finally, the ER-6f on which Site returned to Kawasaki France showed at the end of the 180 km ride an honest average consumption of 5.1 l / 100km, knowing that we did not constantly ensure to leave the witness "eco" on…

Thus, the 16-liter tank (0.5 liters more than on the 2009 model) offers a range of 300 km without forcing. A nice radius of action in perspective !

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