Today’s neo-retro category stretches in two distinct directions. At one end, you have oil cooler-concealing, carburetor-imitating, faithful recreations like Triumph’s Bonneville line. Then there are the tech-savvy, modern naked bikes dressed up in vintage clothing. Various unique blends of form and function define these throwbacks, but some lean further to one side of the modern-classic dichotomy.
The 2022 Kawasaki Z650RS isn’t one of those examples, however, preferring to meet riders at the middle of the neo-retro crossroads. The liquid-cooled, DOHC, 649cc parallel-twin is the product of modernity, but the lack of electronic rider aids calls back to the good old days. Similarly, the gold-painted, spoke-style cast wheelset, analog/LCD instrument cluster, and round LED headlight merge contemporary convenience with period-correct cosmetics.
