| Every now and then I think that Kawasaki Heavy | | | | Â |
| Industries, the parent of the (relatively tiny) | | | | The seat is low and comfortable; ergonomics are |
| motorcycle division, has forgotten about its | | | | fine; the bike is light and nimble and thoroughly |
| smallest child. The brand seems to just be | | | | enjoyable on the tar and on moderate gravel. |
| marking time, or even giving ground. Remember | | | | Corrugations are not its friends, but apart from |
| when they attempted that partial model merger | | | | that the suspension is good. Fully adjustable levers |
| with Suzuki? It looked as though they'd just run | | | | are a bonus on a bike at this price. The pillion gets |
| out of steam. And them Momma remembers, | | | | a handy grab rail, and there are luggage hooks |
| and suddenly Kawasaki has the most innovative | | | | beneath the seat - it's a well thought-out package. |
| bikes on the block. It happened when they | | | | I'd have one of these, any time. |
| released the only turbo-charged motorcycle worth | | | | Looks like Momma's brand new handbag is going |
| buying - the GPz750 - and it's just happened again. | | | | to yield a few more designs based on this one, |
| The ER-6n might look like one of those tiny model | | | | too. I can't wait for the slick-looking |
| bikes you might find in a Kinder Surprise chocolate | | | | Multistrada-style Versys, for one. |
| egg, but so what? The bike's look is futuristic and | | | | Kawasaki ER-6n |
| highly successful. When it was launched a jury of | | | | Engine: 649cc, liquid-cooled, eight-valve, DOHC, |
| bike designers, journalists and racers actually | | | | four-stroke parallel twin |
| awarded this machine the crown of best-looking | | | | Bore and stroke: 83 x 60mm |
| naked bike. | | | | Compression: 11.3:1 |
| Â | | | | Fuel system: electronic fuel injection |
| That said, the bike is not conventionally | | | | Power: 72bhp at 8500rpm |
| good-looking. But it is the kind of machine that will | | | | Torque: 66Nm at 7000rpm |
| get people's pulses racing, and get them to | | | | Transmission: six-speed |
| consider buying a bike when they might not have | | | | Frame: tubular steel diamond |
| considered it before. | | | | Front brake: twin 300mm discs with twin-piston |
| If this sounds as though I really like this bike that's | | | | callipers |
| quite correct. Provided you like the Kinder Surprise | | | | Rear brake: single 220mm disc with single-piston |
| design (and I do), you will find little to criticise on | | | | calliper |
| the ER-6n. Well, except for the mirrors. They're | | | | Front suspension: 41mm telescopic fork, |
| huge, actually intruding on your forward field of | | | | non-adjustable |
| view, but they offer a view of very little except | | | | Rear suspension: link monoshock, adjustable for |
| your shoulders. Buy the bike, replace the mirrors. | | | | preload and rebound |
| Radical designs like this are sometimes impractical, | | | | Tyres: 120/70ZR17 front, 160/60ZR17 rear |
| but not this time. You'd be hard put to find | | | | Seat height: 785mm |
| anything apart from those mirrors that doesn't | | | | Wheelbase: 1405mm |
| work really well on the ER-6n. Well, apart from | | | | Claimed dry weight: 174kg |
| the lack of a main stand, ruled out by the trick | | | | Fuel tank: 15. |
| under-bike exhaust. | | | | |