Now that it’s July, we’re well into the second half of 2022. That also means that bike makers are rolling out their 2023 model announcements. Typically, we start hearing about new color options for 2023 vehicles like the BMW this time of year, as well as updates to existing models that come with “Bold New Graphics,” which are always a hit with consumers.
Naturally, new models and upgraded versions of existing models pique our curiosity the most. According to MO’s findings, Kawasaki’s Ninja 650 and Z650 will both receive revisions for the year 2023.
The Ninja 650 and Z650 weren’t on Kawasaki’s initial list of VINs for the 2023 model year that was submitted to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, so we knew something wasn’t right. Since it’s a simple affair to resubmit the data from the previous model year, the earliest versions of these lists typically consist of models that are returning unmodified, just like the first wave of model announcements. Considering that the Z650RS was included in the lineup for the 2023 model year, its omission was revealing.
Certification data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board reveals that the Z650 and Ninja 650 will now have the same engines and exhaust as the revised Versys 650.
All three bikes use the same 649cc liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC eight-valve Parallel-Twin engine, which has a bore and stroke of 83 mm and 60 mm respectively for each of the three variants. These two vehicles may look similar, but for the past ten years, the Versys 650 has been powered by a slightly different engine. All three 650 models were jointly certified in 2010 and 2011, sharing the same emissions data. Things changed in 2012 when Kawasaki refreshed the Ninja 650 and the ER-6n, which served as the Z650’s forerunner. The Versys, however, did not receive these revisions and maintained its existing emissions certification.
As time went on, Kawasaki proceeded to make other engine variants, including a tuned-for-torque version of the engine just for the Vulcan S, along with its own set of approvals. Kawasaki’s 650cc three-wheelers, the Ninja 650, Z650, and Versys 650, will all use the same engine calibration in 2023 thanks to a joint certification process. The Vulcan S will keep its unique take on the 649cc Twin, while the Z650RS will stick with the same settings they’ve always used.
What we learn from the updated certification paperwork is limited, though. One change is a decrease from 50 kilowatts (kW) to 49 kilowatts (kW) in the advertised horsepower output of the Z650 and Ninja 650, as certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (67.1 hp at 8000 rpm to 65.7 hp at 8500 rpm). Kawasaki is also likely to implement its two-mode traction control technology, first seen on the Versys 650, into the Ninja and Z650.
California Air Resources Board Executive Order and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certifications for the Ninja 650 and Z650 Use New Model Codes. The EX650PP and EX650RP models of the Ninja 650 will be available in 2023. (with separate codes for ABS and non-ABS versions). The ER650NP and ER650PP designations are also used for the 2023 Z650. Traditionally, the last letter of the model’s identification indicates the year it was produced; “P” would therefore indicate 2023.
There are two versions of the 2022 Ninja 650: one with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and one without; these go by the model numbers EX650MN and EX650NN, respectively. The 2022 Z650, meantime, has the ABS version designated ER650KN and the non-ABS version ER650LN. Again, the final letter indicates the model year; the “N” for 2022 is the standard.
Model year designations aside, the Ninja 650 has been sold under the EX650M and EX650N designations since 2020. Previously, it was known as the EX650J and EX650K. Similarly, the Z650 has been using the ER650K/ER650L designations since its last major revision in 2020. It had previously been known by the designations ER650G and ER650H.
This indicates that the Versys 650’s engine tuning will be only one of many upgrades. Style updates are also likely, with the Ninja perhaps adopting Kawasaki’s Versys’s pronounced chin spike below the headlamps. The Versys upgrade didn’t include selectable riding modes, so we don’t anticipate seeing them on the Z650 or Ninja 650, despite their desirability. Even if the emissions paperwork doesn’t reveal much, the chassis may also be updated.
We anticipate Kawasaki to unveil the upgraded 2023 Ninja 650 and Z650 at the major motorcycle events this fall, as it has in previous years.