Kawasaki is a powerhouse of the motorcycle industry, but it is not a brand that has built its reputation on luxury. It is a brand known for building some of the fastest production motorcycles in history. From the infamous Z1 to the supercharged Ninja H2, Kawasaki motorcycles are fast, pure, and simple.

Follow and Like top authors, topics, and trends

Browse with fewer ads across the site

Personalize your profile to showcase your activity

Get a content feed tailored to your interests

By creating an account, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive our newsletters; you can unsubscribe any time.

*Required: 8 chars, 1 capital letter, 1 number

While the Kawasaki we're about to discuss hits the nail on the head in its own way, there are some pretty good sub-$10,000 premium bikes in 2026. The base model Nightster offers premium levels of fit and finish, but is sparsely equipped in an effort to keep the price down. It still has a powerful liquid-cooled V-twin at its disposal and will not leave anyone disappointed in terms of performance.

Ducati, on the other hand, has been a luxury brand for literal decades. The Scrambler range was introduced to appeal to a younger audience some years ago and offers us a more accessible entry point. The Icon Dark, being the most accessible, offers the same premium feel as the rest of the Scrambler range, just with no frills or color. The price reduction in 2025 makes matters sweeter.

The Ducati Scrambler's cheapest "Icon" goes "Dark" for 2025.

Unlike the two bikes above, the Z650RS is not a budget offering. If you are looking for more value, then the base model Z650 might be a better bet. The RS model offers a tasteful reinterpretation of the KZ650 UJM, and impressive attention to detail. Aside from the modern underslung exhaust, the lines are more or less period correct, while everything underneath is from the 21st century. While there are more authentic retro models running around, we can scarcely think of a better-looking roadster.

One of the main reasons anyone would choose a retro bike over a genuine classic is the fact that you get a reliable modern engine. Few motorcycle engines are as proven as the Kawasaki 650 parallel-twin. It has been around for ages now and can be found on a wide variety of motorcycles. The Versys 650, in particular, is famed for being able to accumulate as many miles as any of the bigger, more expensive touring bikes.

Kawasaki claims that this is a “beginner-friendly” model, but this doesn’t sit particularly well with us. This is a relatively approachable parallel-twin compared to some of the other newer bikes on the market, but it is still a punchy little lump. Couple this with the fact that this is a pretty light motorcycle, and you have a bike that will, quite frankly, be a bit much for less experienced riders. There are also several better retro options on the market for new riders.

We take a closer look at what makes the Kawasaki Z650 such a great naked bike

As one might imagine, features are indeed kept to a bare minimum. But important things like ABS and traction control are present. We actually appreciate the fact that Kawasaki didn’t add a TFT dash like what other manufacturers are doing. We have no doubt it will be more expensive for Kawasaki to make these analog gauges than simply use the same dash the rest of the 650 range uses, but it would disrupt the lines and the cockpit.

At the end of the day, you won’t be just looking at the bike; you will be riding the thing, and the effort put into keeping the cockpit as close to period-correct as possible is noteworthy. Some manufacturers have tried to get around this by giving their bikes round TFTs, but the illusion falls apart as soon as you sit on the thing.

While the Bonneville might be the gold standard for retro bikes, this Honda offers something it simply can't

The front forks are rather clearly a budget-friendly inclusion, but the fact that they are conventional forks and not upside down certainly feels more authentic. While out of date, they are still more than adequate for a bike of this size, weight, and power output. The rear shock is also unremarkable, but its steel trellis chassis more than makes up for all the shortcomings of the suspension. In that regard, it is nothing like the old UJM, which were all infamous for getting out of shape in just about any high-speed corner. This is a sport bike chassis, after all, and it handles like a modern supersport.

All the controls are simple, yet feel high-quality. The riding position is neutral, and the seat is comfortable enough for longer rides. Everything you touch is well-made and clearly well-thought-out. The design of the bike is genuinely timeless, with clean lines everywhere you look. The tank, in particular, is slim like the bikes of yesteryear, yet still holds over 3 gallons of gas, which is more than enough for an efficient modern parallel-twin.

While it is a little more expensive than its direct rivals from Japan, it is a lot cheaper than any other retro bikes from premium brands. To the right buyer, this is a great deal, but it remains overlooked because of how it's priced. The Z900 is a high-performance motorcycle, and with only $1k separating the two, it is hard to ignore the value proposition. While the Z650RS offers a premium feel on a budget, it certainly isn’t cheap. There are several great options at this price point, and the roadster loses almost every spec-sheet battle.

Found an error? Send it info@www.topspeed.com so it can be corrected.

41mm telescopic fork (4.9-in travel)

Horizontal back-link with adjustable preload, swingarm (5.1-in travel)

Source: https://www.topspeed.com/kawasaki-delivers-premium-feel-on-budget/