/ News
Kawasaki updates Ninja 650 and Z650 with traction control
Team Green’s middleweight models now get traction control with two available modes.
Kawasaki has given two of its middleweight motorcycles a significant update. The Ninja 650 and Z650 have both received a traction control system as well as new color options for the 2023 model year. It’s currently not clear when these updated models will be launched in the Philippines, if at all.
Although this new feature is definitely a win for any Ninja 650 or Z650 fan, the unit these bikes come with is a fairly rudimentary Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) system. It uses wheel-speed sensors to gather data, with no IMU-enabled lean-sensitive functionality whatsoever. If we had to guess, this unit is likely similar or the same one fitted on the recently launched Versys 650.
The traction control system here features two modes, with Level 1 offering gentle rider intervention that allows for some slippage before activation, and Level 2 providing earlier intervention in low-grip conditions. There is technically a third mode, too, which turns the system off completely.
Traction control isn’t the only thing that’s new for 2023, as both the Ninja 650 and Z650 also get new color options. The former gets three new colorways while the latter gets two. Mechanically, however, things stay exactly the same for these bikes. Both pack a 649cc parallel-twin engine that punches out 68 hp at 8,000 RPM and 64 Nm of torque at 6,700 RPM. It also has the same suspension and braking systems, so the ride quality is expected to be the same as the previous model.
The Kawasaki Ninja 650 is still available in the Philippines for P433,500, with the Z650 also available for slightly lower at P415,000. As previously mentioned, we still don’t know if the new models are coming to our shores anytime soon. These existing models should sate most buyers’ need for a highly capable middleweight performer.
Tagged Under
Related Articles
-
2026 Kawasaki Z650 S gets more aggressive styling and premium tech / News
The 2026 Kawasaki Z650 S adds new styling, updated tech, and the same dependable 649cc engine loved by middleweight riders worldwide.
-
Kawasaki Z1100 SE revealed with more power, more tech, and sharper styling / News
Kawasaki’s 2026 Z1100 SE supernaked makes 134hp from a new 1,099cc engine, adds IMU-assisted safety tech, and features Öhlins and Brembo hardware.
-
Check out Kawasaki’s 2024 Ninja ZX-10RR Winter Test Edition / News
Kawasaki has unveiled the 2024 Ninja ZX-10RR Winter Test Edition in Europe.
-
Kawasaki Z650RS to get traction control for 2024 model-year / News
Kawasaki has launched the 2024 Z650RS in the global market with a new traction control system for added safety.
-
Kawasaki Ninja 7 unveiled as Team Green's first hybrid-electric model / News
Kawasaki has entered the hybrid market with the launch of the Ninja 7, a sportbike powered by both a parallel-twin engine and an electric motor.
Latest News
-
2026 Kawasaki Z650 S gets more aggressive styling and premium tech / News
The 2026 Kawasaki Z650 S adds new styling, updated tech, and the same dependable 649cc engine loved by middleweight riders worldwide.
-
The 2026 Yamaha R7 has been updated with a smarter CP2 engine and modern tech / News
The 2026 Yamaha R7 gets a Euro 5+ compliant CP2 engine with new electronics and modern tech, expected to arrive in the Philippines after its EICMA debut.
-
Vespa updates the Primavera and Sprint S ahead of its 80th anniversary / News
New brakes, wheels, electronics, and a special Verde Pastello series lead the brand into 2026.