Kawasaki’s super commuter: The 2009 ER-6n

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The dotted white line during rush hour is something of a race track for California motorcyclists, who turn this unsanctioned extra lane into a wormhole to teleport into work. Some bikes are better on the line than others, of course. The best I’ve experienced lately: Kawasaki’s new ER-6n.

Narrow as Bruno’s hips, and just as entertaining to experience, this 650 cc naked is a first-class commuter – easily sashaying its way through the obstacle course of jutting mirrors and clueless cars. It’s a slim 30 inches from handlebar to handlebar, making the sometimes harrowing experience of lane splitting into an exercise that’s actually fun.

Being a parallel twin, rather than an inline four, the engine itself is narrower than a comparably sized sportbike. And having the 2-into-1 exhaust slung under the bike, instead of off to the side, also helps maintain its slim profile, while contributing to the bike’s easy handling with a low center of gravity.

Breaking out of traffic, I found the ER-6n to be just a tight little machine. It uses the same frame and engine as its sporty sib, the Ninja 650R, which makes it just as quick off the line and nimble in the canyons. Only in its ER-6n incarnation, the bike has lost most of its bodywork and is now sitting up straight to target more practically minded and newish riders.

Fuel economy was the main reason Kawasaki brought the ER-6n to the U.S. market. Last summer’s ever-escalating gas prices had the typically bigger-is-better-minded manufacturers searching their global product lineups for models that got decent mileage, like Yamaha, with its FZ6R. That led the Kawi brass to the 48-mpg ER-6n, which debuted in the more commuter-oriented European market in 2006 -- the same year Kawasaki introduced its more sportsmanlike Ninja 650R in the U.S.

Well, a lot has changed in the last year: The world’s almost collapsed, millions of Americans have lost their jobs and gas prices have returned from the stratosphere. But a bike like the ER-6n still has legs. It’s a bona fide butt-kicker and it’s reasonably priced. What’s not to love?

2009 Kawasaki ER-6n

Base price: $6,399

Powertrain: Fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, parallel twin, four valves per cylinder, six-speed

Displacement: 649 cc

Seat height: 29.7 inches

Curb weight: 450 pounds

Claimed MPG: 48

Road test MPG: 47 (based on 246 miles traveled)

-- Susan Carpenter

Photo credit: Kawasaki