18 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS JANUARY 7, 2004

ROAD TEST

Can the Z750 be all things to all people? ✪ KAWASAKI Z750 90% ✪ YAMAHA FZ6 FAZER 90% ✪ DUCATI MONSTER 800 82% ✪ KAWASAKI Z1000 86%

It promises big-bore power for 600 money, wrapped up in an easy-to-use package that bristles with attitude. Does that mean it’ll please everyone...or no one at all? BY MARC POTTER PICTURES HOWARD BOYLAN

K

and urban terrorists. With a price tag of only £5500 the Z750 has got a lot of people to please. It has got to be easy and unintimidating to ride, but still exciting when you want it to be; flexible in town but flickable down your favourite B-road; and also look good enough to draw a crowd. The Z750 is competing with musclebikes, commuters and

AWASASKI is trying to cover a lot of bases with the Z750. At one end of the scale the firm sees the naked 750cc roadster as novice-friendly enough to attract first-time big-bike buyers. But its aggressive styling and near-150mph performance is also designed to pull in back-road thrashers

OVERALL LENGTH: 2080mm

KAWASAKI Z750 £5490 otr

RAKE: 24.5°

SPECIFICATION:

FUEL: 40mpg, 18 litres, 160 miles

845mm

510mm

WEIGHT: 195kg (432lb) TRAIL: 104mm

OVER SEAT: 1820

HEIGHT: 1040mm

800mm WIDTH: 780mm

Available: January 2004, with 24 months’ unlimited mileage warranty, one year’s RAC cover Colours: Blue, red, black New for 2004: New model Insurance group: 13 (of 17) tbc Info: Kawasaki UK; 01628-851000

middleweight 600s, so we’ve pitched it against a variety of machines. First up is the current king of the all-rounder 600 class, the FZ6 Fazer. Next we paired it with the Ducati Monster 800, to see how it fares in the style stakes. And finally we put it up against its big brother, the Z1000. See how well it takes on allcomers over the next four pages...

Engine: Liquid-cooled 748cc (68.4x50.9mm), dohc, fourstroke in-line four. Fuel injection. Six gears. Chassis: Steel diamond frame Front suspension: 41mm telescopic forks Rear suspension: Single shock with rising rate linkage, adjustable for pre-load and rebound damping Tyres: Bridgestone BT012; 120/70x17 front, 180/55x17 rear Brakes: Tokico; 2 x 300mm front discs with two-piston sliding calipers, 220mm rear disc with single-piston caliper

WHEELBASE: 1425mm

PROS ● Strong usable motor ● Howling exhaust ● Quick steering ● Comfortable riding position CONS ● Unrefined suspension ● Lack of wind protection

90%

Is it a better all-rounder than a...

I

THE Z750 may have a 150cc advantage but the Fazer makes up for it in the bends

Fazer 600?

F you’re after a practical everyday middleweight bike, the Fazer is the one to beat. With an alloy beam frame, R6 motor and a sporty edge, the all-new Fazer has moved the budget 600 class forward. It is comfortable, quick and as happy on a Sunday thrash as it is commuting on Monday morning. Kawasaki has pulled the same trick it did with the ZX-636 – adding a few more cubes than the competition. The big-bore motor means the Z750 is able to pull harder than the Fazer, everywhere, all the time. Roll on the Fazer’s throttle from low speed in top and you’ll hear a rumble from the airbox but not much else. On the Z750 you’re met with instant drive.

From any gear, at any speed, you get usable punch. And as the revs rise the gruff exhaust note turns into a wail. The Z750’s sleeved-down Z1000 motor makes 94bhp at the back wheel compared to the Fazer’s 89bhp and makes it at lower revs. While the Fazer rider tap dances on the gearbox, the Z pilot can just use its bulging torque curve. Both bikes top out at over 140mph. But the Z750 lacks wind protection above 100mph. Keep the motor spinning and the Fazer will eat up A-roads. It’s relaxing too – the quiet motor combines with a half fairing that deflects most of the airflow. Turn on to a B-road and things change. Sitting over the front

wheel of the Z750 gives a feeling of weightlessness that belies its 186kg dry weight. It feels tiny, lithe and chuckable. Steering is light and on the quick side of neutral – the Z can be levered on to its side quickly. In slow and medium-speed turns it inspires confidence, helped by sticky Bridgestone BT012s. The unadjustable forks and pre-load and rebound adjustable rear shock soak up the bumps, but push hard in a bumpy corner and it will start to wallow and weave. Cornering is more cultured on the Fazer. Turn-in is slower, thanks to sports-touring BT020s and everything is more precise and measured. For fast road riding it is an excellent tool and

JANUARY 7, 2004 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 19

‘

With a price tag of £5500 the Kawasaki Z750 has got a lot of people to please

’

its suspension copes with bumps better than the Kawasaki’s. Underseat storage on the new FZ6 has been compromised, as the underseat exhausts limit available space. But the peg/bar arrangement offers all-day comfort on both bikes. If you want to cover a lot of miles at high speed, the Fazer is the bike for you. But the Z750’s zesty sense of fun and more useable power makes it extremely novice friendly.

DIGITAL display is very similar to Z750’s

HALF fairing and screen cosset the rider OVERALL LENGTH: 2095mm

YAMAHA FZ6 FAZER £5449 otr

SPECIFICATION:

RAKE: 25°

TRAIL: 97.5mm

720mm 850mm

470mm

WEIGHT: 187kg (411lb)

OVER SEAT: 1780mm

HEIGHT: 1215mm

FUEL: 48.4mpg, 19 litres, 200 miles

WIDTH: 750mm

Available: October 2003, with 24 months’ unlimited mileage warranty, one year’s RAC cover Colours: Silver, grey/blue and blue New for 2004: All-new model Insurance group: 12 (of 17) Info: 01932-358000

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 599cc (65.5 x 44.5mm), 16v dohc, 4-stroke in-line four. Fuel injection. Six gears Chassis: Cast aluminium twin beam Front suspension: 43mm forks Rear suspension: Single shock, adjustable for pre-load. Tyres: Front 120/70 x 17, rear 180/55 x 17 Brakes: 2 x 298mm front discs with two-piston calipers, 245mm rear disc with two-piston caliper

WHEELBASE: 1440mm PROS ● Supremely comfortable ● Confident and competent handling ● Strong and willing engine ● Good fuel economy CONS ● Less underseat storage than old model ● Budget brakes ● Notchy gear change at low revs

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90%

CONTINUES ON PAGE 20

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20 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS JANUARY 7, 2004

ROAD TEST FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Is it wilder than a...

DUCATI’S Monster overshadows the Z750 when it comes to cafe culture clout

NO fairing means great view of V-twin motor

DUCATI M800ie

“THE Monster 800 can be described in two words: Mechanical purity. It is the definitive naked bike and epitome of Italian style. But it’s not overly styled. Like many successful products it has spawned many imitations and generated cult status.”

KAWASAKI Z750

“THE Z750 is an aggressive and charismatic looking bike. It follows the look of the Z1000. The biggest visual loss is the double-barrelled exhausts used on the Z1000. But the sculpted tank and steep rear end accentuates the machine’s aggressive stance perfectly.”

V

ISIT Milan or Rome and you’ll see stacks of Ducati Monsters jostling with Vespas and Fiat 500s. But riders also spend a lot of time posing outside pavement cafes on this Italian style icon. From the clean naked looks and aircooled motor to the triangulated beauty of Ducati’s trademark trellis frame this is a bike to be seen on. The Z750 lacks the visual drama of the Monster. It might have a tailpiece and tank of origami creases and upswept curves, but it lacks the ‘look at me’ clout of the Duke. It’s a good-

Available: Now. 24 months’ unlimited mileage warranty, one year’s roadside recovery. Colours: Red, yellow New for 2004: Unchanged from previous year Insurance group: 14 (of 17) Info: Ducati UK, 08451222996

the traffic, the Z750 is in its element. With suspension that soaks up bumps at low speed, light controls and a headup riding position the Kawasaki makes the Monster seem agricultural. Gear selection is crucial on the Ducati – load the engine with less than 3000rpm showing and it’ll shake like a Massey Ferguson. Combined with a lack of steering lock it means the Kawasaki is more useful within the city limits. If you want crowd pulling power then it has to be the Monster. The Z750 gets pushed into the shadows but it makes a better town bike.

OVERALL LENGTH:2100mm

DUCATI M800ie £5995 otr

RAKE:24°

835mm 455mm

WEIGHT: 179g (394lb)

OR an extra £2000 over the Z750, its big brother offers four shining exhaust cans, polished wheel rims, upside-down forks and an extra 24bhp at the back wheel. But is the gap between Kawasaki’s two siblings wide enough to make it worth parting with so much extra cash for the litre Z? We ran a Z750 and Z1000 head-tohead at Bruntingthorpe’s speed testing facility to find out. Side by side, the Z750 has fewer of the trinkets that shout performance. A highlevel 4-2-1 exhaust and wheels from the new ZX-10R is about as lairy as it gets. The flag drops and both bikes charge away from the line, front wheels waving and bars waggling all the way through first gear. The Z1000 starts to pull away and as second gear is engaged, the front lifts again. 60mph comes up in 3.02 seconds – that’s as quick as a GSX-R1000. Things are a bit more controlled on the 750, but not much slower. The slightly more docile power makes it easier to launch. It hits 60mph in 3.44 seconds, only just off the pace of the 1000. As the speed builds and the riders tuck down flat on the tank to take advantage of what little wind protection there is, the gap begins to widen, but it’s still close enough that a missed shift could tip the balance. 100mph comes up in 6.02

SPECIFICATION:

FUEL: 48mpg, 15 litres, 160 miles

855mm

F

BREMBO brakes are more than up to the job

looking bike, but without the trick suspension and Buck Rogers pipework of the Z1000, the Z750 is overshadowed. Outside a local cafe, it’s the Monster that people look at. Ducati was recently voted as one of the coolest brands ever among the non-riding public. Cruising through town, it’s the blood red paintwork and the low rev throb of the Ducati that turns heads, but the Kawasaki is the bike of choice when it comes to riding. Around town it is simply superb. Short shifting and using the wide bars to flick the bike in between

HEIGHT: 1020mm

WE spoke to renowned designer Martin Longmore, whose creations include the Audi TT and the latest Aprilia Mille, to find out what he thinks about Ducati’s style icon versus the new Kawasaki Z750:

TWIN analogue clocks look right on the Duke

WIDTH: 750mm

DESIGNER’S OPINION

Ducati Monster 800?

OVER SEAT: 1770mm

Has it got the kerb appeal of a...

Engine: Four-stroke 803cc (88 x 66mm) 4v V-twin. Fuel injection. Six gears Chassis: Steel trellis Front suspension: 43mm inverted forks Rear suspension: Single shock with progressive linkage, adjustable for pre-load only Tyres: 120/70x17 front, 160/60x17 rear Brakes: 2 x 320mm front discs with four-piston calipers, 245mm rear disc with two-piston caliper

TRAIL: 94mm WHEELBASE: 1440mm PROS ● Style in spades ● Low seat height ● Unintimidating riding position ● Sounds like a ‘proper’ Ducati... CONS ● Lacks the power of the other bikes ● Vibes at low revs mean that it is difficult in town ● More costly

82%

CIRCULAR digital dash started out on ZX-6R and is now on Z750 and Z1000

JANUARY 7, 2004 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 21

CONTINUES ON PAGE 23

Z1000?

‘

The Z750 is easier to ride quickly on the road than its big brother

’

POLISHED rims and four exit pipes (right) give the Z1000 more of a presence on the street than the Z750 seconds on the 1000, 7.28 on the 750, making the 750 just 1.26 seconds slower to the three figures. Above 120mph the sheer power of the Z1000 shows. It howls through the quarter mile in 10.8 seconds, while the 750 takes 11.6, at which point it is travelling 9mph slower. Top speeds on naked bikes like these aren’t very relevant, unless you’re built like the Terminator, but they do highlight just how close the 750 and the 1000 are. The Z750 hits a genuine 145mph, while the 1000 sees 155mph – not a huge difference on naked bikes that offer very little wind protection. The difference is slightly more

noticeable on the road. The Z1000 has massive roll-on power, which understandably the smaller capacity bike can’t live with. But the 750’s spoton gearing means that snappy acceleration is always on tap. The Z750 is easier to ride quickly on the road. The power of the 1000 motor overwhelms the short but softly sprung chassis on bumpy roads. The big Z shakes its head and wobbles and weaves when pushed hard, especially on standard suspension settings. The Z750 doesn’t offer the massive torque that lifts the front wheel in the lower gears on the 1000. It’s still exciting to ride, but never scary. The OVERALL LENGTH: 2080mm

KAWASAKI Z1000 £7390 otr

SPECIFICATION:

RAKE: 24°

HEIGHT: 1055mm

FUEL: 32mpg, 18 litres, 125 miles 800mm 830mm

500mm

WEIGHT: 198kg (437lb)

OVER SEAT: 1840mm

WIDTH: 770mm

Available: Now. 24 months’ unlimited mileage warranty, one year’s RAC membership Colours: Green, orange, black New for 2004: Unchanged from previous year Insurance group: 16 (of 17) Info: Kawasaki UK; 01628851000

steering on the 750 is lighter and more accurate too, especially at low speeds. The budget brakes on the Z750 help it stop quicker than the four-pots on the Z1000. The sliding calipers lack initial bite, but pull on them hard and the Z750 will stand on its nose as easily as anything. The 750 pulls up from 70mph five feet sooner than a Z1000. The Z750 may lack the insane rush of the Z1000, but for most of us the gap between the two is close enough to make shelling out an extra £2000 a really tough decision. ● Thanks to Planet Bikes for the loan of the Z1000. Contact: 0116-244-2000.

Engine: Liquid-cooled 955cc (79 x 65mm) 16v dohc four-stroke four. Fuel injection. Six gears Chassis: Steel diamond frame Front suspension: 41mm inverted forks, adjustable for pre-load and rebound damping Rear suspension: Single shock with rising rate linkage, adjustable for pre-load only Tyres: 120/70 x 17 front, 190/60 x 17 rear Brakes: 2 x 300mm front discs with four-piston calipers, 245mm rear disc with two-piston caliper

TRAIL: 101mm WHEELBASE: 1420mm PROS ● Mad, mad power ● Bags of low-down grunt ● Looks hard as nails ● Good around town CONS ● Back roads can tie it in knots ● Brakes could be better ● Can scare as easily as thrill

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QUAD pipes add to the Z1000’s streetfighter look

1000 doesn’t offer amy more to tuck behind at speed

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22 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS JANUARY 7, 2004

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JANUARY 7, 2004 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS 23

ROAD TEST FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

PERFORMANCE TOP SPEED MORE power and a tiny frontal area means the Z750 beats the Fazer though the rider has to lie flat on the tank. The Z1000’s extra bhp means it rules the runway.

Z750

144.83mph

21.30sec

140.85mph

FZ6

21.50sec 154.65mph

Z1000

19.00sec

129.02mph

M800

22.50sec

Time to reach top speed

Top speed

STANDING QUARTER-MILE ACCELERATION THE FZ6 pips the Z750, but it’s close. The M800 puts up a fair fight thanks to snappy gearing, but the Z1000 stomps on everything in sight.

Z750

123.83mph

11.65sec

122.79mph

FZ6

11.60sec

132.58mph

Z1000

10.80sec 12.20 sec

115.190mph

M800

Time to cover 1/4-mile

Terminal speed

BRAKING FROM 70-0MPH THE Z750’s brakes don’t have the best feel, but the lack of bite encourages you to tug harder and they work. The heavier Z1000 struggles, while the FZ6 is last. The old bike’s four pots were much better.

Z750

46.67m

3.06sec

50.58m

FZ6

3.26sec

48.36m

Z1000

3.12sec

49.54m

M800

3.25sec

Time taken

Distance covered

TOP GEAR ROLL-ON ACCELERATION FROM 40-120MPH THE sheer torque of the Z1000 means it beats everything else easily. The Z750’s good poke lets it pull away from the Fazer a little, though it’s a fairly close match. The M800 holds on reasonably well to the four-cylinder bikes - demonstrating its flexibility on the road.

SPEED (MPH) 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

TIME (SEC) 0 1.75 3.35 5.10 6.90 8.70 10.65 12.70 15.25

Z750

DISTANCE (M) 0 35.12 74.50 125.40 185.89 254.34 337.26 433.54 564.91

TIME (SEC) 0 1.75 3.50 5.35 7.40 9.25 11.30 13.45 15.75

FZ6

DISTANCE (M) 0 35.01 78.01 131.81 200.57 270.88 358.08 458.98 577.30

TIME (SEC) 0 1.45 2.80 4.25 5.80 7.35 8.85 10.30 11.85

Z1000

DISTANCE (M) 0 29.12 62.23 104.26 156.20 215.07 278.83 346.97 426.84

TIME (SEC) 0 1.80 3.70 5.60 7.55 9.65 11.80 14.50 18.40

M800

DISTANCE (M) 0 36.14 82.94 138.16 203.69 283.55 374.90 501.93 703.01

ACCELERATION THROUGH THE GEARS THE sheer power and torque of the Z1000 means it is in a different league here. It blasted away from the other bikes. It reaches 140mph a massive five seconds faster than any of the opposition. The Z750 and the Fazer are almost neck and neck all the way. The docile Fazer is easiest to launch quicker, but as speeds build, the Z750 comes into its own. The Monster is left stranded. It’s way down on power and just can’t compete.

SPEED (MPH) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140

TIME (SEC) 0.89 1.37 1.90 2.39 2.90 3.44 4.27 5.05 6.15 7.28 8.78 10.85 13.31 17.56

Z750

DISTANCE (M) 4.64 4.84 10.81 18.39 28.74 41.87 66.28 92.37 134.19 182.02 252.50 359.72 497.39 754.32

TIME (SEC) 0.77 1.26 1.75 2.26 2.86 3.47 4.19 5.11 6.09 7.27 8.82 10.72 13.86 20.66

FZ6

Z1000

DISTANCE (M) 1.48 4.61 10.25 18.23 30.14 45.35 66.26 97.26 134.779 184.73 257.58 355.91 531.59 943.87

TIME (SEC) 0.55 1.01 1.50 1.98 2.50 3.03 3.70 4.26 5.15 6.02 7.15 8.58 10.21 12.55

DISTANCE (M) 1.11 4.18 9.68 17.23 27.58 40.720 60.39 80.32 112.96 149.74 203.14 276.63 367.90 509.22

TIME (SEC) 0.86 1.41 1.89 2.45 3.02 3.81 4.64 5.63 6.84 8.45 10.45 13.74

M800

DISTANCE (M) 1.68 5.35 10.66 19.54 30.98 50.48 74.53 107.74 153.91 222.32 316.76 485.97

POWER AND TORQUE CURVES

120

THE Z1000 shows its true power here – although it seems to be masked by tall gearing. The Z750 beats the Fazer everywhere and has the flattest torque curve of the lot. The Ducati is torquey but fades early on.

100

Kawasaki Z1000 Ducati Monster 800 Kawasaki Z750 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer

80

PEAK POWER

PEAK TORQUE

- 118.2bhp @ 10,000rpm - 65.5ftlb @ 7600rpm - 69.2bhp @ 8000rpm - 47.9ftlb @ 6250rpm - 94.6bhp @ 10,250rpm - 48.8ftlb @ 8000rpm - 89.9bhp @ 11,500rpm - 41.9ftlb @ 9600rpm

60

nothing but bike insurance

40 bhp/ ftlb 20 0

RPM

2000

4000

6000

8000

10,000

12,000

14,000

THE FINAL VERDICT BUILDING a bike that is docile enough for first-time big-bike buyers while offering the thrill that more experienced riders crave is no easy task, but Kawasaki has just about pulled it off with the Z750. It’s more fun and easier to ride than the FZ6 Fazer, the king of the 600 all-rounders. With better wind

protection it would romp away with middleweight class honours. It has also got top town manners – thanks to decent low-speed handling and a tractable motor. The Z750 is not a bad looking bike, either. But just doesn’t quite have the crowd pulling power of Ducati’s stylish Monster.

The Z1000 has more shiny metal on show and bags of attitude. But while the 750 is a little slower, its power is easier to exploit. With an on the road price of just £5500, the Z750 is set to be the bargain buy of 2004. For that you get supersports performance in a good-looking, easy-to-use package.

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