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18 MOTOR CYCLE NEWS JANUARY 7, 2004

ROAD TEST

Can the Z750 be all


✪ KAWASAKI Z750 90% ✪ YAMAHA FZ6 FAZER 90% ✪ DUCATI MONSTER 800 82% ✪ KAWASAKI Z1000 86%

things to all people?


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
AWASASKI is and urban terrorists. middleweight 600s, so we’ve
trying to cover a With a price tag of only pitched it against a variety of
lot of bases with £5500 the Z750 has got a lot machines.
the Z750. At one of people to please. It has got First up is the current king of
end of the scale to be easy and unintimidating the all-rounder 600 class, the
the firm sees the to ride, but still exciting when FZ6 Fazer. Next we paired it
naked 750cc roadster as you want it to be; flexible in with the Ducati Monster 800,
novice-friendly enough to town but flickable down your to see how it fares in the style
attract first-time big-bike favourite B-road; and also stakes. And finally we put it
buyers. But its aggressive look good enough to draw a up against its big brother, the
styling and near-150mph crowd. Z1000. See how well it takes
performance is also designed The Z750 is competing with on allcomers over the next
to pull in back-road thrashers musclebikes, commuters and four pages...

OVERALL LENGTH: 2080mm


KAWASAKI SPECIFICATION:
Engine: Liquid-cooled 748cc
Z750 RAKE: 24.5° (68.4x50.9mm), dohc, four-
£5490 otr FUEL: 40mpg, 18 litres, 160 miles stroke in-line four. Fuel
Available: January injection. Six gears.
2004, with 24 800mm Chassis: Steel diamond frame
months’ unlimited Front suspension: 41mm
HEIGHT: 1040mm

telescopic forks
WIDTH: 780mm

mileage warranty, one 845mm Rear suspension: Single


year’s RAC cover 510mm shock with rising rate linkage,
Colours: Blue, red, adjustable for pre-load and
black rebound damping
OVER SEAT: 1820

New for 2004: Tyres: Bridgestone BT012;


120/70x17 front, 180/55x17
New model rear
Insurance group: Brakes: Tokico; 2 x 300mm
13 (of 17) tbc WEIGHT: 195kg (432lb) front discs with two-piston
Info: Kawasaki UK; TRAIL: 104mm
sliding calipers, 220mm rear
01628-851000 disc with single-piston caliper
WHEELBASE: 1425mm

90%
PROS ● Strong usable motor ● Howling exhaust ● Quick steering ● Comfortable riding position
CONS ● Unrefined suspension ● Lack of wind protection

Fazer 600?
Is it a better
all-rounder
than a...
I
F you’re after a practical From any gear, at any speed, you wheel of the Z750 gives a
everyday middleweight bike, get usable punch. And as the feeling of weightlessness that
the Fazer is the one to beat. revs rise the gruff exhaust note belies its 186kg dry weight. It
With an alloy beam frame, R6 turns into a wail. feels tiny, lithe and chuckable.
motor and a sporty edge, the The Z750’s sleeved-down Steering is light and on the
all-new Fazer has moved the Z1000 motor makes 94bhp at quick side of neutral – the Z can
budget 600 class forward. the back wheel compared to the be levered on to its side quickly.
It is comfortable, quick and as Fazer’s 89bhp and makes it at In slow and medium-speed
happy on a Sunday thrash as it is lower revs. While the Fazer rider turns it inspires confidence,
commuting on Monday morning. tap dances on the gearbox, the helped by sticky Bridgestone
Kawasaki has pulled the same Z pilot can just use its bulging BT012s. The unadjustable forks
trick it did with the ZX-636 – torque curve. and pre-load and rebound
adding a few more cubes than Both bikes top out at over adjustable rear shock soak up
the competition. The big-bore 140mph. But the Z750 lacks the bumps, but push hard in a
motor means the Z750 is able wind protection above 100mph. bumpy corner and it will start to
to pull harder than the Fazer, Keep the motor spinning and wallow and weave.
everywhere, all the time. the Fazer will eat up A-roads. It’s Cornering is more cultured on
Roll on the Fazer’s throttle relaxing too – the quiet motor the Fazer. Turn-in is slower,
from low speed in top and you’ll combines with a half fairing that thanks to sports-touring BT020s
THE Z750 may have a 150cc hear a rumble from the airbox deflects most of the airflow. and everything is more precise
advantage but the Fazer makes but not much else. On the Z750 Turn on to a B-road and things and measured. For fast road
up for it in the bends you’re met with instant drive. change. Sitting over the front 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. DIGITAL display is very
Underseat storage on the new similar to Z750’s
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
nothing but
bike insurance
the bike for you. But the Z750’s
zesty sense of fun and more
useable power makes it extremely
novice friendly. HALF fairing and screen cosset the rider
OVERALL LENGTH: 2095mm
YAMAHA FZ6 RAKE: 25°
SPECIFICATION:
FAZER Engine: Liquid-cooled, 599cc
(65.5 x 44.5mm), 16v dohc,
£5449 otr FUEL: 48.4mpg, 19 litres, 200 miles
4-stroke in-line four. Fuel injection.
Available: October 2003, Six gears
HEIGHT: 1215mm

with 24 months’ unlimited 720mm Chassis: Cast aluminium twin beam


mileage warranty, one year’s Front suspension: 43mm forks
WIDTH: 750mm

OVER SEAT: 1780mm

RAC cover Rear suspension: Single shock,


850mm 470mm adjustable for pre-load.
Colours: Silver, grey/blue and Tyres: Front 120/70 x 17,

0800 056 3843


blue rear 180/55 x 17
New for 2004: All-new Brakes: 2 x 298mm front discs
model with two-piston calipers, 245mm
Insurance group: 12 (of 17) rear disc with two-piston caliper
Info: 01932-358000 WEIGHT: 187kg (411lb)
TRAIL: 97.5mm
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 90% quote ref: 3808
open 7 days a week
CONTINUES ON PAGE 20 Regulated by The General Insurance Standards Council
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

Has it got the


kerb appeal of a... Ducati Monster 800? F
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-to-
head at Bruntingthorpe’s speed testing
facility to find out.
Side by side, the Z750 has fewer of the
trinkets that shout performance. A high-
level 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
NO fairing means great view of V-twin motor TWIN analogue clocks look right on the Duke BREMBO brakes are more than up to the job away from the line, front wheels waving
and bars waggling all the way through first

V
ISIT Milan or Rome and you’ll see looking bike, but without the trick the traffic, the Z750 is in its element. gear. The Z1000 starts to pull away and as
DESIGNER’S stacks of Ducati Monsters jostling suspension and Buck Rogers pipework With suspension that soaks up bumps second gear is engaged, the front lifts
OPINION with Vespas and Fiat 500s. But
riders also spend a lot of time posing
of the Z1000, the Z750 is
overshadowed.
at low speed, light controls and a head-
up riding position the Kawasaki makes
again. 60mph comes up in 3.02 seconds
– that’s as quick as a GSX-R1000.
WE spoke to renowned designer outside pavement cafes on this Italian Outside a local cafe, it’s the Monster the Monster seem agricultural. Gear Things are a bit more controlled on the
Martin Longmore, whose creations style icon. that people look at. Ducati was recently selection is crucial on the Ducati – load 750, but not much slower. The slightly
include the Audi TT and the latest From the clean naked looks and air- voted as one of the coolest brands ever the engine with less than 3000rpm more docile power makes it easier to
Aprilia Mille, to find out what he cooled motor to the triangulated beauty among the non-riding public. showing and it’ll shake like a Massey launch. It hits 60mph in 3.44 seconds,
thinks about Ducati’s style icon of Ducati’s trademark trellis frame this is Cruising through town, it’s the blood Ferguson. Combined with a lack of only just off the pace of the 1000.
versus the new Kawasaki Z750: a bike to be seen on. red paintwork and the low rev throb of steering lock it means the Kawasaki is As the speed builds and the riders tuck
The Z750 lacks the visual drama of the Ducati that turns heads, but the more useful within the city limits. down flat on the tank to take advantage of
DUCATI M800ie the Monster. It might have a tailpiece Kawasaki is the bike of choice when it If you want crowd pulling power then it what little wind protection there is, the
“THE Monster 800 can be and tank of origami creases and comes to riding. Around town it is simply has to be the Monster. The Z750 gets gap begins to widen, but it’s still close
described in two words: upswept curves, but it lacks the ‘look at superb. Short shifting and using the pushed into the shadows but it makes a enough that a missed shift could tip the
Mechanical purity. It is the me’ clout of the Duke. It’s a good- wide bars to flick the bike in between better town bike. balance. 100mph comes up in 6.02
definitive naked bike and epitome
of Italian style. But it’s not overly
styled. Like many successful OVERALL LENGTH:2100mm
DUCATI M800ie SPECIFICATION:
products it has spawned many Engine: Four-stroke 803cc (88 x
£5995 otr RAKE:24°
FUEL: 48mpg, 15 litres, 160 miles 66mm) 4v V-twin. Fuel injection.
imitations and generated cult Available: Now. 24 months’ Six gears
status.” unlimited mileage warranty, Chassis: Steel trellis
HEIGHT: 1020mm

835mm
one year’s roadside recovery. Front suspension: 43mm inverted
OVER SEAT: 1770mm

Colours: Red, yellow forks


WIDTH: 750mm

455mm
KAWASAKI Z750 New for 2004: Unchanged 855mm Rear suspension: Single shock
with progressive linkage, adjustable
“THE Z750 is an aggressive and from previous year for pre-load only
charismatic looking bike. It follows Insurance group: 14 (of 17) Tyres: 120/70x17 front, 160/60x17
Info: Ducati UK, 0845- rear
the look of the Z1000. The biggest 1222996 Brakes: 2 x 320mm front discs
visual loss is the double-barrelled with four-piston calipers, 245mm
WEIGHT: 179g (394lb) rear disc with two-piston caliper
exhausts used on the Z1000. But
TRAIL: 94mm
the sculpted tank and steep rear
end accentuates the machine’s WHEELBASE: 1440mm

82%
PROS ● Style in spades ● Low seat height ● Unintimidating riding position ● Sounds like a ‘proper’ Ducati...
aggressive stance perfectly.” CIRCULAR digital dash started out on
CONS ● Lacks the power of the other bikes ● Vibes at low revs mean that it is difficult in town ● More costly
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 noticeable on the road. The Z1000 has steering on the 750 is lighter and more
750, making the 750 just 1.26 seconds massive roll-on power, which accurate too, especially at low speeds.
slower to the three figures. understandably the smaller capacity The budget brakes on the Z750 help
Above 120mph the sheer power of bike can’t live with. But the 750’s spot- it stop quicker than the four-pots on
the Z1000 shows. It howls through the on gearing means that snappy the Z1000. The sliding calipers lack
quarter mile in 10.8 seconds, while the acceleration is always on tap. initial bite, but pull on them hard and
750 takes 11.6, at which point it is The Z750 is easier to ride quickly on the Z750 will stand on its nose as
travelling 9mph slower. the road. The power of the 1000 motor easily as anything. The 750 pulls up
Top speeds on naked bikes like these overwhelms the short but softly sprung from 70mph five feet sooner than a
aren’t very relevant, unless you’re built chassis on bumpy roads. The big Z Z1000.
like the Terminator, but they do shakes its head and wobbles and The Z750 may lack the insane rush
highlight just how close the 750 and weaves when pushed hard, especially of the Z1000, but for most of us the
the 1000 are. The Z750 hits a genuine on standard suspension settings. gap between the two is close enough
145mph, while the 1000 sees 155mph The Z750 doesn’t offer the massive to make shelling out an extra £2000 a
– not a huge difference on naked bikes torque that lifts the front wheel in the really tough decision.
that offer very little wind protection. lower gears on the 1000. It’s still ● Thanks to Planet Bikes for the loan of
The difference is slightly more exciting to ride, but never scary. The the Z1000. Contact: 0116-244-2000.

OVERALL LENGTH: 2080mm


KAWASAKI SPECIFICATION:
Z1000 RAKE: 24° Engine: Liquid-cooled 955cc (79 x
£7390 otr FUEL: 32mpg, 18 litres, 125 miles 65mm) 16v dohc four-stroke four.
Fuel injection. Six gears
Available: Now. 24 months’ Chassis: Steel diamond frame
unlimited mileage warranty,
HEIGHT: 1055mm

800mm Front suspension: 41mm inverted


one year’s RAC membership forks, adjustable for pre-load and
Colours: Green, orange, black rebound damping
OVER SEAT: 1840mm

830mm
WIDTH: 770mm

nothing but
500mm Rear suspension: Single shock with
New for 2004: Unchanged
rising rate linkage, adjustable for
from previous year pre-load only
Insurance group: 16 (of 17) Tyres: 120/70 x 17 front, 190/60 x
Info: Kawasaki UK; 01628- 17 rear

bike insurance
851000 Brakes: 2 x 300mm front discs with
four-piston calipers, 245mm rear
WEIGHT: 198kg (437lb) disc with two-piston caliper
TRAIL: 101mm
WHEELBASE: 1420mm

86%
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

0800 056 3843


quote ref: 3808
QUAD pipes add to the Z1000’s streetfighter look 1000 doesn’t offer amy more to tuck behind at speed
open 7 days a week
Regulated by The General Insurance Standards Council
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 Z750 144.83mph 21.30sec
frontal area means the
Z750 beats the Fazer FZ6 140.85mph 21.50sec
though the rider has to lie
Z1000 154.65mph 19.00sec
flat on the tank. The
Z1000’s extra bhp means M800 129.02mph 22.50sec
it rules the runway.
Top speed Time to reach top speed

STANDING QUARTER-MILE ACCELERATION


THE FZ6 pips the Z750, Z750 123.83mph 11.65sec
but it’s close. The M800
FZ6 122.79mph 11.60sec
puts up a fair fight thanks
to snappy gearing, but the Z1000 132.58mph 10.80sec
Z1000 stomps on
everything in sight. M800 115.190mph 12.20 sec
Terminal speed Time to cover 1/4-mile

BRAKING FROM 70-0MPH


THE Z750’s brakes don’t Z750 46.67m 3.06sec
have the best feel, but the
lack of bite encourages FZ6 50.58m 3.26sec
you to tug harder and they Z1000 48.36m 3.12sec
work. The heavier Z1000
struggles, while the FZ6 is M800 49.54m 3.25sec
last. The old bike’s four
Distance covered Time taken
pots were much better.

TOP GEAR ROLL-ON ACCELERATION FROM 40-120MPH


Z750 FZ6 Z1000 M800
THE sheer torque of the Z1000 SPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE
means it beats everything else easily. (MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)
The Z750’s good poke lets it pull away 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
from the Fazer a little, though it’s a 50 1.75 35.12 1.75 35.01 1.45 29.12 1.80 36.14
fairly close match. The M800 holds on 60 3.35 74.50 3.50 78.01 2.80 62.23 3.70 82.94
reasonably well to the four-cylinder 70 5.10 125.40 5.35 131.81 4.25 104.26 5.60 138.16
bikes - demonstrating its flexibility on 80 6.90 185.89 7.40 200.57 5.80 156.20 7.55 203.69
the road. 90 8.70 254.34 9.25 270.88 7.35 215.07 9.65 283.55
100 10.65 337.26 11.30 358.08 8.85 278.83 11.80 374.90
110 12.70 433.54 13.45 458.98 10.30 346.97 14.50 501.93
120 15.25 564.91 15.75 577.30 11.85 426.84 18.40 703.01

ACCELERATION THROUGH THE GEARS


Z750 FZ6 Z1000 M800
THE sheer power and torque of the SPEED TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE TIME DISTANCE
Z1000 means it is in a different league (MPH) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M) (SEC) (M)
here. It blasted away from the other 10 0.89 4.64 0.77 1.48 0.55 1.11 0.86 1.68
bikes. It reaches 140mph a massive 20 1.37 4.84 1.26 4.61 1.01 4.18 1.41 5.35
five seconds faster than any of the 30 1.90 10.81 1.75 10.25 1.50 9.68 1.89 10.66
opposition. The Z750 and the Fazer 40 2.39 18.39 2.26 18.23 1.98 17.23 2.45 19.54
are almost neck and neck all the way. 50 2.90 28.74 2.86 30.14 2.50 27.58 3.02 30.98
The docile Fazer is easiest to launch 60 3.44 41.87 3.47 45.35 3.03 40.720 3.81 50.48
quicker, but as speeds build, the Z750 70 4.27 66.28 4.19 66.26 3.70 60.39 4.64 74.53
comes into its own. The Monster is left 80 5.05 92.37 5.11 97.26 4.26 80.32 5.63 107.74
90 6.15 134.19 6.09 134.779 5.15 112.96 6.84 153.91
stranded. It’s way down on power and
100 7.28 182.02 7.27 184.73 6.02 149.74 8.45 222.32
just can’t compete. 110 8.78 252.50 8.82 257.58 7.15 203.14 10.45 316.76
120 10.85 359.72 10.72 355.91 8.58 276.63 13.74 485.97
130 13.31 497.39 13.86 531.59 10.21 367.90
140 17.56 754.32 20.66 943.87 12.55 509.22

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
PEAK POWER PEAK TORQUE
Kawasaki Z1000 - 118.2bhp @ 10,000rpm - 65.5ftlb @ 7600rpm
Ducati Monster 800 - 69.2bhp @ 8000rpm - 47.9ftlb @ 6250rpm
80
Kawasaki Z750 - 94.6bhp @ 10,250rpm - 48.8ftlb @ 8000rpm
Yamaha FZ6 Fazer - 89.9bhp @ 11,500rpm - 41.9ftlb @ 9600rpm

60

40
nothing but
bike insurance
bhp/
ftlb
20

0
RPM 2000 4000 6000 8000 10,000 12,000 14,000

THE FINAL VERDICT

0800 056 3843


BUILDING a bike that is docile protection it would romp away with The Z1000 has more shiny metal on
enough for first-time big-bike buyers middleweight class honours. show and bags of attitude. But while
while offering the thrill that more It has also got top town manners – the 750 is a little slower, its power is
experienced riders crave is no easy thanks to decent low-speed handling easier to exploit.

quote ref: 3808


task, but Kawasaki has just about and a tractable motor. With an on the road price of just
pulled it off with the Z750. The Z750 is not a bad looking bike, £5500, the Z750 is set to be the
It’s more fun and easier to ride than either. But just doesn’t quite have the bargain buy of 2004. For that you get
the FZ6 Fazer, the king of the 600
all-rounders. With better wind
crowd pulling power of Ducati’s stylish
Monster.
supersports performance in a
good-looking, easy-to-use package.
open 7 days a week
Regulated by The General Insurance Standards Council

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