First Ride Review - 2016 KAWASAKI Z800
Z wait has ended Kawasaki affordable middleweight streetbike.
There is no doubt that the Yamaha FZ-09 sports naked sales success prompted the US Kawasaki more Street Fighter middleweight segment has its own pricing strategy on a large go after. The new US 2016 Kawasaki Z800 is a ready-made player, has become the Kawasaki street number one best-selling model in Europe, because of its overseas debut in 2013.
It's all very meaningful filled between $ 8399 Z800 and Z1000 Ninja 650 that already exist in the United States Kawasaki lineup of price and moving voids. Okay, so that 49 countries this year, although Kawasaki works by California emission certification process. It was tough luck residents of the Golden State, but the rest of the country can enjoy this fun and affordable addition to the growing middleweight naked segment, there are currently shipping the unit to the dealer.
Ironically, reporters take the new Kawasaki held naked in Palm Springs, California, where I spent a day in the saddle "contaminated" local mountain air. By paved highway leading to the pristinely etiquette flu more than 74 kinds of inner city traffic signal transfer from our transfer station provided Park Hotel Z800's.
The 806cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder super smooth throughout its speed range of the lower half. Rich, low torque range, excellent fuel supply and accompanied by a very smooth clutch and shift operation, throttle response make pleasing leave the station work loose, short-term upward shift through the six-speed box, and the next stop in the subsequent steady red light.
The Z is a narrow waisted, that reaches the ground seem lower than its 32.5 inches of seat height might suggest. Is the company side saddle riding posture and movement, and highish nail and forwarding achieve attractive top riser clamps and bar holding a black satin tubular handlebar. Groove incision ample leg room can accommodate more riders and for my 5 feet 10 inches self is very good.
When we hit the desert floor up from twisting mountainside, I soon discovered buzzier side to Z character. Once the speed exceeds 6,000 rpm, its starting point to build the engine vibration becomes very apparent over the fight, frame and seat. Speed 75 mph full LCD instrument panel indicated the highest gear is equivalent to 6,000 rpm, sneak in just under the hum, and allows a pleasant experience, after a distinct vision through the mirror of the legal limit.
Power transmission is linear speed limit all the way, cut bars Figure tachometer at 12,200 rpm, the displayed. Drove away the corners hard to always feel easy to handle and throttle control. If wheelies is your desire, the Z800 does not have nearly FZ-09 cells, and need a little clutch abuse such antics.
The KYB inverted fork and shock mounted reservoir does not seem to be an integral part of cost-cutting. While the rebound damping and spring preload can be changed front and rear, the standard calibration certificate outstanding, provide a good bump compliance yet maintain balance in the composition of the processing pace sport. Dunlop SPORTMAX D214 radial tires provide good cornering grip and neutral steering feel, braking into the corners even trace vertices. I found the Nissan ABS with power and sensitivity trouble braking system, in a vibrant pace of the streets.
Although the Z800 is not a new model, it is in our shores a popular new faces. Unlike many in the first year of the machine, this one from a few years to reach with the existing broad base of knowledge and health accessories catalog, in overseas markets.
Price and performance are in the same competition in the class line, although the FZ-09 engine beat its immediacy and individuality, and Z800 better labeled OE suspension performance. Head to head comparison of waiting to see where the best overall balance lies.
Specifications 2016 Kawasaki Z800
| ENGINE | liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline-four, four valves per cylinder |
| DISPLACEMENT | 806cc |
| BORE x STROKE | 71.0 x 50.9mm |
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 11.9:1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | DFI with 34mm Keihin throttle bodies |
| IGNITION | TCBI with electronic advance |
| TRANSMISSION | Six-speed |
| FINAL DRIVE | Sealed chain |
| FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL | 41mm inverted fork with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability / 4.7 in. |
| REAR WHEEL SUSPENSION / WHEEL TRAVEL | Bottom-link Uni-Trak horizontal monoshock with piggyback reservoir, stepless rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 5.4 in. |
| FRONT TIRE | 120/70ZR-17 Dunlop Sportmax D214 |
| REAR TIRE | 180/55ZR-17 Dunlop Sportmax D214 |
| FRONT BRAKES | Dual 277mm petal-type rotors with four-piston calipers, ABS |
| REAR BRAKE | Single 216mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper, ABS |
| FRAME TYPE | High-tensile steel backbone |
| RAKE / TRAIL | 24.0ยบ / 3.9 in. |
| OVERALL LENGTH | 82.7 in. |
| OVERALL WIDTH | 31.5 in. |
| OVERALL HEIGHT | 41.3 in. |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | 5.9 in. |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 32.5 in. |
| DRY WEIGHT | 482 lb. |
| FUEL CAPACITY | 4.5 gal. |
| WHEELBASE | 56.9 in. |
| COLOR CHOICES | Metallic Spark Black, Flat Ebony |
