In-depth reviews, along with technically and aesthetically reviewed, the news Kawasaki Z800 and Triumph Street Triples R hope well to spark off an explosion in the category of the roadsters in 2013. bikescatalog.com opposed these two balls of nerves: verdict!
Kawasaki Z800 Vs Triumph Street Triples R: road-stars of 2013!
The references make new skin
Making the roll of muscles its spectacular silhouette, Kawasaki Z800 dresses on the great boulevards, in front of the idlers, while waiting for its first adversary of the year 2013. It should be said that on the level exhibition, the very expected new “Zed” is posed there (to read our Test Kawasaki Z800 of January 14th, 2013)!
Before its parts being collected, its double optics with the stretched corners, its refined back hull, its elegant silencer (similar to that of first Aprilia RSV4) and its shoe all in sharp angles, Kawasaki is very far from passing unperceived. To succeed with plume goose that lays the golden eggs of the Greens (160 000 Z750 run out in the world in ten years!), Kawasaki Z800 betted on the aggressiveness of the lines and the stylistics effects.
Some desires to look elegant are worthy of a tuning preparation made even their appearance: most famous “Z” of the planet motorcycle is formed on the lads of the rear light and appears in serigraph on the saddle.
Also Read: BMW F800GT Vs Honda VFR800: particular species
Each one is free to approve or not the approach, but all will in any case appreciate the care taken to the quality of general manufacturing. Its discs with petals, its polished turntables on the back or the worked shapes of its motor casings make of Z800 an undoubtedly pleasant motorcycle detail.
Preceded by the typical whistle of the Triumph three-cylinders, Triumph Street Triples R chooses this moment to come out… and to attract all the glances thanks to its slender lines and its rocky sonority!
Immediately, the tension goes up and a light shiver of anguish traverses the spine out of steel tubes of Kawasaki Z800 2013, perfectly conscious of the threat which the ball of Hinckley poses (to read our Test Triumph Street Triple R 2013 of November 4th, 2012).
Impetus in 2007, Triple Street cannot certainly be made proud exceptional commercial results of the “Zed” in spite of its 50,000 past units. But it less incarnates anything than the reference roadsters on the dynamic level! And this year 2013 intends to push back even further its excellent aptitudes for loutish, especially in its variation “R” retained for this duel bikescatalog.com.
“Zarma! Y does not miss “an R” at Kawasaki z800: why what didn’t z’ choose Street there Triples “all-short”? ”, undoubtedly question – a prior rightly – some of our readers…
Stocked still better than the “standard” version on the level of braking (radial clamps 4-pistons with before) and of the suspensions (full adjustable before-back), Triumph Street Triples R represents indeed the cream of the English cream…! On paper, it thus is rather intended to give the counterpart to hypothetical Kawasaki Z800 “R”.
Also Read: Comparative motorcycles Kawasaki Z800 vs Z750R
The loutish one, to three or four-legs!
First to extirpate traffic when the right handles is dried, Kawasaki Z800 balances malicious direct with its rival: the “4-legs” enjoys solids assembled in modes and a curve of couple filled better than before. The motor mechanics of Akashi undoubtedly knew to exploit each of the 58 DC additional compared to Z750!
Thanks to its long lines of admission (5 mm), its Broader bodies of injection (2 mm) and Its lighter pistons (- 10%), the block of Kawasaki extremely strike as of the first graduations of its digital rev counter. Between this amusing supplement of fishing season and its shorter final transmission (two teeth moreover than on the crown of Z750), Z800 pushes Street pitilessly Triples R in the cords under 6,000 rpm.
From this mode, the things become complicated for the Green one: the English counter-attack in an intoxicating mechanical rail which recovers without difficulty the metal bellows of the “Zed”. Quite as found that its rival (the two motorcycles set out again of the idle in 6th without a hiccup), Triumph does not have the same force with mid–mode, but she opposes flights in the stunning towers to him!
Less explosive and penalized by its fastening (- 7ch) with the approach of the high modes, Kawasaki Z800 is blown under the series of hooks struck by a rival unchained starting from 9000 rpm. Sharper, “3-legs” street then furiously with the attack of its red zone located at 13,000 rpm. If it is needed, it can even take a few hundreds of additional turns before the interrupter, history to avoid a change of relationship between two tight turns! What a health!
Copiously filled, equipped with a phenomenal lengthening-piece and a soundtrack to the endorsement, the British motorization does not attract – once again – that compliments. And it can even be sober: continued by the rain at the beginning of this comparison test, the drafting of MNC wisely “rolled up” while going down to 5.3 l/100 km for Street Triples R and with 5.8 l/100 km for Kawasaki Z800 2013.
More strapping man in bottom, the “4-legs” Kawasaki also gives some for his money strength question, but its accelerations are linear… and, alas, punctuated of vibrations.
Sensitive under the buttocks and the boots starting from 6000 rpm, these swarming are reinforced 2000 turns higher by scrambling the image returned by its retro. Already that they are shown less effective than the adjustable mirrors on the side and in height of Triumph Street Triples R…
Quasi exempts mechanical shaking (just some quivering with the handles with semi modes); this one offers also a softer gear box (butter!) and especially a better comfort of saddle: compared to wood end of the “Zed”, its base takes on even an air of pillow stuffed with goose feathers!
Brags and of Watts
However, taking into consideration its evolution, Triumph Street Triples 2013 could easily justify tariff inflation. Thanks to a sharpening end of its part cycles (2.4 kg gained on the back loop, the arm oscillating and new rims) and with the abandonment of the silencers under the saddle (- 3.6 kg), it first of all lost the trifle of 6 kg and weighs nothing any more but 182 kilos all full facts.
Vis-a-vis such a result, acknowledge that one easily forgives him by the adoption of this new exhaust in low position, way Hornet 600! Especially that at the dynamic level, the outputs under the saddle brings only constraints: in height and far from the centre of gravity, they burden the agility with the motorcycle.
Moreover, this positioning harms approval in duet (hello meetings of sauna the summer!) and the throw weight under the saddle. Triumph perfectly knew besides to seize opportunity: the trunk of the Triple Street news can henceforth be closed on a theft protection device of the type U of mean size. A detail how much appreciable appearance of just like starting an anti-coded per key.
At the same time lighter and more practical than before, Triumph gives from the start of the complexes in Z800… Between its trunk unable to accommodate this would be only one block-disc and its less readable instrumentation (on the level of the driving mode, in particular) and less complete (it misses an indicator of committed report), Kawasaki proves less frequent able than Triumph Triple Street R.
Its order of warning, the pin of unfolding on its crutch and its handles passenger dug under his hull (three elements absent on Triumph) moderate this report, although these notches prove to be delicate to apprehend with large gloves. With the daily newspaper, the bent valves and the adjustable clutch lever of English (only the brake on the Japanese) are made as much appreciates!
But it is especially on the technical plan that the “Zak” shows the blow: with its 47 kg (!) additional (229 kg all full facts, are three of more than Z750), Kawasaki Z800 pays here the consequences of a recasting more centered on the form than on the bottom. Its framework out of steel and its basic arm oscillating with square section, for example, weigh inevitably heavier than the aluminum elements assembled carefully of Triumph Street Triple.
Even sanction for its four-cylinder engine derived from fire the ZX- 9R, whose cubic capacity is carried to 806 DC by an increase in boring (from 68.4 to 71 mm). Although altered in-depth to deliver more couple and of power (83 Nm and 113 ch in Full), this “new” engine is shown fatally more cumbersome than compact the three-cylinders of 675 DC resulting from the old generation of Daytona 675.
Almost unchanged, the engine of Triple Street primarily was the object of adjustments on the admission and the injection with an aim of improving its reactivity and of reducing its petrol consumption. The first report was also lengthened, but the total performances remain similar to 2012: 106 ch and 69 Nm of couple (68 Nm before).
In spite of will its deficit of cubic capacity (- 131 DC), the English powerful boxer be able to hold the distance vis-a-vis the trunk of the Japanese bruiser (80.5 Nm and 106 ch in France)? The continuation of this combat of the chiefs in following pages…
Zed transformed!
But with the devil these considerations “bottom- sequel”! The road is drained finally and our two roadsters paw the ground of impatience to enter the sharp one of the subject: the loutish one! Waited the turning following criticism wiped by its predecessor, Kawasaki Z800 2013 is in a hurry to reveal its progress in dynamic control (a polished manner to follow a good curve): the Green one benefit from its revivals gun to throw itself at the head in the first curves!
progress in dynamic control (a polished manner to follow a good curve): the Green one benefit from its revivals gun to throw itself at the head in the first curves!
Immediately, the work completed on its ergonomics and its part cycles is felt: its tank more indented on the level of the crotch makes it possible to better form a unit with the motorcycle (to the detriment of autonomy, since it loses 1.5 liter of capacity), while its rigidifies framework and its optimized suspensions confer a rigor and a homogeneity unknown factors to him on Z750.
The springs of its fork reconcile with brilliance a relative flexibility at the beginning of race and sufficiently braked hydraulics to absorb most mass transfers. With the handlebar of Triumph Street Triples R 2013, the program is more sporting: its adjustable fork in all the directions more curtly broadcasts the irregularities of the bitumen, but offer on the other hand a better information feedback.
Genuine scalpel, the train before Triumph Street Triples R 2013 engraves asphalt with an incredible precision and request definitely less efforts to correct an approximation of trajectory. At this time precise, the notable difference in weight between the two motorcycles (almost 50 kg!) is made feel, and Triumph makes the brakes in Kawasaki without forcing its talent.
The operation is facilitated by the top-gears from which this version “R profits”: the two radial clamps with four pistons grip with a striking power the discs of 310 mm. Measurable of the end of the phalanges, this enduring device asks cold blood on wet… or to associate the services of its optional ABS, very at the point!
Contrary to the Z750R, Kawasaki Z800 2013 must be satisfied with “simple” clamps with axial fixing. Assisted in option by an ABS with transparent operation, they pass however from two to four pistons compared to Z750 “all-short”. Braking there gains incontestably in constancy and power, but remains in on this side precision and the corrosive one offered by its rival of the day.
Lend to very to remain with the suction, the Green one reveals its last assets in a start of pride: its imperial stability and its connection “handle of back gas-wheel” irreproachable. Kawasaki Z800 transfers indeed as posed on a rail and its accelerations are managed with turn-times near. But it is necessary some more to impress the sporting one in bikini to which she is opposed today…
Admittedly, Street Trip’ a little more nervous on is embossed and its rougher injection generates negligible jolts. But these small imperfections deteriorate hardly a dynamic assessment near to the without-fault: in the tightened sequences, Triumph places itself at the millimeter and arises like a ball of gun while being pressed on its excellent shock absorber.
Adjustable reloads some, compression and relaxation (only relaxation and compression on Z800), the mono-shock absorber of Triumph Street Triples R 2013 has an ideal canine: sufficient flexible on its first millimeters depression, it saves the vertebrae on the small shocks. Then the circulation of oil is slowed down just “like-it-is necessary” by its valves, which enables him to work well on the large constraints. Caviar for the fortifying flock amateurs!
Much drier and less progressive, the back suspension of Z800 ends up losing its rigor in mode “sport”: the motorcycle wriggles on its supports, to the detriment of motricity at exit of curves.
Already supported by its goes up pneumatic more sporting (Pirelli Diablo red race against Dunlop D214 Sportmax), Triumph benefits from it to take the broad one definitively…
Verdict: Zed will have it one day, Zed will have it!
At the origins of the roadster category (at the beginning of the Nineties of last century), the offer opposed two quite distinct clans: on a side of the Japanese motorcycles which proposed a relative compromise “sport-comfort” and ultra tight rates, other of European strong in mouth and not always highly reliable, which expensive made pay their radicalism …
Over the years, gives it changed and the result of this new duel MNC gives an outline of it: whereas Kawasaki neglected the practical aspects and the comfort of its roadster star, Triumph knew to make to it his at the same time more effective and desirable… but also – and especially! – More frequent able.
And as the price difference plays in favor of the English one – in spite of its top-of-the-range peripherals -, charismatic Triumph Street Triples R 2013 gains the setting. Kawasaki Z800 2013 cans however count on its reputation out of concrete reinforced, its sex appeal and its undeniable progression on the dynamic level to maintain its insolent success-story.
