Took this out yesterday


Bert-Aus

Bert-Aus

Well-Known Member
Test rode the 2013 Kawasaki Z800


Def a contender for the streetfighter peep's (kawi relaunch of Z750 or challenge to the FZ8??)
Had plenty of low-mid range but felt like nothing above 7000rpm

The colours look way better than this image above

The seat looks awesome, but I felt like it shunts you into the tank, rather than letting you sit in the saddle where you choose.

I enjoyed the ride, quick 45mins run through the hills and back, but dont think i could go back to no windscreen
 
S

Scott_Thomas

Insert title Here
Elite Member
Not sure on the capabilities, but that thing looks mean. Actually looks alot like the FZ8. Like the color scheme too, but like you I like my fairings and windscreen.
 
M

Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member
The FZ8 starting to grow on me too. Even more since I know the R1 cams fit right in!!! :D

Would look mean with a Marthy pipe...
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk 2
 
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Scott_Thomas

Insert title Here
Elite Member
Marthy said:
The FZ8 starting to grow on me too. Even more since I know the R1 cams fit right in!!! :D

Would look mean with a Marthy pipe...
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
I agree, not a big fan of many of the newer sport bikes exhausts. Love undertails even though they get a little warm. Would be nicer for cooler weather rides. My buddies R1 with dual undertail exhaust is HOT!!! But damn it looks and sound nice. I also like the 6R's underbody exhaust. Not the stock exhaust just the location. Every bike needs to be Marthyfied!
 
Bert-Aus

Bert-Aus

Well-Known Member
If the FZ8S had better looking mid-fairings, or even full fairings,
I would upgrade tomorrow, cant seem to bring myself to fully appreciate the existing FZ8S or FZ1S
 
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MistahT

Mistah T
Elite Member
Bert-Aus said:
If the FZ8S had better looking mid-fairings, or even full fairings,
I would upgrade tomorrow, cant seem to bring myself to fully appreciate the existing FZ8S or FZ1S
Click to expand...
Personally, with a different exhaust, I think the FZ8 looks perfect. But after finally getting a bike with fairings, feels so good at higher speeds, I don't know if I could ever go back to a naked bike.


Btw, that Kawi looks great! Sorry to hear it's kinda gutless. My GS500 also slid me into the tank every chance it got. No so great on the family jewels.
 
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Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member
That remind me... I was driving the cage on the way to St-Petersburg Saturday morning (1/2 Marathon) with my wife. She was sleeping next to me. We're driving on SR70, kind of in the middle of nowhere. There's a little gas station coming up, we stop there before. I was debating if I had to wee or not. So I was going to keep going and stop later on to the next town and fill up for gas at the same time.

Until I saw that sexy beast park at the gas station. I freaking hammer the brake and barely made it to the parking lot. My wife was WTF??? I need to wee, do you? Ah, OK! LOL

I parked right next to that 2 week old Speed Triple R! That bike look sick! Even my wife liked it! LOL
 
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BoneJj

Well-Known Member
wow, it looks good but yeah, I don't care for the seat design too much.

it's a shame that you didn't feel it has much top end on the z800.

I don't even see the z800 on the kawi website yet. What's up with that?
 
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RoadTrip

New Member
Well, I went thru and stared up and down at the SS's at the shop today (Kawi, Yami, Suzuki), here is my take after really kicking the tires in a more serious way:

2013 ZX6R - looks best in green, lots of new technology, wasn't a big fan of string bikini look (lots of exposed engine parts, skeleton fairings), but rest of it looked good (front, tank, tail).

R6 - I think this bike would benefit from the new Showa BPF, it still has that old school brake dive type fork, but I guess I would have to ride it to make a full judgement

Gix600/750 - no big changes, I like the bike, good paint, good fitment of plastics, I like the 2013 black 750 and the 2013 red 600

ZX-10R - this one was on my list, but honestly the plastics are kinda janky, particularly on top of the tank, if feels a bit cheap, I think it got downgraded a bit after really playing with it.

R1 - another solid built bike, just like the R6, Yami builds solid bikes, love it in black or blue with the new headlights, but I still worry about the heat issues.

GSXR1000 - best in black, they did a great job of mixing component finishes, mat plastics, and low sparkle paint, and ghosted graphics. It really works, and just has a great understated impression - top of my list. Of course throw out the funky can first thing and put a Yoshi carbon on there.

Hypersports - I thought the Hayabusa was a better finished bike than the ZX-14, the paint looked better, nicer plastics, and it is smaller. The styling of both bikes are stand alone, you could go either way on that point.

I know I sound like a Suzuki fan boy, but the 600 has been a great bike so far, no complaints at all.
 
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