All Duels – Duel Z800 Vs Street Triple R: the road stars of 2013! – A transformed Zed!

Posted on by admin

Duel Z800 Vs Street Triple R: the road stars of 2013 !

All Duels - Duel Z800 Vs Street Triple R: the road stars of 2013! - A transformed Zed!

In-depth reviews, both technically and aesthetically, the new Kawasaki Z800 and Triumph Street Triple R intend to ignite the powder in the roadster category in 2013. Site opposed these two balls of nerves: verdict !

A transformed Zed !

But to hell with these "buttocks" considerations! The road finally dries up and our two roadsters are impatient to get to the heart of the matter: the arson! Expected at the turn following criticism from its predecessor, the Z800 is eager to unveil its progress in dynamic driving (a polite way of describing a good wad): the Green takes advantage of its cannon raises to jump into the lead in the first curves !

Immediately, the work carried out on its ergonomics and its cycle part is felt: its more indented tank at the level of the crotch allows to better form one body with the bike (to the detriment of the autonomy, since it loses 1.5 liters capacity), while its stiffened frame and optimized suspensions give it a rigor and homogeneity unknown on the Z750.

The springs of its fork brilliantly reconcile a relative flexibility at the start of the race and a sufficiently braked hydraulic system to absorb most of the mass transfers. On the handlebars of the Street Triple R, the program is sportier: its adjustable fork in all directions transmits more sharply the irregularities of the asphalt, but in return offers better feedback..

A real scalpel, the front axle of the Street Triple R chisels the asphalt with incredible precision and requires significantly less effort to correct an approximation of the trajectory. At this precise moment, the notable difference in weight between the two motorcycles (almost 50 kg!) Is felt, and the Triumph does the Kawasaki-style brakes without forcing its talent..

The operation is facilitated by the top-gear enjoyed by this "R" version: the two radial calipers with four pistons pinch the 310 mm discs with staggering power. Can be dosed from the tip of the phalanges, this enduring device requires coolness in the wet … or to join the services of its optional ABS, very developed !

Unlike the Z750R, the Z800 has to be content with "simple" axially mounted calipers. Optionally assisted by an ABS transparent operation, they go however from two to four pistons compared to the Z750 "short". The braking definitely gains in consistency and power, but remains below the precision and bite offered by its rival of the day.

Ready to do anything to stay on the asphalt, the Verte unveils its last assets in a burst of pride: its imperial stability and its irreproachable "gas grip-rear wheel" connection. The Z800 turns indeed as if placed on a rail and its accelerations are managed to the nearest revolution. But it takes more to impress the sportswoman in a bikini she is opposed to today…

Admittedly, the Street Trip ‘is a little more nervous on the bumpy and its rougher injection generates tiny jerks. But these small imperfections hardly alter a dynamic balance sheet close to faultless: in tight sequences, the Triumph is placed to the millimeter and comes out like a cannonball, relying on its excellent shock absorber..

And for a thousand dollars less…

At Kawasaki, a Z800 "e version" is offered at € 7,999 (€ 8,599 with ABS). Restricted to 95 hp and available in 35 kW (47.5 hp) in order to meet the specificities of the new European license (read our), this model has less sporty suspensions and brakes. At Triumph, the Street Triple "standard" is available at € 7,990 (€ 8,390 with ABS): this version develops the same mechanical performance as the “R”, but abandons the radial calipers and fully adjustable suspensions.

Adjustable in preload, compression and rebound (only rebound and compression on Z800), the Street Triple R mono-shock absorber has an ideal calibration: sufficiently flexible on its first millimeters of depression, it spares the vertebrae on small shocks. Then the circulation of the oil is slowed down just "as it should" by its valves, which allows it to work well on large stresses. Caviar for lovers of invigorating fillings !

Much drier and less progressive, the rear suspension of the Z800 ends up losing its rigor in "sport" mode: the bike wriggles on its support, to the detriment of traction when exiting curves..

Already favored by its more sporty pneumatic mounting (Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa against Dunlop D214 Sportmax), the Triumph takes the opportunity to definitely take off…

Verdict: Ze will have it one day, Ze will have it !

At the origins of the roadster category (at the beginning of the 90s of the last century), the offer opposed two very distinct clans: on the one hand, Japanese motorcycles which put forward a relative "sport-comfort" compromise and ultra-tight prices, on the other, strong-mouthed Europeans who were not always very reliable, who made their radicalism pay dearly…

Over the years, the situation has changed and the result of this new MNC duel provides a glimpse of it: while Kawasaki has neglected the practical aspects and the comfort of its star roadster, Triumph has made its own both more efficient and desirable … but also – and above all! – more frequent.

And as the price difference works in favor of the Englishwoman – despite its high-end peripherals – the charismatic Street Triple R wins. The Z800 can however count on its reputation in reinforced concrete, its sex appeal and its undeniable progress on the dynamic level to maintain its insolent success-story (read our) !

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *