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News from Kawasaki and Moto Guzzi
Always on the ball
Kawa’s legendary Z was radical when it debuted in the early 1970s. The current Z 1000 hit like a bomb with its dynamic outfit in 2003. Now comes the new one, more consistently than ever trimmed down to the last detail to be crisp and jagged.
Sheer violence, Frankenstein’s daughter, Frankenstein’s masterpiece? that was the headline for MOTORRAD in the 1970s,
when the Kawa four-cylinder Z1, Z 900 and Z 1000 were tested for the first time. Brutal, powerful, awe inspiring, the Kawas impressed even hardened testers. Incredible 79 hp
the air-cooled ohc four-cylinder did initially, then later
even 85 hp; Honda’s top dog at the time, the 67 hp CB 750, suddenly looked very old. The uncompromisingly sporty image of the Greens to this day is ultimately based on these original Z models.
In between, however, when plastic was more popular than blunt technology, the Japanese had lost sight of their radical concept a little. Only the renaissance of classic naked bikes and the debut of a modern Z 1000 in 2003 brought old qualities back to life. For Kawasaki, the modern Z was the turning point after bottoming out, from then on things went up.
Big footsteps that the youngest Z now has to follow. Technically, you are therefore not too far removed from the successful predecessor model. The basis continues to be the same, water-cooled four-cylinder, which can hardly be identified at first glance under the angularly styled lids. So far 127 hp have been specified, many horses are unlikely to be added. The fact that the Japanese are not switching to a more modern engine may initially surprise. Finally, the competitors put ??? Honda with the CBF 1000 and Yamaha with
the FZ1 ?? each on throttled engine variants of their current super sports cars. The example FZ1 shows, however, that this does not necessarily have to be a guarantee for the full torque curve desired in a naked bike. So before Kawasaki implanted a half-throttled ZX-10R engine in the naked bike, they preferred to stick to the previous base and try to eliminate their weak points with a little work in detail.
About the moderate thrust in the lower speed range. You simply expect more punch from a motorcycle with a brutal look. It should be available with an apparently unchanged displacement of 953 cubic centimeters thanks to a new engine management system, of course and, in contrast to the ZZR 1400, in compliance with the Euro 3 limit values.
Although it doesn’t look like it, the frame remains a steel structure hidden under large covers. Strong cast aluminum brackets at the height of the cylinders ensure that the frame is stiffened and vibrations are also reduced. In addition, Kawasaki proclaims that the engine runs much smoother and smoother on the gas.
The suspension, on the other hand, is more likely to be tightened, as the predecessor sometimes seemed quite lax in terms of the chassis when it was taken a little harder to the chest. The new one offers more reserves, but speaks in a more defined way, so that nothing stands in the way of a sporty pace. The same applies to the brake system, which is now being upgraded with the latest components, i.e. pliers screwed radially at the front, wave brake discs and radial pump. The Z 1000 is optionally available with ABS, which, like the ZZR, was developed in cooperation with Nissin.
With every new machine from M.oto Guzzi it is becoming increasingly clear that the Italians have chosen the Bavarian model policy as a model. The Norge was obviously based on the Boxer RT, and BMW already had the smaller 850 variants in its range. And the latest model is another component, a half-faired version of the Breva 1100, which was accidentally caught by a photographer from the Italian colleagues from Motociclismo.
It will probably receive the Norge’s drive unit, i.e. the 1200 V-Twin. The Italian colleagues speculate that the engine in the naked bike is being pepped up with a small power boost. Even if it could possibly approach the 100 hp limit, there is still a large gap to the more modern, water-cooled boxer four-valve engines. Which probably bothers Guzzisti less. Because they primarily want the classic, unadulterated design of the air-cooled V-bumper engine.
Kawasaki Z 1000
With the four silencers, the tight handlebar fairing and the sporty dress, the Z 1000 set standards in 2003 (photo below). The new Z is clearly based on their line, but looks more modern and consistent. When it comes to the exhaust, there is a difference? as was the case with the predecessor? the ghosts. A panel optically divides the huge funnel
Kawasaki Versys
There are also new photos of the Versys, the fun bike based on ER-6. On the left is a picture showing the stripped motorcycle. The chassis is essentially similar to the previous ones, but is significantly enhanced by a fully adjustable upside-down fork and the aluminum banana swing arm. According to internal sources, the 650 should be much crisper than the ?? formulated carefully? be matched to comfort-oriented sister models. Changed valve timing and an interference tube ensure more pressure in the middle of the two-cylinder, otherwise the engine remained unchanged. An ABS is also available as an option on the Versys
Moto Guzzi 1200 S.
The tightly cut handlebar trim suits the new offshoot of Breva extremely well, it cuts a sporty figure. Apart from that, the 1200 S will differ from the previous Breva 1100 (photo above) due to further changes. The larger displacement, in conjunction with a new exhaust system without a front silencer, should bring more torque and top performance. Other differences: The main stand is missing on this pre-production model, but there is a cover for the pillion seat and wave brake discs at the front
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