Road – Kawasaki Z750 vs. Yamaha FZ8: the 2010 match! – 2nd set in town: FZ8

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Kawasaki Z750 vs. Yamaha FZ8: The 2010 Match !

Road - Kawasaki Z750 vs. Yamaha FZ8: the 2010 match! - 2nd set in town: FZ8

Unbeaten for 5 years, the Kawasaki Z750 sees the appearance this year of an opponent to its size: the Yamaha FZ8! Cubing a little more and offering a compromise more oriented towards comfort, can the newcomer win this decisive match? ? Duel !

2nd set in town: FZ8

Maneuvered without the help of the engine, the two animals seem as heavy as the other. Hear that to start in the motorcycle, MNC will recommend more slender twin-cylinders – of the type ER-6, Gladius or Monster 696 – or, in the four-cylinder category, an XJ6 (which is also unanimous in motorcycles -schools).

The difference in weight observed on the technical sheets (read the last two pages of this article) goes almost unnoticed. And yet, the Kawasaki accuses 15 kg more on the scale compared to its rival: 226 kg to our left, 211 to our right !

Fortunately for Zed, some of her extra pounds are not superfluous! Because the Kawa carries 1.5 liters of gasoline no longer than the Yamaha: 18.5 l against 17.

Site having noticed a slight advantage in favor of the Z750 concerning the average consumption (of the order of approximately 0.2 l / 100 km), the Kawasaki is definitively declared the winner in the small game of autonomy !

In traffic, however, the Yamaha returns to the forefront! Dotted with speed bumps, gaping holes, works for the tramway or pre-revolutionary cobblestones – and not "anti" -, Paris and its suburbs are practiced more serenely on the back of FZ8 than on a Z750. In this hostile environment, the Yamaha and its suspensions in particular work wonders !

The Z750 with Kawasaki France sauce

The Z750 from this duel differed significantly from those which are sold – like hot cakes – in Kawasaki dealerships: to improve its behavior and gain neutrality on the front, Kawasaki France has indeed dispossessed it of its Dunlop Qualifiers and has modified its suspension settings … Here is the recipe for a Z750 with small onions:

  • Two Michelin Power 2 CT

  • 10 mm preload at the front, 5th notch at the rear

  • Hydraulic screwed in fully, then released by 2 clicks (Av) and 0.5 turns (Ar)

Admittedly, the change of tires may seem unfair (although, read our conclusion), but the preload and relaxation settings are perfectly legitimate: how could the Zed not take advantage of its strengths? Because unlike the FZ8, the Kawasaki is adjustable, so adjusted !

After the surprise of seeing the front of the FZ8 plunge – much more than on the Zed – at the first sharp braking, we appreciate the delicacy with which the front and rear suspensions spare the rear and the back of the pilot. !

Without passing gas in full on the manhole covers, fittings or lying gendarmes – "speed bumps", to avoid any confusion! -, the driver of the FZ8 can still allow himself to shift his attention from the condition of the coating to other important elements: signage, pedestrians, bicycles, advertising campaigns for H&M jerseys…

Although tuned to the small onions by Kawasaki France (read our box above), the Z750 remains too flashy in the urban jungle and lacks agility against the very light front end of the FZ8. In addition, the vibrations that the Green distils between the legs quickly become annoying in the most sensitive..

Just on this point, the FZ8 deserves to win the second "urban" round of this match. But again the battle is more balanced than it looks…

The two motorcycles have for example a comparable turning radius and their engine is particularly flexible, picking up without flinching from idle. On the other hand, we note that the throttle management and their transmission to the rear wheel are a little more pleasant on the Verte..

Similarly, the Kawasaki box is much smoother than that of the Yamaha. Rough, the selection of the FZ8 also emits an unexpected Harley "klonk" at each passage of premiere: not very elegant for a Japanese !

However, the Yamaha definitely drives home the point with a few details such as the total absence of vibrations on board or a clearer view in the mirrors. Admittedly, they end up vibrating at a higher speed – which those of the Z don’t – but you don’t have to dislocate your elbow to look directly behind you. !

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