Bikesrepublic

kawasaki z800

 

  • Sejak pengenalan motosikal Kawasaki Z1000 2014, konsep rekaan Sugomi telah diterapkan oleh Kawasaki di dalam ke semua motosikal terkini mereka dalam rangkaian motosikal Z.
  • Sugomi membawa erti jelmaan atau semangat pemangsa yang sedang memburu dan bersedia untuk menerkam mangsanya.
  • Dengan motosikal Kawasaki Z900 ABS 2017 terkini yang menonjolkan semangat rekaan berkenaan dengan tumpuannya yang tajam, posisi menunduk yang rendah, dan prestasi hebat beserta perwatakan pengendalian yang dinamik.

(more…)

From the introduction of the 2014 Kawasaki Z1000, the Sugomi design concept has been embedded by Kawasaki into all of their latest bikes in the Z family.

Sugomi means the embodiment or spirit of a predator on a hunt and ready to strike its prey.

The latest 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS carries that design spirit with its intense focus, low crouching position and superb performance with dynamic handling characteristics.

Ever since the introduction of the infamous 2014 Kawasaki Z1000, we’ve been introduced with a brand new design concept applied to motorcycles thanks to the folks over at Kawasaki. Together with the Z1000’s introduction was the tagline “Call of the wild”, Kawasaki went with their wildest motorcycle design concept yet called “Sugomi”. (more…)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Kawasaki Z900 ABS 2017 terkini dianggap sebagai satu penambahbaikan yang hebat bagi model yang digantikannya, motosikal Z800.
  • Kami membawa motosikal Z900 dan Z900 SE (Special Edition) untuk satu sesi tunggang uji yang panjang untuk melihat sendiri prestasi motosikal-motosikal ini.
  • Bagi memberi perspektif, kami bandingkannya dengan model Z800 terdahulu dan juga model Z1000 bagi memahami sepenuhnya bagaimana Z900 ABS ini menjadi sebuah jentera super naked yang jauh lebih baik dari Kawasaki.

(more…)

Our video review on the difference between the Z900 Standard and the Z900 Special Edition.

The latest 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS is considered as a major improvement to the model it’s replacing, the Z800.

We took the Z900 and Z900 SE (Special Edition) for a long term test ride to see how good these bikes really are.

To put into perspective, we’ve compared it to the previous Z800 and also the Z1000 to really understand how the Z900 ABS is a superior super naked machine from Kawasaki.

Naked bikes and street fighters have been a big part of the motoring industry even since motorcycle enthusiasts modified them to make their bikes more aggressive and perform better than ever before. Motorcycle manufacturers took note of this and ever since then, they’ve been churning out their ready-to-ride naked bikes and street fighters. (more…)

First impression of the Kawasaki Z900 and comparison against the Z800.

  • The Z900 is also a full 21 kilograms lighter than the Z800, which itself was oddly heavier than the then flagship Z1000.
  • The internal upgrades include a new crankshaft that is lighter by 700 grams, lighter pistons, a new cylinder head, open deck type cylinder block and a new intake.
  • Handling was predictable; the frame is designed to have as little bends and angles as possible, which then disperses stress quickly and evenly, giving the rider the most compliant ride possible.

The Kawasaki Z800 has been quite a darling among those looking for an affordable super naked motorcycle. The awesome edgy design and a smooth powerful engine made it a good bike for the daily commute to the office and to carve up mountain roads on the weekends. But it was far from perfect.

It was heavy which made simple manoeuvres like parking and u-turns feel as difficult as stacking sand bags. Most of the weight felt as if it were centred higher up at the top of the bike, making it a “top heavy” bike – easy to drop into a corner but difficult to pick up again for the next corner. Brute strength and serious muscle was needed to really wring the best out of the Z800, not to mention serious balls. It was a great bike, but needed some improvements.

And so that is exactly what Kawasaki aimed to change with the Z900. Having recently sampled it on a short 150km ride, we are pleased to tell you that the Z900 is leaps and bounds and stars and galaxies better than the Z800. It is also the de facto flagship bike now since the Z1000 is yet to be updated, if there is to be an update at all.

And just in case you were wondering, the Z900 is also a full 21 kilograms lighter than the Z800, which itself was oddly heavier than the then flagship Z1000.

21kg’ lighter does not sound like a lot, but you do feel the difference as soon as you get on the bike and turn a corner. It is more eager, more precise and a hell of a lot more manoeuvrable than the Z800. Heaving it around is a lot more manageable now too.

Making this possible is the new trellis frame that contributes the most to the weight savings. Not only does this frame weigh just 13.5 kilograms, but it also utilises five rigid mounting points, making it a stressed member of the frame, which in turn makes the Z900 a lot nippier than before.

Kawasaki also rid the bike of the subframe, a move that shaved a further 11kg’s off the total weight of the bike.

The light weight frame is further complemented by an aluminium swing arm, which shaves a further 3.3 kilograms off the total unsprung weight.

So the objective of making the Z900 a lot lighter than the Z800 was obviously achieved. But the new flagship is much more than a featherweight boxer, it packs a mighty punch too.

The 948cc, liquid-cooled four-stroke, inline-four-cyllinder is the other major improvement to the Z. The engine was designed to be quick-revving with most of the power stored at the mid and high-rev range.

Of course, power is up from the Z800 and now stands at 123.6hp (a 12.6hp increase from the Z800) and 98.6Nm of torque (a 15.6Nm increase), but because the engine is more rev happy than before, a lot more of that power is accessible much sooner, giving the Z900 some serious pulling power through all six gears.

The engine has a number of internal modifications that help it achieve its livelier character, the internal upgrades include a new crankshaft that is lighter by 700 grams, lighter pistons, a new cylinder head, open deck type cylinder block and a new intake.

But the engine is not the only thing that has been updated, the gearbox too is all-new. The ratios have been completely reworked for shorter ratios and this contributes to the wild acceleration and explains why the Z900 is so rowdy in the first and second gear.

In fact, slicing through traffic was best done in fourth or fifth gear, any lower and it is simply too eager to burst open, but on the highway, the zippy character was brilliant. Power was constantly available in all gears, even in sixth gear it will continue to accelerate towards the 11,000rpm red line. If it is constant power you want, the Z900 has miles and miles of that.

Handling was predictable; the frame is designed to have as little bends and angles as possible, which then disperses stress quickly and evenly, giving the rider the most compliant ride possible. The suspension was at factory setting, and it did feel a tad soft and lumpy in the bends, but both front and rear suspensions are adjustable.

The rebound and compression of the front suspension can be adjustable via a single control on the left fork, where previously you had to adjust both forks separately, risking an imbalanced set up. The rear suspension has been redesigned and now utilises a near horizontally mounted shock that is connected to a linkage system, which in turn is connected to a lighter, stiffer swing arm. The entire rear suspension is arranged in such a way that the weight of the bike and rider is centralised, eliminating the “top-heavy” feel of the Z800. The spring is adjustable for preload by 5.5 inches.

The new engine, gearbox and suspension gives the Z900 a lot more confidence than its predecessor. You can push this bike harder than before and it has what it takes to cope with all you can ask of it. It is lighter and more willing, which means you can carry mega speeds in corners. The combination of the engine together with the slick shifting gearbox ensures you are never starved of power, that I can personally testify to since this bike will still pull when you’re well into the rev-band of the sixth gear.

And just in case you run out of talent and approach a corner too hot, there is a new slipper clutch with assist function that ensures the rear tyre doesn’t lock up as you bang down the gears in a desperate attempt at using engine braking to slow you down. The clutch assist function makes the clutch lever extremely light, about 40-50% lighter according to personal estimates.

Kawasaki was obviously very serious about creating the best super naked in its price category, and it has come really close to doing it. Just incase the increase in power and diet program wasn’t enough, the company even carefully crafted an audible intake sound at about 6,000rpm where the Z900 sounds like it is sucking in some serious air, just like a sprint runner would at full flight.

The intake funnels are of varying length (50mm for the outer pair and 150mm for the inner pair) and this offers a balance of performance and intake sound. The longer inner pair contribute towards the low-mid rpm performance, while the shorter outer pair are the ones creating the whooshing intake sound.

On a personal note, the Z900 is very near perfect but for a guy of my height and size, the package is let down by the Malaysian-spec bike’s low seat height arrangement which made the bike feel too cramped.

It was not very comfortable even when sitting at the edge of the seat and resting on the balls of my feet – in the so called full race mode. I’m about six-foot tall and I could not find a comfortable position on the Z900 sadly. But with such a brilliant all-round package, maybe an aftermarket seat and foot pegs relocaters will do the trick.

The Kawasaki Z900 is an altogether different animal to the Z800 it replaces, sporting a totally different character but an obvious evolution to the older bike. Priced at just RM50,959, the Z900 seems to have it all. We’ll be spending more time with it soon, so watch this space. Meanwhile, just a note to Z800 owners, it is time to think of trading up, the 900 is really the bike to have now.

Supercharged Kawasaki Ninja H2 grand prize up for grabs in special new KMMSB campaign.

(more…)

Kawasaki Malaysia has a unique way of providing some fun for owners of Kawasaki motorcycles.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--32

Every Sunday, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer encourages its owners to meet up at the Kawasaki headquarters in Glenmarie Shah Alam.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--33

There are no pre-planned rides, nothing glamorous. Riders just meet at the HQ and decide what they want to do on that day. They decide where to ride and what to do at that point itself.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--28

The bike maker works with various Kawasaki clubs like the Z250 club, Z800 club and the Versys club to bring owners together. But that doesn’t mean only owners of a certain bike are allowed to come; every Kawasaki owner is encouraged to come together.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--29

We had a chance to witness this camaraderie for ourselves last Sunday. About 30 Kawasaki riders came together at about 830am not knowing where they were going or what the plans were, they just showed up.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--30

After everyone showed up, it was decided that the group was going to ride to Sungkai, Perak for lunch and return back before 3pm.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--31

From the HQ, the group rode to a nearby ‘mamak’ restaurant for breakfast, which was paid for by Kawasaki Malaysia.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--26

On the safety front, Kawasaki Malaysia provided marshalls to help ensure everyone’s riding within limits.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--27

All riders were encouraged to bring full riding and safety gear, but those who did not were not turned away, just advised on the need for proper riding gear especially for long distance rides.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--23

Kawasaki Malaysia is one of the few manufacturers that actively engages its owners and customers to go on weekend rides. Kudos to the company for this amazing effort.

Samsung_Kawasaki_--24

Samsung_Kawasaki_--25 Samsung_Kawasaki_--18 Samsung_Kawasaki_--19 Samsung_Kawasaki_--20 Samsung_Kawasaki_--21 Samsung_Kawasaki_--22 Samsung_Kawasaki_--17 Samsung_Kawasaki_--14 Samsung_Kawasaki_--15 Samsung_Kawasaki_--16 Samsung_Kawasaki_--11 Samsung_Kawasaki_--12 Samsung_Kawasaki_--13 Samsung_Kawasaki_--8 Samsung_Kawasaki_--9 Samsung_Kawasaki_--10 Samsung_Kawasaki_--6 Samsung_Kawasaki_--7 Samsung_Kawasaki_--3 Samsung_Kawasaki_--4 Samsung_Kawasaki_--5 Samsung_Kawasaki_--2 Samsung_Kawasaki_- Samsung_Kawasaki_-084619

Want us to feature your story or go riding with you and your group? Email us at info@bikesrepublic.com and we will try to be there. Ride safe.

If you happen to be one of those who has just obtained your B-Full license; looking for a first big bike that has decent amount of power, offers practicality for daily usage, yet doesn’t blow a big hole in your bank account, you’ve come to the right place, as we have a list of middleweights compiled for your reference.

Although the definition of a middleweight motorcycle may vary from one person to another, we have decided to refer to what the Japanese Big Four (Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda) have agreed upon – that a middleweight bike should displace 500cc—800cc. However, not all bikes within this displacement range are suitable for beginners, as there are various models with different characteristics.

That said, here are 10 middleweight bikes in our market at the moment that are ideal for those looking for their first big bike.

1) Kawasaki ER-6N

Kawasaki-2015-ER-6n-ABS-1

 

You know that a bike is ideal for beginners when you see it being used by driving schools to teach B-Full license applicants the basics. Offered at a very competitive price, the Kawasaki ER-6N also deserves full credit for changing the big bike scene in Malaysia, becoming the first bike to make Malaysians believe that “now everyone can ride a big bike.”

Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke Parallel Twin, DOHC 8-valve
Fuel system: Digital Fuel Injection
Displacement: 649cc
Max power: 71hp at 8,500rpm
Max torque: 64Nm at 7,000rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 17-litres
Price: RM32,000

2) Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F

2013-Yamaha-XJ6-Diversion-F-EU-Competition-White-Studio-001

Capable of handling anything from daily commuting, weekend blasts, as well as long distance touring, the XJ6 Diversion F is the latest variant of the XJ6. The bike runs on a reliable 600cc in-line 4 cylinder engine and the compact chassis is designed to deliver agile handling and confidence-inspiring road holding. This all-rounder XJ6 Diversion F is equipped with smooth action suspension systems to ensure top class riding comfort.

Specifications

Engine: Liquid cooled, 4 stroke, DOHC, 4 valve
Displacement : 600 cc
Maximum Horsepower: 77hp at 10,000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 59.7Nm at 8,500 rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17 litres
Price: RM39,800

3) Honda CB500X

cb500x-05_press_photos_opt

 

Ideal for both beginners and seasoned riders, the CB500X delivers plenty of performance, thanks to the thoroughly modern, torquey 471cc parallel-twin DOHC engine. Its upright handlebar, the shape and height of the seat, and the way the power is delivered accommodates a wide variety of riders, and gives riders a lot of freedom. The CB500X is an excellent choice for riders ready to move up a displacement class, or for anyone who appreciates a great middleweight motorcycle for practical in-town riding, or fun adventure-sport touring.

Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valves, parallel-twin
Displacement : 471cc
Maximum Horsepower: 46.9 hp at 8500 rpm
Maximum Torque: 43 Nm at 7000 rpm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.3 litres
Price: RM28,688

4) Kawasaki Versys 650

VERSYS 1

Kawasaki’s third-generation Versys 650 has grown into a serious entry-level sports tourer that is worth every sen it asks for. Despite all the upgrades that has been added, it is still perfect for the less experienced, as well as the veterans. However, due to the height of the bike, it is not suitable for small-sized individuals. On the brighter side, it is among the more powerful candidates in its class.

Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke Parallel twin
Displacement: 649cc
Fuelling: Fuel Injection
Max power: 68hp at 8,500rpm
Max torque: 64Nm at 7,000rpm
Fuel capacity: 21-litres
Price: RM38,369

5) Suzuki Gladius 650

SFV650AL5_AR4_D.2.1

Launched during last year’s Malaysian MotoGP round, the Suzuki Gladius is a naked bike that is ideal for both daily riding and some occasional canyon carving. Featuring the same 645cc V-Twin engine that is fitted on its sibling – the V-Strom 650,  the bike features fuel injection technology and SDTV system among other technology.

Specifications

Engine: 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90-degree V-Twin
Displacement: 645cc
Transmission 6-speed
Max power: 71 hp at 9000 rpm
Max torque: 63.1 Nm at 7600 rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 14.5-litres
Price: RM39,900

6) Kawasaki Vulcan S

6000000001

Honestly, it doesn’t get any better than this. Never have we had a good looking 650cc cruiser with an asking price below RM30,000. No, it has no V-twin, and it doesn’t sound like a Harley-Davidson but it serves its purpose very well, both in town and on the highway.

Specifications

Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, parallel twin
Displacement: 649cc
Transmission: Six-speed
Max power: 61hp at 7,500rpm
Max torque: 63Nm at 6,600rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 14-litres
Price: RM29,989

7) Honda CB650F

CB650F

 

Made for those who want more than the 500cc offered by the CB500 range, the CB650F, which is powered by Honda’s completely new inline four-cylinder engine produces generous amounts of low to mid-range torque, making it a formidable bike in the city and during quick runs. However, the comfortable upright sitting position, ergonomically placed levers and pegs make it an ideal bike for long distance riding as well. In all, the CB650F is catered towards those with a thirst for torque.

Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC Inline-4
Displacement: 649cc
Transmission: Six-speed
Max power: 87hp at 11,000rpm
Max torque: 63Nm at 8,000rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 17.3-litres
Price: RM39,999

8) Ducati Monster 795

F8-MONSTER-59-866x638

If Japanese bikes are not your thing, and you want something more exotic, Ducati Malaysia is here to make your day with the Monster 795. Priced below RM60,000, the Monster is so user-friendly that even female riders are loving it. But that doesn’t mean that the bike is not powerful. Powered by a 795cc engine, the Monster 795 is just as exciting as any other Ducatis in the stable.

Specifications

Engine: L-Twin, 2 Desmodromically actuated valves per cylinder, air cooled
Displacement: 803cc
Transmission: 6-speed
Max power: 87hp at 8,250rpm
Max torque: 78Nm at 6,250rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 15-litres
Price: RM59,900

9) Kawasaki Z800

Ever since it was launched in 2012, the Kawasaki Z800 has gained massive popularity, becoming arguably the most popular middleweight on our roads today. Among the factors that contributed towards the Z800’s success include its competitive price, fierce design, and of course, the generous dose of power.

Specifications

Engine: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement: 806cc
Transmission: 6-speed
Max power: 113hp at 10,200rpm
Max torque: 83 Nm at 8000rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 17-litres
Price: RM47,989

10) Triumph Bonneville 

2015-Triumph-Bonneville-T100b

 

Different riders have different preferences. Some potential first bike owners might have a soft spot for modern classics. If you fall under this group, the Triumph Bonneville is here to make your day. As much as the Bonnie looks like a classic, it rides and feels just as modern as any other new bike out there. Ideal for both daily usage and long distance cruising, the Bonnie is among the best modern classics out there in the market, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Specifications

Engine: Air-cooled, DOHC, parallel-twin, 360º firing interval
Displacement: 865cc
Transmission: 5-speed
Max power: 68hp at 7500rpm
Max torque: 68Nm at 5800rpm
Fuel tank capacity: 16-litres
Price: RM53,900

 

Archive

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on YouTube