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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/595371
2016 KAWASAKI Z800 FIRST RIDE P60 800 can start to pogo its way around the bend, especially if you're not hard on the rear brake. Overall the chassis is stable without being very dynamic. It won't steer with the same speed as the Z1000, and side-to-side direction changes are a much more concerted effort than something like the FZ-09 Yama- ha, but that extra weight means midcorner the chassis is planted and happy to work its line. It's only when snapping form side- to-side at higher speeds that the work really begins. Another area that is lacking, and this will affect its commuter prowess, is the steering lock is too small, making tight U-turns a pain to complete. The brakes, like the suspen- sion, work very well at slow speeds but under sustained high speed riding and heavy braking you'll get a bit of fade at the lever, which can be pretty off putting. Nothing a set of braided lines won't fix, and if you use the bike for the com- muting purposes Kawasaki "intends," you'll most likely not have this problem. Aesthetically, I think Kawasaki is onto a winner with the Z800. It's an- gular and sharp but the complete lack of any form of screen or front bodywork means you become a real wind- sail at high speeds. Regardless, the headlight and Z-pattern rear LED taillight (and Z-pattern seat) look the business, although I can't understand why Kawasaki has made this bike as black as it has. There's so many angles and nuances in the bodywork, cool little touches, that get hidden behind the mass of the color black. When this bike was released in Europe three years ago they bought the Son of Z out in a cool Kawasaki green/ black paint job that showed off the many angles of the body- work. Bummer we don't get that here. You're getting a solid, quality bike for $8399 in the Kawa- saki Z800. It doesn't have the brute presence of the Z1000 but is conversely more bike than something like the Suzuki GSR750. Its primary job should be as a commuter weapon, much like the old Z750 was, but with a bit of suspension tuning you can have a pretty handy canyon bike, too. CN 2016 KAWASAKI Z800 ENGINE: ..........Inline 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valves per cylinder DISPLACEMENT: ............................. 806cc BORE X STROKE: .................71 x 50.9mm HORSEPOWER: ...........................Not given TORQUE: .....................................Not given COMPRESSION RATIO: ..................... 11.9:1 TRANSMISSION: ........................Six-speed FRONT SUSPENSION: .......41mm inverted cartridge fork, adjustable preload and rebound damping REAR SUSPENSION: ........................Single shock absorber, adjustable preload and rebound damping FRONT BRAKE: ..........Twin 310mm discs, Nissin 4-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: .......... Single disc, Brembo Nissin-piston caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: ........................ 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: ........................... 180/50 ZR17 RAKE: .....................................................24° TRAIL: ...............................................3.9 in. WHEELBASE: ................................. 56.9 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................... 32.8 in. OVERALL HEIGHT: ......................... 42.5 in. OVERALL WIDTH: ........................... 31.5 in. OVERALL LENGTH: .........................82.7 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ............................4.5 gal. WEIGHT: ........... 509 lbs. (curb, claimed) COLOR: .................. Metallic Spark Black MSRP: ............................ $8399 as tested Dash is a pain to read at speed and worse when the sun is behind you. S P E C I F I C A T I O N S