Team-BHP - Kawasaki Z800 unveiled, heading to India and now Launched. Edit

Zigwheels report:

http://www.zigwheels.com/news-featur...ot-show/14271/

Quote:

After having unleashed its Ninja brand upon Indian bikers, Kawasaki is readying to expand its Indian product range and there is news that the recently unveiled Kawasaki Z800 streetfighter machine will make its Indian debut rather soon. Made at Kawasaki’s Thailand plant, the Z800 replaces the previous Z750 naked motorcycle from its line-up.

Much like the Kawasaki Ninja 250R and the bigger 650R siblings that are also made in the Thailand facility and brought into India via the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) kit route, expect Kawasaki to introduce the Z800 in India similarly as a CKD model.

Weighing 229kg, the new Z800 is powered by a new 806cc in-line four cylinder DOHC motor that pumps out 113PS of power at 10,200rpm and 83Nm of torque at 8,000rpm.

Kawasaki Z800 unveiled, heading to India and now Launched. Edit - New color scheme for 2016-kawasakiz800intermot201203102012main_560x420.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPS (Post 3349281)

Launched at Rs 8.05 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)!

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...ed-370050.aspx

That is what is called good pricing in my opinion. This price makes it so much more worth.
Everything said and done about Bajaj and quality and whatever, I give them a standing ovation for thinking about the biker community of this country and not only their business books.
They brought KTM, started manufacturing kept the prices really really competitive. I mean one has to look at KTM 390 and then when you see it being available at 1.8 lakhs is astonishing value for money atleast in my eyes. Is is a real quality product.
Most of the Kawasaki bikes (Except for the 300 I think) are brilliantly priced, and they are bringing more variety and options to the customers.

Bajaj, Hats off. I feel like giving my hard earned money as business to Bajaj just for their commitment to the biking community of this country and they being not afraid of making investments.

Respect.
Rachit

Z800 probably makes me think that the Street Triple was priced right at 7.4L ex-showroom. Would prefer that over the Z800 @ 8.05L any day (would prefer a triple even if Z800 was priced slightly less)

But, actually, all these bikes make me feel that Hyosung (despite their watered down brand) brings performance biking closer to regular joe than any of the other guys (except Bajaj / KTM) )

You can pick up a Hyosung GT650N making 72BHP < 5L OTR (in Bangalore!) and GT650R < 6L INR. Not bad bikes at all, though not in league of Ninjas / Street Triples.

Sweet pricing but somehow the Street Triple at Rs. 7.5 lacs still looks more desirable than this, solely based on reviews and numbers. Of course, it would be no contest if the triple were launched at its first communicated pricing of Rs. 6.75 lacs (just wishing)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheel (Post 3349666)

A 4 cylinder at Rs. 8L. Couldn't this happen before I got married?

Can't comment on when you got married but the sweet Suzuki Bandit 1250s was launched way back in 2010 at an ex-showroom of Rs. 8.5 lacs:D

Recently I was among a group of fortunate souls who got to test-ride the ZX10R and the new and yet-to-be-launched (at that time) Z800 under the supervision of the MD and Deputy MD of Kawasaki India.

The 10R was a guided missile and a different animal to anything I have ever ridden in my life (which includes other litre bikes). More about that later.

The Z800 was probably the smoothest engine I have ever experienced on any automobile. Its butter smooth. The ergos were supremely comfortable with a typical street-fighter stance. The bike looks like a million bucks and feels quite substantial in visual mass.

The bike given to us was a brand new bike with barely 60km on the odo. The three screen instrumentation looks trendy but the tacho seemed a bit wierd to me with its full-to-clear movement (the tacho bars are all full at start and start vanishing as the revs rise. Imagine the opposite of a 10R tacho).

The front felt light as expected and the windblast post 150 kmph was an issue for me specially since I dont ride a naked (bike). The engine felt powerful right from the start and builds up power in a very linear way. With 110 odd horses there is enough power to please you. The ride felt comfortable even on broken roads and the USD forks absorb bumps beautifully. The exhaust note from the i4 was music as expected.

The only thing besides the wind-blast which bothered me were the brakes. The brakes felt a tad spongy. Maybe it was psychological as I rode the Z after the 10R and possibly because the brakes were still not properly bedded-in. In anycase the 800 sports ABS so safety shouldnt be an issue unless you try becoming Rossi with it.

The Z800 is so good that you can easily take it to work everyday and crawl in traffic with it effortlessly. You can do grocery runs on it as well as take it to the track. She feels like a dream on broken roads and is really comfortable even when crouching at speeds. The knee recesses in the tank allow one to properly hang off with the elbow and knee tucked in. Shes built well like a true kwacker and comes with the better-than-the-rest After-sales support. Infact the bike is that good that two fellow Ninja 650 owners have already set aside money for it after a single ride.

Personally, would I upgrade my 650 to the 800? NO. Firstly it is not the type of bike I want and secondly my 650 still puts a bigger smile on my face than the 800 did. Honestly. So not my cup of tea.

But the 10R? Hmmmm.... Fingers crossed. Something in the pipeline. Will update you boys if something happens on that front. Till then its Viva La N650.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freewheelin_KD (Post 3349705)

Can't comment on when you got married but the sweet Suzuki Bandit 1250s was launched way back in 2010 at an ex-showroom of Rs. 8.5 lacs:D

This thing never appealed in the way the Z does. And wrt to Suzuki, I am biased towards Kawasaki [save for GSX-R 600/750/1000 & not the 1300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by narula123 (Post 3350104)

The Z800 was probably the smoothest engine I have ever experienced on any automobile. Its butter smooth. The ergos were supremely comfortable with a typical street-fighter stance. The bike looks like a million bucks and feels quite substantial in visual mass.
The front felt light as expected and the windblast post 150 kmph was an issue for me specially since I dont ride a naked (bike). The engine felt powerful right from the start and builds up power in a very linear way. With 110 odd horses there is enough power to please you. The ride felt comfortable even on broken roads and the USD forks absorb bumps beautifully. The exhaust note from the i4 was music as expected.

Some of these things were said by friends who rode it at Nagpur, hence that comment. But anyday, I too would pick a 10R over this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avinash_R (Post 3823770)

I had been to the showroom to check the Z and was told that it is available only in Black. However, a new red and black color will be available from Jan 2016 onwards. Later on the dealer sent me the pics of the same. Just passing on the info I got...

Although the change is cosmetic, it is unusual to see a shade of red in a Kawa. Going by the norm, it would have been a different shade of green but they chose otherwise. Good to see them breaking barriers.

Thank you for sharing.

P.S. Thread title updated accordingly.