Kawasaki Z800: Fast, fun and rides beautifully

At Rs 9 lakh, the Kawasaki Z800 is not only fast, it's practical for our roads too, says Faisal Ali Khan of MotorBeam.com

Indians can finally look up to a 4-cylinder, powerful motorcycle that they have always drooled over, but could not get their hands on because of the price factor.

Japanese bike-maker Kawasaki has launched the Z800 in India, making it the most affordable bike in this category.

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The Kawasaki Z800 is a very attractive motorcycle. One glance at it will certainly make you fall in love with its aggressive design.

The Z800 picks up from where the Z750 left and although the design is an evolution, the desirability level has gone a whole notch up.

There are very few body panels on the bike as this is a naked machine (without any covers) which flexes all its muscles.

The attention to detail is simply marvellous like the Z print on the seat, the Z in the tail lights and uniquely shaped mirrors where form is over function.

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The instrument cluster is clean and well laid out with three separate displays.

Everything is digital here, but the tachometer isn't very easy to read on the go as it is vertically stacked and has a difference of 2000 RPM in the markings.

You get other important information on the go like a range function, eco mode, clock and temperature readout.

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The Kawasaki Z800 has a very comfortable riding position once you get used to it.

The seating is upright and the handlebars are wide.

Due to the lack of a windscreen, the windblast is quite heavy at high speeds and a pillion isn't much welcome on this motorcycle which has a top speed in excess of 230 km/hr.

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Powering the Kawasaki Z800 is an in-line 4-cylinder 806cc engine which has 16 valves.

This motor produces 113 PS of power and 83 Nm of torque, resulting in 0-100 km/hr taking less than 3.5 seconds!

A slight twist on the throttle is enough to make the Z800 start sprinting and the first gear is good enough for 144 km/hr!

Power delivery is linear but it's really post 5000 RPM when the Z800 goes crazy with a stupendous top-end to boast.

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In spite of all that power, riding the Z800 is quite easy in the city.

The mill has terrific refinement at all speeds with only some minor vibes felt from under the seat near redline.

The gearing is short and you can amble around town comfortably. The clutch has good feel and the gearbox shifts smoothly.

The engine really sounds meaty and is a pleasure to hear at full pelt.

In spite of the excellent performance, the Z800 returns close to 20 km/l in regular riding.

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Even though the Z800 is a street-fighter, it weighs quite a lot at 229 kgs.

However that weight isn't much of a bother as there is ample amount of grip on offer to handle the bike with confidence.

Yes, slow speed sharp turns aren't easy and taking a u-turn is tedious.

But the high speed stability is excellent and the ride quality is very good at all speeds.

The brakes perform well to stop the bike and the initial bite is quite strong.

The ABS (anti-braking system) is offered as standard in India.

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In spite of having so much power on board, it's easy to ride and live with on a daily basis.

It's fully imported by Kawasaki and is priced a shade under Rs 9 lakh (on the road, Mumbai), which is a lot of value for this kind of motorcycle.