we're staying with roadsters, with two rivals on the French motorcycle market. Two sporty and more or less versatile bikes: the Z 750 VS the FZ6! One looks flashy, aggressive and unique - the other classier and more charming. Two motorcycles not to be put in every hand, offering extraordinary riding sensations to those who know how to exploit them to the full. I'll let you discover the characteristics of each one:
bEHAVIOR :
- The Z 750 offers a wide range of uses, and is efficient in all situations. Easy to handle in town, its featherweight makes it a real bike! Its torquey engine, even at mid-range, allows you to limit gear shifting and play with urban traffic rather than being subjected to it;
forget traffic jams... Be careful, though, as speed climbs quickly, reminding you of the bike's tough character. You might think that the Z 750's city skills would be a handicap on the fast lanes. Wrong! Road riding is a real treat, and the bike's lightness is felt, but in a good way. The front drivetrain still offers excellent handling, but lacks a little rigor. The bike's raging engine explodes after 8,000 revs, propelling you safely to 230 km/h, with brakes that have plenty of bite... But this is a 750 roadster, not a hypersport! Finally, the bike's protection may seem weak, but it's enough to get you up to 180 km/h without any difficulty, even with a bit of arm-twisting!
- With its R6 engine, the FZ6 doesn't have to look down on the Kawasaki. It handles well in town, with good manoeuvrability and low weight, but unlike the Z 750, mid-range riding is a little difficult, which reduces its versatility. The bike's two first gears are "sharp", which means you'll have to play with the gearbox, and the dry suspension means you'll have to avoid hollows and bumps. But the Yamaha makes up for it with a 70° turning radius, so you can manoeuvre easily at slow speeds. On the freeway, the FZ6 lets loose; the ghost of the R6 hovers over it: it's all about driving sensations! You'll be able to call up the bike at regular speed, or adopt a sporty riding style with no problem at all. Torque is omnipresent at high revs, and quickly propels you to speeds that are, let's say... forbidden! The Yamaha inherits an identical fork to the 1000 Fazer, so stability is flawless; the machine obeys your every command. Cornering is smooth, the tires stick to the floor and the brakes are effective. Mmmm, I can smell the fun!
cOMFORT :
- Sporty as it is, the Z 750 isn't overly comfortable, but it's still better than the FZ6! The seat is a little firm, but correct, and the suspension is a little hard, which tends to make you bounce over bumps, but you can adjust it to limit the damage. It's for the duo that things get a little tricky.
The lack of a rear handlebar means your passenger will have to hold on tight, and the folding seat is a little high. Long trips for two will therefore be a little difficult...
- Comfort on the FZ6 is about as average as on the Kawasaki. The seat is uncomfortable, and your bottom will be calling out for help after 200 kilometers. Finally, the suspension doesn't help matters. As with the Z 750, duets are painful. The footrests are set too high, and soreness sets in quickly. However, two passenger grips limit the ordeal a little, and the potty under the seat won't heat up your buttocks - phew!
eQUIPMENT :
- the Z 750 gets the fork head of its big sister the 1000, the new rims are black whatever the color of the bike, and the handlebars are now steel. As for the rest, it's identical to the old version: double-decker seat, illuminated radiator, double headlight and wheel arch for a provocative look. A practical little box under the saddle holds a "U". An atypical, racy bike 
that will undoubtedly appeal to young people...
- A classy look for Yamaha! New, clean, weld-free frame, fully digital counters displaying totalizer, double partial trip, independent reserve trip, clock, rev counter reminder, fuel gauge and engine temperature! The new, wider handlebars reinforce the bike's modern street-bike style. It also has the luxury of passenger grips! The FZ6 is beautiful, and better finished than the Z 750. It's a bike that gets noticed wherever it goes, and will attract covetousness!
cONCLUSION :
- Z 750: Worthy heir to the Z 1000, this is a sporty yet accessible bike! The ride is natural and the handling is excellent. What's more, its new torquey engine offers availability at all engine speeds, making the Z a particularly versatile bike. But its ability to thrill you at high speed and its ebullient temperament also make it a very sporty roadster with plenty of thrills in store. An excellent value for money that would almost make the Z 1000 blush! Unfortunately,
comfort isn't great and the bike is a bit bare-bones. You can't have everything...
- The FZ6 is a little less powerful and the engine is more hollow. So versatility takes a big hit. What's more, the Yamaha doesn't make up for it in comfort, which is average... But it's a sporty roadster, and it stands out from the crowd with a more responsive, safer ride than the Kawasaki, with a very incisive but also very safe ride. Sensations guaranteed! Its power remains controllable and is not demonic, but it's still a blast to ride... Last but not least, the bike's aesthetics are superb, and the finish remarkable. A real beauty! Street attitude is yours!
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| Kawasaki Z 750 2005 | Yamaha FZ6 600 2005 | ||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | |||||||||
| Frame | |||||||||
| Tubulaire en acier, type diamant | en alu coulé sous pression | ||||||||
| Fuel capacity | |||||||||
| 18 liters (4.76 US gallons) | 19.40 liters (5.12 US gallons) | ||||||||
| Oil capacity | |||||||||
| Seat height | |||||||||
| Seat height : 815 mm (32.09 in) | Seat height : 795 mm (31.30 in) | ||||||||
| Length | |||||||||
| Length : 2,080 mm (81.89 in) | Length : 2,095 mm (82.48 in) | ||||||||
| Width | |||||||||
| 780 mm (30.71 in) | 755 mm (29.72 in) | ||||||||
| Height | |||||||||
| Min height : 1,055 mm (41.54 in) | Min height : 1,085 mm (42.72 in) | ||||||||
| Ground clearance | |||||||||
| Wheelbase | |||||||||
| 1,425 mm (56.10 in) | 1,440 mm (56.69 in) | ||||||||
| Dry weight | |||||||||
| 195 kg | 180 kg | ||||||||
| Curb mass | |||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | |||||||||
| 219 kg | |||||||||
| Brake assist | |||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| telehydraulic fork Ø 41 mm | Telehydraulic fork Ø 43 mm | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 120 mm (4.72 in) | 130 mm (5.12 in) | ||||||||
| Angle de chasse | |||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 300 mm (11.81 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 2 discs Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 4-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.5 bar | 2.25 bar | ||||||||
| Handlebars | |||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | |||||||||
| 6 stage gearbox | 6 stage gearbox | ||||||||
| Transmission | |||||||||
| Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | ||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | |||||||||
| Mono-damper | Mono-damper | ||||||||
| Wheel travel | |||||||||
| 126 mm (4.96 in) | 130 mm (5.12 in) | ||||||||
| Setting | |||||||||
| Brake | |||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 220 mm (8.66 in), single-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), 2-piston caliper | ||||||||
| Wheel | |||||||||
| Rear tire : 180 / 55 - 17 | Rear tire : 180 / 55 - 17 | ||||||||
| Pressure | |||||||||
| 2.9 bar | 2.5 bar | ||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | |||||||||
| 4 cylinders online , 4 strokes | 4 cylinders online , 4 strokes | ||||||||
| Cooling system | |||||||||
| liquid | liquid | ||||||||
| Fuel system | |||||||||
| Injection | Injection | ||||||||
| Fuel | |||||||||
| Starting system | |||||||||
| Timing | |||||||||
| 2 ACT | 2 ACT | ||||||||
| Number of valves | |||||||||
| 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | ||||||||
| Displacement | |||||||||
| 748 cc, Bore x stroke: 50,9 x 68,4 mm | 599.7 cc, Bore x stroke: 65,5 x 44,5 mm | ||||||||
| Power | |||||||||
| 108.5 ch to 11,000 rpm | 96.6 ch to 12,000 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Compression | |||||||||
| 11.3:1 | 12.2 : 1 | ||||||||
| Torque | |||||||||
| 7.50 mkg to 8,200 rpm | 6.40 mkg to 10,000 rpm | ||||||||
| With compressed air | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Émission sonore | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | |||||||||
| No | No | ||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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| The advantages | |||||||||
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| The disadvantages | |||||||||
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Compare |
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Acceleration
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
Undisclosed
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 3.4 s
Torque
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
: 7.5 mkg
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 6.4 mkg
Power
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
: 110 ch (108.50 hp)
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 98 ch (96.60 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
: 1.8 kg/ch
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 1.86 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
: 26 kg/mkg
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 28.13 kg/mkg
Speed
Kawasaki Z 750 2005
: approximately 225 km/h (139.80 mph)
Yamaha FZ6 600 2005
: 220 km/h (136.70 mph)
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Models |
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2004
2005
2006
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2004
2005
2006
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Competitors |
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France
Bikers' reviews
I'm currently going through the transition from the Hornet to the Z. The Honda seems more explosive, and easier to ride as a duo Rating : 5/5 Respond to titi
could you make a comparison between a "BENELLI 1130 TNT Cafe Racer" and an "MV-AGUSTA 910 BRUTALE"
the clash of the two machines would be terrbible!!! Rating : 5/5 Respond to marcus