Kawasaki India recently launched the Z900 in its 2024 avatar. It gets fresh colours but what remains is the big naked bike formula that has clicked in India. The Kawasaki Z900 remains among the best selling big bikes in the country but it faces stiff competition from the new Triumph Street Triple 765 R. How does the Japanese stack up against the British bike? Let's find out.
Design
The Kawasaki Z900 has been around for a bit but it still exudes that typical streetfighter motorcycle allure. It looks aggressive with its low set LED headlight that has fang shaped DRLs, the muscular fuel tank and the slim tail section. The Z900 looks good from most angles but in a case of form winning over function, the pillion seat is quite slim and isn’t suited for long rides.
The Street Triple R was launched a few months ago and it looks rather athletic in comparison to the ‘Z’. Its characteristic bug-eyed headlight, the sleek fuel tank and the pointy tail section contribute to its purposeful, street naked design. Between the two bikes, the Street Triple R looks sportier and it is also the better finished motorcycle.
Features
Both motorcycles have a comprehensive feature list that includes full-LED illumination, ride modes, traction control system and dual-channel ABS. The Street Triple, however, goes a step forward by offering cornering ABS and cornering traction control. It also gets a quickshifter that is sorely missed on the Z900.
Engine
The Kawasaki Z900 possesses what is possibly the most loved engine format in India, the inline-four. Primarily adored for the soundtrack that it produces, the Z900’s engine is also known for its incredible tractability, top-end performance and astonishingly good heat management. The 948cc mill produces 125bhp at 9,500rpm and 98.6Nm at 7,700rpm.
The Street Triple, as the name suggests, has a 765cc, inline-triple engine that produces 118.4bhp at 11,500rpm and 80Nm at 9,500rpm. One clearly needs to rev this engine a lot higher to extract the most performance but we didn’t mind doing so during our first ride. This engine sounds intoxicating with a screaming inline-triple exhaust note that we loved. It's quite characterful as well.
Hardware
The Z900 has a steel trellis frame, with a 41mm USD fork and a monoshock. Both ends are adjustable for preload and rebound only. Braking duties are taken care of by twin, 300mm discs at the front and a 250mm disc at the rear.
The Street Triple 765 R has the upper hand here, with a fully-adjustable, 41mm USD fork and monoshock. This gives one better ability to tailor the ride as per road conditions, be it bad sections, undulating tarmac or the relatively smooth surface of a racetrack. The braking hardware is also superior in the form of bigger, 310mm discs at the front with radial Brembo calipers and a 220mm disc at the rear.
Price
The Triumph Street Triple R is the better equipped bike here and quite a well-rounded package. That said, it is also the more expensive option, costing Rs. 10.17 lakh, ex-showroom. In comparison, the Kawasaki Z900 is significantly cheaper than the Triumph at Rs. 9.29 lakh. It does miss out on some equipment but it still offers good value. Choosing between the two should come down to whether one wants a tried and tested Japanese bike or the exciting, feature loaded Triumph Street Triple.
