Kawasaki Z 750R

Kawasaki revealed today its latest addition to its super naked line, a middleweight streetfighter badged Z750R. With a sportier look than the current Z750 model, the ‘R’ version comes with new brakes and exhaust system, though the engine remains unchanged.

The bike comes with new improved chasis with fully adjustable front forks, revised rear shock on a new aluminium swing arm, radial front brakes with braded lines and ABS as an option.

Some styling tweeks have been made, such as the nose cone, indicators and footpegs. Limited edition colours and revised clocks are also featured. Handlebar ends and ergonomics have also been revised.

“The Z750R is an impressive package. It has been designed to take the handling, braking and overall specification of the hugely popular Z750 to a totally new level, justifying the exclusive R status of our new mid-weight naked contender for the coming year,” Kawasaki says.

Kawasaki Z750R features,

Pressed aluminium swingarm replaces the steel square-section item of the Z750. The new swingarm is lighter and contributes to the Z750R’s higher-grade appearance. The sculpted design is based on that of the 2009 Z1000, featuring the same left side, but a newly designed right
side to be able to better accommodate the 180 mm rear tyre used by the Z750R.

High-grade, sharper front cowl
Multi-piece cowl construction
Sharper, more aggressive, multi-facet design
Luxurious two-tone colouring
Front fender with new fork guard portions
Sharper turn signals
Sporty R-model instrumentation
Front suspension offers more precise adjustability
Both sides feature rebound adjustability (vs only one side on Z750)
41 mm inverted fork
Preload adjustable
Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with piggyback reservoir also offers increased
cooling performance
High-quality sculpted aluminium swingarm
Radial-mount 4-piston calipers
Radial-pump brake master cylinder
Steel-braided brake lines (front and rear)
Thicker front petal discs

Review

Kawasaki’s Z750 has been one of Europe’s most successful naked middleweights. The three-quarter-liter inline-Four is a good all-around performer, efficient and versatile, nicely styled and finished. Last year, however, sales dipped sharply, due in part to the worldwide economic crisis and changes in market tastes.

In response, Kawasaki’s European branch urged management in Japan to take appropriate action to hold its position in this critical segment. Their response is the 2011 Z750R.

This “R” is a natural evolution of the Z750, which remains for sale as an entry-level model. This version was developed as a private owner would have done it himself, adding state-of-the-art components that didn’t require major reworking or machining but would result in a higher level of performance while dramatically altering the bike’s appearance.

The engine remains the same reliable and tractable, liquid-cooled, dohc, 16-valve, 748cc Four fed by 32mm Keihin throttle bodies. Power claims are 106 hp at 10,500 rpm with 57.8 ft.-lb. peak torque at 8300 rpm.

That engine is harnessed by the Z750 chassis, unchanged in geometry or structure, but with better brakes, suspension and rolling gear. The inverted 41mm fork, inherited from the 2009 Z1000, is adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping. The swingarm is new, fabricated from cast and stamped aluminum elements and actuating a piggyback-style shock, which is also adjustable for preload and rebound.

The entire braking system has been upgraded. Up front, 300mm rotors are teamed with four-piston radial-mount calipers. The rear rotor is sized down to 250mm and the caliper is a floating single-piston unit. All rotors are thicker, up from 4.5mm to 6.0, and have a daisy-style design. Brake lines are steel-braided, and ABS is available.

Styling is sharper, with a new bikini fairing and updated instrumentation. The front fender and the massive, Z1000-like muffler are also new. Options include an Akrapovic exhaust, a suede-trimmed sport seat, a spoiler and imitation carbon-fiber add-ons. Two-tone or matte-black paint schemes contribute to the edgy new look, making the Z750R a very desirable naked bike.