Monster Energy: Kawasaki Z800 breaks free

India Kawasaki Motor have launched the Z800, one of the most powerful street bikes globally and at a price tag to really ruffle some feathers.

The Kawasaki Z800 is the smaller sibling to the larger, more mental Z1000, but is no less ferocious in nature. Essentially a budget muscle bike, it will go a long way in helping those who sought a big four-cylinder naked bike, pool up their savings and head to the showroom. That also means that you don ‘t get ABS or KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control), but what you do get is loads of horsepower, sculpted muscular street styling, a big and shapely 17-litre fuel tank and superbike-spec tyres: 120/70 ZR17 up front and a chunky 180/55 ZR17 at the rear. All in a package that weighs in at a reasonable 229 kg dry.

At the heart of this green monster is an 806cc inline-four (helping them bypass the country’s CBU import homologation regulations by 6cc!) with triple-digit power and a good amount of torque to boot. The mean, green styling gives obvious clues to the potential on tap – 113 PS at 10,200 RPM and 83 Nm at 8,000 revs – not bad at all for the price. Oh, that price is Rs 7.9 lakh ex-showroom, Pune while it will retail for Rs 15,000 more in Delhi, plus taxes of course.