Kawasaki Z 800 e Performance 2014 — Specifications

Are we talking about these European regulations that are churning out restricted motorcycles left and right? Kawasaki, for its part, played the game with a certain flair by releasing the Z 800 e Performance. The idea is simple: to offer the punch of the 800 cm³ to A2 license holders, without breaking the bank. For a price that flirts with €4,990 today on the used market, you get on a beast displaying 95 horsepower, ready to be unleashed once you have a full license. It's clever, and considerably more exciting than an underpowered machine from the moment of purchase.

Under the 17-liter tank, the 806 cm³ inline four-cylinder hasn't been strangled excessively. It delivers its 75.5 Nm of torque with a nice vigor, even if the useful rev range sits a bit high, around 8000 rpm. Alongside, a Suzuki GSX-S 750, although more recent, could teach it a lesson in flexibility, but the Kawasaki has that slightly raw, slightly mechanical character that is appealing. The steel trellis frame and the rolling chassis, with its 41 mm inverted fork, provide a solid base, even if the wet weight of 221 kg is felt in tight corners. It's robust, not a lightweight.

So, where is the "Performance" magic? It's in the details that make the difference between a tool and a desirable object. Akrapovic has placed its signature on a carbon exhaust that transforms the growl of the four-cylinder into a much more sensual melody. They added a smoked screen, not useless at over 200 km/h, and a dressed-up seat cowl. These are embellishments, of course, but they change everything about the relationship with the machine. You go from a means of transport to a motorcycle that makes you want to take detours.

The braking, with its 310 mm petal discs at the front, is effective without being lightning-fast, a bit like the motorcycle itself: honest and predictable. That's the drawback of the armor compared to a rival like a Yamaha MT-09, more unhinged and technological. The Kawasaki Z 800 e Performance doesn't claim to be the finest or the most radical. It's the sensible alternative for a young license holder who aims for a large displacement without settling for a soft compromise. It's a motorcycle with character that teaches its rider, before revealing its full potential. A reasonable crush, in short.