Kawasaki Z 900 RS versus Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
Kawasaki Z 900 RS
Husqvarna Vitpilen 701
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Successful design
- Precise handling
- Fragrant sound
- Sporty
- Exclusive
- Processing
- Handles for the pillion passenger are missing
- Price
- Combi display
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.100 mm Height : 1.150 mm
Seat : 835 mm
Weight : 215 kg
Length : 2.100 mm
Seat : 0 mm until : 830 mm
Weight : 166 (max: 350 ) kg
Engine
Displacement: 948 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 73 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 693 ccm
Hub: 80 mm
Hole: 105 mm
Cooling: Flüssig
Drive: X-Ring Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 111 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 99 NM bei 6.500 U/Min Tank contents: 17 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 320 km
Performance: 75 HP at 8.500 U/Min
Torque: 72 NM bei 6.750 U/Min Tank contents: 12 Litre
Consumption: 4 l
Reach: 300 km
Chassis
Tubular space frame (high-strength steel) Front suspension:
41 mm upside-down fork (travel 120 mm) Rear suspension:
Horizontal back-link strut (travel 140 mm) Tyres at the front: 120/70ZR17 M/C (58W)
Rear tyres: 180/55ZR17 M/C (73W)
Tubular space frame (chrome-molybdenum) Front suspension:
Upside-down fork WP Apex 43 mm (travel 135 mm)
Front suspension:
0 Rear suspension:
WP Apex Monoshock (travel 135 mm)
Rear suspension:
Deflected swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR 17
Rear tyres: 160/60 ZR 17
Brakes
Double disc brake (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc (∅ 250 mm)
Single disc, Brembo four-piston radial fixed caliper (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc, Brembo single-piston floating caliper (∅ 240 mm)
Conclusion - what gets stuck
A really successful bike which is really fun but above all looks really good. Now, of course, you can still find something to complain about. For example, among the more extreme retro fans, there may be those who miss the two-sided struts compared to the legendary Z1. Or find the LCD between the round instruments superfluous. The Most strikingly missing is the Z9000 RS compared to the Z1 but certainly the exhaust system with 4 silencers. But who ever wants this can fulfill this wish for about 3000€ at the company Hattech https://www.hattech.de/380-kawasaki/z900-rs-z900-rs-cafe. Otherwise, the motorcycle test crew agreed that the Z900 RS in Candytone Brown makes an even better figure than our test model in Sparkle Black which would be worth us the 300€ surcharge in any case. But that's a matter of taste, of course.
The test machine was kindly provided by Heller & Soltau.
Conclusion - what gets stuck
The Vitpilen is a small Rabauke, but one that never lets you down. Provided that it can be afforded, the question remains: do you want to afford it? We at motorradtest.de agree: yes! Five times thumbs up.She is the ideal companion for the things that are so fun in life. And the most beautiful of them are those that evade all logic.
Only what we Germans like most about buying would be the principle. Because the Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 is a Naked Bike, which naturally limits the suitability for touring, which is already opposed by the tank, which only has a capacity of 12 liters. But, you know that beforehand. Like that ice makes you fat, you shouldn't watch "Bauer sucht Frau" on TV or that blowing up four liters of the finest super on 100 kilometers is ecologically simple crap just for fun.
We now find that we have satisfied political correctness, and now we are finally going to the trader and taking a test drive. ;)
The test machine was kindly provided by Heller & Soltau.
Small addendum: Vitpilen is Swedish and translates as "White Arrow". Why? We don't know either.
