By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Sport Tourer
Kawasaki Z750 (MY2004) vs Yamaha FZ6 (RJ07)
Kawasaki Z750 vs Yamaha FZ6: different classes, one choice. Here's how to make it.
Past half throttle, the Kawasaki Z750's superbike-bred engine doesn't level off, and its top end keeps rushing toward redline. On the Yamaha FZ6, the twist reaches a robust engine that's built around simple electronics. It won't ask for much beyond routine servicing.
So which one do you buy?
The FZ6 has the edge if…
Traveling with luggage
Slight edge: FZ6
The FZ6 carries a touring load slightly better. Credit better wind protection and more comfort on long stints.
Daily commuting & city riding
By a nose: FZ6
The FZ6 makes slightly more sense as a commuter. Don't read much into a gap this small.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Narrow edge: FZ6
On a twisty road, the FZ6 edges ahead. What tips it: a sportier chassis and stronger brakes. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
Z750
Rival 600s and 650 twins can't stay with the Z750's four once it's pulling hard. The soft fork and harsh rear shock won't settle at a high pace or under a heavier rider. On the Angeles Crest Highway, corner entry doesn't upset the stiff frame, which holds whatever line you've picked. The bar answers a nudge.
FZ6
Town traffic doesn't ruffle the FZ6's road-tuned four, which putters along without a fuss. Its aluminum frame earns its keep on twisty roads and on the daily commute alike. Up top, the four fizzes.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The FZ6 has the lower seat: 31.3 in (795 mm) vs 32.1 in (815 mm).
- The FZ6 has the lower wet weight: 443 lb (201 kg) vs 481 lb (218 kg).
- The Z750 makes more peak power: 110 hp (81 kW) vs 98 hp (72 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Sits this out: Z750
Leave the Z750 out of any touring plans. Big miles aren't what it's made for.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Look elsewhere
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Z750
What owners say
Strengths
- Rev-happy, superbike-derived engine
- Outstanding value for performance
Trade-offs
- Budget suspension lacks composure
- Adequate but wooden front brakes
- Prone to cosmetic corrosion
- Uncomfortable seat for longer trips
FZ6
What owners say
Strengths
- Excellent reliability and build quality
Known problems to check before you buy
Z750
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
FZ6
- Premature steering head bearing wear The stock steering head bearings are prone to corrosion and premature wear, leading to notchiness and vague steering feel. Many owners replace them with aftermarket tapered roller bearings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Telescopic
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Z750 | FZ6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 31.3 in (795 mm) |
| Wet weight | 481 lb (218 kg) | 443 lb (201 kg) |
| Z750 | FZ6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 748 cc | 599 cc |
| Power | 110 hp (81 kW) | 98 hp (72 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,500 rpm | 12,000 rpm |
| Torque | 55 lb-ft (75 Nm) | 47 lb-ft (63 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,200 rpm | 10,000 rpm |
| Z750 | FZ6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 4.8 US gal (18 L) | 5.1 US gal (19.4 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Z750 | FZ6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
