Ridgeback
Wakin up the neighbours
Fast Bikes have done a back to back road test between all the 'New breed' of naked middleweights,ie the 7-800 cc class.
The contenders are-
FZ8 N - £7,799
Ducati Monster 796 - £6,995
Triumph street Triple R - £6,999
BMW F800 R - £7,695
Kawasaki Z750 - £5,995
They rated them from 1-10 On Track,Fast Road,Hooligan,New Rider,Desirability.
This is how the FZ8 N fared
Track - 1 out of 10 "Too low and too slow"
Fast Road - 3 out of ten "Still too low,but easy enough to cane"
Hooligan - 1 out of ten "No Chance,next question"
New rider - 9 out of ten "Perfect for ditching the 'L's
Desirability - 5 out of ten "Nice lines,but lacks swagger"
Next up Performance,as tested with data logging equipment.
FZ8 N 0-60 in 3.64 secs 0-100 in 8.10 secs 0-120 in 13.14 secs top speed 141 MPH Standing quarter 11.93secs at 115.87 mph
Kawasaki Z750 0-60 in 3.50 secs 0-100 in 7.88 secs 0-120 in 13.06 secs top speed 145 MPH Standing quarter 11.68 secs at 116.80 mph
BMW F800R 0-60 in 3.94 secs 0-100 in 9.33 secs 0-120 in 15.99 secs top speed 133 MPH Standing quarter 12.55 secs at 110.93 mph
Ducati Monster 796 0-60 in 3.74 secs 0-100 in 9.10 secs 0-120 in 15.66 secs top speed 135 MPH Standing quarter 12.26 secs at 112.55 mph.
Triumph Speed Triple R 0-60 in 3.38 secs 0-100 in 7.61 secs 0-120 in 11.38 secs top speed 144 MPH Standing quarter 10.56 secs at 120.67 mph.
The general upshot is that the FZ8 is £2000 more than what it should be and that by marketing it as a naked sportsbike,they should be sued under the Trade Descriptions act.
This sums it up for them -
"Yamaha reckon this isn't a bike for beginners.They obviously haven't ridden it.It wouldn't scare a delicate 70 year old with dementia.There's no charisma and as for attitude? It wouldn't retaliate if you shagged it's Mum"
"The FZ8 falls short by a long way,unless you want an overpriced naked bike that's severely limited.It's slightly cruel pitching it against such opposition,but that's where Yamaha want it to sit"
I'm guessing it didn't exactly win their hearts and minds.....
Link to magazine here - New Issue ON SALE NOW!
The contenders are-
FZ8 N - £7,799
Ducati Monster 796 - £6,995
Triumph street Triple R - £6,999
BMW F800 R - £7,695
Kawasaki Z750 - £5,995
They rated them from 1-10 On Track,Fast Road,Hooligan,New Rider,Desirability.
This is how the FZ8 N fared
Track - 1 out of 10 "Too low and too slow"
Fast Road - 3 out of ten "Still too low,but easy enough to cane"
Hooligan - 1 out of ten "No Chance,next question"
New rider - 9 out of ten "Perfect for ditching the 'L's
Desirability - 5 out of ten "Nice lines,but lacks swagger"
Next up Performance,as tested with data logging equipment.
FZ8 N 0-60 in 3.64 secs 0-100 in 8.10 secs 0-120 in 13.14 secs top speed 141 MPH Standing quarter 11.93secs at 115.87 mph
Kawasaki Z750 0-60 in 3.50 secs 0-100 in 7.88 secs 0-120 in 13.06 secs top speed 145 MPH Standing quarter 11.68 secs at 116.80 mph
BMW F800R 0-60 in 3.94 secs 0-100 in 9.33 secs 0-120 in 15.99 secs top speed 133 MPH Standing quarter 12.55 secs at 110.93 mph
Ducati Monster 796 0-60 in 3.74 secs 0-100 in 9.10 secs 0-120 in 15.66 secs top speed 135 MPH Standing quarter 12.26 secs at 112.55 mph.
Triumph Speed Triple R 0-60 in 3.38 secs 0-100 in 7.61 secs 0-120 in 11.38 secs top speed 144 MPH Standing quarter 10.56 secs at 120.67 mph.
The general upshot is that the FZ8 is £2000 more than what it should be and that by marketing it as a naked sportsbike,they should be sued under the Trade Descriptions act.
This sums it up for them -
"Yamaha reckon this isn't a bike for beginners.They obviously haven't ridden it.It wouldn't scare a delicate 70 year old with dementia.There's no charisma and as for attitude? It wouldn't retaliate if you shagged it's Mum"
"The FZ8 falls short by a long way,unless you want an overpriced naked bike that's severely limited.It's slightly cruel pitching it against such opposition,but that's where Yamaha want it to sit"
I'm guessing it didn't exactly win their hearts and minds.....
Link to magazine here - New Issue ON SALE NOW!
Last edited: