Triumph Speed Twin 1200 versus Kawasaki Z 900 RS
Triumph Speed Twin 1200
Kawasaki Z 900 RS
Year of construction / RRP / Test report
Competitors
- Powerful engine
- Beautiful details
- Processing
- Pillion comfort
- Brake
- Successful design
- Precise handling
- Fragrant sound
- Fiddly side stand
- Handles for the pillion passenger are missing
Dimensions & Weight
Length : 2.080 mm Height : 1.140 mm
Seat : 805 mm
Weight : 216 (max: 426 ) kg
Length : 2.100 mm Height : 1.150 mm
Seat : 835 mm
Weight : 215 kg
Engine
Displacement: 1.200 ccm
Hub: 80 mm
Hole: 98 mm
Cooling: flüssig
Drive: X-Ring-Kette
Aisles: 6
Displacement: 948 ccm
Hub: 56 mm
Hole: 73 mm
Cooling: flüssigkeitsgekühlt
Drive: Kette
Aisles: 6
Performance
Performance: 105 HP at 7.750 U/Min
Torque: 112 NM bei 4.250 U/Min Tank contents: 15 Litre
Consumption: 5 l
Reach: 300 km
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
Chassis
Centric tube frame with beams (steel) Front suspension:
43mm Marzocchi USD fork (120mm travel ) Rear suspension:
Marzocchi Stereo shock absorbers with external reservoir, with adjustable spring preload (travel 116 mm)
Rear suspension:
Aluminum two-arm swingarm Tyres at the front: 120/70 ZR17
Rear tyres: 160/60 ZR17
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)
Brakes
Dual disc brakes, 4-piston calipers (∅ 320 mm) Rear brake
Single disc, Nissin double piston floating caliper (∅ 220 mm)
Double disc brake (∅ 300 mm) Rear brake
Single brake disc (∅ 250 mm)
Good job
Upright and classic, the Twin stands in the frame, upright and assembled, the Triumph Pilot sits at a height of 807 millimeters, and this sitting position characterizes the bike. There's little to complain about here, the owner of this bike is definitely on par with the competing motorcycles like the BMW R nineT,Kawasaki Z900RS or Honda CB1100EX.
What else to forget? Oh yes: the side stand is hidden and fuzzy to use. This is criticism at the highest level, because you have to look for more points with the magnifying glass. Class made, triumph.
The test bike was provided to us by Triumph Hamburg.
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.
