Spec Comparison Review: Kawasaki Z900 vs Street Triple vs Monster 821 vs Yamaha MT-09

The Kawasaki Z900 is the newest entrant in the comparo here, a replacement product for the popular Z800 and probably the sharpest-looking motorcycle of the lot. The MV Agusta Brutale 800 will be replaced by a new powerful engine and new features and this is the reason we have not considered it in this comparo.  Let’s get a better insight on how these machines stack up.   

Engine and performance –

The Kawasaki Z900 is powered by a 948cc inline four-cylinder engine which develops 125PS @ 9500rpm and a peak torque of 100Nm @ 8000rpm. The Z900 gets a lighter crank compared to the Z800 which helps the motor to rev quicker. The Street Triple gets a 675cc inline 3-cylinder motor which produces 79.3 PS @ 11,000rpm and a peak torque of 57.3Nm @ 8,375rpm. A more powerful version of the motorcycle, the Street Triple R, is currently not available in the country but might be launched in the near future.

The Ducati Monster 821 is powered by an 821cc L-twin engine which develops 113PS @ 9,250rpm and a peak torque of 89.4Nm @ 7,750rpm. The Yamaha MT-09 gets a 847cc inline 3-cylinder engine which develops 115PS @ 10,000rpm and a peak torque of 87.5Nm @ 8,500rpm. The Z900 has unarguably the most powerful and torquey motor of the lot. All the motorcycles are mated to a 6-speed transmission.

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Features –

The Z900 follows Kawasaki’s ‘Sogomy’ design philosophy. The motorcycle gets all-new digital speedometer and an optional Akrapovic exhaust unit.  The motorcycle gets flyscreen, crash bobbins for the front forks, engine guards, engine casing covers, a gel tank pad, different seat cover and pillion seat cowl with cushioning for the rider, a 12V charging socket on the handlebar and a radiator guard as optional accessories. The accessories should be worth close to a lakh rupees, and the good thing is, the accessories are not just aesthetic but functional too. Riding modes and traction control are missed though.

The Ducati Monster 821 gets 3 riding modes, Ducati safety pack that that offers 8-level traction control and Bosch ABS with three settings. It gets a comprehensive LCD display. The Triumph Street Triple gets switchable ABS, adjustable suspension, engine immobilizer, programmable rev indicators and underseat storage space. The Yamaha MT-09 gets aluminium die-cast frame, compact and lightweight engine, traction control system with two riding modes and an underbody exhaust unit.

Dimensions and cycle parts –

The Z900 is constructed around a high tensile steel trellis frame. It gets 41mm inverted forks with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability with 4.7-inch travel at the front and monoshock horizontal back-link, stepless rebound damping with adjustable spring preload with 5.5-inch travel at the rear. The motorcycle gets Dunlop Sportmax 120/70 Z R17 tyre at the front and 180/55 Z R17 tyre at the rear. Braking duties are done by dual 300mm petal-type rotors with four-piston calipers at the front and a single 250mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper at the rear. ABS is offered as standard.Seat height is 795mm which is suitable for riders with average height, ground clearance is 130mm; the fuel tank capacity is 17 litres and the motorcycle weighs 210 kg.

The Street Triple gets aluminium beam twin-spar high pressure die-cast frame. The motorcycle gets 41mm USD forks with 110mm wheel travel at the front and a monoshock unit with 124.5mm travel at the rear. It gets Pirelli Diablo Rosso 120/70 Z R17 tyre at the front and 180/55 Z R17 tyre at the rear. Braking duties are done by dual 310mm floating rotors with 2-piston sliding calipers at the front and a single 220mm disc rotor with single-piston caliper at the rear. The motorcycle gets switchable ABS.Seat height is 800mm, fuel tank capacity is 17.4 litres and the motorcycle weighs only 168kg. It is the lightest motorcycle in the comparo.

The Monster 821 gets a tubular steel trellis frame attached to the cylinder heads. The motorcycle gets 43mm USD forks with 130mm travel at the front and progressive linkage with adjustable monoshock with 140mm travel at the rear. It gets Pirelli Diablo Rosso 120/70 Z R17 tyre at the front and 180/60 Z R17 tyre at the rear. Braking duties are done by dual 320mm semi-floating rotors with 4-piston caliper at the front and a single 245mm rotor with 2-piston floating caliper at the rear. ABS is offered as standard.Seat height is adjustable from 785-810mm, fuel tank capacity is 17.5 litres, and the motorcycle weighs 180kg.

The Yamaha MT-09 gets a diamond-type frame structure. The motorcycle gets telescopic forks with 137mm travel at the front and a monoshock unit with 130mm travel at the rear. It gets Dunlop Sportmax 120/70 Z R17 tyre at the front and 180/60 Z R17 tyre at the rear. Braking duties are handled by dual 298mm rotors with 4-piston caliper at the front and a single 245mm rotor with 2-piston caliper at the rear. ABS is offered as an option.Seat height is slightly on the higher side at 815mm, ground clearance is 135mm, fuel tank capacity is 14 litres and the motorcycle weighs 188kg.    

Pricing –

The Kawasaki Z900 is priced at Rs 9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is offered with compulsory standard accessories from the company. The Street Triple is available at Rs 7.91 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), making it the cheapest motorcycle in the comparison here. The Ducati Monster is offered at Rs 9.72 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The MT-09 is priced at Rs 11.36 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Street Triple might be the cheapest bike here which also offers all the goodies but it feels dated, and the power output is simply not up to the mark with respect to the competition. The Monster and MT-09 play a closely run competition in terms of engine power, and it’s the price tag that sets them apart. The MT-09 is a whooping Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Ducati, making it the most expensive motorcycle in the comparison. The Z900 nails the bulls-eye here -- it is decently priced and is the newest offering in the segment. It also looks good and is certainly a motorcycle you can happily ride back home from this comparo.