It’s never completely possible to be totally objective when reviewing motorcycles; some element of personal preference has to come through, and thank goodness it does, otherwise multiple articles on the same bikes would be intensely boring.
As it is, the modern motorcycle is, on the whole, so well-conceived and built as to be virtually immune to criticism, which in itself makes reports tedious.
What I mean is, my love for classic bikes will never leave me, and it invariably colours my perception of today’s motorcycling world. Show me a superbike, and I’m ambivalent, if I’m honest. But put a Triumph Speed Twin or Thruxton, Kawasaki Z900 RS or BMW R nine T Racer in front of me, and I pay attention.
Modern Classics Done Right
The best thing that happened when the first ‘new’ Bonneville arrived in 2001, was that it was a success and, therefore, virtually every manufacturer had to jump on the bandwagon, which in turn drove choice and model development. Think about the last twenty years; beautiful, modern retro models coming at us from every direction. Old models brought right up to date in every sense other than the looks. Re-imaginings that have got dynamically better and better year after year. If you’re of a mind to appreciate the aesthetics of the so-called ‘modern classics’, you’ve had an interesting and rewarding couple of decades.
For the purposes of today’s test, the bike in the red corner is a 2022 Triumph Street Twin 900, and in the green corner, we have a Kawasaki Z650 RS of 2023 vintage.
Same Formula, Different Personalities
Here are two bikes that do exactly the same thing from the same ingredients, but the end result feels so different. Both have liquid-cooled parallel twin engines, producing 65-67 horsepower, although the Triumph has the Kawasaki licked on torque; 80 Nm vs 64 Nm. Both have a minimum of electronic trickery, and both are faithful throwbacks to models from their respective company’s past in terms of styling.
Where they bear no resemblance to the past is in every area bar the styling. Here are two motorcycles with excellent performance, handling, engineering soundness, build quality and reliability. The suspension set-ups are flawless, as are the brakes. They’re comfortable, the engines don’t vibrate or leak oil and, in second-hand form, they’re a lot of motorcycle for the money.
You could argue that the Triumph is the more convincing pastiche, retaining, as it does, the parallel twin engine of the original; there was never a twin-cylinder Z650 – the ‘70’s Z650 had an inline four-cylinder engine. But we’re really splitting hairs here. Whether your modern classic can trace its lineage or whether it’s a shameless cash-in on the retro movement is neither here nor there; we should just be thankful that there is such a wide choice nowadays.
How They Ride on the Road
On the road, the performance is similar but, again, the way they go about it is completely different. The Triumph is all low-down torque and bass notes from the exhaust, while the Kawasaki loves to rev, with a not-unpleasant exhaust note. Performance is similar, as you would expect, given that the Street Twin weighs around 30 kg more than the Z650 RS, and neither can be said to be too slow nor too fast. They are exactly what you need for a stylish, characterful run-about-town bike, with more than enough in hand to make an interesting cross-country scratcher; an open road under a cloudless sky is nothing but pleasure on this type of bike.
Everyday Comfort and Practicality
Somehow it doesn’t seem appropriate to talk about on-the-limit handling, largely because neither bike will ever be bought for that reason. But what can be said is that they are safe and secure, with no surprises, either from the suspension, the chassis or the brakes. The Triumph has a single front disc while the Kawasaki appears to be over-braked with a twin-disc set-up. It doesn’t matter, of course, as it also doesn’t matter that the Z650 RS has monoshock rear suspension and the Street Twin a twin-shock rear set-up.
We’re not comparing them in terms of outright performance figures because these bikes are about style first and performance second. That’s not to say that Triumph or Kawasaki have forgone dynamics in favour of style. Far from it; they’re both great to ride by every measurable parameter, but I bet you won’t see too many at a track day!
But as machines to enjoy riding and then enjoy looking at with a cold beer in hand as the sun goes down, they are unbeatable. It’s true; style never goes out of fashion.
Which One Would You Choose?
Both bikes are available for sale at Bikeshop Boksburg. The Triumph is priced at R109,900, while the Kawasaki will set you back R125,900. Both are, as you can see, in perfect cosmetic and mechanical condition. Whether you’re drawn to the timeless charm of the Triumph Street Twin or the retro-inspired appeal of the Kawasaki Z650 RS, Bikeshop Boksburg always has an impressive selection of quality pre-owned motorcycles. Browse their latest stock in the ZA Bikers Bikes For Sale section, then visit the showroom—you never know which two-wheeled gem might be waiting for you.
