KAWASAKI Z750

Not the Z1000, but still a nice noughties naked…

We often shout about those mid-1990s nakeds that seemed to make us happy 25 years ago: they were cheap, they were cheerful.

Bikes like the Suzuki Bandit – the original (-ish – let’s not forget the humble Yamaha Diversion 600) and others such as the Yamaha FZS600 Fazer and the Honda CB600F Hornet. Kawasaki were a bit late to the party (the ZR-7 of the mid-1990s was SO basic) but during the early to midnoughties the Big K were turning a bit of a corner.

First of all they were kicking out some stonking bikes backed by some very fresh design – think the shark-like Kawasaki ZX-6R of the early 2000s and the 2003 Z1000. The 2004 Z750 was very much along those lines…

The looks were similar to the 1000, but lacking the visual impact of the four ‘end-cans’ or the Z1000’s upside-down front forks. Price was a reasonable £5445 new, about two grand down on the Z1000, and with 108bhp, it was only about 10-15bhp down on the thou’ too. The 750 was also three (just three) kilos lighter.

But it wasn’t the looks or spec which made the bike a corker, it was the way it rode. Commuters would love the frugality from the 18-litre tank, while the bike handled well enough and had plenty of pose for the weekend’s ride outs.

Okay, so the pillion perch wasn’t the best – but this was the start of the fashion for ‘shorty’ rear sub-frames and tail units. We still hate that.

If the naked bike was stylish, then it was joined by a half-faired ‘S’ version a year later which offered more wind protection and was 10mm lower in the saddle at 805mm and the precarious pillion perch was improved with a one-piece seat for rider and backseater, and you had some useful grab-handles. The trick digital clocks were replaced with analogue, too.

You can find these early models for next to nowt; scruffy ones start at a grand to £1500. The bike was refined for 2007, with engine changes, inverted front forks and wavy brake discs. Even this model can be found for around £3500… bargain!