Is the Legendary Kawasaki Z900RS Worth Buying? Review & Ride
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- Опубліковано 15 січ 2024
- With its authentic homage to the original '70s Z1, the Kawasaki Z900RS has drawn plenty of attention since arriving. But does this retro-styled ride back up the hype? That's what moto journo Pugs from Live To Ride aims to find out in his latest review.
(00:30) In the Movies
(01:12) Naked Bike, Retro Styling
(01:26) Ergonomics and Comfort
(01:40) Engine Performance
(02:17) Handling and Suspension
(02:40) 214kg Weight
(02:48) Engine Sound
(02:52) Brembo Brakes
(04:31) Jonesy's Opinion Miles of Smiles Rating
Kawasaki has nailed replicating the essence of the iconic flat-four Z1 from years past. Period-correct details abound from the teardrop gas tank and round headlight to brushed aluminum trimmings. This bike has character - you can feel the history in every rivet.
Jumping on, ergonomics provide comfort whether rolling or hustling, with a rider layout that strikes the right balance between sport and relaxed riding. Both pegs and pullback bars put you in control without feeling cramped. The low 835mm seat also stays accessible for most riders.
Fire it up and that 948cc parallel-twin offers a deep rumble thanks to Kawasaki's sound tuning. Pugs immediately notes the strong low and mid range torque available for weaving through town or making passes on the highway. It also winds out smoothly without harshness higher in the RPMs.
Riding reveals sharp handling too, with the agile chassis slicing corners eagerly on fully-adjustable KYB suspension. Braking force from the radial-mounted Brembos delivers strength and feel for confidence in any situation. Yet the Z900RS also cushions rough roads agreeably for comfortable miles on end.
Fellow tester Jonesy also throws a leg over, sharing his take as an experienced long-haul rider. He values the relaxed ergonomics for devouring open road. Jonesy also comments on how composed it holds up under heavy braking, instilling reassuring control. Jonesy takes us through the Miles of Smiles rating system.
Equipped with rider aids like cornering ABS and lean-sensitive traction, it proves manageable for new and veteran pilots alike. But spec-hunters find it basic beyond essential LED lighting and analog tach.
In summing up, Pugs judges the Z900RS accomplishes modern classic right - effortlessly fusing retro style and modern performance. For those seeking the thrill of two wheels old school, this Kawasaki could be their perfect partner.
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At 74 years old, I absolutely love mine.
I have done 63,000 kms on my 21' Z900RS and absolutely love it. I take the missus to work, friends, shopping, etc. on it all the time and she likes it better than my old Gixxer.
Awesome, thanks for sharing !
Ive put 80,000 I'm on my 2018, never had an issue, rides like new. Glad you are enjoying yours as much as I enjoy mine.
Do you also have gear noises? (Slight crying)
@@retro.1980 nope, all good.
48 hours of intense new bike research has brought me back to this bike.
I have a 2018 Rootbeer and orange color. Added a color matched bikini fairing and a modified Corbin seat. Replaced suspension with K-tech rear shock and front fork kit. ECU flash, air box mods. I use Michelin Pilot Power 5 tires. Bike is fantastic in the mountain twisties.
I bought the Z900 RS in 2019 and now has 39,000 km. I'm still happy with this machine. I would buy it again! 🏍
G'day Pugs. Just bought a 2024 RS-SE for my 65th birthday. Love it! Had one in '76 and it was a blast. Older, classic looking bike for an older, not so classic fella. Had all types over the last 50 years, but this is Kwaka is in the top 3 of my favourites. Cheers for the review mate.
That’s fantastic! Great bike
You made a great decision. I rode the 2022 model and was quite surprised. Can check it. Just drop by. You may like my content. :)
Like your comments, I am 76 and gave my HD to nephew looking for something lighter. This is on my short list!
Back in the day I put myself in the I.C.U. With that thing. Still riding at 63 years old. 💪🏽 hop back on the bike.
When I saw the z900 for the first time a few years ago, they matched the font on the 70’s bike.
Flashback to highschool. Rode one every day. What a trip.
They nailed it with this bike.
This is really an astonishing bike. It is´t just beatiful, it's an amazing ride!
A proper review, have a 21 green and yellow, turn heads everywhere i go
Just traded in a cruiser and bought a 2023 rs cafe because the looks alone, I missed my zrx1100 enough that the z900 really captured my eye
Great Review 👍
Love the Kawasaki. Have owned many bikes over my 69 years and the Kaw's are a favorite.
Keep The Shiny Side Up Brothers ✌️😎
Georgia USA
I have a 2024 Z900rs se. I had one guy come up to me and say that must have cost a fortune to restore. I had to tell him it was new.
What a great thing to hear! Testament to Kawasaki …
Absolutely stunning bike. Just such a shame the Z650 RS has the twin engine. That's not a Z bike to me.
I’ve had my Jaffa since 2018 when I bought it new. Love it, except the early ones had a real snatchy throttle but a ECU flash fixed that. Happy to see you like the bike, pretty hard to fault it and I’ve owned a few since 1966. Bought a few brand new bikes over the years but never a new car lol. My Z900RS is a keeper I reckon.
If Kawasaki did a " Eddie Lawson " rep I'd buy it in a heartbeat !!
They did, it was the ZRX-1100 -2021 model. It only came in green & white or black & gray. What a great bike. I'm sorry I sold mine. It had 124 horsepower after all the mods.
It had a $1,400 dollar Akropovic full header, K&N air cleaners, and cam advance kit. Plus, I did some fine tuning on the carbs. I ditched torque for high rpm power.
Been a long time since I've heard thick Aussie accent. Loved it. Cheers mates, great review on a great looking bike!
Thanks !!
Love mine too! 2022 black/blue. Vroom! Vroom!
The z900rs was my first bike. (The dealer had it out for me) I've put about 17k miles on it so far. Crashed it once (as the first bike goes) fixed her up, and she's still an absolute champion. It's more than enough power to get jiggy with it, yet not too overdone. I wouldn't recommend a first bike more, other than the little brother z650rs. Wear your gear and keep those eyes open. Blessed ride, brothers.
👍🏽👍🏽
Is this a commercial? 😂
I miss the four beautiful exhausts!
If they had a 28" seat height cruiser version, I would buy one.
Nice one Pugs hope all is cool with you man , nice bike
Cheers Nik
I love mine.
Had mine for nearly 4 years, love everything about it, you are right though I'm forever being stopped by older blokes who want to reminisce
as for a pillion the mrs has done as much as 500km in a day and it did just fine granted she has very limited pillion experience to go off but i t was through all the back roads around picton and the southern highlands where road conditions are quite shit
Awesome! Thanks for sharing
I believe Jim Goose would approve! Kwaka
Absolutely gorgeous bike!
Awesome modern/retro style👌
Pugs and Jonesy always giving all the info we need to know. 👍😂Jones pissed got to give bike back to the pugs Lol
😂😂
Flashed the ECU
K&N air filter
Iridium spark plugs
Bread box OUT
SAI disabled
Akrapovic muffler
- on dyno -
HP = 106
Torque = 94.5
A powerful bike easy to ride ❤
Nice!
Good review, guys 👍
Thanks ! 🙏
Not into the z900rs but I do have the z650rs. No regrets.
Really enjoyed your review of the legend Kawasaki 900 and yes it does look like the original.
I had a Z1B 900 Kawasaki and would love one of these new ones, tthe legend 900 was King , thanks again for this wonderful review it put a smile to my face.
Thankyou 🙌🙌
What an excellent review. Your voice and looks would fit in well on the Mad Max movie. Have a blue '22 Z900RS and have enjoyed it immensely. Torquey for a 4 banger. For fun took off from a dead stop in 5th gear. Did it without a whimper. All in all, a fine machine.
Thanks a lot
23 cafe version! Its a jewel i love it
What is the point of having rebound adjustment without also having compression adjustment, as they both work together? I've found that the acceptable spot for the rebound adjustment will be determined by whatever the spring and compression adjustment will tell it to be, and from that location, there is no point in any further adjustments.
I've got a BSA GoldStar star the opposite of this but would i like this in my garage, you bet I would i've always loved a big four.
Wish they released the black cafe version in Europe 😢
Dam inflation, 13000eur for a naked bike is just too much even though this one is perfect
Yes.
Brembo brakes?
Yes Premium Brembo front brake package
You'd have thought they would have brembo written on them instead of Kawasaki
Only on the SE, the one shown here has Tokico (Kawasaki labeled ) calipers on the front.
What about the taller guys, above six foot. How do you find it?
I am 6"3 and have the Cafe which has a lower seat height, 820mm, no problem, they are pretty big bikes actually.
I had to pay $800 for my z900rs brembo m4s. You got yours for free :(
Is that a Eldorado e70 full face helmet your wearing?
The one with the jonesy is wearing is a Bell. The one Pugs is wearing is an El Dorado
what helmet model is that?
El dorado
I own a 2018 with the Jaffa paint, and I joke that if you wanted to pick up old male boomers, this is the bike to have. Not much attention from the chicks though 😝
But it really is a great versatile bike.
Great bike!
I'm picking up a lot of young chicks on my Z900RS, though 😁
Everything beyond 25 years old isn't on my radar anyway 😁
How much does it list for?
In Australia averages $21,990 . In the UK £12,368 and the US $13,449 .
Lovely bike , but doesn't have cornering abs or brembo brakes on the one you were showing, only the se model
I'm riding the standard with the Nissin calipers, my brother the SE with the Brembos.
We both found the Nissin brakes better.
@@kwakithailand Interesting. I seen a stopping comparison of an F900 and a Z900 and the Z stopped faster from 60 mph. BMW had Brembos, Z had Nissins. Interesting.
@@TrustyZ900 The tires also make a difference, I suppose.
With Pirelli Angel GT2 my Z900RS not only brakes but also handles fantastically.
A great improvement from the OEM Dunlops.
Look at the speedometer, @ 3:14. It goes up to 240. Did they really have to do that? So at 60 mph you are only using 1/4 of the meter. It's like somebody cared, just a little bit, about you having a nice speedometer.
The speedo is in Km's not MPH
A few sketchy facts in there fellas
But, Jonesy- do you like it?
Calling a 2024 bike "legendary" is a bit over the top. Furthermore, as someone that roared through the 80's on a '73 900Z-1, I can say Kawasaki screwed the pooch when they put a rear mono-shock on the Z900RS. If they're going to build an "homage" bike, then it should have had dual rear shocks.
Why so critical?
It’s a kwakka 9, say no more😊
Under 20 grand is pretty cheap? Wut?
Looks a different bike to previous models 2021, 22,23.
That rear brake disk wtf !?? That wasn't there before. I've seen much better looking models. Of this bike
Had mine for a year. Crap fuelling, clunky gear shifts, ran hot, bad aero, really buzzy over 85MPH, average brakes and far too expensive for what it is (no quick shift, cruise, TFT, etc.) AND, a bit like all revised retros (think VW Beetle, Ford Thunderbird), they begin to look old and tired really quickly second time round.
You must have got a lemon, my bike rarely gets to 4 bars out of 6 and it is 38 degree tomorrow where I live. The gear shifts are so light and smooth and aero are you joking. Lastly why buy this bike it you want a TFT screen, or quick shifter, cruise control would be nice but it doesn't have ride by wire. Finally that last point is subjective, it might be your opinion, but that is all it is. Half the things you said you should have been aware of before you bought it, makes me wonder.
It can hardly be legendary after only a couple of years. Let’s see if people remember it in 2044.
I think it legendary because it styled after the first KAWA Z900/1000 that most bikers rode at one time or other back in the 70s/80s. Not the ride to work 250 commuter bike that most wantobes bikes owned before buying Harley and only bikes they ever owned.
I definitely will.
Overpriced, under featured. Under performing as well.
Too Harsh! Too much vibration. But, because of the harshness, used Kawasaki's are cheap, with low mileage.
Spare me. These 4 bangers are smooth as butter. Harsh? You must be referring to a RE. Enjoy your moped.
@@TrustyZ900I wish I could give 10 thumbs up 👍🏻 for your comment. I love my Kawasaki Z900rs
Sorry to say,but the legendary is the Z900 not the RS...
Its a homage to the legendary Z1, so yeah its legendary
@@iodineclip sorry,but no. A bunch of modern singers paying homage to Elvis doesn't make them legends...
@@jorgegarcia-wy2gd fair point