2022 Kawasaki Z900 SE First Ride - Cycle News
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Kawasaki has given its venerable Z900 the SE treatment for 2022! The new Z900 SE comes to the dealer floors with a new Showa fork and Ohlins shock, plus new brakes that make the old model's feel positively ancient.
We took the new SE for a spin to see what's up.
One of the best reviewers; always covers the important points.
Thanks, Timothy.
I agree.
hello Rennie, nice to see you again
Good to see you back
Good to see you back Rennie 💪🇦🇺
Cheers, Flip.
Nice one Rennie, interesting about the ABS, yep cruise control would be nice. Great review, thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
I put a deposit on MT09 SP since April 2021 and still haven't got my bike, I really want the Yamaha but I can't wait longer, so I went to Kawasaki the other day and asked them to call me as soon as they got the SE model in stock, I think I will buy this bike
Congrats! Although there are a couple of flaws, the SE is still a great bike and you'll get lots of good riding miles out of it. Yamaha are having supply chain issues (like pretty much everyone), but if you can get an SE you'll be happy.
@@cyclenews Thank you sir, the only downfall in my opinion is the z900se dose not come with a quick shifter, I think for that kind of money they should have include QS
Would like to see more motorcycle brands have different tiers of bikes in the same model much like the mountain bike market
I got the 2020 grey model and can say I don't push it NEARLY hard enough that I would notice any difference between this SE and mine.
I feel the same about mine.
The stock brakes and suspension are more than up for the task for fast road riding.
It’s funny that so many spec sheet warriors put down the Z900 for being too heavy and having poor brakes.
The Z900 always goes and stops as well as the competitors in the shootouts I’ve read - provided that they measure those figures of course.
Set of EBC HH pads, steel lines, swap the OEM crap tires for something decent, and you're probably 80% of the way to this SE model with the base model.
Frankly, since they put in a "budget" Ohlins on the back, I'd probably buy the base model and swap in a 4-way shock, a set of fork cartridges, and upgrade the brakes all around and would end up having something that is functionally better than the SE.
interesting about the ABS, great review, bike looks like it would be fun
Excellent, informative review.
I believe the kawi is still cable throttle, so cruise control would require additional hardware to implement.
Didn't it get RBW throttle back when it got ride modes and traction control?
@@Joric78 I don't think so, I'm pretty sure it's just cutting the fueling for rain mode and tc
I think you're right. It's still cable. It's using a more basic traction control system.
The Ninja 1000SX transitioned to fully RBW and all the other stuff. The Z900 engine is based on the bigger 1043cc engine, with custom heads and jugs; same stroke, smaller bore.
As per last year, this model has a bit more up top, to the detriment of midrange lunge and a shorter top gear ratio than the RS, doesn't it ? Personally, I prefer it to the retro styled RS, regardless.
I really like the Z900, but it's just that little bit too small for me.
It's fine for short rides, but after an hour or so, cramps really start to set it.
If you're under 6' you will be fine
@@RidingNomad I’m exactly 6 ft and wondering if I should get this bike.
@@todayisagoodday5027 go in a showroom and check, i think for long rides you will have a problem too unless you have short legs :)
The Z900 doesn't have fly by wire throttle, so cruise control and a quickshifter would require a lot.
Are you sure? I thought it switched over a couple of years ago when it got ride modes and traction control.
Yes, they would need to put a ride-by-wire throttle in, but it's something they should do if they want to compete with bikes like MT.
@@cyclenews kawasaki doesn't always make sense. The zx10r has cruise control, but the Concours doesn't.
I would venture to guess the 2023 z900 will have the same fly by wire system that the Ninja 1000 has.
@@Joric78 yep. I have a 2021 Z900.
@@lovelessissimo Let's hope so. And no CC on the Concours is just madness.
Great review!
Thanks!
Adjusters are there to be adjusted to your weight, style and roads.
True, but the overall chassis is quite short and small. It's been a Z900 trait ever since it came out.
Looks like a good machine 👍
Great, great review, very useful infos. Sadly, this bike costs about €12000 in my country, and generally speaking the prices are way too high. I don't know if is all about chip shortage, but it's like that 🤷🏻♂️
€14000 here, crazy
Nice review & seems like a good bike with very worthwhile upgrades but for $600 more you could get the 2022 GSXS1000 which is where I'd go.
Still holding off till it has a quickshifter and oem heated grips. It is the only bike i would like to buy if it has those options :)MT's are a bit too big and do not like the positioning on it.
why not buy aftermarket QS or heated grips?
Are the riding position more sporty then the uppright Mt 09🤙 good review✊
Yes. I've ridden both and own the Z900 SE and it's definitely more sporty than the yamaha. Very comfortable for me (late 20s)
Makes me laugh that a 948cc i4 is now a "middleweight". No complaints though.
Are steering dampeners made for the 2022 z900?
Oh yeah I’d pick the new mt09 over this bike. It’s nice though.
You can turn the abs off.
Yeah,and maybe Australia will get the SE model,the f#cking dogs short changing us as usual.
I think they fucked up big time, I know they made that tail section so ridiculously high to get people to get the Z900rs....but instead it’s just pushing me to the mt-09 .... now that the 21 mt-09 has better electronics.... why is the tail section on a 125 hp motorcycle as high as a fireblade/r1/zh2 ?????????
My dream in this country is to own this amazing bike
Can someone at 5.5 to 5.6 ft ride this beast?
Yes. I'm 5.6 and I sit on it very comfortably. A bit more than the balls of my feet touch the ground.
Hello sir. I am form indian and i want to buy z900se model . Because in India z900se model is not available. How can buy z900se model 🤔
First 😁☝️
It was already a superb bike, but Kawasaki sort of gave it a 7 out of 10, when they could have just given it a 10. When you spec out an Ohlins for the rear, Kawasaki, you don't toss on a budget unit without compression damping. That's just dumb.
When you spec in electronics, you don't just give some kind of stupid phone app connectivity and not cruise control. That's just dumb.
When you spec in other controls, you don't leave out the quickshifter up/down. That's just dumb.
Your Yamaha competition has a much more finished product with the SP. I do like the creamy-smooth 4cylinder which still cranks out more horsepower and torque than all the competition in this sub-1000cc category, but you're holding back on a fully functional ride-by-wire, cruise, quickshifter, 3-way shock, 3-way fork cartridges. If you're going to offer an "SE" model, do it right.
Also because I'm over 6 foot tall, I'd want another couple inches of foam in that seat to relax my knee bend. I can touch the ground on a dirtbike, I don't have an inseam issue.
Kawasaki, you gave the Ninja 1000SX the good stuff, why can't you give the Z900SE the good stuff? Oh, and fix the spongy crap shifter on the Ninja 1000SX.
@JuicyDizzy I've got an '18 MT-09. It's a mess in the control department. I'm probably going with the '22 XSR900. The styling of the new MT-09 I just don't feel happy about. The performance (I've demo-ridden one last year) is fantastic, hugely improved.
@@exothermal.sprocket Have you driven the Z900 and if so what would you go with? mt 09 or z900? I have already driven the z900 and loved it. I am in the market for both but I am kinda torn between the mt09 and z900.
@@Heisssam I'm pretty qualified to offer an opinion as I've owned both, starting with a '17 Z900 (no abs), and currently a '18 MT-09. I'd done a lot of research on the Yamaha and I knew what I was getting into before traded for it (traded another bike, not the Kawi). For better or worse, I cannot blame anyone but myself for the cons of the Yamaha.
Kawasaki was super smooth, engine was very grunty, progressive, the throttle control was so telepathic I couldn't imagine why anyone would demand throttle modes or other systems to operate it. Chassis was super composed and confidence inspiring. Suspension was quite unforgiving, a tad harsh, spring rate was generally fine but the damping quality was quite terrible. Seat was thin and sloped toward the tank. Handlebar and upper body ergos were quite perfect in my book, no complaints there. With a 34" inseam I had knee cramping issues with the lack of space between the seat and the pegs. Your mileage may vary there. I'd have added 1.5" of foam to the seat if I was going with a custom seat build. Fuel economy was 43 mpg pretty consistently on average, without too much ripping on the throttle. Tank range was ideal. Leaning the bike in curves was super neutral, very predictable, and the feedback from the wheels concerning traction was excellent. Very confidence inspiring. Things I would change if I kept it: install fork cartridges, 3-way shock, upgrade brake lines to steel braided, pads to EBC HH or similar. Get seats custom foamed for my preference. Full exhaust, Sprint filter, ECU flash. Etc.
MT-09's best asset is the engine. That CP3 is so entertaining, grunty, fast enough, and quite fuel efficient at about 48mpg or better when I'm just doddling around on country rides not ripping on it very much. Tank range is a complaint, but it's tolerable as I can live with it begrudgingly. The triple has some coarse feeling vibrations that come through the bars, tank, seat but they don't reach intolerable levels, and the higher revs don't produce more of them. Z was much smoother in this department. Chassis I think is fine but the geometry is off. Suspension on the updated '17+ models makes the forks decent but the rear shock is utterly crap, especially for my 200 pound weight. Spring is too soft and damping is obsolete. Pro-squat under throttle causes the rear-weight-biased bike to lift the wheel too easy too often and speed-wobbles are too accessible. Brakes are decent, not a lot of complaints there unless under hard power stops (they go a little wooden with increased pressure). Stock tires are garbage, plastic, very little feedback comes up to the rider through the chassis to grant confidence. Seat is a board and sloped toward the tank (is there a trend on Jap bikes? I think so). Switchgear is a flimsy afair, tiny buttons flimsy switches that don't offer much feedback when activated (signal switch, etc). Starter slide switch is just goofy. Whatever. I adjusted. Instrument display gets the job done but I have never liked that asymmetric off-center wonky dumb display. The information on the display takes too long to sample changes, such as inst/ave fuel economy, engine temp / air temp. The fuel economy seems quite closely accurate otherwise, when measured by calculator. Things I would change if I kept the MT? All the same stuff I mentioned with the Z. But I'm not keeping the MT. Like I said, the engine is so awesome and fun and entertaining and capable. It's the package they put the engine into that just has too many flaws all around. Many could be fixed, but it would still be a flawed machine after dumping 3 grand into it.
I am seriously considering the 2022 XSR900 as it inherits all the fixes the new MT does, also gets cruise control, and while somewhat more basic suspension vs. the MT-09SP, it's far superior to the '18 MT-09 that I have. I read down through all the changes they made to the suspension, chassis, headstock location, engine, switchgear, instruments, electronics and tech, the frame, the gear ratios, the wheels, everything around the bike and after a demo ride on the MT-09 and SP model last year, it's VERY improved, most every complaint has been solved handily. The negative (white digits on black background) display this time is too small and hard to read in sunlight. What's a guy supposed to do? Can't Japan take all the Euro bikes for example in this? Also Yamaha has had 3 opportunities to enlarge fuel capacity on the -09 models and continues to refuse. Even stubborn Suzuki put a 5 gallon tank on their updated GSX-S1000 for cryingoutloud.
My picks for bikes this time?
XSR900
GSX-S1000
Z900 (maybe the SE model).
GSX-S1000GT
Choices choices.
@@exothermal.sprocket Thank you for the thoughtful summary. I have rented the 2022 z900 and loved the smooth engine. The power is definitely there but it is not overwhelming and feels manageable. I am thinking of getting the base model and upgrading it later on.
I think I know enough. Thank you!
@@Heisssam You're very welcome! If you get a chance, take a new MT-09/SP for a spin, even if you decide to go with Kawi.
Second 😁✌️
Just bought a 2022 Z900, and I'm massively disappointed. Zero top end hit and generally underpowered. Ugh. Now to trade it in, and with a major loss in cash.
Third gen Z900 no way why they put a bloody coffee pot for the brake reservoir they look Shite 🤮
These style of Bikes lately just look Cheap and over used.
Even the Ducati Street Fighter. You see it so much on the internet, then when you see one up close/in person it's no Big deal...
You been there, done that.
And it's even double with this Green thing. You seen one, you seen them all. No character whatsoever.
😁😁😁i got one today😄😄😄