On October 25th, a new motorcycle presentation session was held at the Tokyo Motor Show’s premises, and the designer of the new Z900RS in 2018 made a show, and photos were presented on November 16, 2013 at the Model Test Drive. As a result, it was revealed that Z900RS was used for trial and error from the data of the process of making the design mask and the 3D mock of the concept stage.

A yellow ball was drawn in the survey sketch

In the early stages of designing, only the direction of the “classic model” was determined, and in addition to the Z1’s homage, a myriad of sketches were drawn, which were sketched to some extent, other than the one of the actually selected Z1 image yellow ball color, such as model with no tail cowl like W series (Upper left), and also model with the shape of the side cover faithfully mimicked the Z1 (upper right).

The description of the Z900RS designer, Mr. Norikazu Matsumura, is “sketches (upper stage) when we investigated each specification, but the direction of pursuing the Kawasaki sense and the tradition is not determined at this time , And from the results of the survey, we were able to support the development of the sketch (the lower stage) where the tradition of kawasaki was held, and proceeded to develop these as key sketch. “”At first, it didn’t came out with fire ball color, but with yellow ball color and dual exhausts.

It is thought that it is a Brembo.

On the red sketch, you can see it’s equipped with brake calipers, which is thought to be brembo on the spot wheel, and single exhaust. It can be seen that the detail was not determined at this stage.

On the upper sketch, the details were being filled, you can see the brembo brakes and the spoke wheel. On the below, the final sketch, it has casting wheel like spoke wheel. Mr. Matsumura, the designer, said that at this time, they still examined dual exhausts.

At the stage of mock-up, single silencer is selected.

At the stage of the mock-up from the sketch, the shape of the tank changed greatly and the shape of the knee grip portion was lost, resulting in a beautiful tear drop shape similar to that of the Z1, and the initial shape of the mock.The emblem on side cover is infer from the photograph that it assumed the Z1 type with the letter “DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAMSHAFT”, but no trace of it was found at the end of the mock, and there was also a single exhaust.

Above is the beginning of the mock, and below is the final mock., “In the initial phase of the mock up, we are considering the overall balance, eliminating the press line of the tank, and repeatedly constructing the tanks in order to express the beautiful tear drop shape. They have repeatedly made small adjustments such as the length of the tail cowl and the beauty of the outrigger, and at the end of the clay mock, the parts are almost in the final stages,”said Mr. Matsumura . During this process, the front brake may have become a radial mount caliper.

The designer himself has a Z.

Finally, the slide shown by Mr. Matsumura, the designer is as follows: “These Z are Z750’s D1 type, which I own,and I feel that the opportunity to see the old model was an important time for designing the Z900RS, because I need to integrate them with the sense of contemporary expression and sense of classic. Then, Z900RS will be able to show the origin and the tradition of the history and the soul, this model also reflects the sensitivity of younger generations of designers who participate in development”. he added.

Matsumura’s Z750 D1 is kept original appearance, but customised partly, and Z900RS final mock up is next to his Z750D1 (two in the lower stage). Matsumura’s Z is 750cc, but he shows “900” on the lisence plate, you can see his love of Z900. There is no more lucky encounter between the designer and the product.

Original Source[ YOUNG MACHINE(*Japanese) ]

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