KAWASAKI Z900RS Test ride

This is motorcycle journalist Kenny Sagawa.
Today, I tested riding Kawasaki Z900RS.
Appearance, as you all can tell, is a homage of old legendary Kawasaki Z1
Z900RS’s “RS” stands for “Retoro Sports”
It gives you classical impression at first. However, what’s inside is true modern spec.
This motorcycle was made based on street fighter Z900.

So, actual size of the engine is 948cc DOHC water cooled.
Frame is steel truss construction and they spent a lot of time for developing this frame.
The frame is called “Diamond Frame” where they use engine as part of the frame to acquire rigidity.
The lastest inverted fork is used for front fork and are very balanced and reliable.
Horizontal type link styled mono-shock is adopted for rear suspension.
As you can see, Z900RS doesn’t have under frame like the old one.
Glimpse, this motorcycle gives you a homage image of kawasaki old Z1 and it would definitely excite kawasaki fans for sure.
Yet, this would also be “new design” for new young generation riders.
as this new Z900RS adopts a lot of cutting edge technology.
Today , I tested this motorcycle in the AUTOPOLIS Circuit in Japan and it was truly fun.
Riding “RetroSports”in the circuit may sounds little strange as I had and image of this motorcycle as orthodox naked style motorcycle.
However, as I actually ride, I felt that this motorcycle is more like a supersports.

Frame is very rigid and whole chassis is firmly balanced and doing it’s work professionally.
I had no hesitation to give a full throttle at the end of high spped corner.
This motorcycle has high stability throughout the whole ride.
Inverted fork hold the chassis firmly and no chance of motorcycle becoming unstaibul even on the hard break.
Damper is also working surely and it make motorcycle much more stable.
Not to say you have ABS just in the case of losing grip.
In addition, Exhaust sound get you going.

The sound is very comfortable. It’s like the sound of high-frequency sound of like metal instrument and howling.
I heard that the manufacturer took so much time in sound tuning the exhaust
I can also hear air intake sound from underneath the tank along with exhaust sound
and the harmony of the sounds even made me confortable riding.
I am very sure all riders will be intoxicated by this sound.
Now, about the engine. It’s very nice.
Very torquey at the low RPM and rise up to 10,000 rpm smoothly.
Too bad I rode one that is Japanese model which stops at 190km/h due to spped limit, but plenty of power left for much higher speed.
So, again, the engine is very powerful and torquey. Very fun to open a throttle.
Let’s straddle.
As you can see, riding position is orthodox naked style.
Very compact.
Very big and massive looking at it from away, but it is very compact when I acutally hop on it.
Indeed “compact” is not always a good word. however, upper body is confortably uprighted and position of the handle is perfect for me. (179cm 73kg)

Position of the foot peg is good. However, it hits the ground when you fully bank at the corner.
Suspention is also very good.
Suspension have enough stroke and you can actually feel them move is very smoothly.
Suspensio on absorbs conering G and with rigidty frame, the motorcycle traces your image of making a turn.
Like I said at the beginning, this new Z900RS is more like a supersports.
I’ve also took it out to a ride out side of the circuit. Enough power at the low rpm, comfortable riding with good suspension and riding position. These factors will make you enjoy riding from city riding to sports riding.
As a summary, It inherits designe from old Z1, but what’s inside is completely different which leaves no chance not to enjoy the ride for any kind of riders at any kind of style.

■You can shop Z900RS parts at the Webike from bellow URL!

https://japan.webike.net/KAWASAKI/Z900RS/13945/mtop/