Author Topic: Kawasaki Z900RS  (Read 2226 times)

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Offline glenncal1

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Kawasaki Z900RS
« on: March 11, 2018, 03:08:56 pm »
Really like the looks of the new Kawasaki Z900RS. Anybody ridden one? Test report?

Offline eigenvector

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2018, 04:47:40 pm »
That looks pretty cool.
Rob
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2018 HD Softail Heritage
1979 CB750K Limited Edition
1977 CB550K
1984 CB700SC Nighthawk
1983 VF750S Sabre

Offline jas67

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2018, 06:04:41 pm »
I've ridden the Z900 from which it is derived.    Fantastic bike.  Lightweight, very flickable, nice broad torque curve, and a very light clutch pull, which I like.

The Z900RS is all that and more, including radial mono block brake calipers, and unlike the regular Z900, the Z900RS is gorgeous to look at.
Classic Honda:
1976 CB400F
1975 CB400F (project)
1975 GL1000
1968 CL175 (1 nice one, one project)
1967 CB77
1967 CB160 (2 of 'em, both projects)
1967 CL160 project
Triumph: 2017 Thruxton R
BMW: 2016 R1200RS, 1975 R90S, 1973 R75/5, 1980 R100S
Ducati: 2013  Monster 796, 2013 848 Evo Corse SE track beast, 1974 750GT, 1970 Mk3d 450, 1966 Monza 250
Moto Morini: 1975 (titled 1976) 3 1/2 Strada, w/ Sport clipons.
Moto Guzzi: 2017 V7III Special,  1977 Le Mans, 1974 Eldorado

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2018, 06:26:38 pm »
I love Kawasaki and have a few vintage models but what's with all the space between the rear tire and fender?
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'71 Honda 750K project.....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline jas67

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2018, 06:39:26 pm »
I love Kawasaki and have a few vintage models but what's with all the space between the rear tire and fender?

Suspension travel.

Unlike many of the current retro models (which I love), like the CB1100, Guzzi V7, Triumph Classics, which all have twin-shock rear suspension, the Z900RS has a modern chassis.

Classic Honda:
1976 CB400F
1975 CB400F (project)
1975 GL1000
1968 CL175 (1 nice one, one project)
1967 CB77
1967 CB160 (2 of 'em, both projects)
1967 CL160 project
Triumph: 2017 Thruxton R
BMW: 2016 R1200RS, 1975 R90S, 1973 R75/5, 1980 R100S
Ducati: 2013  Monster 796, 2013 848 Evo Corse SE track beast, 1974 750GT, 1970 Mk3d 450, 1966 Monza 250
Moto Morini: 1975 (titled 1976) 3 1/2 Strada, w/ Sport clipons.
Moto Guzzi: 2017 V7III Special,  1977 Le Mans, 1974 Eldorado

Offline ekpent

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2018, 08:37:57 pm »
 Lists for $11,199 or $10,999 in black. "Let The Good Times Roll"   ;)

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2018, 09:04:56 pm »
I love Kawasaki and have a few vintage models but what's with all the space between the rear tire and fender?

Suspension travel.



10"?
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'71 Honda 750K project.....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline jgger

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2018, 09:45:55 pm »
It probably has a lot of initial sag when you first sit on it, makes for more up dampening. At least that was the theory on dirt bikes, I don't think that gobs of up travel is really needed on a street bike.

But............................it is a good looking bike though.
"The SOHC4 uses a computer located about 2-3 ft above the seat.  Those sometimes need additional programming." -stolen from  Two Tired

The difference between an ass kisser and brown noser is merely depth perception.  Stolen from RAFster122s

Offline Bankerdanny

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2018, 08:21:15 pm »
Sat on one at the Motorcycle show in February. Surprisingly large and it looks fantastic.
"The problem with quotes on the Internet is that you never know if they're true" - Abraham Lincoln

Current: '76 CB750F. Previous:  '75 CB550F, 2007 Yamaha Vino 125 Scooter, '75 Harley FXE Superglide, '77 GL1000, '77 CB550k, '68 Suzuki K10 80, '68 Yamaha YR2, '69 BMW R69S, '71 Honda SL175, '02 Royal Enfield Bullet 500, '89 Yamaha FJ1200

Offline MikeSimon

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2018, 05:12:37 am »
Waiting for someone to come out with a 4-2 exhaust. Then I may add it to my "to buy" list. 8)
1973 CB350F -sold
1974 CB350F -218 orig miles, sold
1976 CB750K - in restoration

Other Hondas:
3 x CBX
CB1100R
GB500
Plus Kawasakis, BMws & Ducatis

Offline ekpent

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2018, 05:23:29 am »
Sat on one at the Motorcycle show in February. Surprisingly large and it looks fantastic.
Yes a friend of mine just bought a 2018 Goldwing and when he was over at the dealers he said he checked one out on the sales floor. He mentioned that he was surprised because he said the gas tank was HUGE-------

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2018, 09:08:18 am »
The performance and handling will likely blow the "modern classic" Triumphs away.  I think that the Yamaha XSR900 is more light and nimble, but the look is less retro and more modern.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2018, 05:58:32 pm »
Looks like a great upright riding position, if you ignore the cynical "Grab for cash" Z1-ish styling. I don't know why they do that, the original Z1 was the best looking Japanese bike of the 1970's, but 40 years later, Kawasaki are telling us they can't make something as good looking? If I bought one, I'd have to paint it black. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

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Offline glenncal1

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Re: Kawasaki Z900RS
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2018, 05:42:38 am »
I was in the local small Honda dealer yesterday and saw the new CB1100, that is a nice looking bike too. Probably a little lower tech than the Kawasaki, but a little more retro looking. I would take either one and be happy. My birthday is coming up, just sayyin......