2019 Kawasaki Z900RS | Our first ride & review

[@TheDervMan]

The first time I saw the red Z900RS I was blown away by how good it looked, it’s been a long time since I’ve looked twice at a bike. Thanks for the video RCTV. 👍🏻🏍

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the kind words DervMan :)

[@kilpel2]

Round analoge gauges is a must on retro bikes!😁👍

[@gm16v149]

I’ve had my Z900RS for a year now and done 12,000 kms on it, but mine’s the “Jaffa”, the orange and brown, which is the best looking in my opinion. I’ve fitted genuine Kawasaki heated grips, centre stand and grab rail, also an Evotech radiator guard and now the bike is complete. They are a beautiful bike with plenty of performance and everyone wants to talk about it. I thought those roads looked familiar, I was brought up in Cornwall and lived in Camborne and worked underground at South Crofty, but that was decades ago. The country roads don’t seem to have changed much. I thought I saw Carn Brea in the background, and of course those old engine houses!

[@atastefortheroad4475]

I would agree the orange and brown version is the best looking. Very handsome in the flesh when I saw it at one of the shows here in the U.S. Glad to hear you're enjoying yours with the extra goodies. Heated grips are a wonderful thing.

[@RiderCamTV]

yep the roads havent changed mush and you did see Carn Brea there too at one point :)

[@mikemcclernon5784]

Totally agree, it could be my end all be all, as well.... ive added R&G covers, Denali sound bomb, and Hepco & Becker junior flash hard bags in addition to your mods... the centerstand and grips really sold; Also motocomposites does carbon fiber option so i swap out those radiator "louvres" for an orange weave.... im done now w/ mods at 22k miles! Cheers!

[@allsearpw3829]

Cornwall ,nice place , before the holiday makers get down there ,plenty of open roads in march , WELL YOU LIKE IT ,yes ? nimble , consider it on his wanted list ? A nice well explained video and you could be making me , to go and see one in Bournemouth ,next week and buy a tin of polish for it . CAFE OR RETRO , WHO , GIVES A , 4XXX . We were arguing that back in the 1960,s T 120 against a BSA Gold star and all lived to tell the tail . Thanks again ..

[@gillianbrodie6807]

I think you're on the scrambler style version. Thanks for the video. 🙂👍

[@tombailey6342]

Great honest review. Thanks. I have now got one in my garage.....

[@Ravan_Caw]

Once again another great review, would you say Kawasaki have really upped their game on all their bikes in the last few years, as you both seam to have real liked the bikes you have been reviewing. 👍🏻

[@markholroyd5365]

Ravan Caw i think the6 have always produced good bikes.

[@RiderCamTV]

they seem to have, the bikes are great

[@micahjohnson5675]

Well done fellas , really great review. My favorite so far Toby is the the 650 Vulcan With the grin on Your face Toby you when you got done riding said it all. Cheers

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks buddy. I was so impressed with it! amazing!

[@okiefreemen]

the fuel cutoff for engine braking is not a feature but an emissions thing, flashing the ecu to fix that issue turns this thing into a absolute dream throttle

[@khristoffersonalcachupas7536]

ilove that bike...thanks for a informative video buddy.

[@frankstocker5475]

It's not built for touring it's for day trips out of the city. I got the feeling you really enjoyed the bike & realised another concept than just riding a big touring bike with panniers & a top box full of heavy gear.

[@Jack908r]

I wished they'd of done the flat green / black colour scheme for the rs cafe model. That would have looked brilliant.

[@Nifilheimur]

Went to a kawasaki dealer to look at a Ninja 650 or a Vulcan S as my first bike but this gorgeous beast just captivated me. since then ive been looking at a CB650R as my first and would probably be a more logical fist bike but this thing just got me! awesome channel btw.

[@petersydney5895]

Nice review guys, but it's not a Cafe Racer. There is a Cafe Racer version (unsurprisingly called the Z900RS Cafe), but the bike you were riding is not it! Main differences are the bars, and the seat. Lovely bike though.

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks for the info Peter.. awesome bike alll the same :)

[@raymorris952]

Right you are, Naked Roadster 😀

[@teasels10]

Sooner or later I can't wait to see you and Mark on your own Kwaka's ... TBH though !!! I doubt you'll get swayed from the bemmer. Great review Toby.

[@RiderCamTV]

Hey David, thanks for the kind words buddy. Kwaka's are great but im sticking with the beamer for a while longer :)

[@pistolpete6321]

Great video, great bike!

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks buddy

[@petewielsma423]

As for the gauges , it was one of the selling points for me , love the old dial style , there's enough digital display in the middle to tell you fuel, temp etc ..Personally I'm not into the modern iPad or electronic imitation looking gauges . Overall it's a great bike , loving mine , cheers 👍

[@Ritalie]

Yeah exactly. Kawasaki has the best looking round analogue gauges ever. I hope they never switch to all digital gauges. Nothing looks more awesome than 2 round analogue gauges.

[@russelllocke7180]

One day my ZR750 Zephyr(24 years old) is goin to morph into one of these. I'm keen on the Kawasaki green with bikini fairing. Your right about the kit. Change of outfit for the full retro look on the long way to the cafe.

[@TheSweatyYeti]

Love those colors

[@okiefreemen]

digital tachs are done to save money, not because the are better, this bike has the sexy instruments I have ever seen. And technically there are digitally driven analog, stunning gauges

[@travelinben1966]

I think its at the top of the heap as far as retro bikes go.That's why I'll have one.

[@ridelive6249]

What a beautiful machine! Now I m gonna have even harder time picking between Triumphs and this one. Love Triumphs and own one but this Kawi looks so great. Arhh... Too many bikes, too little money. ) BTW, what jacket are you wearing?

[@RiderCamTV]

hahahaha, know how you feel! The jacket is a Klim Kodiak jacket and the high viz one is a Helite Airvest :)

[@tomquinn607]

It's a 'Standard' style like the original Z1. Cafe style would have a bikini fairing, lower bars or clip ons and maybe rear sets and solo seat with cowl. See Paul Dunstall.

[@lynsmith1096]

Another good review Guys

[@RiderCamTV]

thanks Lyn :)

[@Ritalie]

I'm just not sold on the North American color scheme which is 1970's green, and yellow. I might get it anyway. But I wish it was just solid green. Your color scheme there looks a lot better. They would sell a lot more of these if they offered 5 different colors. Is it really that hard for $12,000 to offer more than 1 color? The U.K. riders seem a lot more appreciative of "normal" motorcycles. The American riders seem to be really focused on performance. I'm glad for reviews like these, because the sound and aesthetics, and engine smoothness are more important than power alone.

[@andywatts8718]

if it had a main stand and a front mudguard like the old one had I would consider this bike. why have bike manufacturers stopped putting these important items on bikes?

[@bigpapa8152]

If the lack of a centerstand, which should be standard but is an option, stops you from considering this bike, you really aren't considering this bike.

[@stopper90004]

The dealer will install an OEM one for you

[@davidschilling4861]

Damn ur roads r narrow over there.

[@captainaverage721]

Great for developing riders skills in braking and cornering!

[@markholroyd5365]

They were the wide ones....

[@RiderCamTV]

they sure are but all the more fun :)

[@stuartshone1740]

i agree , they're no wider than my driveway

[@Wirefox1]

Should have named this video, "A bridge too far"! 🤣

[@Juliang61]

it is not Cafe style, it's retro!! Cafe has lower bars and a small fairing :-(

[@olboymotoaustralia4294]

Julian Gunney yes sir you’re right. Wrong from the start. The cafe ‘ is a different bike.

[@raymorris952]

Roadster , or Naked retro.

[@marc9089]

For gods sake give it some wellie. You might as well ride a moped.

[@andersmichaelson3113]

Mate seriously, the bike is a UJM not a Cafe Racer, in fact it’s an homage to one of the greatest UJM’s made, the Z1 or Zed as we call it in Oz: As for the analogue dials, they are an exact replica/homage of/to the Z1’s. I understand that you may have wanted to approach the review with a clean slate, but you’ve just made basic errors/assumptions in this review. You should have done yourself and the review a favour by riding the Z900RS higher in the rev range, as the air box induction roar kicks in at around 6500 - like the review, I’d call that opportunity lost.....

[@markholroyd5365]

Anders Michaelson unfortunately we were restricted in the revs because the bike was brand new. Point taken.

[@921636]

It’s not a cafe

[@Daves_Man_Cave]

Get rid of the shit OEM tires for something better. ECU flash to get rid of the throttle and ignition timing restrictions... The OEM shock is garbage but easily replaced, and thicker fork oil. 4 simple mods that transform the bike into a proper sportbike weapon, while retaining all of the retro coolness...