Kawasaki Z900RS - A 2 Year Review

[@stormcrow1112]

Last year in August I found a 2018 Z900RS in root beer and orange out in Texas with only 411 miles on it. It was basically a new bike. Since then I have rode it stock a total of over 10,000 miles. Some of those trips have included 700+ mile days. Last week I did a 2500 mile trip which included "The Dragon". This bike loved those 318 turns in 11 miles. This bike is perfect!

[@tsdmoto]

I don't think I've seen that color IRL. Sounds magical !

[@stormcrow1112]

@@tsdmoto It is! The root beer is metallic and depending on the way the light hits it, it looks black or maroon or a beautiful root beer color. It gets tons of compliments.

[@ralfybaby]

@@tsdmoto My wife's GYN has one. That's where I found out it existed. I had left the motorcycle hobby alone for many years. Than that thing caught my eye. I thought it was an old one from the 1970s for a moment until I got closer. I could not believe my eyes! It is a wonderful colour. I fancy the blue and yellow one but only because that is what I had in Z1000 form back in the day when I was young ....

[@williamtully1858]

Good talk.

[@scottashdown3686]

I bought a used 2018 orange and brown with only 2300 miles for $8100. Compared it to Triumphs, BMW and Yamaha XSR. Mine came with radiator guard, engine sliders and rear grab rail. I replaced the hideous brake fluid receptacle, and added bar risers and front fender extender. I am 64 years old, so I have memories of the original 1973 Z1. I am only 5’’5” and weigh 155 lbs, so I was looking for relatively light weight, comfortable, agile and good handling, sporty, torque, smooth, great/ unique looks and great sound without having to modify. This bike checks all those boxes for me, and always gets attention and praise, even from the Harley riders! The only negative for me is I cannot flat foot, but that’s not a dealbreaker for me. I now have 25k miles after riding San Diego backroads the last 3 years, and will probably keep her until I can’t ride anymore. Lord help me if I keep shrinking! That’s why I have my 2nd bike which is 2017 Triumph Bobber. Which one I ride depends on my mood, if I’m feeling more like Tommy Cruz or Marlon Brando! Ride safe 😎🏍️

[@tsdmoto]

25k miles on San Diego backroads sounds like a glorious way of spending time on the Z900RS. Thanks for the comment and ride safe !

[@scottw550]

Kawasaki sells a lower seat and you can lower suspension.

[@mikehrynyk434]

I too have a 2018….bought the lower seat and replaced the rear shock to be able to have more footprint on the ground. My second bike is the 2018 Bonneville bobber, hade to have both

[@garyoneill8868]

Scott Ashdown, How do you go just generally wheeling the bike around home ie. pushing it into the garage etc? I'm 66, 5'7" and 145lbs too........and I haven't ridden a bike for nearly 40 yrs but I'm getting a Z900RS. Partly because I had a Z1B as a lad.

[@tsdmoto]

I'm so jealous of you Cali riders!

[@EvoDvr]

As a fellow 2022 Z900RS owner, this review is spot on. Kawasaki did a great job remaining true to the original Z1.

[@tsdmoto]

Thank you!

[@SG-rh7or]

Thanks for the great video. Funny enough, I keep searching and checking videos about Z900rs to see if there are any faults or issues. Maybe Im biassed, but I can't seem to find any. When you meet up with other fellow Z900rs riders, there's nothing but positive praise. I love my 2023 red/black Z900rs. I take it everywhere, long rides, short rides, highways, back country roads, city riding, and twisties. I love the sound of that motor, stock. I love the power, I love the handing, I love the braking, I love the riding comfort, I love that seat, I love the retro style. As you can tell, I love everything about this bike it is a complete package. I'm 60, and I am hopeful we will be together and riding her till I leave this rock. What an awesome complete machine. Thankyou Kawasaki The funny thing is that my wife totally understands how I feel about this machine. She loves it too. Yeah, the throttle is a bit twitchy when you first get on it, but it's not something that would put you off it at all. I have adjusted to it and enjoy that instant power.😁 As for the tyres, the Dunlop SP were ok, but when I put on the Michellen Road 6's, it was a total game changer for me.

[@juliamiller2299]

I traded in an old BMW K1200RS for the Z900RS SE. It's like your bike, but has an Ohlins,rear shock and front Brembo brakes with steel braided lines, with upgraded front struts. It's a 2023 and I only feel a bit of an abrupt throttle in 1st and 2nd gear, but it seems fine in the other gears. I have read some people think Kawasaki retuned the throttle a bit. Other than that, the bike is the same as yours and I love it. Especially the power curve that's much lower than the hyper sport bikes, and makes the bike so much better to ride. I probably shouldn't but comparing it to my old bike which was very heavy bike that was only good on the highway. This one is so much lighter and easier to handle in the corners. The styling reminds me of the 1970s Kawasaki Z900 bikes, and I fell in love with it when I first saw it.

[@tsdmoto]

Thanks for the comment, I'm very jealous of the Ohlins your scoot has.

[@KB-yj5xp]

Ive put 75,000 km on my 2018 and it's been fantastic!

[@tsdmoto]

Do you still find the factory seat comfy?

[@KB-yj5xp]

@@tsdmoto in Canada we get the low seat for some reason, and no for longer rides I don't find it comfy any more, for a couple hours no problem.

[@tsdmoto]

@@KB-yj5xp I had no idea about the lower seat up there, so interesting. Have you considered an aftermarket seat?

[@KB-yj5xp]

@thesoutherndistance I think if I am going to replace the seat I will go with the cafe seat, I find it a good balance of sitting in the bike as opposed to on top of it with enough cushion for my rear, I still do day trips on my low seat and put an extra seat cushion on if I'm going for more than a day and it works. I'll likely only replace it if I wear out the cover and I get any tears/holes.

[@rtzzz9772]

Excellent analysis. just bought one off of someone who commented they were really afraid of it, because it was so powerful (read that snatchy throttle). Instead, i view that something to be solved with a simple ECU flash.

[@leanmixture]

You are bringing too much attention to my future bike which is the newer version of my bike and you are going to drive the price higher. nice video. subbed.

[@kurgon1976]

it's shaped like my zr750.. loved that bike. love the analogue cluster. Great city bike indeed.

[@jaspersoda8286]

Great review of the Z900RS. And I couldn't agree more. She is unassuming. Not the most powerful in her class (although she will throw you off backwards if you aren't concentrating. And she can be twitchy and rough in the corners. Until . . . You change the tyres. I have Road 6's . . . superb. Worth every cent. And ride her like you stole her. Don't be timid. A twitchy throttle becomes instantaneous exhilaration. Straight line / over-powered into corners becomes effortlessly floating from one corner to the next. Literally 2 days ago I scrubbed my boot toe as I planted into a corner . . . as she kept giving. Yes! to the sw motech crash bars. Gives her an industrial look. Throw on some matt-black hand-guards and the Givi rack. Go the fairing . . . and I have attached a 'defuser' atop of that to get rid of 'bubble-head' at +100 mph. I had contemplated trading her in (pre-tyre change). Now I shall be buried with her . . . 😃😉

[@tsdmoto]

LOVE IT, I ended up buying sliders for a less conspicuous appearance. Ordering the exhaust this week and getting an ECU flash. I will swap the tires at some point. Glad you love your Z900RS!

[@Grauer1963]

Hello. Thank you for this nice video. I`m a proud owner of the Z900 RS SE model........since this year. I'm so lucky about the bike. Very smooth engine with enough power. Looks so great .....This is my first brand-new bike and I think I will never regret it. Regards from germany.

[@tsdmoto]

Congrats on the Z900RS. It's a great bike and I'm sure it will give many years of trouble free pleasure.

[@JKaymitBindestrich]

Here in Germany, the Z900RS is probably the most popular retro motorcycle, as can be seen in the motorcycle magazines that annually choose this model as the best in the retro sector. I myself have a red Z900RS and it was my dream bike before I bought it and after almost two years of owning it, it still is. Here in Germany Triumph and even the BMW motorcycles are not that much in demand and I have never seen the new XSR900 on the road. I don't know what it's like in other countries, but the Z900RS is incredibly popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A masterpiece!

[@tsdmoto]

Thanks for the feedback, it's always interesting to hear how specific motorcycles are perceived in other markets. Out of curiosity , have you ridden the R9T and how do you think the Z900RS compares, not in terms of power where the Z900RS obviously wins, but in terms of charm / personality.

[@JKaymitBindestrich]

@@tsdmoto The R9T is very uncomfortable, after just 30 minutes you want to take a break and get off. In comparison, I can drive the Z900RS for 90 Minutes without wanting to get off. Personally, I think that BMW motorcycles have little to no soul. The R9T doesn't know what it is. It looks too futuristic to be retro, but too retro to be modern. BMW makes good cars, but I have some doubts about their motorcycles.

[@motorcyclesandguitars1892]

Great video! Happy riding!

[@tsdmoto]

Thanks! You too!

[@albertjurcisin8944]

Very nice review. I feel like I know the bike better than after watching many short term tests. Your experience with other bikes and ability to position the Z900 RS among them helps a lot to achieve a feeling of familiarity.

[@tsdmoto]

Thank you for the comment and feedback. Ride safe

[@roberthughes2452]

A great no nonsense review, thank you.

[@ronbusa3735]

Nice video really enjoyed it still loving my 2020 Candy Green RS

[@tsdmoto]

Thank you and I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your awesome motorcycle!

[@nickvandernet]

That's a great review!

[@stevecambers3190]

Certainly, in the UK (& according to many KZbin channels worldwide) The Z900RS is always right at the top of the list for most desirable retro classic....

[@tsdmoto]

I had no idea. I don't feel like it gets much love in the US.

[@theaustralianconundrum]

I bought my first one in 1978. It was a Z9001B from memory. I live in Australia. I have owned over a dozen Kawasaki road bikes from the 2 strokes to a Z1300. Now as a retired old guy I finally settled on a 2020 Yamaha XSR 900 and just love it. I test rode a Z900RS homage bike but it's too old school and didn't do it for me. @@tsdmoto

[@ralfybaby]

​@thesoutherndistance that is what my impression was. The brits, ozzies and kiwis are creaming their pants reviewing this bike where the US reviewers are a bit more muted

[@theaustralianconundrum]

That is because Kawasaki made the massive error of not including 4 into 4 pipes. Why they didn't do this I don't know but it hurt their sales @@ralfybaby

[@tsdmoto]

@@theaustralianconundrum 4 into 4 would have been sick !

[@philliprobertlawman2232]

Beautiful machines 😊

[@tsdmoto]

Yes they are!

[@shauncooper9942]

Greatly informative and really helpful. Thanks!!

[@tsdmoto]

Glad it was helpful!

[@formermoses]

That helmet beak must be hell on the neck, considering the lack of a tall windscreen on that magnificent machine. Safe riding !

[@tsdmoto]

@formermoses, thank you for thinking about my neck. It's really not bad at all but I don't ride fast.

[@antzw]

spot on .... so much enjoyment just looking at it

[@jamesmcclymont706]

Excellent review 👍🏻. The Z900RS is definitely on my radar and my only concern is the seat height as I seem to be shrinking

[@seriousandy6656]

I am short legged and I will tell you it's a challenge stock. I got the lower seat and I get by...

[@bigin2]

Fantastic review and in my opinion spot on bike for me is a tad tall getting on and off and thinking of lowering it but hate to I am flat footed once I get on just old hips swinging my leg over wondering how many have lowered theirs and how they like it thanks for your review

[@tsdmoto]

Just mount it like a horse, not going to help you flat foot though.

[@bobjohnson9597]

I simply stand on the left foot peg to mount and dismount my KLR 650 which is way taller than the Z900 and that’s how I get on all my bikes including my triumph scrambler 400x. It just works better especially when saddle bags are mounted.

[@marcboriss187]

Love this bike but! The outstanding feature of the 1970`s bike was the engine. Beatifully designed and well placed in the bike. Why this engine now. I get eye cancer from this engine 😢 Its exactly like u described it with the BMW. A retro naked bike lives feom its visibal technique. Great review ❤

[@mattriley1426]

I just purchased a 23 cafe model last week and after only 21 miles of riding i parked it in the garage and pulled the ECU out of the motorcycle and sent it away to Ivan for a flash. That snatchy throttle is completely unaceptable for me. Maybe some are tunes from the factory are worse than others but its a definate noticable ‘flat’ spot in the fuel delivery when shifting at about 4 thousand RPM. You can use the clutch to get around it somewhat but its still there. In the old days i would be pulling the carbs and changing the jetting to smooth out the power delivery. Otherwise a great bike as so many have said. Its hard waiting nearly a week without riding my brand new Z!

[@tsdmoto]

Thank you for the comment and for confirming what I was feeling. Please let me know how Ivan's tune feels when you get it back.

[@mattriley1782]

I got the ECU back from Ivan's Rockland County Motorcycle from S/Carolina and wow! its perfect. what else can I say form his tunes that hasn't already been said?

[@OM-sb2bd]

What do you mean it doesn’t get the same amount of love? It gets TONS of love. All over the internet. But a good vid nonetheless. ☮️🤘🏻

[@tsdmoto]

Around here it doesn't get the same amount of love but apparently it's different in other parts.

[@MrMoto948]

I bought my Z9 cafe to blend in, sports bikes draw the crabs where I live. Spent $15k on it and it now handles and goes better than my RSV1000R Factory twin. I slotted a Z900 motor in it with an 18 thou cometic HG. 130bhp at 11000rpm and 76ftlbs of torque. I lost none of the torque or character and after the dyno tune it is the smoothest bike I have owned. With brake and suspension upgrades it really shines on B roads (goat tracks) where nothing can touch it, not to bad on the track either. Motor does take getting used to coming from a vtwin, feels a bit like a toy at first but once you start to back it in with the slipper & abs its wicked and predictably fast.

[@tsdmoto]

Thanks for stopping by and for the comment. Did you remediate the motor that was installed in the Z900RS at the factory or did you swamp the entire block out? Also, that's a good point about blending in. I've yet to get a ticket on it and I regularly blitz past the fuzz.

[@MrMoto948]

I bought a z900 wreck at auction and swapped radiator, motor and wheels. All the RS engine covers fit the Z9 motor. Also modded the airbox for ram air. I have actually got a couple of nods from the revenue raisers :], usually they'd do a U'y.

[@herra.m1743]

The best classic bike 🏍️

[@Marq900rs]

Hi, what tank bag model are you using? is it the SW Motech Daypack? does it touch the tank?

[@tsdmoto]

Yes I believe that is the bag, it's magnetic and it does touch the tank. I've had no issues with the bag scratching the tank.

[@rickyzoom8059]

Are these ok for two up riding? Wife wants to know are they vibey through the foot pegs as an in-line 4?

[@tsdmoto]

I'm probably not the BEST judge of how vibey the z900rs is as I love thumpers and Ducati twins. I would say this is one of the smoothest motorcycles I've owned, if not THE smoothest. Since vibe sensitivity is a concern then I would encourage you to find one and test ride if possible.

[@kurgon1976]

looking for the kawasaki H1000 coming out in 2024

[@willidevegt8831]

I own the z900rs yellow ball. When you name all those bikes stand out because this or that but the Kawi dont stand out i have to disagree with you. In my eyes the Kawi dont stand out for this reason or that reason in my eyes the Kawi stands out because of its whole appearance for all of what you see. To me from front to back it is the most beautiful bike to look at what money can buy i LOVE it (yes with capital LOVE) 💚💛 Kawasaki Z900RS 💛💚

[@radiantmind8729]

Damn, that XSR with the front faring looks amazing. Is that an actual Yamaha accessory or after market??

[@tsdmoto]

Thx for the comment. Supposedly this is an actual Yamaha product. www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/yamaha-xsr900-racer/

[@himydad1499]

Nice VID. I LOVE a good looking bike with a story. For me, that means, RETRO. Like you I ride singles (RE Himalayan, Classic 350) and twins (GS 1200,Tenere,W800) But somehow I stil miss something In my garage 🤨 I think, the Z900 RS is going to fill that gap. I'll do a testride and decide But first, sell! My Garage is getting to small (first world problem 🙄)

[@tsdmoto]

We are lucky to have such problems as a garage that is too small. Fill that gap!

[@Dooby0071]

Comfy for longer ride? Or the bars a little forward?

[@tsdmoto]

You are tilted slightly forward but it's not at all like a sport bike. The seat was described by a popular moto publication as being as a "loaf of bread" and I'd agree with that. The seat is very comfy. The only thing that might wear you out is the wind if you're riding at higher speeds.

[@Dooby0071]

@@tsdmoto nice ty

[@bobjohnson9597]

I am over 6 ft and a little over 60 and I’m not rich, I’m looking for a long lasting 100,000 mile plus (last bike) that’s not too heavy as I age. I live in the Appalachian mountains and have lots of twisties before entering the interstate for 30 minutes between cities and I will be addding an 80s style large clear fairing to protect against rain on these longish rides from home and back from said cities. I found a Z900rs for $8k out the door with 3500 miles. What’s your thoughts, is that appropriate or would you pick a used Indian scout 60 for a similar price and mileage for my purposes. The Indians lower but 70lbs heavier and I don’t know about their reliability will they last 100,000 miles like I’m confident the Kawasaki would.

[@The9meister]

Great bike, now all you need is a nice retro helmet to match

[@tsdmoto]

Good call!

[@poker8193]

The thing Iv found bad about the Z900Rs. It’s too hard to pick the best color. They all look really slick 😮n person. The pictures and video don’t touch the metallic in the paint

[@tsdmoto]

Kind of a good problem to have :)

[@bryanstoll7104]

Dunlop Q5's are the only way to go! The tires on it from factory, have one job and thats to allow the dealer to roll it to the show room floor! I don't care for 6th gear it's like overdrive, you have progressive gearing from 1st to 5th then a drop off when you click 6th.. Rear suspension is weak, you can adjust front pretty good so it doesn't dive in a corner, but adjusting rear shock just sucks, go buy an Ohlins STX..

[@seriousandy6656]

A $300.oo ECu flash will solve the snatchy throttle...

[@johntheaccountant5594]

If it is a 2 year review and we are in 2023 and the motorbike is 2022; that doesn't make sense.

[@tsdmoto]

Kawi sells these bikes early, I bought it in 21

[@jaspersoda8286]

Accountants! 🙄🤣😉

[@wade998]

Never really got to hear it.

[@tsdmoto]

Struggling with the audio so I'll have to include that in a new video. Thx for the comment.

[@andrewsoldan6050]

the biggest miss for me is that huge, ugly radiator...

[@tsdmoto]

I agree that the radiator certainly isn't beautiful, but Kawi does manage the plumbing well as it's much less of an eyesore than how Ducati does it.

[@jaspersoda8286]

Consider a radiator guard. Kawasaki does one in chrome with 'KAWASAKI" in big letters. Ugly becomes art!