Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe - More than a rebodied Z900RS? - Review

[@danilocapellan1316]

Best motorcycle for 2020 hard to beat 😎👍🏼

[@michaelross3512]

I'm in love , truly stunning , and a 1980s dream.

[@rzracer69]

I have a '22 Cafe', and felt a little instability at high speeds. Once I cranked up the preload on the rear shock all the way (I'm 200lbs), that high speed instability went away. Have 1500 miles on it now and quite enjoy it.

[@hyedefinition1080]

Good tip, I hover around that weight and some wonkiness at corners scared me...have the 22 as well, stellar bike otherwise

[@paintup46]

I thought this bike was ugly til I sat on it. It’s beautiful... the seating feels perfect for me. 5’8 200lbs. It just looks so good in person. My opinion of course...

[@Magnus-pm7ic]

I did a test ride on it and I completely agree with you

[@Ringer1982]

I aggree. By looking at pictures in the internet I liked Triumph Speed Twin much more, in person this bike is very very close. It seemed to me that Kawi has a weirdly long tail section and the mono amortizator seemed unnatural for the style. In person I didn't have that feeling, I actually really like the rear part of the bike. Also the dash is amaizing, it combines beautiful retro clocks with the digital indicators on the black surface in between.

[@antapps]

What an absolute beauty 😍

[@Dawgs241]

0:30, poor dog, he's like, "where's mine?!"

[@eldesgraciado6690]

THE NIGHT RIDER, THAT IS HIS NAME. REMEMBER HIM WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY!

[@301166JW]

El Desgraciado Yes I do

[@rosco950ss7]

Such a sweet bike, going to look one tommorrow. and that intro music track is perfect!

[@Fisher6933]

as the owner of #138 ELR1000R --Hats off the guys at Kawasaki -- Love it

[@alexisv5300]

im 6' and i just bought one in blue, it fits really nice and my feet are firmly flat on the ground without much bend in my knees, i was originally riding a 2009 versys 650 and the seating height is not much different, cant wait to start ripping around

[@craigsears1673]

This bike is a dream!!!! I have a 04 ZX10 as well and I want this bike just as much. For all who says this bike is twitchy .... Go back to your scooters !!! All Kawasaki bikes are twitchy... Just learn to ride better!!

[@HankBaxter]

I had a zzr 250 and 600, and wanted to go for a classic/cafe style bike this time around. Should i go for an old KZ750 or bite the bullet and get this?

[@craigsears1673]

@@HankBaxter I have ZERO regret spending a single penny on this machine!!! It has a lot of punch and all of the new tech you need/want.

[@HankBaxter]

@@craigsears1673 Sounds like a winner. :-)

[@MrToonfish]

Thumbs up for the music... for one time ! ;-) Love the bass line as a bass player myself.

[@bikesbydaniel8953]

Thanks! Getting the music right can be tricky but this really fit the bike

[@DrowningFish429]

Bass= EPICC

[@Bladerunner55217]

Getting this bike soon. For now I’m sitting in my semi truck at a dock day dreaming of riding on the 15 freeway to Vegas and stopped at a gas station and telling my fello rider, “toe cutter, follow me”. 😁 Ha just saw the post below me 🤣

[@Justen1980]

this bike pulls like a semi, lotsa low-mid grunt. I bought mine 2 years ago, love it

[@markxt2]

Which do you think would suit a pillion more , but also would you say both are OK in general for a pillion . Many thanks .

[@tanglediver]

200 kph or mph? I assume the former.

[@alexandert696]

Looks good, needs more color options though.

[@rolandwright8243]

Especially for the USA

[@adamg7270]

Did you capture the pushed-hard wiggle on video? It's not something I've seen anyone else mention on this bike in any other reviews.

[@petercserni8094]

Hi! My answer is while i am short wich bike better for me?I have a z650 rs annyversari,but i can ride only 120 km/ó because of the wind.I want to by Z 900 rs cafe or a regular one,wich are your recommended? Thx.Péter

[@rogerdittus2952]

Can anyone who owns or has test ridden the Cafe comment on whether the cowl pushes air into or around your helmet in a way that increases noise or helmet turbulence? (I'm 5ft 8.5in. I like the lower bars, seating position, and look of the cafe but would rather have no wind protection than buffeting/ noise)

[@susanbingham8169]

Bought one after 20 years away from bikes. Was looking at BMW r1200's, Triumph Tiger sport and the Kawa z1000sx among others and feel that is is the absolute bees knees and wouldn't swap for anything. However in answer to your question I'm around 5'9"-10" and the wind hits me in the upper chest area and my helmet is in clean air with no buffeting. With a good helmet I don't think you'll have any issues. The cafe is perfect with good handling and riding manners.

[@rogerdittus2952]

Thanks for the reply and assessment rob seaman. Haha, the Tiger sport and z1000sx were two of the ones on my short list. I'm replacing the '12 speed triple without abs. The Cafe, for me personally, has a lot going for it. I've ridden the standard rs so already know I like the character of the bike; it'll take a centerstand if I decided I want one (the sx can't) , has the right amount of tech for me, could probably manage an occasional track day almost as well as my S3, and checks the nostalgia box, etc. Ride safe.

[@rzracer69]

Same size here, and the stock cowl is so short, there is still a lot of chest pressure at high speed (still much better than no cowl at all). Doesn't bother the helmet at all. I added a Yoshi WindArmor screen to my '22 Café and it is a big improvement. Still no helmet shaking or buffeting, but provides more wind protection. With the stock windshield, anything over 80mph becomes a workout unless you assume a full tuck position, which is not good for touring, lol. With the Yoshi screen, the bike is comfortable sitting upright at 100mph with your butt scooted back to get down a bit, but still very comfortable on the arms.

[@rogerdittus2952]

@@rzracer69 thank you for the insights. I actually bought a low mileage used '18 Ducati Supersport in late 2020, after I posted my question about the RS Cafe fairing. I suspect if I had gotten to test ride a demo or a used RS Cafe that's what I'd be riding. I moved to Northern Ireland 2-1/2 years ago but a friend in the US let me ride his non-Cafe RS and I liked the character and feel of the bike, it was just a bit too Sit-up for my taste. I've been very happy with the Ducati SS for riding the A and B roads here, and occasional 3-4 day tour but I still think the RS's are way cool.

[@MATTHEWSTONE74]

The seat is different my dear....how comfortable is it ??

[@SquireSCA]

The handling quirks are due to the shit OEM tires, and the fact that the shock is also crap. Forks are ok, they just need thicker oil. But do the fork oil, tires and replace the shock and it transforms the bike.

[@streak2645]

I didn't hear a word you said because of the background noise.

[@podium732]

how's the long ride compare to z900rs?

[@rzracer69]

I don’t have an RS, I have the Café, and the Café will be more comfortable at highway speeds due to the wind protection, and leaning a bit forward. However, if you want to tour on one, you could do so on the standard RS with a tall add-on windshield and a touring saddle. With that setup I imagine long days on the bike would be easy.

[@podium732]

@@rzracer69 bro you are right. I test rode a standard z900rs the wind was unbearable on high speed. thank you

[@muhammadsteinberg]

High speed wobble adds character?…Don’t know about that!…My 78 KZ1000 scared the hell out of me at 120mph when it did that. Something out of alignment and not character was my diagnosis…lol

[@dleebox2268]

The dog wants one😅

[@lr937]

Let me start by saying the bike is gorgeous,no doubt about it, BUT... I went yesterday 09/12 to try the Z900rs in black color .... was in my wish list and had to give it a try so I did...didnt like the riding style of the bike, by that I mean from my point of view, bike is a bit jerky for a everyday city driving, handlebars have a not so easy to get use position, seat is not comfortable at all (and I ride a cbr1000) there is no doubt the bike has the power and torque for a spirit riding but is not definitely a commute bike, too harsh, too jerky, and the brakes u have to squeeze them hard all the time to stop the bike, so to wrap it up, I like the looks of the bike, but ridding just didn't make the cut for me

[@larjkok1184]

Get Informed Gee, that’s pretty much the opposite of every other thing I’ve read about the bike, except for the throttle response. I know how this can happen though. I rode an MT-09 after reading nothing but good reviews. The thing was crap. A truly gutless motor. I went and bought a GSX-R1000 instead.

[@midlifebiker7424]

What age CBR? All new euro 4 bikes are on/off throttle to a degree. I wonder when euro 4 will catch up with container ships that spew out billions of carbon emmissions..

[@albymangled]

I went down to the dealer to see the 900RS, did the walk around, listened to the salesman blather about it's "authentic recreation of the Z1" BS (and he was old enough to know better) and walked out after declining a ride. Just because magazines & internet reviewers give this bike so much homage, doesn't mean a thing. Advertising still generates favourable reviews.

[@keithsada1380]

@@albymangled if you didn't ride it then you have no clue. It's an awesome bike.

[@keithsada1380]

I have no troubles riding mine in the city.

[@Mr75044]

History lesson Cafe racers pronounced Kaf racer. Were standard bikes fitted With ace bars or clip ons Rear sets single seats some times fairings...and tuned up Along the way. So this model is correct. It's a z900 cafe racer. These bikes were built in Back gardens.. They were raced from cafe to cafe...1950s rockers Ton up boys..100mph Was the magic speed to hit..... Then British bikers bought in to the American long hair beard chopper easy riders style..

[@keithsada1380]

Kaf racer? Where are you from?

[@kurdiansyahsiauw8202]

ZRX 1200 more 👍👍👍

[@Audfile]

Love

[@threethrushes]

The regular RS is a thing of beauty. This, less so.

[@Chrissepisje]

Agreed.

[@theslaviccookie5137]

That fairing will make it such a better bike for someone who lives in the country like myself though. And if it wasn't that green it would be devilshly handsome

[@albymangled]

The whole "it's green so it must be a kwaka" (or is it "it's a kwaka so it's gotta be green") just doesn't do it for me these days..

[@theslaviccookie5137]

@@albymangled I wish they'd push the reds more

[@da72ma]

Quite the contrary... It is the embodiment of the Eddie Lawson bike...

[@suertedeti6404]

Too much noise. Impossible to cacth a word.

[@colbjallen8334]

Not really a rebody. Just a windshield

[@brownfamilyracing-j4c]

what's a ZED 900? Z900 I know but not a ZED?

[@shangreisoshangreiso6750]

The letter 'Z' of the English alphabet is pronounced 'zed' in the Commonwealth countries. From what I gather , the presenter here is Australian so the 'zed'. I guess it's pronounced 'zee' only in the US.

[@Volta1100]

ZED's dead baby... ZED's dead...

[@malexder0082]

The reason is you're an ignorant hillbilly.

[@keithsada1380]

It's a z900. That's what the placard on the bike says. Zed is just an idiotic way of saying Z.

[@ralfybaby]

@@shangreisoshangreiso6750 he is a Dutchman just like me. His accent is infused with some English- for a moment i thought he might be south African- I wouldn't be surprised if he spent some time in England or hangs out with English people a lot. My own accent is Dutch English also from having lived in Liverpool for a few years but mine is Liverpool more than Holland now. And of course I say "zed" like a civilised person and spell colour and tyre as such even after living in the USA for 30 years ... 🤣