Kawasaki Z900RS vs Z650 | Review | Akra Exhaust | That 70's Bike

A review of THAT 70s BIKE, the 2019 Kawasaki's Z900RS fitted with Akrapovic exhaust as I chase a Z650 in Long Beach, California. This video gives a good demonstration of inline 4 cylinder vs twin. The Z1 lives again. If you enjoyed this video please help support the channel by sharing it on Facebook and Twitter. It helps me tremendously and I appreciate your support. Cheers!
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[@johncapidecallu8076]

Ok, we get it, you like twins

[@FancyAnimal]

Threesomes are too much work. I prefer to just drink until I see double.

[@warrenstephens3705]

Oh he LOVES twins.

[@pjeng1]

I give the Z900 RS six out of five ratings in every category.

[@brilwiljeff]

This might be the best, most informative review I've watched

[@FancyAnimal]

Thanks for the positive feedback chief. Cheers!

[@Impervium1090]

Loved the that 70’s show intro. Also great review!

[@FancyAnimal]

Thanks chief!

[@dalesharpy9197]

Had a 1976 Z900 in brown and orange, Vedder Fairing and a 2 into 2 Jardini exhaust, back in 1977-79. I think it looks pretty spot on over all. I was sniffing at one last year but went with a left over and crated brand new 2015 Honda VFR800 DX listed at $13,500 but paid $6,995 brand new. Good review, good knowledge... thank you!

[@FancyAnimal]

What was your choice of under nose embellishment circa 1977? Handlebar mustache? VFR800 is a great bike and with a full set of fairings your polyester hot pants won't be flapping in the breeze. Cheers!

[@dalesharpy9197]

Porn Stache, and please do not remind me of polyester lol. Keep up the good work, btw I wear Italian leather now , oh crap that was the 80’s Cheers! Stay Healthy!

[@charlieryan1736]

Great honest review F.A 👌

[@nickprice3605]

Great vid and review Fancy Man To echo other comments, you deserve more subs

[@FancyAnimal]

Ya, sure. I also think my subscribers deserve more videos.

[@nickprice3605]

@@FancyAnimal treat 'em mean, keep 'em keen

[@amv1422]

I had mine in bleu. Best biker ever. V from BELGIUM🎉

[@FancyAnimal]

Which bike did you own? 650 or 900?

[@gm16v149]

I’ve had mine since last March, same as yours in the Root Beer or Jaffa as we call it. Done 11,000 kms on it including a track day at Phillip Island, a very fast track. The seat gets more comfortable over time, wasn’t happy with the seat at first, but it’s ok now. The on/off throttle. Yes it’s pretty bad, but I fitted a Booster Plug (google it), an electronic device made in Denmark, and now the throttle is 100% how it should be. It’s a torquey machine, you don’t have to rev it right out if you don’t want to. If you really want to canyon race then a full-on sport bike like the Z900 would be better for you. I see you had the traction control in position #2. #1 or even “off” might have been better for you. Myself, I’d give it 5/5 bananas now the throttle is fixed.

[@FancyAnimal]

I'd probably be happy with just a seat and a beer in the stands of Philip Island circuit let alone having a go. Good on ya. Australia is on my bucket list. What's a good time of year to travel there? Glad you sorted the throttle. I'm surprised it takes the aftermarket to address the problem. I'm used to the burpy throttle on my 1199 so it wasn't much of a learning curve. Enjoy your Jaffa time machine.

[@gm16v149]

Anytime is a good time really, we’ve got year round riding here, same as you in CA. Gets very hot in the North of Oz in summer and cool in winter in the South where I live. Today is 37°C, 100°F which is too hot for riding, but when I do another track day next week Friday it’s going to be a lot cooler. Yeah, the throttle is disappointing. It’s a known problem but it can be fixed. The best way is a reflash but that would void the warranty. I’ve owned lots of bikes, but this is the one I’m really, truly 100% happy with.

[@FancyAnimal]

@@gm16v149 37F / 99F is only body temperature. That's ride-able lol. We were getting into 120s this past summer. I actually had to leave my face shield closed to insulated my face from the burning air. Crazy. I didn't realize you were the trucking rockstar of youtube. The looming question is, did you put a bull bar on the Kawi?

[@gm16v149]

Trucking rockstar lol. I haven’t put up a video in over a year, it’s about time I made another one. There’s no bulls down in Victoria where I live, plenty up north. We do have to be aware of kangaroos and wombats when we’re on the bikes in Victoria though. We get temps of 120 maybe twice a year in Victoria, it’s 120 every day in the north of oz in summer. Another 3 days of 100 here, then next week it’s a lot cooler.

[@nfloodauto]

Creative and great video as usual, cool retro bike I agree v-twin Kawi is the true bang for the buck.. do you ride yr duck at night with tinted visor or is that reflection at night?

[@FancyAnimal]

Ya it's tinted. As far as I can tell, CA laws against tint apply only to car windshields. It's a medium tint, so as long as there are street lights, visibility is fine. Clear safety glasses underneath if I have to flip.

[@randersson3672]

Stepped up the music, cool 👍😎 Quite brilliant review on top of that 😁👍👍 You just had to use bananas...not bootbanans🤣

[@Arneweisse354]

that's the advantage of the parallel twin yeah right 🤣

[@sidharthpalakkode5509]

Man you know your shit with bikes..would love if you could review the Speed Twin and give us your thoughts on how it rates agains the z900RS.. Subscribed :)

[@FancyAnimal]

Thanks for subscribing. I've been hankering to get my mitts on a speed twin. I reviewed a pretty beat Thruxton Ace rental in Hawaii. See link. You can skip through the 3 minute intro. Cheers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYTFgJSQYtqYb6s

[@thomasdixon7152]

I cant believe you only have 7,500 subs . been following yur videos for almost two years now. What caught me was a video you did where you mentioned you got the bike in Derry NH. I grew up there,

[@FancyAnimal]

Thanks for the support. I miss Seacoast Sport Cycle. The dealers out here in LA cater to rich hipsters, so no dealer sponsored tech and service events. On the plus side, you can ride all year long in a thong an no one gives you a 2nd look. Cheers!

[@thomasdixon7152]

@@FancyAnimal they are great guys, I got my Final Edition off Greenwood there . They offer fantastic dealership discounts with the Penguin school, 20% track support as well. We are expecting more thong like conditions Tuesday with a high of 9 here in Northern VT! CHEERS and will continue to follow !

[@peterphoenix6471]

nice vid.....bikes a beautiful colour

[@FancyAnimal]

It made me thirsty.

[@peterphoenix6471]

@@FancyAnimal it made me think of a better era..

[@mbtfp]

One of my favourite retro bikes...after the RnineT ;) You gotta love the good old aircooled Boxer!

[@FancyAnimal]

Ya that's a bitchin' bike. Are they discontinuing it?

[@mbtfp]

@@FancyAnimal Yeah, i guess the new Euro 5 norm will end a few "air cooled brothers" lifes

[@FancyAnimal]

mbtfp we'll all be drinking kale smoothies and getting our cuticles done by euro6.

[@mbtfp]

@@FancyAnimal Well, we are standing at the edge of a new era, where our beloved L-twin engine has no future. Hence I´m going to order the new Hyperstrada 950 as a second bike to have as much fun as possible. ;)

[@FancyAnimal]

@@mbtfp Ya the V4 is going to make its way into the Multi for sure, but the L is always going to be around in the monster and scrambler because it has a lower production / life cycle cost. I'm thinking electric bikes are the bigger concern. They're getting pretty good. Have you seen the Zero street fighter? I give gas engines 10 years before the phase-out begins.

[@movem1]

Great review man 👍🍌🍌🍌

[@mczake77]

Street triple next please! Great work (:

[@ethicc_9093]

I would love the Z650 rs

[@pmdinaz]

Fair! Reminds me of my old KZ for sure. I'll stick with my speed triple ;) Kudos on the correct pronunciation btw

[@alf6259]

Is it necessary to be jerking the throttle when you are stopped, do you have to do it to keep the bike going.

[@Arneweisse354]

that's the advantage with the z650 twin ....... i guess that inline 4s’ have hurt your feelings 🤣

[@rds4629]

Oh man. This video hurts my heart. I'm looking to buy my 2nd bike (RIP ninja 300) and the dealer advised me to go w/ a z650... but my heart saw the 2019 900RS and it's sooo pretty. My friends also point out w/ a 900, I'm unlikely to outgrow it anytime soon. Shoot, when I started the video I though the 900RS would win every category except for budget/value... Now I think maybe I should get the 650 and upgrade tires, add a quickshifter, and heated grips... thanks for the balanced review though; all the other reviews have been very positive so it's good to have some criticisms.

[@FancyAnimal]

R DS always ride both and see what you prefer. The 900 is considerably faster at the top end, offers more room, and has the looks with better gages. The 650 has more grunt, is a better canyon carver, and offers more value...but not particularly attractive. Kawasaki probably has demos in your area.

[@DJMotoVlogs]

Once you get used to the grunt of a Ducati L-Twin its hard to get used to the top end power characteristic of a inline 4 engine. I still love this bike tho, Its a sweet looking machine.

[@SureshKumar-xy8zn]

Was the bike in KTRC Mode 1 or 2 ? Seeing as you pulled to the limiter in 1st without going airborne, I'm guessing Mode 2.

[@FancyAnimal]

Which button puts it in VTwin mode? 😂

[@mermerac9610]

This thing costs 13k Euros where I am. When I have first seen the US price I was thinking, finally... the chosen one. What a kick in the balls.

[@Meme86ful]

I don't agree with 3 banans in comfort

[@warrenstephens3705]

Jeez dude twist the dam throttle already! It looks like you purposely sand bagged the Z900. You wait until the 650 is gone and then you gas it a little until you start catching him and then let off real qwik. You get on your 650 twin and I'll get on the Z900 and I'll show you the big difference. The Z900 doesn't make power in the same spot as the twin so you have to learn to ride a 4 cylinder. SMH

[@FancyAnimal]

Maximizing the performance for each bike yields the same result. The only thing you have to learn on the 900 is how to cope with losing to the 650 at every stoplight and canyon corner exit. Z650 has the better engine period.

[@warrenstephens3705]

@@FancyAnimal Bullshit, I've rode the Z900 and If you run it full throttle into the redline like 4 cylinders require it has PLENTY of power to handle the 650. In fact when I ride the Z900 it seems to holds its own quit well with everything in the 90-100 hp class but magically NOT when you rode it. When your on the Z900 a 650 with 40-50 LESS hp completely runs away from it not once but every time. I watched the video 6 MORE times and you let the 650 get gone before you ever apply throttle then you act like its the bikes fault. A couple times you were catching him too quickly so I noticed you rolling OFF the throttle. I normally enjoy your videos but this one was SO obvious your bias was showing in raging color bro. Im just glad they weren't testing a 500cc twin you might have had to pull one of the spark plug wires off the Z900. Lol Just be fair, I love twins too but WAY too much bias here bro.

[@DylanVBWRX]

@@warrenstephens3705 the 900 is definitely faster, but only past highway speeds. Most motorcycles run similar times 0-60 fz07, z650 mt09, all have very similar 0 -60 low 3 seconds. However highway or higher speed pulls the mt09 and z900 pull away multiple car lengths to their little brothers. I've ridden the z650, fz07, and mt09 all are fun, but the 900s do have more powa

[@soulerflare7]

Yeah , I had an fz07 , and that running out of gas in the upper rpms got old quick .

[@scd7r]

@@warrenstephens3705 traction control was in 2, you can see when hes showing the dials and screen at the start

[@132oink]

Great teacher onizuka anyone?

[@TheOverisel]

I like the 650 Kaw and I like inline twins but if you cannot outrun the Z650 with that 900 its because you didnt want to. Your on a bike that runs low 11s. Try revving the thing and riding it with effort and the much less powerful bike wont smoke you .

[@FancyAnimal]

Mike Harrington you’re making my point. The 650 requires no effort to ride fast. If you’re caught in the wrong gear on the z900, by the time you downshift, the twin is gone. Same goes for emergency passing... with the twin you have torque in every gear...just squirt and go. Not so on the Z. You gotta click it down a couple gears. I road both back to back. See the 650 review. Obviously the z900 is faster when you’re prepared...which is almost never in street traffic.

[@ralfybaby]

But .. that Z650 is UGGG-AHH-LEEE!!! To an old school Z1000 rider at least ...

[@crystalous]

Ralfy Baby well this depends on the taste of the individual.

[@gregmorris2022]

The weather here in Northeast Ohio is still, well, shit. No riding. This video is about as good as it gets. And you said butthole, so we’ve got that.

[@FancyAnimal]

You're over the hump. Just another month before you realize there's another month.

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

You never mentioned mode you were in. Aren't there modes that change the power bands? That bike is for doing it all. Put a big National Cycle Plexistar windshield on it and a set of engine guards with highway pegs. Load up the luggage and go 8 hours a day for 3 weeks 😁

[@nickprice3605]

Don't remember seeing Butt Plug on an options list before

[@FancyAnimal]

Only available with oil service package.

[@WilliamStewart1]

Been my biggest issues with inline 4's, too smooth and they lack bottom end grunt. One of the best looking bikes in my opinion though, I just feel it needs a 1000cc twin.

[@cdubbleyoo]

Did any one that guy on the 650 on the wrist for wheelies and not maintaining the stagger?

[@FancyAnimal]

No, Jake the Garden Snake is untouchable.

[@Rising3216]

Kawasaki is best, I would say most of my friends bought it.

[@InigooMontoya]

11:28 for 70's pornO music.

[@Infinitiivinen]

Why compare these two. Comp. different in size and motor. Maybe that was the point?

[@kernypnp9714]

Throttle is mushy for the first hour of riding after you get used to it, it becomes natural

[@iodineclip]

i love the way it looks, such a stunning bike. but they should not detuned the engine :/ the original z900's engine is already good. almost 20hp lost for just a little bit of early torque down low? pretty huge tradeoff especially when you consider the price. but i will still have the RS over the orginal Z if im gonna choose one.

[@gm16v149]

I’ve ridden all three, the Z900, the Z900RS and the original Z1 from 1974. The Z900RS is the best all-round bike in my opinion. Graphs don’t tell the whole story. You’re paying more for the Z900RS because of the extra quality. Look at them side by side and you’ll see what I mean. Also the RS has got radial brakes and traction control.

[@TimBWig]

Makes it easier to ride fast on the street. You're not going to see that lost top end power on the street.

[@TheRedneckTelevision]

Is the seat the same length on both bikes?

[@FancyAnimal]

No. Seats are completely different. The z650 is a scalloped bucket seat with a raised pillion and the z900 is a flat banana type.

[@TheRedneckTelevision]

@@FancyAnimal I sat on a 900rs and liked the weight but was hopeing to save some money with the 650rs, I want to do two up riding but want a lighter bike. Instead of a heavy cruiser.

[@FancyAnimal]

@@TheRedneckTelevision I would say the 650 is the better passenger bike by virtue of its torque. Inline 4s are terrible for 2-up due to the lack of low end grunt. Have you considered an MT09? Better than either of the previous mentioned.

[@TheRedneckTelevision]

@@FancyAnimal I'll definitely look into the mt thanks.

[@mikemcclernon5784]

Total3/5????

[@Bob-Maplethorpe]

Why ride an inline 4 at lower revs? I own a zrx and a ktm 1290 and prefer the inline 4 because of how special it feels up top. It just begs you to give it hell. Sure, the twin has more grunt but the motor inspires far fewer smiles than my zrx does, despite a HUGE power deficit.

[@MChappysGarage]

This man really just said the 650 is the better bike lmao.

[@CHuzz7777]

The Cafe version, in the green, with the twin 650 engine and they’d sell faster than they could make them.

[@FancyAnimal]

Agreed Honda just announced that they're doing a cafe twin.

[@CHuzz7777]

Fancy Animal hmm, sounds promising in theory but Honda seem to struggle with the balance of modern and classic so I won’t hold my breath for anything too attractive!

[@flexjay87]

I love Twins.... but, not in motorcycles :)

[@jking9916]

He said butthole...😂

[@Shaft0]

Come on. More vids =)

[@AT1Tan]

Put that engine in the Vulcan s.

[@klxklr]

Review some more bikes when you can.

[@FancyAnimal]

On it

[@mugmushrooms9845]

❤️✌️

[@WalkerKlondyke]

That 70s bike?

[@FancyAnimal]

Very astute!

[@nickprice3605]

Best comment 👍

[@timmyleung1]

14/15 reviews here on youtube rate z900rs at 5/5 except yours. Wonder why.

[@FancyAnimal]

Oh that’s easy… 14 of those 15 guys haven’t ridden anything but the same old milk toast in-line 4 cylinder the Japanese have been serving-up since the 1970s. It’s good looking average motorcycle. Go ride an 890 Duke, MT09, MT10, Monster 821, Street Triple, FTR1200…all far superior.

[@timmyleung1]

@@FancyAnimal personal preference i guess. I have the z900rs and the z650 by the way. Wayyy prefer the z900rs.

[@absolutefreedom9437]

@@FancyAnimal you sure are some kind of stupid! #1, Yamaha is also Japanese (mt09&mt10). #2 the mt10 has an inline 4. What a fool you are.

[@Stumc46]

Zed

[@roberts1677]

Nice bike but I'm still quite irritated about the tuning changes Kawasaki made vs. the regular Z900. Heavier crankshaft and flywheel, smaller exhaust, lower compression, and less cam duration. WTFO!?

[@stevengieseck635]

You should just ride a twin and be done. The 900RS is a lot better then the 650. smh

[@skandix]

Your review gets 3 out of 5 , I smell 44 teeth Boot Banana! You spelled Gauge wrong. Do a review of the 650.

[@FancyAnimal]

The banana is in my logo and pre banana boot. Gauge is the less common spelling of gage. Will post the 650 review soon captain. Cheers! www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gage

[@korsal4133]

@@FancyAnimal You have it the opposite way round. Gage is the infrequently used one. "Nonetheless, total use of the word gage is small when compared to the total use of the word gauge."

[@FancyAnimal]

Korsal as long as you learned a new way to spell a word, I don't care how you try to save face. You'll find greater meaning in achieving success by increasing the worth of your own actions, than in trying to depreciate that of others.

[@korsal4133]

@@FancyAnimal Why would I be trying to save face for your spelling errors. Look in the mirror my friend.