The z900: A Wildly Unique Beast!

[@gocubs0011]

Great Review! Come get the V4s and Review it.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

Thank you sir 🙏🙏. And I’m waiting on you bro ! You tell me when I’ll make it happen! With a couple day heads up I can make the time.

[@rich075]

Nice review! Love my '24 Z900. Had mine flashed, removed the breadbox and cut out the catalyst which gave me great mid-range power as well.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

Hey hey Thank you ! It is an awesome bike man! Do you have any numbers on what the flash and air box mods did ? I suspect this bike has a lot of untapped power. Riding it i felt as though this thing could get dam near 150hp unrestricted. Which is a massive jump. Not sure how close that is but I can see this bike making that much power.

[@rich075]

@@NostalgicMotorcycles I have not had a chance to take it to a Dyno yet but plan on doing so later this year. But I definitely noticed a difference after the flash; especially in 4th gear. It pulls so effortlessly in 4th. Also, my rev limiter was increased to 11,500 RPMs.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

Oh hell ya man sounds like a beast now that’s awesome !!

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

🙏

[@langhamp8912]

I don't think the MT10 is the direct competitor since the price delta is $5K. Rather the MT09/XSR900/GSXS750 are all very comparable to each other in weight, suspension components, power, and price. I think these middle-weight motorcycles are greatly overlooked by consumers. I either see cheap older junker motorcycles or ultra-expensive super sports, but not often these middle-weights. But these middle weights are cheap to buy and insure, reliable with proven technology, and have enough power to thrill without being scary fast. I personally ended up buying an XSR900 after taking a close look at the Z900; the reason I didn't buy the Z900 came down to maintenance. The frame of the Z900 is painted instead of powder-coated, and past experience with tubular steel painted frames is that such frames are extremely easy to chip when a ratchet wrench even breathes on it.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

I agree the mt 10 is more expensive but those others are not 4cylinder(other900s). I don’t think anyone considering a triple would be the same person looking for a 4 cylinder. And it’s Kawasaki top class naked outside of the zh2 which is a whole different league. The z900 is not middleweight by any means and ya almost 500lbs where the true middle weight bikes are very low 400s. They are much smaller machines. This bike(z900) may have 900 triple power but it’s taller wider heavier. Ergonomically the same as the bigger mt10. They mt/xsr may both have 900 in the name but the z is a larger class bike in every way. Hence why the Yamaha kind of outsell it. Less price same power smaller easier to handle much more friendly towards the newer rider. The Z isn’t sized middle weight. Just powered like it. Has to be compared to mt10 simply for size and at that point it’s underpowered 🤦🏽‍♂️.

[@langhamp8912]

@@NostalgicMotorcycles My definition of a middle weight is it's in the middle between the commuter bikes and the hyper sports in power, price, insurance, and handling. We used to say a middle weight was the 600 inline four classes because that was what was raced but I think the newer middle weight definition is so much nicer. I would put something like the GSX8S in the middle weights, along with the MT07 and this bike (the Z900), but of course the H2 is a heavyweight. On the other hand, I'd put the GSXS1000 in the heavy weight category despite "only" making 150 hp. It's the same weight as the Z900, though. On the other hand, you could just barely stretch your budget to include BMW's S1000R. One big reason I like comparing bikes along prices is just the sheer variety of engines and chassis. We've got twins, triples, v-twins, inline fours, with aluminum or steel frames, all at nearly the same price point. And don't forget Triumph.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

Very true. I don’t disagree if that how your classing middleweight. But that really makes the z stick out as the pig of the group man. If it’s brought up to a heavyweight class it makes a little more sense. I really think an mt09 would rip turns around the z even at a slightly decreased power range.

[@langhamp8912]

@@NostalgicMotorcycles All the bikes I mentioned, I assume the rider buying any of these would do the occasional trackday. Perhaps not often, but enough that he wouldn't be interested in a less capable bike such as the Z650 or MT07 or even an expensive BMW RS. None of those bikes can be hustled safely around a racetrack by your enthusiast rider. So the last two bikes I've owned...a Suzuki GSXS1000 and an XSR900...are easy bikes to ride on a track, and have rider aids so things don't get too far out of hand. This bike and its retro version also fall into the very capable trackday bike. And in my opinion, 80 to 120 HP is plenty for the track. You can't just pin the throttle through most of the turns like, say, 125/250's bikes. So the power I think is great. Finally, there's cost. I have a tendency of buying unfavored bikes because they're often ludicrously cheap. A lot of riders buy them more as tools, and thus keep them stock (modified bikes always sell for less because they appeal to fewer buyers). You could conceivably pick up a nearly new Z900 for 6 to 8 thousand. A couple thousand dollars buys an awful lot of tires and trackdays.

[@NostalgicMotorcycles]

Ahhhh. Ya I don’t do track days so it’s never something I consider if I’m being honest. I’m basically a 100% street rider. Strangely enough either way I prefer older bikes with less aids personally but that’s just me as a person.