The CB1100 Community Forum

Birthday Bike!

(08-04-2025, 02:38 PM)Cormanus Wrote: [ -> ]Why did you think you could get a red one?

Read the first 3 lines in post #140.
The salesman was told right up front.

All of this talk of gold wheels... I miss the dark gold color of the wheels on my CB300R, and the gold wheels on the Z650RS really speak to me.

I'm in an interesting place with wheels. A few weekends ago, the front right corner of my car was very lightly sideswiped. The clear bra on the fender and bumper kept the body from incurring any real damage, and it cleaned up as new. My front wheel was badly scraped however. These particular wheels in their specific color are unobtanium now. I found a shop who will powder coat all of the wheels any color I like, repairing the damaged one in the process.

I'm going for some shade of gold.

(08-04-2025, 04:17 PM)peterbaron Wrote: [ -> ]

(08-04-2025, 02:38 PM)Cormanus Wrote: [ -> ]Why did you think you could get a red one?

Read the first 3 lines in post #140.
The salesman was told right up front.

Sometimes I think the salesmen themselves don't really know, or don't research it fully.

I was curious so looking at the Canadian Kawasaki site: 

https://www.kawasaki.ca/en-ca/motorcycle...ort/z650rs

I see that the ebony/gold is the (only?) option for '25 and the red is the color for '24:



IF that's the the case, maybe search for a leftover '24.  It seems to me official websites for different makes publicize what they will offer for a given year up front; but they don't always have multiple color options available straight away.  

I hope I'm mistaken for your sake and that a '25 red is available, but we are in August already--if red were an option, I'd think the Kawi web site would show that.

For my Kawasaki '21 w800 blue that I bought new September of '23, I looked high and low for a new one.  There were a number of red ones, but I was adamant about blue.  From my searches across the whole of the U.S., I may have found the last new blue one available.  Fortune would have it that it was tucked away in the back of a small dealership in a rural area of n. Washington.  5 hour drive to pick it up, and they were happy to "get rid" of it.

edit: 2026 models aren't too far away; maybe a red will be an option soon. I've seen Kawasaki have some decent "Christmas / New Year sales" for new up-coming models the last few years.

I currently have a price match offer (almost identical) from two different Kawi dealers in Montreal, Quebec. 
I'm also working on an offer/price match with a Kawi dealer in Ontario and am waiting for their final response. 
The distance to each dealer varies within a range of +/- 80 km.
RED Z650RS, no sabstitute.

Hope your birthday dream is fulfilled, PB!

Z650RS
MSRP $8,899 USA + $665 shipping
48 lb-ft, 67 HP
383.7# dry, 412.3# wet
3.2 gallon tank
31.5” seat height
4.9” ground clearance (exhaust under frame)

Reminds me of my search in the mid-nineties for a bike.  I liked the Zephyr 1100, but it was discontinued by the time I was ready.

In late 2002, with good memories of my CB750F, I had a Honda Nighthawk in my sights.  2002 was black and 2003 was red.  I was in the mood for black, but no 2002s left and 2003 ended the model.
47 lb-ft, 75 HP
463# dry
4.8 gallon tank
30.9” seat height
5.5” ground clearance (4 into 1 exhaust)
124 MPH
That is when I turned my attention to Sportsters, buying the last two years of the motor rigid mounted to the frame. 

Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

On the showroom floor... and awaiting its future owner







Transport Master Alain Lee '17EX secures the precious load...



peterbaron and Alain Lee

Congratulations, peterbaron. I'm sure others will join me in looking forward to a ride report.

Hey congrats pb. What a beautiful motorcycle. Glad you finally got one. Yes a ride report is in order

Can’t see the RLETs. Need pic from different angle..

Congrats PB!!