06-14-2019, 03:42 PM
Retsel, I definitely have no plans to use this bike as a daily grocery-getter. No worries there. My 2017 CB1100 EX is much better suited for such duties, but as long as I continue to own a car I'll choose four wheels and a big trunk for running those sorts of errands.
Cormanus, like you (and practically everyone else here), I usually can't stand the look of Transformers bikes. I thought the Z1000 looked like a bad, cynical joke, and I couldn't believe what Yamaha did with the MT-10. If this Z900 looked as ridiculous as those two do, nope, I couldn't have pulled the trigger. Even for me, that's a bridge too far.
This one doesn't really bother me all that much. I know mickey absolutely loathes the tail section of this thing, and he's probably not much more of a fan of the front end, either, but I'm fine with it. The only piece on the entire bike that really annoys me is the faux cast-aluminum plastic thing that covers the lower portion of the frame. Zero need for that piece. I would have already ditched it, but for the fact that doing so exposes some ugly mounting brackets...which are only there for those stupid faux pieces! No fake pieces, no need for their mounting brackets. Problem solved.
Gah!
Otherwise, I won't be embarrassed to be seen on this bike, which is why I chose the simple black model instead of the gaudier gray and red version. All in all, I think this one looks reasonably subdued, and kinda cool. I've even gotten used to the goofy tail section. When I first saw it, I just shook my head. Why the additional upward bend in the subframe? Why not just let it continue straight back, at the same angle?
Oh, well. I'm over it. In fact, now I like that the Z900 looks youthful and aggressive, while not being completely over the top. I think she serves as a better counterpoint than the XSR to the retro-styled CB. The XSR also looked vaguely retro, yet nowhere near as good as the CB. This one stakes out her own territory, leaving the classic beauty queen thing to the authentic-retro Honda.
To your other point, yeah, I hate it when a bike has twin headlights and only one is lit up. The Ninja 1000 always uses both lights, so why doesn't this one?
Oh, and this one redlines at 11K. I haven't hit 10K yet. I briefly zinged her up to 9K, but that's it so far. Give me another week or so, and I should be good to go.
My initial impressions are telling me that I will follow the same route I took with the CB; namely, that the addition of heated grips is the only mod I will do to her. I'm not touching the brakes, that's for sure. No need for steel lines or more aggressive pads. Pedestrian calipers or not, this thing drops anchor like it hit an iceberg. Similarly, I feel no real desire to replace the stock exhaust. A deeper rumble would be great, but is it necessary?
I don't think so. I'm fine with the stock sound, and this bike sure doesn't need any more power, or any fueling/throttle response help from a reflashed ECU.
Considering the price point, I feel the same regarding the suspension. It's completely fine for street use. The ride quality is also plusher than the Yamaha's, despite being equally firm.
So far, I'm impressed. At an msrp of only $8,799 for the ABS version ($8,399, sans ABS), this one sure seems like an awful lot of bike for the money. Off the top of my head, I really can't think of a better bang-for-the-buck option.
Cormanus, like you (and practically everyone else here), I usually can't stand the look of Transformers bikes. I thought the Z1000 looked like a bad, cynical joke, and I couldn't believe what Yamaha did with the MT-10. If this Z900 looked as ridiculous as those two do, nope, I couldn't have pulled the trigger. Even for me, that's a bridge too far.
This one doesn't really bother me all that much. I know mickey absolutely loathes the tail section of this thing, and he's probably not much more of a fan of the front end, either, but I'm fine with it. The only piece on the entire bike that really annoys me is the faux cast-aluminum plastic thing that covers the lower portion of the frame. Zero need for that piece. I would have already ditched it, but for the fact that doing so exposes some ugly mounting brackets...which are only there for those stupid faux pieces! No fake pieces, no need for their mounting brackets. Problem solved.
Gah!
Otherwise, I won't be embarrassed to be seen on this bike, which is why I chose the simple black model instead of the gaudier gray and red version. All in all, I think this one looks reasonably subdued, and kinda cool. I've even gotten used to the goofy tail section. When I first saw it, I just shook my head. Why the additional upward bend in the subframe? Why not just let it continue straight back, at the same angle?
Oh, well. I'm over it. In fact, now I like that the Z900 looks youthful and aggressive, while not being completely over the top. I think she serves as a better counterpoint than the XSR to the retro-styled CB. The XSR also looked vaguely retro, yet nowhere near as good as the CB. This one stakes out her own territory, leaving the classic beauty queen thing to the authentic-retro Honda.
To your other point, yeah, I hate it when a bike has twin headlights and only one is lit up. The Ninja 1000 always uses both lights, so why doesn't this one?
Oh, and this one redlines at 11K. I haven't hit 10K yet. I briefly zinged her up to 9K, but that's it so far. Give me another week or so, and I should be good to go.
My initial impressions are telling me that I will follow the same route I took with the CB; namely, that the addition of heated grips is the only mod I will do to her. I'm not touching the brakes, that's for sure. No need for steel lines or more aggressive pads. Pedestrian calipers or not, this thing drops anchor like it hit an iceberg. Similarly, I feel no real desire to replace the stock exhaust. A deeper rumble would be great, but is it necessary?
I don't think so. I'm fine with the stock sound, and this bike sure doesn't need any more power, or any fueling/throttle response help from a reflashed ECU.
Considering the price point, I feel the same regarding the suspension. It's completely fine for street use. The ride quality is also plusher than the Yamaha's, despite being equally firm.
So far, I'm impressed. At an msrp of only $8,799 for the ABS version ($8,399, sans ABS), this one sure seems like an awful lot of bike for the money. Off the top of my head, I really can't think of a better bang-for-the-buck option.