02-13-2018, 03:00 AM
nhawk7504, the Z900 has a shorter wheelbase than the Z900RS, and the tank capacities are identical, yet the Z900's tank is significantly sleeker and slimmer. The Ninja 1000's wheelbase is shorter than the Z900RS's and its tank is a half-gallon larger, and still its tank is more slender than the RS's.
The wheelbase is not the reason for the fat, bulbous tank on the Z900RS. Kawi simply did a poor job with its design. They made no effort to give it any contouring.
As for dual shocks not working well, particularly for a 160 lb rider, go take a spin on a '17 CB1100. Specifically, a '17 model, not the previous-year models. City streets, highways, smooth sweepers or gnarled canyon twisties, ride them all on the new CB1100. I think you'll discover that dual shocks properly designed can work very well. I can tell you that the suspension on my '17 CB works better than the vast majority of single-shock designs from every other bike I've owned.
The wheelbase is not the reason for the fat, bulbous tank on the Z900RS. Kawi simply did a poor job with its design. They made no effort to give it any contouring.
As for dual shocks not working well, particularly for a 160 lb rider, go take a spin on a '17 CB1100. Specifically, a '17 model, not the previous-year models. City streets, highways, smooth sweepers or gnarled canyon twisties, ride them all on the new CB1100. I think you'll discover that dual shocks properly designed can work very well. I can tell you that the suspension on my '17 CB works better than the vast majority of single-shock designs from every other bike I've owned.