Kawasaki Z900RS

[Ulvetanna_imp]

The XSR900 is a motorcycle styled and built on the FZ09 frame, which is a minimalist, modern, cost-effective design based on a two-piece, bolt-together main frame. That bike was never intended to be anything like a retro-styled motorcycle.

The XSR is Yamaha's take on restyling it with respect to certain bits to give it that retro look from a distance. You get up close, you see its roots, a modern bike.

The Z900RS was planned from the beginning to have more of the traditional features, the main item being the tubular steel frame. From the start it gets a little closer to being "retro" but as far as the actual construction goes, it's purely modern.

The KHI supercharged H2R and H2 both have a similar steel tubular frame design. Steel's a great material for motorcycle frames. A bit heavier, but "oh, what a feeling" if done right. The 2017 CB1100, by all accounts, has also been done right.

Funny Guth, I was at our local Honda Yamaha dealer today. The owner is a good friend of mine. Known him since he was 14. I was asking about new Hondas. He said you wouldn't buy a Yamaha would you? I said "Sure I would..didn't I buy an FZ-1 from you? Didn't I buy a Majesty 400 from you? It's just that Yamaha doesn't design any bikes that appeal to me right now. Maybe if the FZ-09 was shaft drive I could forget it's looks and buy one, but honestly Yamaha motorcycles are rather bizarre looking styling wise. I just can't get past that." Then again not much meets my styling criteria from any manufacturer these days..Honda included.

I was real big on Yamaha in years past and have owned many, but these days, they don't make anything that appeals to me.

I took a pass on the new 2015 R1M, which I was ready to buy until I sat on the ZX-10R. The stalling on the freeway, need for a reflash, snatchy throttle response, recall on the Ohlins rear shock which could fail and cause an accident, and ridiculous 33" seat height all proved to be good reasons to have avoided that bike.

The FZ07 never felt right to me; spec sheet, it looked great, but just even sitting on it, I could tell the suspension was marshmallow-like.

Yamaha will come back, as has Kawasaki, who today seem to have the finest overall lineup of machines at the best prices.

However, Honda's lineup for '18 looks pretty good and that CB1000R is bound to be a fantastic bike, I think.

The Cafe version of the Z900RS reminds me of those animated cars and motorcycles from the Chevron commercials...

Reminds me of this:



That French Curve hard at work.



But the similarity is obvious in the animated cars, lots of curves.