Z900 RS

[2017EX_imp]

Back in the day, the Kaw Z1 was a real competitor for the 750 Four. Lets face it, the styling and extra displacement was very appealing back then. My humble opinion however, is that Kawasaki had the chance for a grand slam with the Z900 RS, but ended up with a double. Having just put fork boots on my 2017 EX, I admit that I am biased toward the classic naked bike old school styling. I was at my local Honda dealer to look at the Monkey recently, as in the near future one of those will be keeping the CB in my garage company. That dealer is also the local Kawasaki dealer. When I scanned the sales floor I immediately located the Z900RS.

I went over and sat on it, and noted right away that it sits quite a bit higher than the CB. I suppose that I could get along with a water cooled engine, but like the Ferret, I do not care for the huge space between the rear fender and rear tire at all. That look is sport bike, so I think it is out of place on a retro naked bike. I think Kawasaki blew it by not going with a 4 into 4 exhaust like the Z1, or at the very least a 4 into 2 like my EX. Again, being old school, and although it is not 4 into 4, I prefer the balanced look 4 into 2 exhaust of the Deluxe, EX, and RS. Maybe 4 into 4 will be offered by Honda and Kawasaki from the factory in 2020?

No doubt the Z900RS is probably a great bike, but it is just not my cup of tea in its current configuration. As we all know, the differences in styling, performance, handling, riding position, and on and on, all make each persons motorcycle a very individual thing. The CB1100EX is the one for me unless Honda comes out with a modern version closer to my beloved 1974 CB750 Four. Maybe a factory White House with 4 into 4?

[Stichill_imp]

I loved it the first time I saw it at Paris motorcycle show last year but I’m waiting until they are couple years old to scoop one up for cheap. Nothing stands close to CB1100 in terms of style and being true to its mission. Only if those 2017 would finally drop to $7500 as left overs I’d pick one up.

Very cool. I was at the 2018 Paris show too. Remember this line-up at the Kawasaki exhibit?

What's cool is LR saying, "I was at the 2018 Paris show too."

[Gone in 60]

I've sat on several of them at the local dealers in LA. My wife followed me into one of them and noticed the price tag.
That was the end of that.

[Wisedrum]

The Z900RS is just a revised Z900. Not enough for me to be attractive. I only dig the brown orange colour that reminds me a bit on the pretty nice Z out in 70s. All other aspects I don't like were mentioned before by other forumists like being watercooled, the space in the rear etc. . Not long ago I saw a rider passing by on one and the seating position didn't look right, because his knees were too much angled. I agree that the CB is the better looking motorcycle. Much better.

Wisedrum

[peterbaron]

The Z900RS is just a revised Z900. Not enough for me to be attractive. I only dig the brown orange colour that reminds me a bit on the pretty nice Z out in 70s. All other aspects I don't like were mentioned before by other forumists like being watercooled, the space in the rear etc. . Not long ago I saw a rider passing by on one and the seating position didn't look right, because his knees were too much angled. I agree that the CB is the better looking motorcycle. Much better.

Wisedrum

^^ +1

[LongRanger_imp]

I agree with the above, but in 30 years, I think the Z900RS will be retro cool, while the CB will just look... old.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I agree with the above, but in 30 years, I think the Z900RS will be retro cool, while the CB will just look... old.

Heh, heh, ... well, many of us will just look ... old ... or dead ... whether on a Z or CB.

[pdedse]

I agree with the above, but in 30 years, I think the Z900RS will be retro cool, while the CB will just look... old.

Better to look real-time cool now than retro cool in 30 years! : )

[Wisedrum]

I agree with the above, but in 30 years, I think the Z900RS will be retro cool, while the CB will just look... old.

Better to look real-time cool now than retro cool in 30 years! : )

Better to look real-time cool now than retro cool in 30 years! : )

Looking old, beautiful as a motorbike and being well function is the real cool retro in the future no matter how far away in many years from now. My taste will most likely not change that way to find a bike like the Z900RS realtime cool.. Not yet, not in the future.

Old CBs 750 and Z900 50 and 60 years later are still looking better than most other motorbikes that followed, although they were not intended to be retros, but developed into role models for the retro boom as time went by. Timeless beauties.

No other motorbike with a gasoline engine will ever gain a comparable image.

Wisedrum

[KiowaEagle_imp]

Went to the Kawasaki Demo Days at my local dealer and it turned out the demo rides were only in a tiny obstacle course set up in the parking lot. Took a hard pass. Wasting all that time and energy to get a short 3 mph ride wasn’t worth it. Not much different that just sitting on it.