Kawasaki Z900RS

[Ulvetanna_imp]

You should really buy the Z900. Soon.

I have had one since March, lol!

[Guth_imp]

I really like the CB1100, and I like what I'm seeing and reading of the Z900RS, but for different reasons. When all is said and done, I expect there to be far, far more Z900RS's out on the road than CB1100s. While it is "retro-styled", the Z900RS is a truly modern motorcycle by many different measurements or definitions. The CB1100 on the other hand is truly a "retro" motorcycle. There is a big difference between these two. People who purchase the CB1100 are giving up quite a bit in terms of outright performance as defined by the standards of the displacement class it falls into. Honda said from the very beginning that this is not what the CB1100 is all about. If you go back and watch any the original promotional videos for the CB1100 or read through the bike's history you'll see that Honda was focused on the experience that this bike would provide the rider with and that experience was not defined by performance figures. They almost made the point that it was defined by it's lack of outright performance. The older Honda CBs from decades ago are actually more of a competitor to the CB1100 than the Z900RS is. Like the Triumph Thruxton, the Z900RS is competing more with todays true sportbikes. The Z900RS might be "wrapped in retro clothing" so to speak, but that is not nearly the same thing as truly retro. There is room in the world for both types of motorcycles.

To me, one of the most intriguing stories currently in the automotive world is the Aston Martin "DB4 Continuation". The DB4 was originally produced back in the late 50's/early 60's. Recently Aston Martin decided to reproduce an extremely limited (25 or so?) number of DB4s for track use only (these are not road legal cars as they certainly would not meet today's safety standards). Aston Martin built everything involved in the car themselves just like they did back in the day. I believe these cars were priced somewhere just shy of 2 million dollars each. That kind of money could buy a LOT of supercar , or a lot of performance by today's standards. Cars that could no doubt blow away the DB4 Continuation, and they could still be used on the street. But driving those cars doesn't provide nearly the the same experience as driving the DB4 Continuation. Which is why there are people willing to dish out that kind of money for one of the DB4's. This kind of experience does not come cheap if you want it provided in a package that is "new" and not an antique.

While no CB was ever as elusive as a classic Aston Martin, much like the DB4 Continuation, the CB1100 is more about reproducing an experience that is more akin to something previously experienced and not what we have grown accustomed to today. Honda provided as much of this as possible while still making a motorcycle that is safe to be used on the road today. This is a totally different objective than what Kawasaki is trying to accomplish with the Z900RS. Someone could certainly enjoy both the CB1100 and the Z900RS, but more than likely for very different reasons.

[emptysea]

You should really buy the Z900. Soon.

I have had one since March, lol!

I have had one since March, lol!
That is AWESOME! I've had you on ignore for most of that time, so I didn't notice. Enjoy it!

[Guth_imp]

If I were going to compliment the CB1100 with one of the Kawasaki's, I too would choose the Z900 over the Z900RS. But if I were only going to own one bike and it had to be a Kawasaki, then I'd definitely choose the Z900RS.

[DaSwami_imp]

Bit of a thread drift here, but if Toyota would only make the 1985 4x4 Xtra Cab trucks and 4runners again, EFI, solid axles, oh boy.... I would totally finance one!

[LongRanger_imp]

Bravo, Guth. I think your DB4 analogy makes for a good comparison, though of course with a marked difference in exclusivity.

I was at a banking conference recently and a vendor there was displaying the 1967 DB6 used in one of the early Bond movies. I hadn't heard of a DB6, but there it was, rotating license plates and all. Gorgeous.

[hb9400_imp]

Mountain Motorsports has bought up most of the motorcycle delearships in the area. Have vacation time and ventured into 3 of them in the area looking for a Z900RS to see up close. 1 of the dealerships had a sales person that wanted to talk about the bike and even pulled up their delearship inventory. There is only 1 located up near Pidgeon Forge Tn. Nothing in the Atlanta area where you would think they would probably sell.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[flynrider]

I really like the CB1100, and I like what I'm seeing and reading of the Z900RS, but for different reasons. When all is said and done, I expect there to be far, far more Z900RS's out on the road than CB1100s. While it is "retro-styled", the Z900RS is a truly modern motorcycle by many different measurements or definitions. The CB1100 on the other hand is truly a "retro" motorcycle. There is a big difference between these two. People who purchase the CB1100 are giving up quite a bit in terms of outright performance as defined by the standards of the displacement class it falls into. Honda said from the very beginning that this is not what the CB1100 is all about. If you go back and watch any the original promotional videos for the CB1100 or read through the bike's history you'll see that Honda was focused on the experience that this bike would provide the rider with and that experience was not defined by performance figures. They almost made the point that it was defined by it's lack of outright performance. The older Honda CBs from decades ago are actually more of a competitor to the CB1100 than the Z900RS is. Like the Triumph Thruxton, the Z900RS is competing more with todays true sportbikes. The Z900RS might be "wrapped in retro clothing" so to speak, but that is not nearly the same thing as truly retro. There is room in the world for both types of motorcycles.

To me, one of the most intriguing stories currently in the automotive world is the Aston Martin "DB4 Continuation". The DB4 was originally produced back in the late 50's/early 60's. Recently Aston Martin decided to reproduce an extremely limited (25 or so?) number of DB4s for track use only (these are not road legal cars as they certainly would not meet today's safety standards). Aston Martin built everything involved in the car themselves just like they did back in the day. I believe these cars were priced somewhere just shy of 2 million dollars each. That kind of money could buy a LOT of supercar , or a lot of performance by today's standards. Cars that could no doubt blow away the DB4 Continuation, and they could still be used on the street. But driving those cars doesn't provide nearly the the same experience as driving the DB4 Continuation. Which is why there are people willing to dish out that kind of money for one of the DB4's. This kind of experience does not come cheap if you want it provided in a package that is "new" and not an antique.

While no CB was ever as elusive as a classic Aston Martin, much like the DB4 Continuation, the CB1100 is more about reproducing an experience that is more akin to something previously experienced and not what we have grown accustomed to today. Honda provided as much of this as possible while still making a motorcycle that is safe to be used on the road today. This is a totally different objective than what Kawasaki is trying to accomplish with the Z900RS. Someone could certainly enjoy both the CB1100 and the Z900RS, but more than likely for very different reasons.

That really is the difference between the two. The CB1100, with it's air cooled engine, twin shock rear suspension and double down tube steel frame, can't compete ( weight or performance-wise) with a modern bike. In fact, if you go back and look at the specs of liter UJMs from the late 70s and early 80s, you'd see that the CB1100 is quite competitive in that respect.

On the other hand, you have the Z900RS which is a thoroughly modern motorcycle with modern motorcycle performance specs, but with retro styling.

Personally, I like them both and hope to have one of each in my garage by the end of next year. While I prefer retro styling to the current "transformers" look, I'm not averse to having a bike with liquid cooling or a monoshock rear suspension. My taste runs to standard bikes that look like motorcycles and seat two comfortably. I'd have also been happy with a CB1300 or GSX1400 had they been available in the states.

[redbirds_imp]

Plus 1 to what Flynrider said.

[Guth_imp]

I literally had no idea until just today that Honda had announced the 2018 CB1000R (and that it is one and the same as the NEO Sports Cafe concept). Now that I've pulled my head out of the motorcycle sands, if I were going to be placing a new bike in the garage alongside the CB1100, I'd be much more inclined to buy the new 2018 CB1000R than the Z900RS.

Of course, I'm definitely not looking to add another bike to the garage and from the sounds of it based on VLJ's recent comments I wouldn't likely be able to fit on either the Z900RS or the CB1000R.