New Kawasaki 900 Retro

[the Ferret]

I'm guessing you would need a sawzall and a big drill offroad

[use2b_imp]

That is a nice looking bike and think it will sale.

this older one is pure art

[PowerDubs_imp]

This bike may look good to some, but to me it misses the retro look. Real retros didn't have paper thin passenger seats that most women over 30 would refuse to ride (not to mention the driver). There needs to be less space between the rear fender and wheel, and definitely no monoshock as this always screws up the passenger accomodations. And forget the Captain Zoom mufflers.......upswept like that means real trouble carrying even soft bags. And definitely no water cooling........everyone and his brother has a water cooled bike these days, Harleys excepted. The bikes of the 70s and 80s had good performance and they were practical. Good seats, water protection, ergo handlebars, and they just plain looked like serious motorcycles, not alien lifeforms. Hey, wait! I've got a bike like that in my garage right now. No, two, counting my 1981 GS650G, which is, as they say, real, not retro.

To be fair, the first things I changed on my CB1100 were a thicker stepped seat and wider more pulled back handlebars.

[Frulk_imp]

The Kawi as shown won't get me off the couch to drive to the dealer for a look see regardless of what the horsepower numbers are.

[flynrider]

I like what I see so far. It'll be interesting to see what the actual bike looks like.

I like standard motorcycles that don't look like they came from a Transformers film. It looks like Kaw has come up with a modern motorcycle with the styling of a 70's Z bike. Modern features like water cooling and monoshock suspension are definitely going to make it look different than an original Z1, but I'm OK with that. Much like the current Bonnie T120, it's not meant to be an exact copy of the original. Just a modern bike designed with a nod to the past.

[Cormanus]

I'm with you, Flyn (and with redbirds and anyone else who can live with modern compromises). The only gripe I'd have with the bike in the picture is the truly awful pillion seat.

[Henrik_imp]

Just a note on the W, certainly the 800 version didn't have less power than the Bonnie, and with more torque it felt like a much nicer engine to ride than the Bonnie. I nearly bought one, as I had found it much better than the Bonnie, but in the end the CB came out...

I love this new Kawasaki. Very much looking forward to see the finished product, and I would not be bothered by the pillion seat as I never sit there...

[kmoney_imp]

It's nice, but not amazing (at least to me). Looks are subjective, but this doesn't have the just sit and look at it because its beautiful from every angle quality that the CB does. I think part of it is that giant radiator.

[Wisedrum]

It's no wonder, that Kawasaki has launched
the retro field again. Again, because they
always did. Look at the Estrella, the W1, W650,
W800, the Drifters and the Zephyrs for example.

What do I think about the new 900?
They try to revisit a once very successful bike
with its cubic inches, that will draw attention by
itself. The CB is more attractive with its aircooled
engine, the fork and the rear suspension. Even with
its non spoked wheels. I like the more of cubic inches
and will stick to the Honda regardless of what the
Kawa is going to look and perform like when put
out on the market.

One word to the often acclaimed horsepower.
In my opion the W800 still has enough and the
CB has more than I can take. So, if the 900
will offer 100 or some horse power doesn't matter
much to me. They are so many bikes out there
with lots of hp, which aren't of any interest to me.
Horsepower by itself means nothing. The way a
bike communicates it is the biggest piece of the cake.
The W and CB have very nice taste so to say.

Wisedrum

[Tezza_imp]

It will be a very hard decision for me...To part with the CB1100 and buy one or keep what has been a wonderful machine. It would make a nice addition to my first love if I could change the mufflers.
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