the Ferret
Road warrior
Here's another view of that tank from the rear
Kawasaki Z900RS
- Thread starter Capo
- Start date
mickey, the views from above and from the front reveal just how squat and bulbous that tank really is. From the front it looks like a turtle shell, or a beetle. It's just a shapeless blob...
Now, compare that tank to the Z900's, which offers the same 4.5-gallon capacity...
So much shapelier, and narrower where it needs to be narrower.
Now, compare that tank to the Z900's, which offers the same 4.5-gallon capacity...
So much shapelier, and narrower where it needs to be narrower.
So I stopped by the mega- brand dealership in Thousand Oaks today ( I’m in SoCal this week) and scoped out the RS, took a good long look, straddled it, took in all the details. I had done so in NJ at the reveal, but driven by this thread, I felt it was time to take another look.
Man, that tank is seriously swollen. It’s a really attractive bike, especially from certain angles, but they missed the mark, IMHO, especially considering how sleek the original Zed was. I’m not keen on the new CB tank either. I’m wondering if the Kardashians are involved in the retro fat tank trend.
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Man, that tank is seriously swollen. It’s a really attractive bike, especially from certain angles, but they missed the mark, IMHO, especially considering how sleek the original Zed was. I’m not keen on the new CB tank either. I’m wondering if the Kardashians are involved in the retro fat tank trend.
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Seriously swollen, lol — that's perfect.Capo_imp said:
Whether your talking about a motorcycle, a car or any number of other products, creating lines that make them look attractive from any angle while remaining functional is incredibly challenging.
Kawasaki had a tall task in trying to incorporate some of the visual DNA of the sexy Z bikes from the early 70's. I like the brown/orange combo the best on this bike. From some angles they make it work as much as they can while still attempting to scratch out the level of performance that a lot of people want from these bikes. So while I don't care for the large gap created by the suspension travel and the 17" rear wheel, and while the 17's wheels look a bit funky given some of the retro styling cues, I do like the design of the wheels. This awkwardness is compensated by the performance gains made. Obviously Kawasaki isn't trying to sell this bike to someone who rides like me, lol. But man, when it comes to the top view or the front view in particular, that tank just sticks out like a sore thumb (a swollen sore thumb). I look at it and I just can't help but think about that mushroom dude from the Mario video games my son played when he was young, lol. So disappointing. On the plus side, the exhaust looks great. Not so much the header pipes, but from that point on this is one of the most attractive production exhausts that I've seen in a long time. I dig the seat and flared rear fender cowl as well. The bullet clocks are a nice nod to the past. I wish they would have done a better job with the fenders. Those old Z's had one of the most cool looking front fenders ever. I can't say the same for the RS. Still, I think of this bike as a modern standard with some retro touches and from most accounts it sounds like it's a fun bike to ride for the most part. I do find it interesting overall and will be curious to see how well this bike sells
The other bike I would most likely compare the Z900RS to would likely be the Triumph Thruxton R, not quite so much from the specific styling but more from the standpoint of intent. Both bikes are retro-styled but not really truly retro. They've made a number of modern sacrifices for the sake of performance gains and appeal to guys who like a decent dose of retro with more modern day performance. Despite all of my recent voiced frustration over certain marketing decisions made by Triumph, I have to give them credit for doing a really good job with all of their "Modern Classic" bikes the past few years from a styling perspective. I saw the Thruxton R in person not too long after it was released so I could walk all around it and take it in from all angles. The only thing that I winced at was the radiator. No matter how hard anyone has tried, I've yet to see an attractive radiator. While Triumph hid it as well as possible, looking at the bike from the front 3/4 view was the only thing that really gave me pause. As with the Kawasaki, the large gap is there in the rear, but again Triumph had more serious performance oriented intentions in mind with this bike. (Yet another one that would be wasted on someone like me.) In case of the Triumph, the use of spokes does help visually compensate for the fact that these are only 17" wheels. Ignoring the radiator, this bike looks good from all angles and they obviously made significant performance gains by going with the water cooling. I prefer the silver paint scheme on the Thruxton R. It's obvious that Triumph put a lot of time into the design of this bike.
Triumph took a big gamble by ditching their air-cooled retro bikes in lieu of the new water-cooled machines and they obviously have succeeded with that move. The other thing notable about the new Bonnies was how small/compact everything looks. Nothing swollen, lol. I made the same observation about the late 60's Triumphs whenever they very first caught me eye earlier on in life. Those particular bikes, as I've stated before, remain perhaps the most beautiful motorcycles of all to my eye. Now if Triumph were to place the smaller sized tank shape from the Street Twin on the current T100, that would be the most attractive combination in my mind and come the closest to matching the look of those late 60's designs that appealed so much to me.
Creating a tank with sufficient capacity to appeal to guys who like to ride for longer stretches of distance rarely works out well from a styling standpoint. To get much beyond 3.5 gallons requires a lot of visual compromises for functional gains. I'm with Capo on the new CB tank I've personally never cared whether or not a tank has visible seams or not, in fact I never gave it any thought until I read other people talking about it so that's not a positive or a negative for me. I suppose the thing about the new CB tank is that it just doesn't remind me of any of the old Hondas. It looks much more modern than the rest of the bike. In fact, the only vintage bikes that I'm reminded of by the new CB tank are the the old Ducatis with the jelly mold tanks. I understand that lot of people find those bikes very beautiful, but they just didn't hold as much appeal to me.
I set on one a few weeks back . was so excited to finally see one but was disappointed when i got up close and then on it.
the big tank does not hide that radiator which sticks out both sides where i am use to seeing engine hanging out.
that cap is out there isn't it ? looks like it is begging to be messed with and the radiator hose looks like an after thought.
might just be me but i got off thinking the only thing it has going is the paint job.
the big tank does not hide that radiator which sticks out both sides where i am use to seeing engine hanging out.
that cap is out there isn't it ? looks like it is begging to be messed with and the radiator hose looks like an after thought.
might just be me but i got off thinking the only thing it has going is the paint job.
It's very obvious how intensively Triumph and Honda sweated the details with their retros, vs Kawi's passing nod to those same details. In the case of Triumph, their cooling fins are real fins—their functionality or lack thereof can be debated, but there is no debating that they are, in fact, actual fins—not merely tacked-on cosmetic protrusions, as they are on the Z900RS. There are no cables sloppily draped across the side of the motor on the Modern Classics, while the clutch cable just hangs right out there on the Kawi. They didn't even rout it out of sight, as Yamaha did with the clutch cable on my XSR. The Thruxton's remarkably skinny tank is as slender as the old ones were, while the Kawi's is a shapeless fat blob that splays the rider's knees out. Triumph did everything possible to hide the radiator, to such a degree that it's basically invisible from the side view. It's certainly not in the rider's line of sight from the saddle. The Kawi's radiator is an inelegant eyesore, made worse from the rider's point of view by the stark prominence of the radiator cap.
Bottom line, the Z900RS is Kawi's answer to the XSR. It's a thoroughly modern motorcycle based on an already-existent naked sportbike, with a few stylistic nods to the past. It's not a retro bike, at all. In that sense, it doesn't hold a candle to any version of the CB1100, either in retro-authenticity or, especially, attention to detail.
As for the tank on either version of the '17 CB1100, while it may not resemble the shape of the previous models, it is in no way fat, bulbous, or unattractive. Despite having the same capacity as the Kawi tank, it's so much more slender between the knees, and everywhere else. It's also artisan-level beautiful, with its smooth, seamless contours and ultra-rich, lustrous paintwork.
Bottom line, the Z900RS is Kawi's answer to the XSR. It's a thoroughly modern motorcycle based on an already-existent naked sportbike, with a few stylistic nods to the past. It's not a retro bike, at all. In that sense, it doesn't hold a candle to any version of the CB1100, either in retro-authenticity or, especially, attention to detail.
As for the tank on either version of the '17 CB1100, while it may not resemble the shape of the previous models, it is in no way fat, bulbous, or unattractive. Despite having the same capacity as the Kawi tank, it's so much more slender between the knees, and everywhere else. It's also artisan-level beautiful, with its smooth, seamless contours and ultra-rich, lustrous paintwork.
nhawk7504_imp
Been there
The black Z900RS is my desktop wallpaper. Wheelbase. Tank has to fit in there somewhere. Longer tank is longer wheelbase and they really wanted the bike to ride well. 65 pounds lighter and than the CB11. Retro shocks don't work well. At 160 lbs I am lucky if TWO heavy springs work at all for me. My TU250 shocks were perfect for me. Most Harleys don't even squat at all when I sit on them. - I like both bikes. I go HARD into corners sometimes. Advantage 17 inch wheeled bike. Highway lazy cruise - advantage Honda with it's weight. I HAVE TO get Ohlins for the CB. The Harley ZR1200 shocks were MUCH better. I rode my friend's like a demon. The CB has that motor. The sounds of air cooled. The bottom end pull. The clean look. The new EX is a museum piece in person. The old tank was very 80s. I did not like 80's square looks, cars, bikes, the whole 9. All said and done, I like both bikes. I can't say one is better. I'd ride both if I had the money. Like shoes, the other one on opposite days. Gotta have two pairs my Dad said. Just like in the Army.
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.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
Seriously swollen, lol — that's perfect.Guth_imp said:
Whether your talking about a motorcycle, a car or any number of other products, creating lines that make them look attractive from any angle while remaining functional is incredibly challenging.
Kawasaki had a tall task in trying to incorporate some of the visual DNA of the sexy Z bikes from the early 70's. I like the brown/orange combo the best on this bike. From some angles they make it work as much as they can while still attempting to scratch out the level of performance that a lot of people want from these bikes. So while I don't care for the large gap created by the suspension travel and the 17" rear wheel, and while the 17's wheels look a bit funky given some of the retro styling cues, I do like the design of the wheels. This awkwardness is compensated by the performance gains made. Obviously Kawasaki isn't trying to sell this bike to someone who rides like me, lol. But man, when it comes to the top view or the front view in particular, that tank just sticks out like a sore thumb (a swollen sore thumb). I look at it and I just can't help but think about that mushroom dude from the Mario video games my son played when he was young, lol. So disappointing. On the plus side, the exhaust looks great. Not so much the header pipes, but from that point on this is one of the most attractive production exhausts that I've seen in a long time. I dig the seat and flared rear fender cowl as well. The bullet clocks are a nice nod to the past. I wish they would have done a better job with the fenders. Those old Z's had one of the most cool looking front fenders ever. I can't say the same for the RS. Still, I think of this bike as a modern standard with some retro touches and from most accounts it sounds like it's a fun bike to ride for the most part. I do find it interesting overall and will be curious to see how well this bike sells
The other bike I would most likely compare the Z900RS to would likely be the Triumph Thruxton R, not quite so much from the specific styling but more from the standpoint of intent. Both bikes are retro-styled but not really truly retro. They've made a number of modern sacrifices for the sake of performance gains and appeal to guys who like a decent dose of retro with more modern day performance. Despite all of my recent voiced frustration over certain marketing decisions made by Triumph, I have to give them credit for doing a really good job with all of their "Modern Classic" bikes the past few years from a styling perspective. I saw the Thruxton R in person not too long after it was released so I could walk all around it and take it in from all angles. The only thing that I winced at was the radiator. No matter how hard anyone has tried, I've yet to see an attractive radiator. While Triumph hid it as well as possible, looking at the bike from the front 3/4 view was the only thing that really gave me pause. As with the Kawasaki, the large gap is there in the rear, but again Triumph had more serious performance oriented intentions in mind with this bike. (Yet another one that would be wasted on someone like me.) In case of the Triumph, the use of spokes does help visually compensate for the fact that these are only 17" wheels. Ignoring the radiator, this bike looks good from all angles and they obviously made significant performance gains by going with the water cooling. I prefer the silver paint scheme on the Thruxton R. It's obvious that Triumph put a lot of time into the design of this bike.
Triumph took a big gamble by ditching their air-cooled retro bikes in lieu of the new water-cooled machines and they obviously have succeeded with that move. The other thing notable about the new Bonnies was how small/compact everything looks. Nothing swollen, lol. I made the same observation about the late 60's Triumphs whenever they very first caught me eye earlier on in life. Those particular bikes, as I've stated before, remain perhaps the most beautiful motorcycles of all to my eye. Now if Triumph were to place the smaller sized tank shape from the Street Twin on the current T100, that would be the most attractive combination in my mind and come the closest to matching the look of those late 60's designs that appealed so much to me.
Creating a tank with sufficient capacity to appeal to guys who like to ride for longer stretches of distance rarely works out well from a styling standpoint. To get much beyond 3.5 gallons requires a lot of visual compromises for functional gains. I'm with Capo on the new CB tank I've personally never cared whether or not a tank has visible seams or not, in fact I never gave it any thought until I read other people talking about it so that's not a positive or a negative for me. I suppose the thing about the new CB tank is that it just doesn't remind me of any of the old Hondas. It looks much more modern than the rest of the bike. In fact, the only vintage bikes that I'm reminded of by the new CB tank are the the old Ducatis with the jelly mold tanks. I understand that lot of people find those bikes very beautiful, but they just didn't hold as much appeal to me.
Well-reasoned. Nice. Cannot find any flaw in your logic.
I daresay Kawasaki will not, either. But my experience with that tank is the same as with the 2017 CB1100. At first (as I posted here a while back) I thought it was "bulbous" and too large for the bike as compared to the 2013. But after I sat on the bike and got used to the way it looked, I came to like it.
That tank is in no way going to hurt sales of the machine, it really looks fine when one sees the bike in a parking lot full of other motorcycles. It somehow just comes together.
Speaking of Triumph, I rode most of the day yesterday with a friend. she rides a Street Twin. Plenty of curving road, some freeway, city. The Street Twin and Street Cup (which I was riding) are just fun bikes, nice-looking, and exceptionally easy to ride. The Street Twin especially won't break the bank.
She's a newer rider and was commenting about how easy the machine was to ride with respect to the powerband, ease of handling, and comfort. A new set of Z8's on the bike, according to her, just transformed the handling to very neutral and confidence-inspiring.
Sometimes all it takes is just a simple change to a better tire to make a bike a lot better, even one that was good to begin with.
johnf514_imp
Running like a top
Agreed completely, and IMHO, does a much better job at bridging the gap between retro and modern. Happened to see a Z900RS on the road today and they look even better in motion.VLJ_imp said:
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
The tank on the Z900 is very wide at the front, with respect to the two "ears" which are nicely concealed by the scoops blending it with the larger radiator, which was needed to handle the much higher HP of the Z900s engine.
The extra capacity is done the same way KHI did it with the KLR650. Z900 is much wider at the front but had none of the styling concerns of the Z900RS.
It is what it is, the tank shape is probably not going to factor into the sales of the Z900RS in any meaningful way.
That bike, in fact, reminds me very much of the design of the A6M Zero, a very sleek, svelte single-engine aircraft. It made excellent use of the "French Curve" which is exactly what I am seeing on the Z900RS's tank.
KHI, I believe quite wisely, elected to build a bike that looks retro, to appeal to those grumpy old guys trying to recapture their lost youth, or to those noisome Millennials (who have no idea how things work but certainly know what looks cool).
But the Kawasaki is going to run like stink, they can ask about the same price for it, and not have a metric shipload of them unsold years later. The extra HP, lighter weight, and basically more impressive "spec sheet" once again is going to sell bikes.
I'm loving the 2017 EX and for my purposes would not purchase a Z900RS but many lovers of all things retro, who also ride, will gather themselves to the Z900RS enthusiastically. And have no regrets.
KHI will likely release the RS Cafe in the future; that's a bike that I really do love as far as the looks go.
The extra capacity is done the same way KHI did it with the KLR650. Z900 is much wider at the front but had none of the styling concerns of the Z900RS.
It is what it is, the tank shape is probably not going to factor into the sales of the Z900RS in any meaningful way.
That bike, in fact, reminds me very much of the design of the A6M Zero, a very sleek, svelte single-engine aircraft. It made excellent use of the "French Curve" which is exactly what I am seeing on the Z900RS's tank.
And, unfortunately, the veracity in that statement is exactly why I sold my 2013. It just didn't deliver the performance and handling I'd hoped for. By all accounts, the 2017 does just that.VLJ_imp said:
KHI, I believe quite wisely, elected to build a bike that looks retro, to appeal to those grumpy old guys trying to recapture their lost youth, or to those noisome Millennials (who have no idea how things work but certainly know what looks cool).
But the Kawasaki is going to run like stink, they can ask about the same price for it, and not have a metric shipload of them unsold years later. The extra HP, lighter weight, and basically more impressive "spec sheet" once again is going to sell bikes.
I'm loving the 2017 EX and for my purposes would not purchase a Z900RS but many lovers of all things retro, who also ride, will gather themselves to the Z900RS enthusiastically. And have no regrets.
KHI will likely release the RS Cafe in the future; that's a bike that I really do love as far as the looks go.
nhawk7504_imp
Been there
Sounds good VLJ. The one dealer that allows test rides sold theirs sight unseen. Yeah I think they could have added some indents into the back of the tank. It has to go up higher then. That's nice that they updated the shocks. I didn't feel the road on the XR12. Ditto the new DUC SS.VLJ_imp said:
Guys, keep in mind that I'm primarily talking about the subjective topic of styling here and in the spirit of the forum I'm trying to be as polite as I can be right now with some of my opinions. Opinions is all that they are, nothing more. I can appreciate a bike at many different levels without agreeing about everything regarding the looks. I find the Z900 RS to be a very fascinating motorcycle and I'm really happy to see Kawasaki go for it with this bike. But if I were to walk into a Kawasaki dealer to find a new Z900 RS sitting on the floor next to a super clean W650 that someone had just traded in on one, I personally would be far more tempted by the W than the RS.
You'll notice that I'll say very little about the XSR. I just bite my tongue when it comes to that bike, lol. People can go on all they want about performance advantages of this or that and I'll give them that. I get it. When it comes to my own needs those things just really aren't that interesting to me. I've posted my videos, you can see how I ride, I just don't need any more performance than that which my CB already offers. As a general rule for me those performance gains tend to come with a clear visual cost to my eye when it comes to retro or retro-styled bikes. At some point in the crossover between vintage looks and performance, motorcycles just lose my eye's interest. Once a certain point is crossed I find myself much more interested in bikes like the Z650/Z900, the Street Triple, the SV650 or the CB1000R. (Yamaha is such a design/styling disaster "in my opinion" that they don't currently have a single bike that appeals to me.)
For me, there's nothing beautiful about the new CB tank shape and I'm not nearly as big a fan of metallic paint jobs as I am of pearl paint jobs. I do feel that the new shape works better on the CB1100 RS than the EX as the more modern shape works better with, and mimics spirit of the wider & shorter 17" wheels/tires. I'm glad that the Honda logotype is an emblem as opposed to a decal, but I much prefer the winged badge. Had Honda visually referenced some their older tank designs in some way (other than just the metallic paint) then the new CB1100s would hold much greater appeal to me. But regardless of what is a hit or miss with me personally, it's still very obvious to me that the CB1100 remains a project of pride driven by Honda's passions for engineering, quality and heritage. I'll just leave it at that. We all like what we like. I'd much rather someone disagree with me about this stuff and be happier with their own bike than to agree and be disappointed with what they own, lol.
You'll notice that I'll say very little about the XSR. I just bite my tongue when it comes to that bike, lol. People can go on all they want about performance advantages of this or that and I'll give them that. I get it. When it comes to my own needs those things just really aren't that interesting to me. I've posted my videos, you can see how I ride, I just don't need any more performance than that which my CB already offers. As a general rule for me those performance gains tend to come with a clear visual cost to my eye when it comes to retro or retro-styled bikes. At some point in the crossover between vintage looks and performance, motorcycles just lose my eye's interest. Once a certain point is crossed I find myself much more interested in bikes like the Z650/Z900, the Street Triple, the SV650 or the CB1000R. (Yamaha is such a design/styling disaster "in my opinion" that they don't currently have a single bike that appeals to me.)
For me, there's nothing beautiful about the new CB tank shape and I'm not nearly as big a fan of metallic paint jobs as I am of pearl paint jobs. I do feel that the new shape works better on the CB1100 RS than the EX as the more modern shape works better with, and mimics spirit of the wider & shorter 17" wheels/tires. I'm glad that the Honda logotype is an emblem as opposed to a decal, but I much prefer the winged badge. Had Honda visually referenced some their older tank designs in some way (other than just the metallic paint) then the new CB1100s would hold much greater appeal to me. But regardless of what is a hit or miss with me personally, it's still very obvious to me that the CB1100 remains a project of pride driven by Honda's passions for engineering, quality and heritage. I'll just leave it at that. We all like what we like. I'd much rather someone disagree with me about this stuff and be happier with their own bike than to agree and be disappointed with what they own, lol.
the Ferret
Road warrior
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.
Guth, I agree regarding the different tank logos, but I think Honda chose wisely for each tank. The winged logo is perfect on the boxier tank. The script logo wouldn't work as well there, but it works perfectly on the curvier '17 tank.
As for the XSR, I don't love its looks, but I prefer them to the Z900RS's, which I mostly find to be unappealing. The only real negative is the two boxes at the top of the frame.
As for the XSR, I don't love its looks, but I prefer them to the Z900RS's, which I mostly find to be unappealing. The only real negative is the two boxes at the top of the frame.
the Ferret
Road warrior
I have issues with several design elements of the XSR 900 besides those boxes. The silver bridge structure supports under the seat with the holes, the same for the headlight ears. The oddly shaped healight bucket and 1940s Ford tailight, the strangely thick front fender supports highlighted in silver, and the way the gas tank seemes to just be perched on top of the frame rather than moulded around it. I also find Yamaha gauges, switches and mirrors funky.
I still think the XSR is the best running of the Yamaha triples and I have ridden all 3.
I still think the XSR is the best running of the Yamaha triples and I have ridden all 3.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
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.
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.
That French Curve hard at work.
But the similarity is obvious in the animated cars, lots of curves.
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.
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.The ferret_imp said:
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.
Reminds me of this:VLJ_imp said:The Cafe version of the Z900RS reminds me of those animated cars and motorcycles from the Chevron commercials...
That French Curve hard at work.
But the similarity is obvious in the animated cars, lots of curves.
Ulvetanna_imp
Road warrior
That's how I feel about it. The Z900RS is a liquid-cooled motorcycle, and needs a radiator; a discussion of the engineering strategy behind the bulbous tank (to allow a full 4.5 gallons of fuel and the huge airbox needed for the engine's low-end torque) is found in another post. So I have to wonder, in this case, just exactly what could Kawasaki's engineers have done differently to assuage these aesthetic concerns?nhawk7504_imp said:
There is only one answer: they could have built an air-cooled motorcycle! And they've already done that, over 15 years ago. The ZR750 was a beautiful motorcycle, in profile very similar to the new Z900RS. When it first came out, my buddy bought one right away, and I had the chance to ride it. It was a superb machine in every way.
A bone-stock Zephyr 750, circa 1992.
Not bad with the MRS pipes.
Cycle World has published an article about the ZR750, where it has named that bike the best standard of 1992, on its website.
Kawasaki produced versions of the ZR (Zephyr) in 400, 550, 750, and 1100 versions.
The Zephyr 1100 shares the "bulbous" tank design of the Z900RS. It's a Kawasaki signature throughout the line.
Not a bad-looking mill.
[url=https://www.cycleworld.com/riding-impression-zephyr-1100-from-archives#page-4]Cycle World has also posted a review of the Zephyr 1100 from 1992, which has a lot of interesting information about the bike's performance, its adherents, and its development.
I had another buddy who had a few of these retros, the 1100 in particular. He commuted for years on that bike. Later he upgraded to the ZRX1200 and rode that bike for tens of thousands of commuting miles. He still had one, last time I checked.
The ZRX1200 was the first liquid-cooled machine in the retro line of ZR's.
Kawasaki has been all the way down the road and back with respect to making retro-styled inline fours of the air-cooled variety. And what they've learned is that, these days, they just don't sell very well. The Z900RS is a very slimmed-down example of the same kind of bike as the ZRX1200. Motorcycle sales are down right now, and KHI has made the right decision in choosing the style and technology for the new Z series.
Anyone who owns a CB1100 today should be thanking their lucky stars that they got one now, since it doesn't look like the bike is going to be back in the USA, at least. Those folks have the bike they want, it doesn't have an ugly radiator, bulbous tank, or the wrong badge on the tank. And hopefully, the bike they have is the bike they want, and it'll make them happy. I can't say, but it may be that no one bike can have everything one might want. I suppose that's why we have a lot of good choices. And if another person's choice differs from ours, it can still provide the same satisfaction of ownership.
I leave it to Cycle World's excellent staff of 1992 to sum it up; these thoughts are equally relevant 15 years later:
Good times are what motorcycles are for, though if recent sales figures are anything to go by, a smaller percentage of people than ever are enjoying good times on new bikes. But who knows? There would seem to be strong demand, among riders and former riders, for a liter-class standard-style motorcycle that offers a workable combination of style, comfort, performance and value.
Those words, written over 15 years ago, couldn't be more apropos.:beerchug:
