RETRO RUMBLE! Kawasaki Z900RS vs. Triumph Speed Twin vs. Yamaha XSR900
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- Опубликовано: 9 окт 2022
- The retro bike trend has been going on for many years now and runs through the portfolios of almost every motorcycle brand. Whoever thinks that there is no difference between all theses bikes though and they just want to "look cool" is wrong! Kawasaki Z900RS, Triumph Speed Twin and Yamaha XSR900 could not be more different! For a fair comparison, we test all three machines on the Dunlop Roadsmart IV SP.
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Z900RS wins for me, I was considering these very three bikes earlier this year, and bought the Kawasaki :-) Speed Twin runs too hot for summer use in Australia, and is not helped by the downpipes sitting right in front of the riders legs. The XSR is a great sports bike, and good value for money, but it's no retro, and doesn't come close to the Z or Speed in the looks department. Individually, they are still three great bikes though, and the owner of any of these bikes would be happy, and could justify their choice.
The Kawa is the only bike for 6ft plus people. The Yam is too small for me at 6ft & 70kgs.
Which motorcycle would be the lightest and have the lowest seat height for small individuals like me, 5.5 feet tall and 70 kilograms, among these three bikes?
Glad it wasn't just me. I test road a Speed Twin on about a 30 degree day. It was like sitting on a volcano.
@@Gramercy_Stiffsyou sat on a volcano? Wow
The speed twin standard seat is like a wooden plank, the headlight at night is dim on low beam, runs hot and brake disks squeaky. But it's a bike you'll stand back in your garage and drool over...... if only looks were everything!
I drove all 3 and bought the Kawasaki. All had their great points, but for me the styling took me back to the 70’s. You really can’t make a wrong decision with these machines
Congrats on your purchase, man! Ride safe and enjoy your Kawa :)
Love the non bullshit and no self entitlement approach that is most bike reviews. Well done, I am a new subscriber.
The Kaw, all day long, every day. It just does everything, superbly well.
I have had all 3 (but I had the older XSR) and it's the Speed Twin all day long. The other bikes look like they are made in China compared to the Triumph. The throttle on the Kawasaki and Yamaha is horrible. They are all great bikes and you won't go wrong with either one of them once you get a full exhaust and a tune.
Kawasaki Z900RS SE.
@@beer3029 the older XSR is an entirely different bike.
I’ve ridden all 3 . They are all great 👍 the kwak is the biggest the Xsr is the best handling & pretty mental the Bonnie is the full package for me. Superior quality and just beautiful.it’s a keeper !
Yep, can't go wrong with the Z...
I bought the ‘22 Z900RS Café and really love it. Probably would have been happy with any of them, but I needed good wind protection as I ride the Interstates a lot out here in Texas. Turned out to be a great bike. Doesn’t seem to suffer any throttle issues, doesn’t get too hot in 100° Texas summer, and the rear shock and stock tires are fine for anything other than track use once you add sufficient preload to the stock shock.
This helps me a lot. Thank you
If the XSR is Retro, that's what I want! Total Function over looks with a Round Headlight is Retro! Quick Shifter, Fully Adj Suspension and Cruise Control was the Kicker. Retro Rocks!
I have been riding for over 40 years - all types of sport bikes. I took the xsr900 for a ride and sold two of my bikes immediately -2013 report cbr600rr and 85vr500. It is the first bike that I cannot get enough of!
Tenere 700 rider here. I recently wanted to test ride a MT-07 because I never rode a naked bike or sport bike. It seemed like the safe and novice choice. After returning on a test ride with the salesman , we took our helmets off and he could see I was not very impressed and before I could mouth any words he knew..... he then pointed over to a brand new XSR900 and said "ok, now go take that one out"...... Needless to say I returned with the biggest grin Ive ever had . I cant stop thinking about one. need to sell something ! Maybe the T7
Thankyou so much for making this!
This is the video that I need!
Great video, no background music, good content, and nice scenery 👍
Love riding my 2019 Speed Twin, however it was a close call between that and the Z900RS. Unfortunately while touring in France this August, some paint has started to flake off the engine. Not sure if I'm just unlucky or whether the heat was the cause. Either way it's making me wonder about the "best finish" of Triumph bikes....
a very balanced and considered comparison. personally I love the Z900rs (and own one), but that's because of the impact the inspiration for this bike had on me in 1972.
Great video! BMW R Nine T was missing, but still awesome video. Thanks!
Tried the Kawi, Bonnie and R9t (which isn’t on this), and purchased Kawi last month. The smooth inline 4 is a great engine, and yes the throttle is a slight issue but it doesn’t bother me. It’s a thing of beauty.
I highly recommend getting a flash. I have the 2WDW one, I think others are good too. Makes an incredible difference. The single best mod for a Z900RS one can do.
I’m so glad you guys are speaking English now 👍, I just subscribed
Tried all 3 of these bikes. And the Triumph gave me the biggest smile!
Same for me 😁
Biggest price!
Compared with the other 2 in this test this new XSR 900 is much lighter, more powerful, better equipped - QS, cruise control, more granular suspension adjustments front and rear -, it has a much more comprehensive electronics package (which you can disengage if you think you're better than state-of-the-art computers) and a CP3 engine that marries all the best qualities of a twin - low-down grunt - with all the best qualities of an inline-4 - smoothness and power up top. It's also the more affordable of the 3. I don't get how can anyone choose anything other than the Yamaha.
Couldn't agree more.
Don't like looks of Yamaha !!
I sat on a XSR 900 before I bought my Z900RS. There is no comparison. None. The two bikes are in entirely different classes. And the Yamaha is not a retro, btw. The ownership experience couldn't be more different. Not knocking the Yamaha, if that's your segment it's a great value and very fast. The Z is the perfect homage to the original Z1, which with the CB750 was the start of the UJM phenomenon which influences the market to this day. If you're only concerned with speed than the Kawi isn't your bike. But at 472 LBs fully wet and 100 dyno tuned WHP it's no slouch. It doesn't need a dyno tune, but since I was having her flashed anyway, for another $100 got a 'custom' tune. It really benefits from a flash. Changes the entire riding experience. Also adds a lot under the curve on the big end. The silky smooth turbine like motor is a charm. A lot of TQ down low, a very fat TQ curve. "The Magic Chair". Cheers. Ride safe.
@@archibaldcunningham2569 if they had only made the xsr look more the xjr1300 , I think the xsr is a better bike but I would still buy the Kawasaki, I own a 2015 t100 , it's been a great daily commuter, and I've ridden it comfortably 625 miles in a day
I wouldn't call that Yamaha retro. Not at all. Kawasaki knocked it out of the park.
The Yamaha looks like a sportsbike someone has tried to convert to a naked. The kwak is class. Triumph a close second
Currently saving up for the XSR. I had a 2016 and it was the best bike I've ever ridden. I'm sure the Kawa and Triumph are great, but I have a soft spot for the Yamaha.
Yamaha is an engine builder first, they designed many legendary engines for auto makers (Taurus SHO) which got Ford into DOHC which motorcycles had since the '70's.
This is exactly the comparison I want.
Suddenly Yamaha looks the ugly duckling next to its siblings.I'll take Z900RS my dream bike in yellow green
Take the xsr anyday. St is short small for city 1 person only
Winner was a complete surprise at the end. Reviewer didn't seem nearly as impressed during the initial comments. Current 2022 XSR owner and former 2010 Bonneville owner. I enjoy/ed both but they are so different. It really comes down to rider preferences and where you get to ride. I think there are no wrong answers on this list.
I iown a 2022 Speed Twin, and I had a 2020 Z900RS. I agree with most of the review. The Z900RS stock shock, is garbage. Its the first thing to replace. The forks aren't bad once they get set up. And the OEM tires are crap. But overall its a larger, smoother, and faster bike than the Speed Twin. If you were to choose between the two, go with the Kawi Z900RS SE model, the new one with Ohlins and Brembo upgrades. That's the best retro sportbike right now
Thanks for sharing your experience with us and yes, the Kawasaki SE models are awesome! :)
Good video, thanks. You are right about the Triumph's excessive heat. The cooling system looks neat but clearly isn't up to the job imo. On hot days it put me off riding it and was one of the reasons I got rid of mine. Good torque tho...
never notices excessive heat on my ST. its 95 degF here always. If you want heat ride a bmw GS !!
Well done. Enjoyed. Would go for the Z900rs.
I test-rode both Kawasaki and Yamaha.
Z900 has a very fine finishing quality and a bit more consistent retro look and of course, is a great bike with plenty of power and a nice throttle reaction, but...
riding XSR makes me feel like a kid on a rollercoaster, if I only had more space in the garage for one more bike and some spare money XSR is my next pick
No one mentioned z900rs has 17.5 ltr tank . Where are you going to go with 14 ltr tank in Australia 🇦🇺 ?
Which is better for riding 2up?
I own a 2020 Speed Twin and love it. For those saying it runs too hot, swapping out the cat for an x-pipe helps significantly. Rode in the hot Arizona summer without getting too hot. Love the looks of the Kawi but the Yam doesn’t appeal to me at all as a retro
High torque = pure joy and maximum practically for city riding especially. Speed twin has my vote.
As an owner I will heartfully agree!
Too hot for certain climates though.
Which motorcycle would be the lightest and have the lowest seat height for small individuals like me, 5.5 feet tall and 70 kilograms, among these three bikes?
I don’t know how you think the xSR looks retro. I never saw anything like that in the past. What bikes looked like an xSR? Hello?
TZR250 with the lower fairing ripped off
Im with you on this. Don’t really know what it was based on, but so many of the Yamahas right now just look like they are missing fairings from a full faired bike, and no real design concept that’s unique and in this case, based on a retro naked Yamaha. It’s too bad because there were many great options to choose from back then. Kawi nailed the assignment honestly.
Also chose the XSR. Threw a GP Racer kit on and it looks like my old RZ350, with the spec of a modern sport bike. Coming from a T120 and RE GT650, I can appreciate Yamaha's design intent and that not every bike has to pretend to be a Bonneville to pay homage to the past. The numpties that say it's not a neo-retro will never understand that.
That triumph just looks the part! I ended up with the Z900rs Cafe it's great, but triumph hit the nail on the head
I have the Speed Twin and love it. Before I got it, I looked very seriously at the Kawasaki. I’d love to have it, too, if only I had the space for it.
one for city, heavy to get around; one for outside; big bike travels. Not even in the same league for comarison.
Nice presentation ✌️
I like this type of motocycle.
Thanks for watching. How can someone not love these precious machines? :)
Xsr for me. I've always been a sucker for bang for buck and the tech on it is amazing. I'll grant that it isn't as traditional as a retro bike but if I wanted a 70s or 80s bike ide get a 70s or 80s bike. I think this does a good job of paying homage to those bikes while keeping it fresh. Similar to what car manufactures have done with their muscle cars thr past couple decades.
Same here! I love my XRS!
What makes the Yamaha a retro bike? I’ve been around a while and I don’t remember anything that looks like the Yamaha from back in the day
agree its basically striped out sport bike.The esthetics look kind of bla.There is no coherent design more like collage of bits of pieces glued toghter.
@@rubo1964 its just an MT09 for people who can't live with the seriously eye-watering ugliness of the MT09.
@@dsofe4879😅
Put a rounded headlight on my chest and I become a retro human.
I have a '19 speed twin and love it. Just added a '23 xsr 900 to my stable and love it as well. both great, but provide a significantly different riding experience. both are truly fabulous machines, but "different strokes for different folks", or "sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't".
You forgot the originator of the trend - Honda. The neo sports cafe design language is featured on the cb1000r, cb650r and the cb300r. Take a look... and ride.
Have a '22 Z900RS in blue. Excellent machine. Pulls hard through the gears, excellent radial brakes, and handles superbly, even at high speed through the long sweepers. Triumph looks good, XSR looks bad. Glad I made this decision.
As soon as the Z900RS was introduced in 17 I knew I would get one. Takes me back to my ute. [What's a 'ute'. You know, 'ute'. Joe pesci n Fred Gwynne, My Cousin Vinny, great movie.] Agree the XSR looks hideous. I've over 42k on my Z900RS now and couldn't be more happy and still totally in love. The smile every time I swing a leg is the best. Though I prefer my Candy Tone Orange. Rock on.
@@archibaldcunningham2569 As you covered some thousands miles, can you tell me how long you can resist riding it with the stock seat? Thanks a lot.
@@RRRRefuelRideRace I don't understand the question. I have the factory low reach seat. It's quite comfortable. Only on 250+ mile days does my butt feel it. Overall bike is very comfy. No vibration.
@@archibaldcunningham2569 Thanks. In fact you answered me. Till 250 miles is fine. Very nice mate. Drop by, you may like my content.
I purchased a Triumph 2022 Speed Twin 1200cc motorcycle last week. The main reason no shops withing 350 miles of me had this bike or any Japanese retro type of bike in stock. I'm not sure what is going on, but I could not even find a W800 nothing. I went to the Ducati / Triumph dealer they had everything in stock. So, I ended up with the Speed Twin, plus I have to have cruise control, which was an easy accessory from Triumph add on at purchase. I really wish I could have found this bike to even look at but no. I have to drive 218 miles to purchase the Triumph so it not like I did not travel. I rode it home with no problems from San Antonio back to West Texas.
I just bought the XSR and love it. I had a z650rs and it was just too small for me, so I was inclined to go Kawasaki again, but got lured away by xsr’s seating position and bar end mirrors. Also, the Kawasaki, between trade difference and higher price tag, would have cost me about $1,500.00 more.
I have a zx10r with convertibars. Beast
When I test rode the z900RS, it reminded me of my 10 just waaay slower and heavier. The speed twin might be a winner for someone looking at something different, especially that torque down low.
Just pulled the trigger on a z900 RS SE. The lack of tech was its selling point. I will never understand how screens, and features that require less rider skill, and connection to the bike like quick shifters are considered necessary. To each their own! Ride safe fellow two wheelers! :)
I love my translogic qs on my Z cafe, still have to blip going down but it is a hoot with full exh system.
One of each please, like them all for different reasons.
I like all three of these bikes but, as a former owner of a '75 Z-1 900, I'd have to go with the Z900 R-S.
love all 3 bikes love the retro design 👌 I'm riding a cb1000r also reto
Order yourself the CB750 body kit from whitehouse of japan. Damn it looks good.
@Concerned They stunning kits,but have you seen the cost? Horrendously expensive,unfortunately.
Can anyone recommend how to disassemble a 2004 R6 to bring up 4 floors into an apartment?
Sawsall
I recently sold a beautiful z900 rs candytone brown and orange it had the chic design fairing painted to match great bike, but something drew me to the yamaha xsr900 it just looks tough and fast for what it is, sold the Kawasaki got the yamaha never looked back both are great bikes, the triumph seemed a little small for me at 6 ft. 210, but very torquey and agile, but having rode all 3 the yamaha is king in my book except the seat is torture. First of a few mods was a corbin gun fighter seat. Anyway all 3 cool bikes.
Hi, nice smart video. For my prospective I chose the Yamaha XRS900. But I like more the Kawasaki look and also the Triumph looks too. But the Yamaha it’s the better bike for the money.
Which 'retro' bike of Yamaha yore, is the xsr900 supposed to harkin back too???
Triumph , always. I have had singles ,triples,four cilinders and Twins,but this one is my best bike ever.
Speed Twin all day, looks and handles superbly. Surprisingly though, the turning circle is not as tight as my previous Honda CB1300.
I’ve only ridden a few three cylinder bikes, but they all had a good amount of vibration at highway speeds. Of these bikes, it’s the Kawasaki I would buy with my own money.
4 cylinders are known for high-frequency vibrations at highway speeds.
whut? totally different from how I have experienced the triples. my d675 felt like it was electric, super smooth and super good for a beginner. the mt09 was pretty much a little stepbrother to 1290r, what a hooligan of a bike and so fun engine. and no vibrations or buziness what so ever, but all my inline 4 had that buziness ie high frequency vibrations that DSofE mentioned.
Sure you tried triples ? Usually quite smooth engines
@@dsofe4879 z900rs silky smooth 👌
No vibrations on my Yamaha XRS900...just smiles
I don’t know how the XSR suspension compares to the regular MT-09, but I (86 kg) gave the rear 1 more notch of preload and went in 1/4 turn on the rebound.
The rear is definitely more stable now and not as bouncy.
suspension is very different not necessarily the schock but the swing arm. csr has a longer swing arm from the tracer
I had the last gen xsr900 love that Yamaha CP3, my favorite motor of all time. Currently have the SpeedTwin and it is my favorite big bike ever. It just feels right. I just don't like I4, last one I had was 2012.
I considered all of these three and ultimately landed on the Z, and got the 50th anniversary to boot.
Besides the fixable poor fueling that all new bikes have, the only thing I would love on this would be a factory quick shifter and electric throttle for up/down. You have the slickest of engines with buttery smooth power but are hanging on to a cable throttle and old school shifter. I still ride the wheels off as is but that would just really be a nice addition to this nearly perfect motorcycle. Also I’m amazed you call the saddle “extremely” comfortable. I’m light at 150lbs and after an hour, the vibes have numbed my crotch and I start searching for new spots to move to. But looks miles better than the xsr, as the seat has been hammered by every reviewer.
The seat wears in after a while. I’ve owned my Z900RS since 2018 and it took about 5,000 kms before it was comfortable. Yes, the throttle is snatchy, you can get a ECU remap which changes the bike completely.
Three gorgeous bikes, but I'd probably take the Kawasaki. I love the way it looks and I also just love Kawasaki. Great video!
Good choice and thanks for watching :)
Thank you 😊
I enjoyed the review and English subtitles
Thanks for watching :)
XSR for me, personally. I like aggressive riding and more rowdy characteristics on a bike.
Go for it! The XSR is definitely the most aggressive one of the three.
@@1000PSMotorcycleChannel I've got a 2017 xsr900 currently. I'm actually thinking about getting the xsr700 as a secondary bike to ride to work and ride my xsr900 on the weekends 😁
Love the speed and the xsr. Rode the kaw and found it good but boring. Guess I’m not a fan of 4 cylinder bikes. Love the triple so much but also love the speed twin. Still deciding between the two myself.
I have the 22 Speed Twin and love it. Next bike will be the Kawasaki. Just going to throw on the ergo seat for even more relaxed ergonomics, and maybe a reflash IF the throttle is still jerky like the 2018’s. Other than that, they nailed it.
I love my 2020 Speed Twin but the suspension is so stiff… I wish it was more adjustable. Other than that, I love the look, sound, and performance. With that said, I’ve been eyeing the Z900 cafe racer model.
Z900 RS owner !!! Love it, keeping it forever !
Just bought the z900rs, triumph a little small for me and wasn’t keen on the engine, xsr looks great apart from the clocks, cheap looking and really should have tried harder with those to get the retro vide. Love the z900rs it’s just a great bike all around
I own a 2019 Speed Twin, and haven’t tried the other two bikes. I love the Triumph and for less than $1000 CAD was able to upgrade the front and back suspension (TEC in the front, YSS in the back). For another $400 CAD I can upgrade the camshaft and gain another solid 10hp. I know it’s already the more expensive bike, but with a little effort you can easily keep up in terms of performance. If I were to buy another bike, hands down the Yammy.
I did the exact same suspension upgrades on my ‘20 Speed Twin. Got the YSS fully-adjustable rears. Tell me, did you set up and tune your suspension yourself, or have a shop do it for you? I put all my settings to neutral for brake on, but now it’s time to fine tune
@@davidfisch7654 I haven't tuned the rear - I've left it with the settings it came with - I've been pretty happy with how it feels as it's broken-in. It does feel a little most soft now so yes, I might need to get it tuned. I will likely do it myself though. There's so much info online about how to do it so I'm confident I don't need to pay someone. I try to get my engineering degree to pay for itself as much as I can!
Just commented about the suspension on my 2020,Speed Twin. You notice a big difference? And think it’s worth it?
@@jaredmkofficial I feel it’s worth it, totally!
Nostalgic every time for me for Retro’s.. Hands down, Kwaka Z900 RS nails it for me 👌
That Yamahe a RETRO? HARDLY. Classic retro tank? What do you consider vintage ? 2008 ?
The Speed Twin wins in "pure" retro looks. Z900RS wins in styling & beauty. My choice to own is the Yamaha XSR900. It may be the "ugly duckling" in the group, but has the others in it's rearview mirror on everything else....but the seat. And the aftermarket will take care of that with the money I saved! I LOVE IT!
I just did 4 days riding in the mountains, 953 miles, the two best riders in our group were on an FZ 09 and an FZ 03 , I was on a 2015 t100 black, I barely kept up most of the time but I was dragging all of my junk, ground off my peg feelers, ground down my brake pedal and gear shifter. They were faster through the turns and only once or twice touched a peg
amazing that he said that the kawa is low tech right before he mentions it has 2 stage traction control...
Xsr900 is awesome engine so fast and handling to match the other two look more classic but the view from the seat wins for maps had the mk1 xsr900 too
XSR for me. The hooligan heart of the MT-09 up/down quick shifter. I bet it rips. I want one :(
You won't be sorry! I started out wanting the z900rs, and still do! BUT, the XRS is waaaay more bike for the money! I love it! The seat is the only "sore" point, and with the $3-5k I saved I could but a truck load of them!
@@ronedeeLOL😢😂 Make that 3 times you've spelled "your" bike wrong. No way.
Only the Z900RS! 🎶🤠👍🏻
Are you pronouncing mt09 as 'mount nine'? I had to think about that for a bit. :) It's 'em tee oh nine'. Or maybe I'll just call it mount nine now, why not? :)
Speed twin for sure. Triumph is on another level regarding to finish and detail. Especially compared to the Japanese bikes. Z900rs is a very sexy bike though
Apart from rusty headers
Whatever u can say.. but one can never go wrong with Kawasaki. No nonsense easy bike.
Why wasn't the Honda CB1100RS on the comparison test?
cb1000r?
down on power, 100lbs heavier and discontinued
@@straightup1234 No, CB1000R is a Neo Cafe Racer, the CB1100EX or RS is Retro, look it up.
The Yamaha is a neo-retro, the other two are actual retro bikes. Not at all the same category, in my opinion. Yamaha for performance, Kawi & Triumph for style.
I own a Speed Twin,but could quite easily live with the other two,tested here.....
Mod 9?
XSR900 best bang for buck with performance and goodies. Z900 was a bit tall and too old looking, but looks nice. The Speed Twin…love the sound of the motor and super simple. Tough decision but I chose the Speed Twin. The motor won it for me. A buddy of mine has the XSR900 for us to switch haha!
Without hitting play, I am pretty confident that Yamaha will take it, that engine is so sweet and I did not have any issues with the chassis of the first gen mto9 either, and all the reportedly notchiness of the throttle, have anybody even ridden an tuono v4? that was horrible in comparison yet everybody praises the tuono but criticise the old mt09. cant understand that, how can my experience with those bike be completely reversed? :D
I remember when the Thruxton R came out, and everybody were praising that it was a modern bike handling wise with classical lines. Then when I tried one on my fav b-road it felt worse than an 90s muscle bike, like bandit 600/900mk1... wth... again people must ride for themselves to see if they actually click with the machinery.
The xsr looks like a new bike with retro asthetics. I honestly couldnt tell the difference with the new kawasaki and triumph and a 50 year old bike. I want a tech, sporty bike with some.old school styling. Xsr all day long
The XSR 900... Where's the retro??? That thing looks like it from another planet! Its more futuristic than anything.
I don't see anything retro about the Yamaha. The Triumph is my favorite bike , the Kawasaki is nice too.
The XSR While a great bike I wouldn't consider retro.
@Alaberti I hear ya. I was born in 69. Love the look of 70s bikes. The Speed Twin and Z900RS have wonderful looking engines. My FTR1200 is beautiful but the engine is hard to see.
I hate that it constantly gets lumped in with slower, actually retro bikes. Like the CB1000R and CB650R, it's a modern interpretation of an old design language, not an actual retro. Totally different thing, IMO.
For me the looks of the bike matter, therefore it’s the Triumph or the Kwaka. Having ridden both I prefer the character and grunt of the Triumph for fun days out. But if I only had one bike the comfort and practicality of the Kwaka would edge out the Triumph.
Triumph speed twin for me, just so classy.
I'm getting old. So when I trade in my Trident 660 I want one of these, or maybe a Bonneville T120. Looks are becoming more important. The Yam is fugly and to me, not retro at all. The Kawasaki looks gorgeous, as does the Speed Twin. But a black T120 is also high on my "last bike" list and I don't need the power (The Trident is more than enough). The new Norton looks amazing too, so we shall see...
2022 T100 is a peach but I am drawn towards the Z900Rs 🧐
St doesnt have all te features of the xsr
St is shorter, lower to not give stable 2 up riding, as the xsr
The Triumph is the premium machine. The low end tourqe and flat powerband give it a much more confident feeling. The looks are easily the best of the 3.
The Triumph and the Kawa check all the right boxes.
Man! I came this 99% ready to make a Speed Twin 1200 mine. But with this, a few other reviews, and my EYEBALLS to the Kawasaki. One other thing is that I'm deep in the heart of Texas, and the heat of the Triumph is a concern.
I appreciate the Yamaha's specs, but I don't get any retro vibe from it whatsoever - because I'm that old!
I'm just going to have to ride them.
Same man. Im out here in California and the heat is a big factor. I rode liquid cooled v twins and even those got hot as hell. Can’t imagine riding an air cooled in summer hear. It’s a bummer because the engine specs of the speed twin seem perfect to me. Im sold on the Kawasaki mostly due to looks and would love to test out an inline four. I’ve heard nothing but good things about it and despite some complains about the throttle mapping, that seems to be about the negatives for that bike. I’ve heard similar complaints about the yamaha’s powerband in the low gears due to Euro5 regulations. But that can be fixed in either bike by doing a tune. Im torn between the yamaha and the kawi. Only thing that is left is to test drive them. Safe riding!
@@ramirof1986 speed twin is liquid cooled
Everybody says Kawasaki, me too!
"But now I understand parents who have to choose their favorites"
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What? 😆
I love the looks of older XSR 900 and 700 not this stripped out sport naked look they are shoving down our throat as retro bike . Plus the seats were also better padded on the older bikes .
For me it's the kawasaki Z900 RSand the Triumph speed twin
Interesting but....just take à look at the 'tin can' exhaust of XSR 900 ! And just try to spend only a few hours on this sad saddle ! I really do love Yamaha motor but i miss some finish cares. I dont care about shifter and other modern useless electronic artefacts. Just ride safe bros ! I could chose any of the 3 but with a custom confort saddle and Akra exhaust for the XSR...But for the money I'll take à look to the Kawi ! Kawa is faithfull to his own legend as well as the Triumph. But even with this great finish, i miss the full sound of a 4 cylinders at full throttle. So for many reasons, i feel better on the Z900 RS Special Edition. Oh by the way...mine has a central stand which is usefull for practical purpose. And this option is available only on z900rs.
I really wish that the Kawasaki didn't have the radiator poking out of the front of the bike like wings , that ruins it for me.
im generally a honda guy.but when it comes to retro kawasaki is leading the way.
I prefer the Kawi, I wouldn't consider the Triumph unless it is one of the models made in Thailand. The bikes from Thailand are just more reliable than the European built bikes. That Yamaha is awesome just can't find one