Kawasaki Z900RS : First Impressions Review
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- 2021 Kawasaki #Z900RS : First Impressions Review
A quick owner and riders impression of the Kawasaki Z900RS. Not so much based around specifications, but more about it feels.
And how does it feel? Lovely!!! And it's shiny! And green!
For some reason comments are disappearing from this video and others and I’m not seeing them on the YT dashboard so cannot reply - sorry! Cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, great reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
-Yes in 78 i had a Z650 . 79 z1000 an’ now i got my zero1 ✅
I am waiting for Z650 RS this month..... I am hoping it will be as good as Z900
Hello! It will be great I’m sure! Hope it’s not too long a wait, cheers, Phil.
I am 60 years old and I had many motorcycle and since I bought 2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS it was my best investment.👍😊🇺🇸
Hey Axel, you know, I think that’s the conclusion I’m coming round to…What a bike! Thanks for watching, greetings from the UK and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a bike. Mechanical perfection. Been riding 40 years, all makes, Harley for the last 30 years. This is the best.
Morning Natasha, thanks for stopping by. Yes, what a bike! It has to be be one of the best I’ve ever owned also and it’s so much more than “just another retro styled” bike. Love it! Hope all is good where you, cheers, Phil.
Solid review. Love mine, a '21 green/yellow combo too - a truly classic UJM. And you're absolutely correct about the clocks- so traditional, clear and informative and I'm not dancing thru a bunch of screens or choices. Wonderful engine too, along w/exhaust/intake sounds.
Hey Levi, classic is the word! As for the clocks, having experienced that weird and useless anxiety of the TFT where you’re forever switching modes, flicking switches, changing settings and wondering whether they are ‘right’ I realised it was the the equivalent of staring at a phone and not taking the real world in as you walk. And the beauty of bikes is surely the analogue connection to a machine and the world around you.
All I need to know is speed, revs and time. Sorted!
What a bike! Anyway thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I don’t think it’s about the bike being retro. It just looks good, how a naked bike should look. Give me one of these over a KTM any day
Morning Rich, you’re absolutely right. A kid with a crayon would probably draw the Z900 if asked to draw a bike…either that or maybe a MX bike….And it’s not orange, which personally, is a colour I find quite challenging on a bike 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Enjoyable, scenic and informative review of the Z900R by a most enthusiastic bike owner. Keep it up!
Thanks Alan…the enthusiasm isn’t dying! Hope all is well where you are and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Love at first sight when this came out.Can't wait to get mine.Thank you for sharing your thoughts.👍👍
Hey Brian….It will be worth the wait and it’s my pleasure…Glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.
This is my next motorcycle. I rode this beast of a machine back in 2019 at Bike Week in Daytona. It was insanely fun to ride!! It also sounds AMAZING!
It certainly does and the thing is it’s fun for all sorts of riding and so confidence inspiring. Then you add the noise in and life doesn’t really get any better. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
From Australia. In February I sold my beloved Suzuki Gsx1250fa to help finance my 2021 z900rs... Have not regretted it for a moment.
A couple weeks ago I traded my Ducati Monster for a Z900rs same color as the one you showing in this video…And loved !
Excellent! Really hope you’re enjoying it! Brilliant bike! Cheers, Phil.
An absolute TV quality video. Loved it.
Thank you very much! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I have a 2019 version of this and agree with all what you say.. my only complaint is the wind buffeting , but with a naked bike you kind of sign up for it , but with a tall design and up right riding position , it is perhaps more pronounced in this one
Morning Suresh, how are you doing? The screen does help a little bit with the buffeting I find but as you say, that’s what you sign up for and overall it’s a cracking bike. Love mine! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great review and if money wasn't an object, this bike and the Cafe 900 would be in my driveway even if I own the Z1000. So many beautiful machines out there nowadays.
Good afternoon, that would a great lineup of Z’s….Maybe one day! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Seconds away from leaping on to said pictured Ninja.
Will be having a test ride as soon as possible on the RS and cafe, one of them will be coming home😀. Your bike looks stunning, enjoy!
Thanks very much! Those are going to great test rides…Not sure how you’ll split them to be honest so probably best to buy both. Hope that helps 😀 and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
I've not rode this bike but hear great things about it. My first bike was a 1982 Honda cb900f. Big Japanese four cylinder engines have their own charm. If only we all had a bigger garage and pocket book. 😉👌 Enjoy your new machine! Cheers.
Hello again! I used to stare longingly at CB900’s back then…especially as I was just about to pass my test on a smoky GP100…The Z is quite a revelation for me…I’d got to the point of thinking twins were where it’s at, but this one has really changed my mind. My pocket book is exhausted now and no more room left in my garage…
Cheers again, Phil.
@@80eightReviews 👌
Great review. Have just put a deposit down on one. As in the video, it's my first 4 cylinder bike in a very long time, but seems to be everything I'm looking for.
Hey Rob, I’m sure you’ll love it. Things have certainly moved on! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I love the look of this bike, and I like big Kawasakis. Must try to get a test ride. Really hope it is OK with a pillion.
Afternoon Robert, I’ve not tried it with a pillion but the seat is at a good level compared to the rider, the pillion legs look quite low so fingers crossed should be ok. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Drop dead gorgeous.
It’s is…Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Loved your video on the 900RS, thanks.
Morning Jose, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a great to the point review with outstanding artistic features 👌. Extremely well done start to fin. I super envy you. This bike in that exact color is my dream bike. I hope to own one in the near future as a retirement gift to myself. One thing I was leary of is the cost to upkeep on a super bike. But I'm reading some very favorable posts that it's not so bad. I too am head over heals for its looks, sound, and on tap power. Pure awesomeness...😲 🤩🤯
Good afternoon, interestingly enough it’s kinda my retirement gift also…I’ve been looking for something for the past few years which will continue to excite but will also be something that will accommodate the ageing process. For example, I used to have no problem at all with heavy, tall bikes or way too much horsepower. These days I realise I value and need other qualities such as ease of use in all its forms, combined with great aesthetics and the Z900 is that I think. It will need servicing once a year and in reality, once out of warranty, given the tune of the engine, oil and filter changes plus attention to the moving parts of suspension and brakes is probably all it will need.
And…This morning, a chap of 86 years old engaged me in a conversation about his Ariel Square 4 and the last bike he owned a CB500 which he said extended his riding well into his seventies precisely because of its usability. I’m hoping the Z will do the same.
Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Ironically I currently have a Honda CB500X I just bought earlier this year. I truly wanted the Z900rs when I bought it but I wanted to get more riding experience before moving up to a 900cc. Plus I did not have the funds to cover the Z. My plan is to ride off into the sunset 🌇 with my CB500X and my last bike...King Zed 🤴. Twos company right? 🙂
Hi Phil! As always, greats reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hey Laurentiu, comments are working again!
Well, to make a comparison the XSR is a bottle of Prosecco, while the Z9 is a bottle of nice, fruity red wine. Around town it’s a difficult call - the XSR flicks around so quickly that it would be great in and out of traffic, but the suspension and hard seat could get a little tiresome, especially after a day at work. The Z on the other hand is more comfortable, just as fast but not as excitable or nervous. It also handles poor road surfaces better.
If I were 25 years younger I’d say XSR as I wouldn’t mind the suspension and would value the crazy engine. Now, I’d rather have the Z for a little more comfort and the smooth reliable way it reacts. Of course it does have the well reported on/off throttle which for me only manifests itself in some very specific situations and I ride round it. I got caught up in lots of busy city riding while I was away and it was great - more upright than the XSR and it didn’t surprise me in anyway.
You’ll need to do a back to back test ride in reality, but as an overall package, I do wish the Z had been on my radar earlier. Oh and one last thing, I get vibration induced white fingers really easily…on the XSR that caused a problem occasionally…on the Z never.
Hope that helps & thanks for watching,
Cheers, Phil.
Gained a sub. Great video. And this for me is how a naked bike should look. Awesome.
Good morning! Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. And yeah, the bike is just brilliant! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great video Phil. Have bought a RE Interceptor howver this may be my next bike. I had a fully restored Z1B 1975 and sold it a few years ago but this bike does everything better ! Cheers from Australia
Hello Ian, hope you’re doing well and thanks for stopping by. A fully restored Z1B, well, you are a man of taste. And yes, the 900RS is a modern, easy to ride, yet still very characterful bike…it goes, stops and whizzes round corners. While my first big Kawasaki was a relatively modern GPz900 back in the mid ‘80s and at the time I couldn’t even make a cup of tea let alone manage a 150mph bike, blimey it was hard work. The RS though is sublime and confidence inspiring. Oh and it looks gorgeous and feels special…which is always a nice extra with a bike.
Anyway, hope you’re avoiding or managing lockdown successfully over in Oz, it’s mad here! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Hi Phil. Thanks for your reply. Yes in Regional Queensland we are lucky here we have avoided lockdown to date. Heres a video i took of the Z1B. ruclips.net/video/fgeR6u9Clig/видео.html.
Stay safe over there!
Nuclear. New-clear.
Beautiful video, Cheers Dale Walker
Hey Dale, thanks very much and glad you enjoyed the video. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you Phil, I really enjoy my Z900RS Cafe as well "AKA" Mr. Green ! DW
Love the motorcycle, it is on my bucket list for the 4 cil, but when I seat on that seat... I hate the look of the completely circular tank, and those two pointy things that protrude on each side (for engine refrigeration)... Triumph sorted that bit nicely, but again...they don't have a Thruxton with 4 cilinders.
Good morning….Must admit I really like the shape and size of the tank, it makes feel I’m riding something nice and solid. Reflects the light very nicely also. As for the radiator, yes, it’s not the best - on the 2021 it’s worse as it has little tabs on it which look as though they were needed on the Z900 but not on the RS - I think they are there simply to mount the Kawasaki radiator guard. Still, once on the bike and riding it all goes away and I’ll say one thing, it does a good job of keeping the bike cool.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Yes. Japanese brand radiators are just hideous, there's no sugarcoating about that. Triumphs made the slickest radiators, too bad you can't interchange them.
@@80eightReviews Please Phil, you recommend the radiator guard on this motorcycle ? I'm thinking about...
Hey Michele, I’m not sure if anyone really needs one (I’ve never had a hole in a radiator ever) but I guess it’s peace of mind. I got mine from R&G in the UK. It’s an ok price and unobtrusive, hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Very true!
Just bought one
Perfect! Nothing like the honeymoon period that leads to a long a fulfilling association. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I hate eating soup with the wrong spoon!!! :)
Yeah, me too…It’s really bad with a fork also 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Well Done mete :-)
Thanks and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Can't believe the production value of that video! Incredible work, it looks like a LOT of effort went into it! Thank you.
I agree, it is very well done!
Thanks! Great to know the work is appreciated! And thank you! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Daniel, cheers, Phil.
Great Video and I totally agree in every aspect!👍Bought mine in april in really love it as you do! Have a great time! Greetings from trier, germany! Hope next year I visit your lovely country!
Loved the moon rise!🌕
Great review, sweet bike. Your editing is a joy to watch. Thank you dear sir!
Thanks very much! Good to know the work is appreciated, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Of all the bikes that have a bit of that neo-netro going on. I find this Kawasaki to be the best looking. Very nice! Enjoy :)
Thanks, yes, it is a right bit of eye candy, I’m very very happy with it. Wish I’d got it two years ago, still, it’s here now! Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Agree. It has lovely proportions and lines.
Non stoppie als je hem eens wil testen always welkom.
Ik heb de Candy Tone brown in men garage staan
Je moet wel overkomen naar het belgenland hiervoor 🤣
I can't wait to see the 2022 SE version.
Likewise!
I bought the z900rs in 2018 when it first came out in orange/rootbeer....4 years later it still excites and I still love to "bench" ride it when the weather is bad....best bike Ive ever owned and Ive owned a lot.
Good morning, now that’s a lovely colour scheme! Great to know that even after all that time the bike still hits the mark. I think I’ll be keeping mine for quite some time…Thanks for stopping, cheers, Phil.
A new bike !!! .Classy ride . I love the sound track of this one ... Comfort and speed ... I really like the idea of a steady steed in the middle of a bumpy curve . Strong and sure footed ;Always a great combination ..COngratulations !!!! Thanks for the ride ... Yours Guy
Good evening Guy, how are you doing? Comfort and speed….Yes, a sign of growing up maybe? 😀 But yes, it’s a lovely, lovely motorcycle, so easy to ride yet not boring, super efficient but not clinical or anodyne and ooohhhhh…That paintwork! I feel it will be a very handy machine when / should I ever get back to Europe….Or PA 😀 And the wife likes it.
Hope all is going well in the pottery. Looking forward to another motovlog around the leafy lanes! Cheers, Phil.
I love these kinds of bikes but I do a lot of highway riding and I hate hard wind hitting against me.
Hey Mert, well the screen does work quite well in terms of smoothing the airflow and I find a sustained cruising speed of 85mph (where conditions allow) is perfectly acceptable. But yeah, it’s still windy out there! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great review, i have a 2019 zx10r, but really want a z900rs, such great bikes :)
Thanks very much, great to know you enjoyed the review and thanks for the sub, much appreciated. You have a ZX10, blimey, don’t think I could hang on to that bike…The Z900 would be a nicely paired with that I think and would look great in the garage together 😀
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
What a great video! Different format and styling made it really interesting. Great production and editing. I like your style. Northumberland is probably my favourite county in the UK.
Thanks very much…The videos are as much about enjoying the filming and editing as the bike…Plus having the attention span of a gnat, personally I can’t be doing with 25 minutes of GoPro on a helmet. Anyway, I’ve found I can’t speak and ride at the same time…Remind me to tell you the story of my first wife and the intercom 😀
Northumberland is totally glorious. Coming from Manchester and having lived in South Cheshire for ages, the skies, the space, the beaches, the empty roads are just glorious and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. Of course, it’s really windy and the winter is chuffing grim (though beautiful) and I can’t really understand Geordies but this is home and I love it!
Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Uhhhh...don’t look now but there’s a death star over your left shoulder.
Afternoon Kelly, hmmm quite right, still we know happens to the Death Star in the end…Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Your camera work and editing is above any over motorbike channel out there mate keep up the awesome work love the videos good stuff man
Hey Samuel, thanks for your kind comments and good to know the work is appreciated. More coming soon! Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Jim! Yeah I got a bit of flack about the beer, cheese and biscuit reviews, can you believe it! Still, if there’s public demand 😀 Totally enjoying it! Cheers, Phil.
Loving the artistic photography - blurry effects etc. It's such a nice retro bike but the huge gap above the rear wheel just looks weird, like something is missing or it's a jacked-up hot rod. I'd want to lower the suspension but that would no doubt upset the handling.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video. As for the gap…yes, it’s probably not the best from a purely aesthetic perspective and that’s the price to pay for a monoshock I guess. In the flesh though and I suppose I would say this, it’s the flat line of the tank and side panels which really grab your attention and overall it does work, even if it’s not faithful to the original.
Thanks for stopping by and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Who are you?? Screen writer? Director? Movie editor? You amazed me... Totally impressed with the cinematic of this video. Wow! Absolutely wow... Thanks for an epic video. Your insights on the Z900RS is greatly appreciated. Two thumbs wayyyyyy up!!! Cheers from Malaysia :D
Hello! Ha ha None of the above 😀 Thanks for your kind words - great to know the work is appreciated! More to come soon I hope, thanks for watching and hope all is ok in Malaysia, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews the quality of your video is top notch... Kudos to you.. Thanks again.. Cheers!
Love the videography, how would compare it in terms of comfort vs the 1200XE?
Hello again! Hmmm…Well, first of all the Z remains cool and in European conditions doesn’t get uncomfortably hot, whereas the XE was like having a toaster and a George Foreman grill strapped to your leg. Physical comfort - again, the Z is better (for me) as the handle bars on the Scrambler are so wide, that at speed, it becomes quite arduous so cruising speed has to be kept at no more than say 80mph.
I’ll be honest, I got seduced by the gorgeous looks of the XE and thought it was multi-purpose. It isn’t…it’s a trail bike that just happens to have a ginormous engine. And it doesn’t quite work, at least for me as it’s too compromised. The Z on the other hand was just lovely…I mean I did 700 miles on day one over 13 hours and still felt OK!
And it’s faster 😀
Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
V7, good man! As it happens I'm going from a V7 to the Z900RS, but I will keep my V85TT for that Guzzi magic. Great video BTW.
Hey Peter, thanks for dropping by. You'll love the Z900RS I'm sure - let me know what you think of it. I'm very glad to hear you're keeping a little bit of the Guzzi charm and magic though...There's nothing quite like it - but I am biased...
All the best, cheers, Phil.
SV650 owner but, thinking about the Z900 as a second bike purchase..
Good morning….thanks for stopping by….Of course I would heartily recommend that! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Bought a Z900 abs in February., the so called naked version. I enjoy it so much, I'm trading in my VStrom for a '22 blue RS 900. Wonderful engines and everything else. No complaints. Now my brother can ride with me on some long trips. The RS should be somewhat more comfortable. Love that dark green metallic of your bike. Thanks for the great video.
Hey Frank, hope you’re doing well. Sounds like you’re hooked on the Kawasaki 4 cylinder loveliness and just the great ease of use and fun factor. I’m still blown away by mine to be honest and yes, the green paint is quite nice..As is the blue! Glad you enjoyed the video, your comments are very much appreciated, cheers, Phil.
Just found your video. I own a 2018 Z900RS, and love it. Just purchased a 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Special E5, and love both bikes, even though they are polar opposites in a way.
Good morning! Excellent choice of vehicles! That’s exactly why I like both bikes…The experience of riding them is so different and when I go from one to the other, it’s like being almost on them for the first time. Both great bikes. Anyway thanks for stopping and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
hello!
I'm sorry. 2nd message for you from the country of Kawasaki. I'm not good at English language.
In my 1st message, I want tell you that
your video is very beautiful and nice editing .And sound is also good.
I’m looking forward to next video!
Thank you ! and God speed!
Hello my friend from Japan! My Japanese is much much worse than your English! I’ve just watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics and despite everything I found it beautiful, unique and very affecting. Japan is a country I would love to visit. Very glad you enjoyed the video, I will do better next time I promise.
Thank you so much for stopping by, and god speed also, cheers, Phil.
Just picked mine up here in NZ yesterday.
2022 in blue and gold.
Went for a blat through the hills , what fun it was.
You forgot to mention the glorious induction noise under throttle.
Off for a ride north with the boys tomorrow.
Ps
My last Kawasaki roadbike was the magnificently evil H2 ( yes that long ago )
Let the good times roll 😃🏁
Hey Neville, how are you doing? Quite well I’d imagine with a brand new, gorgeous blue and gold Z900RS in your garage! Hope you had/are having a fabulous ride up north! But yes, induction roar, especially in a high gear is just delicious. The whole bike is! I love it! Plus it handles beautifully!
On to your H2 then 😀 Yeah, lovely and smoky. I never rode one but I’ve a few run ins with bikes that over powered their chassis and whose fuelling was er…interesting. Hence when I ride the Z900RS it’s like soooooo easy and what bikes should be like. And personally I find the throttle fine!
Hope all is well in NZ, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great review, perfectly shot. Nice to see Northumberland! Greets from Whitley Bay. Both of your bikes are bikes I’m considering for my first bike!
Thanks very much, great to hear from you! Either one is a good choice, both are fabulous bikes. Hope all is well in Whitley Bay, cheers, Phil.
My last three bikes have been Harley Davidsons but I’m really thinking about getting one of these. It reminds me of my Honda Nighthawk from the 80s!
Hey Edward, thanks for stopping by. While I’m obviously biased, the RS is a fabulous bike to ride and gorgeous to look at, I’m sure you would love it! It can whizz around but cruise also 😀
Let me know what you decide!
All the best, cheers, Phil.
Aural, no explanation needed. I think I'll have bacon, spam, eggs and spam, with a side of spam.
Love a bit of spam. Oh wait, I’m vegetarian. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Another great video Phil. Kawasaki should be paying you! I'm salivating over this bike - what a beauty.
Thanks Mark! It time to get your deposit sorted I think! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Your cinematography and general quality is amazing! Keep it up. Big growth ahead for this channel. I’m not even interested in this bike (‘20 R Nine T Pure owner here). I’m trying to get some editing and shot ideas for a MC side channel…this is a gold mine of what every MC channel should strive to be.
Liked and subbed!!!
Good morning! Thanks very much - good to know the work is appreciated. And good luck with your own channel….I came close to a R Nine T before choosing the Z - they are great bikes. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
that huge moon thing must be making you randy, never seen a bloke filmed humping his petrol tank before ha ha. Love the bike.
Blimey, Ooops, really? 🤭
This Kawasaki and all the other current brands with the rear fender with an erection don't make visual design sense to me. You don't need all that height for vertical wheel travel. You could lower the rear fender and frame by 4 inches and be more my style.
Hey Philip, thanks for stopping by. Personally, I've no idea whether it's engineering or fashion related, though looking at the triangle above the swingarm - on an older bike it would be based around the swingarm pivot, whereas on the Z900RS because it has a vestigial beam frame, the triangle starts much further up.
Either way, it doesn't offend me that much and to be honest, that kind of enclosed rear end can look a bit BSA B31 :-) Despite all that the Z900RS rides beautifully - and I'll forgive it many things for that and for it's unfeasibly shiny paint.
But I do know what you mean. Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I'm going to get a case of beer and sub your channel. A drink for me every time the word "wooshtastic" gets said. Cheers for a video that was as informative as it was pleasant to watch.
Hey Ian thanks for stopping by and very glad to hear you enjoyed the review! Thanks for the sub, enjoy the beer and yeah, wooshtastic is exactly the word! 🍻 Phil
Awesome review! Some of my local haunts too.. not sure about the dubious rotating moon near the power station though! 😂 Great bike.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Strange things happen near power stations…Hope all is well where you are and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Fantastic video, congrats. I own a XSR 900 and I am going to pick up a Kawi like yours but I will keep my Yamaha though. I think that both are georgeous and completely different bikes. Yamaha engine is superb, plenty of torque and caracter, while the Kawasaki 900 seems to me that has a very smooth engine. XSR suspension is very stiff and precise but the Kawasaki one is more comfortable. I love the looks of both but there are substantial differences between them. Both are classic bikes but Yamaha is minimalistic and feels more nimble and light while the Kawasaki looks more classical and retro. The sound of the XSR is a stunning "three cylinder sound" and Kawi's sound is the typical inline-four sound that screams at high revs. Sorry for my English.
Morning Jose! Your English is great and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, the XSR engine is simply amazing and sounds just terrific. As you quite rightly point out the Kawasaki’s suspension is very much about comfort and given I have very poorly surface roads around here, that’s a big deal and is why I ultimately sold the Yamaha. If I had better roads the XSR would have been perfect. As you say it feels a lot nimbler and lighter.
However, I’m very happy with Z900, I feel for me, it’s more usable in more situations even if it isn’t as crazy as the XSR. Or maybe it’s an age thing…Anyway thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, you are a gentleman.
great filming & would like to watch full video .. but the continuous stream of 'erms, eers and ums; does my head in :(
Hey Lyn, er, um. Well, to be honest, er, I’ve not got anything particularly useful to say anyway so, um, maybe turn the sound down and use subtitles? I’m actually going to do a video of just visuals and natural sounds in the summer, can’t stand my accent to be honest.
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil,
The snatchy throttle is supposedly fixed on the new models - not sure if it's 21/22/23 though.
Morning! As per the video mine was absolutely fine once acclimatised - which took around 5 minutes and from on then it was no problem. Having ridden many a dodgy fuelled bike and two strokes, feathering the clutch and sensitive throttle control is pretty much second nature though. Either way, great bike!
All the best for 2023, cheers, Phil.
Could it be an all rounder? Around town...commute... tour? I see you can get luggage. I like it!
Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? Aside from hitting the dirt, it pretty much is a great all rounder. Round town it’s great and accept you’ve got no weather protection it’s easily capable of many comfortable miles. It’s kinda too nice for the commute but from a capability perspective (not economy) it’s more than up for it. Yeah, it’s a nice thing, I like it also!
Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I get changing bikes, but the xsr has been the one I’ve kept, while going through others. 👍🤪🇨🇦
Morning, thanks for stopping by. I think if I were a few years younger and had local roads where I could exploit the XSR, I probably would have kept it longer. It was just a little too fidgety and aggressive for me and the Z900RS suited a more mellow vibe. Both great bikes though. All the best, cheers, Phil.
. . and then wire up computers, which is a bit worrying, but it seems to be working out all right . . . .laughed out loud at that!
Well, you know how it is when you’re a teenager, 8 pints of McEwans in Dunbar the night before is probably the equivalent of a couple of cans, an early night and desert island discs in your 50’s. I’m sure I remember throwing up somewhere though…Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Very very nice video, good quality, many pics with a bike I love it. Thank you.
Thanks very much, great to know the work is appreciated! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Straight down to Big CC Racing for the 200bhp turbo conversion....
Ha ha…Er, maybe not 😀 Thing is though I could really see a turbo with a huge wastegate bolted to the side of the bike…it would look amazing…Just not sure if I fancy 200hp though 😳 Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
At last! A real motorcycle RUclips channel with no music and no waffle. Top class production work, but the lighting guy needs to add a bit more sunshine to the set :)
Thanks Jonathan! Kind words much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have a word with the lighting guy as suggested 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual. I like the fact that you keep a healthy rotation of bikes going - why not? We only have one go-around on this earth, might as well sample all the flavors and enjoy. Plus I always think 'maybe that's the bike for me'... Enjoy and keep the videos coming please!
Hello again. Yes, I decided that while I can and before the demise of the ICE, I’d like to try a lot bikes in a way I couldn’t do years ago. And of course, to try and find the perfect mix and the keeper(s). Which I reckon, I’m now quite close too with the CRF, the Z and maybe a new Guzzi 😀 Finding what you really want as opposed to what you think you need is a very complex equation. At least that’s my excuse.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Amazing review. Congratulations! Cheers from Brazil.
Morning Rafael, glad you enjoyed it and many thanks for your kind comments. Hope all is well in 🇧🇷 and Cheers from 🇬🇧, Phil.
I've never owned a big Kawasaki, don't really know why that is. Always been kind of a Yamaha followed by Honda type, with the occasional Suzuki every decade or so. But this one is one is now on my list of candidates.
It’s worth a try, maybe with a Guzzi thrown in also 😀 I had a GPz550 followed by a GPZ900 a million years ago, but like you had kinda given up on them, mainly because of the styling but also because a screaming four cylinder bike just seemed a little passé. This one though, gosh, it’s like the perfect road riders bike. I’m really not sure what else I need or want. Thanks for taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.
dear Phil congratulations for the video and the explanations. I have also owned a "tiger" z900 rs for 3 months and I can't wait to understand it well despite having already done 1500 km. for the moment I do not perceive the "on / off" at low speeds, perhaps because I'm used the twin-cylinder Speed Twin. I am very happy for everything, the bike is magnificent, the most beautiful there is! Thank you very much for everything, you are really a gentleman. Greetings from Como, Italy
Hey Michele, many thanks for your kind comments. Great to know you’re enjoying the bike as much as I am. Like you I don’t really notice any problems with the throttle, aside from really low speed and if I’m not really paying attention! And it is very beautiful as you say.
Hope all is well over in Italy, thanks again for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you so much !! And you, a Guzzi and the Z ... it is correct ? :-)
@@MicheleSpiriticchio that’s correct plus a CRF300 for getting muddy!
Better tires, thicker fork oil and a new shock, and you will be terrorizing supersports in the twisties all day long. A few mods and it's a proper sportbike in vintage clothing...
Just did a 340 mile ride on Saturday up to to Deal's Gap and the surrounding area with my sportbike riding friends and it was brilliant. My ZX6r is faster in some areas, but not many...
Hello! I like the sound of that! Thanks for the tips! I really like the fact that it’s a bit of sleeper but is good for a right hoon when the mood takes. And that it’s so comfortable means the hooning can last for longer. Just coming up to 2000 miles now and the honeymoon continues 😀
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Yeah, keep an eye on my channel for more mods and tutorials. Hell, at some point I might do a track day on the thing... haha
Love that part of the UK that you are in. Spent a couple weeks there back in 2000... Stayed at a place in Warkworth, and we day tripped out to different areas and castles each day... From Bamburg down to Newcastle, then drove up to Stirling and then Oban area for a couple days... One of the best vacations of my life. Amazing country, amazing people and food... Was really good to see where my ancestors came from... Would have LOVED to have done it on a bike.
I will and yes, Northumberland is lovely and Warkworth is a lovely place to stay and as you say, there’s quite a few castles knocking around. They should have made Game of Thrones here 😀 Sounds like you had a great visit.
@@80eightReviews It was an amazing trip, I hope to get back over there some day.
Laughing my tits off at the prices on the petrol pump sign at 1:44....seems like a bargain compared with current prices. Hope you are recovering well Phil.
Wow yeah! £1.29 / litre? Pardon? Maybe I shot that video in 1989 after a trip in my TARDIS? Seems unreal - good spot!
And yes, all going well thanks! Had a few funny days recently but the trajectory is looking good! Hope all is well with you and good to hear from again, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Really pleased that you are on the mend Phil.
Wooshtastic review of the Kwaki Z900 RS!
You nailed it on the head, can confirm everything you said, mate 👍
Thanks Eric, great to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the video and more importantly are enjoying the bike. It’s a cracking machine! Hope you’re well, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews
Thanks for your highly appreciated reply, Phil 🙏
The quality of your video is outstanding, I enjoyed watching it most definitely!
Keep up the great work, *AND* ride safe, Phil!
Man ...I really like the style of your video.....very cool.... clearly have a talent.
Thanks Martin, great to know you enjoyed the video. As for talent, well, I don’t know really but I keep trying to up the quality and do something different and visually appealing each time. More coming soon! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
This is the bike that bought me back to riding after ~30 years away! My Green Meanie now has 1,124 miles on it, and most of my observations match yours. The last new bike I purchased was a GPZ900 in 1986, and when you compare and contrast the overall build quality, including the paintwork, frankly there is no comparison. I still giggle when I walk into my garage and see it sat there, although I have also added a grab rail as I think that perfectly completes the retro vibe. Speaking of which - whilst the mirrors do remain clear, I am a bit surprised by the buzziness of the grips. I've purchased some Grip Puppies, but not fitted them yet. Also, I find the seat pushes me too far forward ( I'm 6'2" and 219lb ), putting a bit too much strain on my wrists at low speeds. But, I certainly see no need to flash the ECU, change the headers etc. etc. as I read so many others do. That said, I might be tempted to change the front sprocket to a 16T as I do find 1st rather low. Apart from that, what's not to love? Oh, and nice production values !
Hello Simon, yes, when I think back to my GPZ900 with anti-dive forks, 16” front wheel and super thin paint (concentric chain adjust though!) I do shudder a little!
Must admit I’ve not noticed any buzziness through the grips (yet) but I haven’t done any sustained / stable speed on it yet - mainly up and down the box all the time, so perhaps that may show up.
As for the seat, I’m 5’10 and it feels fine to me but I could see how being (a lot) taller might compromise that. And yes, I won’t be getting it flashed, after a few hundred miles I’ve adapted and it’s not a problem. I think it’s part of understanding the characteristics of a bike and making it work. Sure if I were commuting everyday I might have a different opinion bug then I’d probably get CB500.
It’s a cracking bike, works well for cruising, messing about and touring…Just love it!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I would say to not discount the ECU flash. I have put a similar amount of time on my z900rs, and I came to the same conclusion about the snatchy throttle, I can just get used to it. A buddy of mine also got the same bike, and he recently had the ECU flashed. I must admit, after riding it around without the injectors totally cutting off when you close the throttle totally, its a whole new bike. Throttle is much smoother and the over the top engine braking is very much reduced.
There were a few performance things that got better, but that was all moot. Removing the injector cut will take the bike to the next level, I promise.
Hey Kurtis, thanks for the advice / if it’s a good as you say it’s gotta be worth considering, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Keep up the great content! 👍
Great insights into the owning experience of this dream machine. It was love at first site for me in it's presence. Just breathtaking attention to detail. The large tear drop tank in metallic paint, the analog gauges... Kawasaki nailed it
Hey Robert, of course I’m going to agree with you completely! You’re right it does have quite some presence and like you I think the tank shape is just gorgeous. I know some folk say it’s too big or bulbous but I think it really adds to the sense of old school solidity. As the analog gauges I find I’m appreciating them more and more - you get exactly what you need and no more with a quick flick of your eyes and there’s no fiddling about with buttons, scrolling or whatever…Brilliant!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
The way you video is just fabulous. Almost too good for a review.
Hey Kim, hope you're doing well and thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed it and your comments are most welcome! Cheers, Phil.
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your most informative and professionally-done video; I really enjoyed watching it.
I'm seriously considering buying one of these beauties, brand new. Thus far in my riding career, I've only ever ridden sports-tourers (e.g the Honda Super Blackbird etc..) and wanted a change.
The thing is, I'm 6ft 4" tall, with a 36" inside leg. Do you think that I might be a wee bit too big for this bike?
Also, I'm hoping to do a bit of touring around Europe later on in the year -Amsterdam, to Hamburg, To Leipzig and Dresden, and back again. Do you think it'll be able to cope with the big motorway miles, over extended distances - 300 - 400 miles a day?
Your advice and opinion is much appreciated and, once again, many thanks for your video.
Safe riding!
Neil.
Hello Neil, how are you doing? Thanks for your kind comments - it’s really good to know you enjoyed the video. As for your questions :
The bike has a seat which is a little taller than you might think - that, combined with the high bars and generous seat to peg distance, makes me think you’ll be just fine. The seat is big, long and wide so again plenty of space to move around and it’s not the kind of bike where you are stuck in one position.
If you check out one of the later touring videos I personally found the bike to be very comfortable over long distance (I did something mad like 700 miles in one day on my trip) and it was always fun to ride and always felt smooth and confident. It’s easy to fit soft luggage also, looks cool and sounds brilliant. What more could you want!
Hope that helps and safe riding also Neil, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Hi, Phil. Many thanks for your reply. Could you tell me which one of your later videos covered your long-distance tour on the Z? Also, what soft luggage would you recommend for a two-three week tour of Europe? N :)
Hey Neil - if you check out the two Vlogs on France and Switzerland on the channel they will give you an idea. As for the soft luggage I’ve had a set of Oxford sport panniers forever (well over 10 years old) and that’s what used for my trip. Assuming you’re not camping something like that a rollback on the seat will do you just fine for a few weeks I reckon.
Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Amazing video and my dream bike I'm a local lad so these routes are the ones i love to ride and I ride up from Bedlington just to eat at that van I love it there... Keep up the good work
Evening Spencer, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. I’m sure the ‘bad boy burger’ goes down a treat after a ride up from Bedlington 😀 May see you around, cheers, Phil.
I really like the look of this beautiful machine!
Will keep my eyes open for a RS in the winter season
It is lovely. Don’t wait! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Great vídeo! My opinion is the same as yours! I’ve got a Z900RS Cafe for one and a half a year and I’m still in love with it and every ride is a pleasure! Congratulations for the video!
Morning Paulo, thanks very much - glad you enjoyed the review. Great to hear a long term owner still loves the bike. Hope all is well where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Fantastic video Phil. Your sense of humor, your good taste taking the images is comforting.What a moon dude!!
Good morning Mr Outlander. Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. The moon was a corker, imagine my surprise when I saw what was behind me when replaying the footage! The real shame is that if I kept the camera rolling a little bit longer I'd have got the lunar eclipse with a fleet of X-Wing fighters crossing in front of it. Still, there's always another time!
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Yup, I’m sold - gotta get one ASAP!
Afternoon Lance, how are you doing? Thanks for stopping by - it's good to hear from you. Well, I'm sure you'll love it! Let me know how you on, all the best, cheers, Phil.
I love mine. However the suspention was a let down for my riding. It took a bit of tweaking to get it where I wanted it now it's a weapon.
Morning, great to hear form another owner and thanks for watching. At the moment I’m OK with the suspension but as you say it probably is the one area to look at. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews for reference I run a standard shock with 2 clicks harder, 35mm lift kit in the rear and a 20mm drop in the front through the triples and straight bars.
Great review & editing. Bike looks & sounds spot-on. 👍🏼
Thanks Oliver…It has to be said I am rather smitten. Up at 05:00 this morning for a quick ride 😀
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Added delkevic headers to mine. Sounds really good
Evening Christian, thanks for dropping by. Well, the standard bike sounds amazing so I can only imagine what yours sounds like. What a bike though! Cheers, Phil.
Great bike, brilliant motor and Kawa reliability.
Something strange going on in the background with that huge moon????
Morning Mark, thanks for stopping by…Yeah it’s a great bike, I totally love it! As for the moon…Well, there was too much sky in that shot and I happened to have a 3D spinning moon lying around so I though why not. Also it might be a subliminal Star Wars reference as I was waffling about Harrison Ford earlier 😀
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Ah, all makes sense.
May all your travels on that beauty be safe and trouble free.
All the best from Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦
Thanks Mark!
Whaddya think of the just announced Z900 RS SE, Phil?
Hey Hugh, well, I think it’s really great that Kawasaki have (apparently) listened to customers and made some worthwhile changes on the back of that and kept the standard RS as an option. The extra price, while fair, does start to nudge it closer to more exotic stuff and sportier stuff, so it will be interesting how it fairs.
Aesthetically, I’m personally not a fan of gold forks and wheels but hey that’s just me! Will I be swapping mine or would I have gone for the SE if both were available earlier this year? Well, my head probably would have said “get the best, get the SE” but having now done 2000 miles on the standard RS, I kinda really recognise what it is and does and that kinda matches what I want to do. So knowing what I know now and given the horribly bumpy roads I’ve got, it’s the standard for me and I’ll easily put up with the slightly floaty suspension. Anyway I’ve just put Michelin Road 5’s on it and blimey! It’s a different bike!
Hope that makes sense! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, you answered my hidden question perfectly! Look forward to the video on the new Michelins soon. 👍
Awesome video. Great work. Thank you.
Good morning, thanks very much for your kind comments - great to know you enjoyed the video. Happy new year, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
As a man whose had had too many bikes I'm with you on this🤭🤭 🤭...vstrom 1050xt nearly a year old agghhhh stoppit dave😉😉😉 proper nice colour 👍enjoy sir....
Too many bikes? Is that possible? It’s a lovely lovely thing the Z…Can’t stop riding it…As always, thanks for stopping by Dave…You know you want to 😀 Cheers, Phil.
What a wonderful video, thamks a lot!
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Wow! Thats some real QUALITY!
Thanks Alex, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
What an amazing quality review. Sounds, camera angles, content, narrative. Just excellent. Considering getting this one but also had one eye on the touring 1000zx or the new suzuki gt. Thinking I need to go back to basics and have regular handlebars without the faring, despite the wind blast that will inevitably come and lack of weather protection.
Evening Dunc, how are you doing? Many thanks for stopping by and your kind words on the review - much appreciated. As for touring, I took mine over to Switzerland last year and found it supremely comfortable and with a little windshield on it, a steady 85 (where conditions allow) was absolutely fine and I never got that sense of having to hang or of getting sucked off the bike. Obviously when the weather takes a turn for the worse you’ll feel the lack of fairing, but let’s face it, the sun always shines on a Z900RS 😀
Having said that the new Suzuki is meant to be amazing though, doesn’t look half as cool as the Kawasaki though hahaha.
Anyway, hope all is well and let me know what you decide to do, cheers, Phil.
Nice bike, good initial review, excellent vid. Enjoy the new toy =)
Thanks! Great to know you enjoyed the video and thanks for taking the time to comment. And yeah! I will…I am! Cheers, Phil.
Did I mention “woosh-tastic”? 😂
You have now Petyr! Hope you’re doing well, cheers, Phil.
Oh come on, tell us what you really think!
Hello! Er, yeah, ok, it’s alright 😀 Oh wait, no, it’s brilliant! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
This is what bikes looked like when I was a kid.
Me too Nick and always ridden by scary looking guys with side burns and cutoff denim jackets. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Yes, totally agree, glad it's my first bike :) I got a cafe fersion ^^
Your first bike….Excellent choice and what taste! Cafe version is lovely also, would be great to have both 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews just started riding at 49….after a few months on a 125 have placed a deposit on this as my first big bike. Your review was the deciding factor - thank you! And glad to hear at least one other person is happy with this as a first bike!
Thanks! From a 125 to a Z900…excellent choice! Hope all goes well and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Mate...I subscribed 2minutes in. Then it just got better and better. Wicked production and humour. And you have a Guzzi V7. I don't...but want one because fate had me buy a V50II maaaaany years ago on my OE and rode it all around your fair geen land then across Europe to Israel and all about. Loved Guzzis ever since and forever. Take care bro. Ride on. Love and respect from a kiwi. That Kawasaki is just bloody gorgeous by the way.
A Guzzi to Israel! Brilliant! I took various bikes through Europe, Turkey and onto the Middle East in the early 90’s so you must have had a blast. I met some bloke on a ferry from Patreus - sure he was a Kiwi and we stocked up on vodka before boarding, played poker for 48 hours, only ate Mars Bars and I don’t remember anything. Best approach for boats I reckon 😀
The Z is just great, just hoping I can get to Europe on it next year, this year is toast but the thought of whizzing around the Alps, the Dolomites, the Picos keeps me going. Hope all is ok where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I’m just getting back intro motorcycling after a 35 year hiatus. My current bike, which I am currently very pleased with, is a beautiful green T120 Bonneville. It’s very pretty and not too fast for me. When I’m ready for a change my next bike will be one of these. Now here’s the difficult questions: 1. Who did you buy it from? 2. What are its service intervals? and 3. Who will be servicing it? I ask because I’m from your part of the world.
ps. I appreciated the humour.
Hey Trevor..How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ll love the Z 😀 As for your question…I got it from M&S motorcycles in Newcastle, very professional plus they have an amazing showroom of new, used and classic bikes. It’s a big dealership so it’s not like your best mate looking after you, but they are totally professional, well trained and are enthusiasts and know their stuff so recommended. Service intervals are every 7000 mile or annually and while in warranty I will be using M&S. after that I’ll do the basics myself (oil, filter, brakes, bearings) and anything more complicated my local Berwick non-franchised guy - either Andy at Border Bikes or Tim at TI in Spittal.
Hope that helps, maybe see you on an A1 roundabout at some point.
Cheers, Phil.
Thinking of swapping my BMW 1250 R for one of these. Are you still okay with that jerky throttle. Seems to be a common complaint? Cheers, Jon.
Good evening, well I dragged the Kawasaki out of the shed last week for the first proper ride in months and it took me like 2 seconds to remember and adjust to the throttle response. But isn’t that the same with any bike?
So honestly, from my perspective it’s never been a problem and I would never describe the throttle as jerky at all. The engine runs Euro 5 lean and if I’m being careless it can be a bit sudden, but is it a problem? No. Now perhaps the 2021 bikes are better than previous versions, I really don’t know. It simply has a bike specific throttle characteristic, just as my Guzzi and CRF do. When I hop between bikes it takes me a couple of seconds to acclimatise then all is fine. And personally I always find it’s clutch feel which takes more getting used to.
But it’s a personal opinion…having owned lots of bikes with awful fuelling and lots of two strokes, anything as accomplished as the Kawasaki feels like a dream to me! Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews That’s great thanks! The twiglets are on me! 👍
Now you’re talking 😀
@@80eightReviews Ordered it today. In 2022 blue. Delivery in a weeks time. Your videos and assistance were of great help in the decision making. Many thanks! 👍😁
Wow! Excellent choice! Let me know how you get on! Cheers, Phil.