Kawasaki Z900 RS Ownership - 'Can a bike be too perfect?'

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My current motorcycles are:-
BMW R1200GS
Kawasaki Z900 RS SE
Triumph Speed Twin
Royal Enfield Custom 650 Interceptor
Honda GL1800 Goldwing Tour DCT (Airbag)
Suzuki GSXS125 (OK, that's the Mrs bike!)

Please be aware I am not a professional journalist or otherwise claim to be an expert in any way in motorcycles or anything else. I'm just an ordinary biker like you probably are. Please regard my videos as entertainment only and if information presented is important to you, please verify it via a knowledgable third party....the videos I post are just my opinions and are no more valid than anyone elses.

[eliteengineerdaz]

I completely disagree with you saying this bike has no character - it being a four cylinder and its smoothness IS its character and charm. I think you've somehow missed that.

[terencenottingham]

Because I'm an old git I drooled over the Z1, Z900 etc in the 70's but could never afford one, now I own a 21 plate Z900 in black and silver and I am in love. Even during the seemingly constant rain I can take a cup of coffee, sit in the garage and just stare at this beautiful machine. No bike is ever perfect but the Z900RS very damn close.

[stevenjonestriumpht]

I bought a 2019 Z900RS Brown and Orange in January. I love it bought it to help me recover from Open heart surgery. I am busy making it mine by modifying it a little.

[Grauer]

Hello. Congrats to your choice. I`m 100% on your side. I bought mine in march 2023....and I wanted exactly the SE model. So I ordered in winter 2022 a new 2023 model. Arrived in march 2023. I`m very satisfied with every kind of is perfect. Grip heating, custom seat with heating...main stand and some other extra things on it. You can do anything with that bike....touring, sport, cruising...anything is possible without any negative reasons. I`m 60 years old and had every kind of bikes..but this one is really perfect for me, in my opinion. And also the sound and look of the whole bike is perfect, really nice. Regards from germany and stay healthy and enjoy your rides.

[billreynolds]

Love Kawasaki retro bikes. I currently own an 05 ZRX1200R. Had it since new. No mods. It's exactly like it came out of the crate. These in-line 4s from Kawasaki are practically bullet proof. Mine was a father's day gift from my wife. I'll never sell her. The bike, not the wife. :)

[AJ]

Ive a strong memory of certain bikes, ie 1969 Honda CB 750, Norton Commando 750, but it was the Z1 900 in 1972 that captured me as a young man

[LickyDischarge]

After passing my test, all I wanted was the most powerful motorcycles I could find. As I thought that was the key to enjoying them. Fast forward six years and I’m enjoying the delights of a CRF250 Rally, for me it’s pretty perfect on the crappy broken up roads of East Anglia, with the ability for some light off roading.

[BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I do enjoy a Kawasaki retro, they do seem to nail them from time to time, think not only of this stunning machine but also the old ZRX1100/1200.

[defaultuser]

I love the round dials, must have for a retro bike, and you still have a small screen for fuel, gear position etc. You got it right, a very well executed update of a standard motorcycle of decades past.

[macsmotors]

I've got a 2023 Z900RS, popped about 5K miles on it over the last year. It's been an utter hoot to ride and own. I'm running a Yoshimura Straight Cyclone exhaust, a Rapidbike tuning kit, and a Sprint air filter. I'm looking at getting a proper remap done to protect the engine a bit better, but man, the tweaks have turned this into a proper weapon.

The only thing that lets it down is the suspension on the standard bike. One day, when I've saved a few pennies, I'll get some new forks etc sorted.

[billcotton]

I think it has the big Japanese 4 vibe that used to be huge in my motorcycle past, so to me, it does have character.

[reinmansmith]

My friend bought one of the original Z1Bs in the mid 70s which was an amazing machine and I have to say that Kawasaki have nailed the styling on this particular retro machine 🤩

[elevationmoto]

I bought a 2021 Z900 RS shortly after you put it your top 5. Good call. That sound never gets old. Congrats on picking up the SE!

[TheChrysler]

I’ve owned many motorbikes since the age of 17 I’ll be 63 this coming May, blimey! That’s only next month 😮 My brother owned a Z1 back in the 70’s and I was brave or stupid enough to go pillion. I took delivery of my 2019 Z900rs “Jaffa” two years ago and can honestly say I enjoy this bike more everyday. I have had a de-cat and remap and made it my own with other lovely modifications like the retro kawasaki tank badges, twin horns and Kawasaki fork emblem, colour matching rear hugger, a better rear light, grab rail, amongst other modifications oh! and lowered custom made seat. It’s worth investing in a decent set of tyres too.

[andrewooi]

Possibly the best looking bike in your garage. Kawasaki nailed it with the looks of the Z900RS 👍🏻👍🏻

[ianhalliwell]

I agreed with every word you spoke on your Z900, until the very end. As an owner of a bike with bags of character, my BSA GoldStar, I disagree with your comments on your bikes character. From the twin clock's to the fuel tank and the engine, to me its loaded with character and I'd love one in my garage.

[ianrobertson]

Surely it's not that it doesn't have character but that it's character is that of hyper smoothness and efficiency. If you want vibrating mirrors and numb hands take out one of your more "characterful" set of wheels ! Oh, and the looks are stunning -reminds me so much of the original Z1 that I drooled over as a schoolboy.

[erniel]

I’ve been riding for 54 years and have owned 20 different bikes. Overall my 2018 Z900RS is the most enjoyable bike I’ve ever owned. Just wish they had the SE version in 2018.

[michaelhartman]

If anything, the Z900RS is of steadfast character. Dependable, reliable, yet performance wise, it stays the course set by the Z1 fifty years on...it is the perfect motorcycle for me.

[jonnny]

Agreed with everything you said Andy apart from the character. I think it’s got loads, unless you mean the vibrations of a twin cylinder motorcycle! I love mine as it never fails to make me smile! My Multistrada V2 has the sort of character that I think you mean, which is lovely as well.