5 Things I Hate About My Kawasaki Z900

Thanks for watching! I have almost 4,000 miles now on my 2021 Kawasaki Z900 and wanted to share with you some of the things that get on my nerves about this bike. Be sure to drop a comment if you have any questions or just want tot keep the discussion going to help others.

[supernovasupernova-lh]

Time saver summary:

1- Short gear ratios: Particularly between second and third gear, the ratios feel too short, often causing me to hit the rev limiter unexpectedly.
2- Heat shield: The heat shield near my heel constantly brushes against it, feeling restrictive and uncomfortable, especially on the right side.
3- Wind protection: The lack of wind protection results in bugs splattering all over my face shield during rides, which can be bothersome, especially on longer trips.
4- Front brakes: While not terrible, the front brakes could be more responsive, sometimes requiring harder squeezing than I'd like.
5- Minor issues: The front turn signals tend to flop and bounce around, there's limited space on the handlebars for attachments due to the brake reservoir, and the small, hard seat is uncomfortable for passengers, particularly for longer rides.

[TheRealJohnMadden]

Buys naked bike, complains about wind protection and bugs.

[santrdrd]

You complain about bugs on helmet visor. In reality, no matter what bike you ride, you are still gonna get bugs on visor.

[thevietkid]

Couple things, I own a 2020 z900 and have 600 miles on mine with a bunch of mods. Great looking bike btw, love the color scheme. I agree with most of your gripes but there were a couple that I had issues with that were relatively easy to fix. First the bug issue/wind protection, all bikes get hammered with bugs, I fixed bugs getting all over my helmet by getting a bigger windscreen, it also helped with the wind protection. You need to remember this is a naked bike, it's not a faired bike, it's like getting a supersport and complaining about the lack of comfort...you should know what you're getting into. If you wanted more protection you should not have gotten naked. 2nd the seat issue, my gf hates the seat, and she used to ride on my 09 cbr600rr with me and said that, that was more comfortable, lol. The z900 seat is worse than sitting on cardboard. Its an easy fix tho, we got aftermarket seats from ccrider and she's so much happier. Corbin also makes seats too. The biggest gripe I have with this bike and I'm surprised you didn't bring it up, is the misshifts, this bike is the misshifts king! Everyone on the z900 FB group and forums complain about the misshifts and how you need to ride differently on this bike, lol. Be safe out there bro!

[vermine]

Or just get rid of the girlfriend like I did. Gives you more time to ride and spend more money on the bike!😅

[SigmaSheepdog]

My girlfriend bought a 2022 Z900 back in May and she is absolutely in love with the bike. She does have the bug problem and the issue with the lack of space on the handle bar as you mentioned. She has no issues with the brakes or the gearing though. Being a relatively aggressive rider and she really loves the torque and decent horsepower that the bike puts out, but at 5'4", 105lbs she has the weight to HP ratio advantage.

[JustinBrianBurdick]

Dude i had one and literally not one bad thing i could say, beautiful bike man

[joeplem]

Short gearing makes for great wheelies even though I haven't even got close to getting the front wheel off the ground on mine. I'm too chicken lol

[itsbeckon]

Was able to test drive an friends 2018 Z900 and I'm deeply in love. The sound even with the stock exhaust is great. And the handling is, compared to my MT/FZ-07 on another level.

[bikerevz]

Just done 10, 000 on mine (vid coming soon). I agree with most of your comments but I swapped out the end can so no issues there and my 2021 came with LEDs all round, which are a great improvement on those bouncy indicators. Loving the channel.

[karlhungus]

I recently bought a new SE, which comes with Brembos up front and steel braided lines. They're some of the best brakes I've ever experienced on a motorcycle.

The exhaust shield doesn't really bother me.

I prefer not to carry passengers on this bike, so the tiny seat is okay too.

A faceshield coated in bug guts is a fact of motorcycling life that I reconciled myself with a long time ago.

[Farsider]

🤔…..well, the most positive feature of my 2019 Z900 has been the rear seat. No joke….after a couple of rides with my girlfriend she decided she needed her own bike! Now she has her own bike and we really REALLY enjoy riding together now.

[shneurkanar]

Would you compare this to the MT09? That bike is extremely powerful on the lower end. Very nimble also.

Generally hyper naked bikes are terrible for long drives.

[WilliamAlvarez]

I’m enjoying this motorcycle a bunch. I got the 50th anniversary z900

[martyz]

Cool vid! Agree with some of the cons! Blinkers would be nice leds, front brakes are a little squishy, but are ok. Pillion seat is non existent haha but all in all a great bike Ive tracked and commuted mine and the wind, well it’s a naked bike! Just not to comfortable over 200kmh.

[nelocinco]

I missed this video by 2 years! What about its head & body cover? A member of mine bought one in December 2023 & the head & side covers are kinda not fit & they're easily moved when n touched... Do you have the same issue? (English isn't first language)

[DRumsBDrugs]

Same Bro. The first thing I did before my chain stretched was replace sprockets. I went largest on front, 17/44, which made me in turn have to put smallest rear to accomodate being able to chain adjust. This gearing is too high now (and I still reach limiter 🤪). My clutch slips if I dump it on takeoff, but the shift pattern is muuuuch better, way longer gears. I reach 150 in 4th and have no power to max the speed in 5th & 6th. OH WELL! 😅 I own an '03 Yamaha FZ1, the windshield fits the Z great if you heat it to create a shape that deflects the wind, (at 120mph). My blinker mounts rotted off, I used polyurethane caulk to fill around the then absent rubber for my blinkers, works fine. Same problem on the muffler shield, this bike frame is small, I'm 6'1". I don't have ABS so I like the brakes and suspension enough. *THIS IS NO PROBLEM*, MY WIFE WON'T RIDE W/ME!!! She says her teeth hurt riding that rear seat!! Oh yeah, it's a 2017. I'm surprised they haven't fixed that blinker crap.

[toofastnobrakes]

Yeah the gearing is definitely too short. I’ve considered going up one tooth in the front and down two or three in the rear. Hell even just one up in the front would help
IDE also like to recommend the CS racing full system exhaust, it low and out of the way, sounds amazing, and is designed to run with the stock tune. It also looks great on the black and red Z900 “I have the same year and color”

[troymullin]

Clean discs with acetone & paper towels. Wipe them till all residue on towels is gone. I think you will like the results.

[Calebflying]

I am a experienced rider and almost pulled the trigger on the Z900, but I can’t deal with a complete naked bike. I love the low end torque and handling, but I need some wind protection. Yes, you can add a windshield, but it is still limited.