Why the Kawasaki Z900RS is an awesome motorcycle
You might not have met this bad boy yet; the Kawasaki Z900RS. It’s practically a Z900, but with a retro look. The engine is the same as in the very popular, almost hooligan like, normal z900. But this bike is better. Let me tell you why the Kawasaki Z900RS is an awesome motorcycle.
First of all; like I said, the Z900RS has the same engine as the normal Z900. So you can ride it with the same hooligan attitude. But then incognito. Because no one expects you to ride like a looney on this bike. Isn’t that reason enough to ride it? Let me give you a few other reasons to ride the Kawasaki Z900RS.
THE KAWASAKI Z900RS
A BIG SURPRISE
No, this post isn’t sponsored by Kawasaki. Let me be clear on that. I’m just really, really, REALLY excited about this bike. Some time ago, I was asked to model for a collaboration shoot between Kawasaki and MotoShare. Things like that get me excited, so I said yes. The big surprise came after a whole day of shooting; I got to take the Kawasaki Z900RS home for the week. So I got to test ride this awesome machine.
AWESOME BIKE
JUST AWESOME
‘Cause that’s what I think of it. I truly, honestly think it’s an awesome motorcycle. And I wrote this post about ‘why the Kawasaki Z900RS is an awesome motorcycle’ out of pure enthusiasm.
REASON #1: CASUAL CRUISING
WITH COMFORT AND CHARM
Besides the fact that you can ride it (hard), you can also use it to casually cruise along the coast, through city traffic or to take it for a spin with the boys or girls. The seating position is slightly more upright than on the normal Kawasaki Z900. All be it not that much more. The different styling is what stands out the most. Of course, it has to be your thing, that whole retro look. My heart doesn’t immediately start racing whenever I see a retro bike. But on rare occasions, one does know how to light my fire.
It wasn’t like that with the Z900RS at first. The one I was lucky enough to take home had the dark green colour scheme. This colour never had my preference, on any bike or car. And yes, I do think colour schemes make or break a bike. (Yes, yes, I know. You can always repaint it..) So I wasn’t that hyped from the start. Until I got on the bike and rode off. It surprised me, like booyah.
REASON #2: RECKLESS RACING WITH THE Z900RS
HANNY HOOLIGAN
The Kawasaki Z900RS is a beast. I didn’t think it would be that much fun and ride that well. You fly across speed bumps like they don’t exist. It took me some time to get used to the seating position. I’m used to race bikes, so sitting upright is still somewhat new to me. But you get used to it quite quickly. And slowly.. the hooligan in me started to rise. The same hooligan the normal Z900 often attracts..
But then incognito. Because people don’t expect you to ride like a looney on this bike. Are you riding with your buddy? And do you guys pass a pair of cyclists a bit too fast? Then your buddy will be the one to get “the finger” and to endure the swearing. “No way that old one went that fast!”, is what you will hear.
That’s because it looks way older than it actually is, due to its retro styling and classic charm. But on the inside, it’s just a young little animal waiting to be released. The amount of power and torque make this bike a lot of fun. It’s playful and simple. The stock exhaust makes a funny ‘plopping’ sound. It could have been a bit louder to my taste, but maybe the decent sound is better. Since the world gets less and less tolerant..
REASON #3: CUSTOMIZE THAT KAWASAKI Z900RS
CAFE RACER OR CLASSIC RACER?
The Kawasaki Z900RS isn’t just a really fun bike to ride. You can also do amazing things with it styling wise. You can customize it with minimal effort and make it look totally different. Install a cowl and lower the steering bar a bit for a Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe look. You turn it into a super slick, modern day cafe racer in no time.
Or turn it into a classic racer with a special fairing kit from Japan Legends. Your Kawasaki Z900RS turns into a Kawasaki ZXR900 with minimal effort. And it will look awesome! A classic racer in looks, with modern day technology. I love it. Just like I’ve got a huge crush for the classic ZX7R.
CONCLUSIon
To make a long story short; the Kawasaki Z900RS rides very, VERY well. It looks innocent, but is actually a true monster and it offers plenty of opportunities to make it your own. What more can one want? It’s a shame my trees don’t grow money. I would definitely know what to do with it..
That we are a fan of classic styled motorcycles is no secret. Want to read more about modern classics? Read more about it in our review of the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.
