Kawasaki Z900RS Official Thread

Yes! Yes! Yes! So many cool bikes I want until I see their lack of ctank apacity. I like to go places.

a Zephyr lookalike?

Who knew the hipster craze would result in such stylish motorcycles.

Love the pic in the OP's post. Upside down forks, WC motor, monoshock. But the second article posted shows a very different bike.

Hopefully Kaw does as the pic - Retro styling with WC, decent suspension, and one would hope, handling, modern brakes and 17" rims. That is exactly the kind of naked I will bite on since Polaris is refusing to make the bike I want.

PS - wanna get really crazy Kaw? Make the zphyr with the 1043. 4th platform on that motor. All ninja 1000 (z1000 suspension not as good imo) components.

1975 H1 came in brown and blue. This one's blue, mine was brown.

This one looks perfect even has OEM air box. I was intimately familiar with the 75's.

76 was the last year for H1. I worked at a Kaw dealer and put new H1's and 900 LTD's together out of the crate. Which basically meant bolting the handlebars on and putting gas/oil/battery acid in them...

You really haven't lived until you've ridden an H1 or even better an H2....

I wrecked my H1 and the dealer ended up with the wreck. 20 years later it got sold to a guy who I became friends with at the local MX tracks. The setup card was still in the little compartment under the seat with my name on it. I setup my own bike and filled out the setup check list...

did they really hang the horn all the way down there?

I would still be hard pressed to not buy that bike. Just the way the word Kawasaki presents itself can be somewhat mystical to me and this is a seriously good looking bike...

The two problems I had with the older retro bikes (that were sold in the USA) - They were heavy and the were slow.
I hope that the bike makes 160 RWHP and weighs in at about 450 with fuel.

It's a nice looking bike.
They should call it the KZ900S.
Make one with the coffin tank and call it the KZ900R.

Hey, did I miss something? That Vulcan S has a 70 on the side. Is Kaw upping the 650 to 700? Not that I think it needs it, but certainly a little more kick doesn't hurt if it still spins up in a similar way and is as much fun.

Zephyrs? Why make a bike look like a Zephyr? They made it to look like a memorable bike ..The Z1 900.

So, maybe the Z900RS isn't dead...

Article here: https://rideapart.com/articles/kawasaki-hints-retro-standard-z900rs-2018

Kawasaki has and has had some magnificent 600cc engines. I will never understand why no one markets a retro motorcycle using these light and strong engines. My buddy had an 02 he raised the bars on. Great fun.
Large engine bikes have their place (I ride one) but a solid do everything middleweight would be very good.
I liked the 09 ER6n my friend had. With a lighter smoother engine and more power, fantastic.

Would trade retro look pipes for more passenger leg/luggage room.

Those Japanese mags like to photoshop on their covers. I'll wait to see the real thing.

I test rode the 2017 Z900 ....
I really like it .
Wife and wallet said no

IF the 900RS comes out, ......she has been warned

I agree that the mag pics from the Rideapart article are most likely an "artist's conception" & not what the actual bike will look like. But, they look to be based on the current Z900's engine / chassis, which I am thinking is what will happen (if it happens). Creating a retro-influenced modern bike would compete against the XSR900 & not much else. Going with a genuine Z1 / KZ900 remake goes up against a slew of bikes from Guzzi, BMW, Triumph, Honda, Ducati & even HD.

Anyway, I'm interested to see if it turns up at at the bike shows this fall.

My first bike was a 10 year old Zephyr 550. I'd love to have a modern one.

From a book of face group , supposedly the soon to be retro 900

Sure looks like it! I hope those are real analog gauges in that cluster.

The ass end of the bike is not above the rider's head - a good sign...

It would be nice to get something other than matte black, otherwise looks good.

Rider Magazine posted this dyno shot on the Kawi mill vs the FZ09:



60+ ft lbs at the wheel from 4K to 10K should make a great street engine.