Kawasaki has long had a thing with 900 cc four-cylinder motorcycles. The original Z1, code-named Project New York steak, culminated in the launch of the legendary Z1 903 in 1972. Designed to be the fastest production motorcycle that money could buy, it was to be a thumb in the eye of Honda’s CB750 Four, which had been launched with great acclaim in 1969. The Z1 delivered on all fronts, with the only possible exception being rather unruly handling. The Honda handled better, but probably only because it made 25% less power than the Kawi.
As with the Honda, the big Kawi became more civilised over time, losing some of its ferocious power but becoming a more rounded motorcycle. The Z1 birthed a line of Z900s, which have lasted and prospered up to this day. I have been privileged to ride every new version since 1972, so I was very keen to sling a leg over the 2025 model. Suffice to say, the current Kawasaki Z900 is a very far cry from that original Z1.
In recent years, Kawasaki have applied the spirit of Sugomi to their styling. Dynamic, aggressive and powerful, it hints at a predator about to pounce. Reminiscent of Jimmy Dean’s song from the 1960s, Big John. ‘Kinda broad at the shoulder, and narrow at the hip, everybody knew that they give no lip to Big John’. The Z900 has a similar waspish waist and broad shoulders, loaded with menace. The bike abounds with neat touches, and the finish is superb. To my mind, it looks fantastic.
The TFT display is clear and legible in all light, with a central rev counter flanked by a digital gear indicator and speedo. Smack in the middle is a somewhat gimmicky lean angle gyro like you would find on the dash of your Cessna. The left handlebar cube has a mode switch to toggle through all the vital info, including recording left and right maximum lean angles as well as accessing riding modes, varying power and the way it is delivered. That lean angle recorder could well result in a few insurance claims in cases where ego outstrips talent. I kept the bike in Sport mode for its time with me. The bike weighs in at 213 kg fully fuelled.
At the heart of the beast is the familiar 948 cc DOHC, 4-valve four-cylinder motor. With a massively oversquare bore and stroke, it is free revving, yet almost surprisingly torquey. Fuel injected via four 30 mm throttle bodies, it churns out a velvet smooth 123 hp @ 9,500 rpm and 99,1 Nm of torque @ 7,700 rpm. This mill is a peach. It is smooth and linear with a decent top-end hit. There is a brief buzz felt through the tank at 5,000 rpm, after which it smooths out to be almost eerily smooth at highway speed and beyond. When a motor is this smooth, it makes accessing the power intensely pleasurable. The gearbox has 6 speeds, is light and slick in operation and has a superb bi-directional quick shifter. The action on the slipper clutch is light, aided by an assist function.
The seat is stepped, with a broader seat pad for the rider tapering to a pillion perch which is only ‘to the nearest coffee shop’ friendly. Passenger pegs are also placed high, so the passenger is forced to cling to the rider like Velcro so as not to abandon ship when the rider gets even mildly enthusiastic with the throttle.
Kawasaki apply an ERGO-FIT approach to the rider where there is a degree of adjustability to the riding position, allowing the bike to be adjusted to rider preference. The handlebar has a decent bend and width, allowing good leverage and enhancing the general light and agile feeling of the bike. The tiny screen covering the dash is totally cosmetic and has no functional value, so sustained speeds in over 140 km/h become hard work.
There is a cruise control function which helps for open road comfort, but the naked nature of the bike and hard seat don’t make it a suitable long-distance missile. Dynamically, the bike delivers incredibly, with a visceral appeal that is intoxicating. The Nissin callipers are 4 pot on the front 300 mm discs and 1 pot on the single 250 mm disc. Immensely powerful and with superb feel at the lever, they effortlessly reign the bike in from all speeds. A 17-litre tank is good for close to 300 km in typical riding, and perhaps 250 km if you are really enthusiastic with the throttle, which I must say is quite easy with this beastie!
Use it as intended, as an all-round hooligan tool, and all other aspects are soon forgiven and forgotten. The Z900 loves being thrashed unmercifully, shrieking its four-cylinder song and squirting down the road with serious vigour. For even more enjoyment, put some sweeps and corners in that road. Tip it on its ear, and the Z sticks to its line with poise and absolute stability. Endowed with KCFM (Kawasaki Cornering Management) software, the bike utilises its 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) to keep the bike perfectly balanced and under control, even at warp speed.
The wheels are 17” at each end with a 120/70×17 on the front and a sensible 180/55×17 on the rear. Endowed with decent rubber in the form of Dunlop Sportmax, the Kawi is an absolute blast to ride. This bike just plain works! The suspension is fully adjustable on the 41 mm USD front fork and adjustable for preload and rebound on the rear shock. The ride quality is good, and suspension action is properly controlled. I don’t think I would shell out for the SE model, which comes Ohlins-equipped. The rear shock is in a cantilever position as opposed to Kawasaki’s familiar Uni-Trak setup.
The 2025 Z900 costs R219,990, which is a big jump from the previous spec, which went for around R180,000. Having said that, I always touted the Z900 as the bargain of the century! The current price is good value for what you are getting, and very competitive in its class. The Z900 is an extremely polished performer, with stunning looks and huge appeal. I do get why naked bikes have historically been slow sellers in SA. They are as narrowly focused as sport bikes. The lack of wind protection, generally manic nature and uncomfortable seating do not make them conducive to big open road trips. As an urban commuter and weekend weapon, it is another story. The upright riding position works well in traffic and is great for short-haul blasts. The clean windblast over your helmet makes for a much quieter ride than a screen-equipped bike. Whilst they are colder in winter, they are much cooler on a hot summer’s day.
To pick up where I started, the 2025 Z900 is a simply superb motorcycle for its intended hooligan lifestyle. The Project New York steak Z1 has evolved over a 50-year period into a magnificent motorcycle. I think that the power that this bike makes is the sweet spot for a sports naked. I recall riding a Ducati V4 Streetfighter with over 200 hp down a bumpy road. It was a scary experience, to be honest. The huge power threatened to hoik the front wheel skywards at the slightest provocation. By comparison, the Kawi feels totally in control. I am the first to admit that my skill level is not up to extracting the full worth from a 200-plus horsepower motorcycle, but I believe in all honesty that I don’t believe there are many riders who can. That is why electronics are vital on these monsters. It is akin to feeding a pitbull a sedative in the hope that it calms down a bit when on the leash.
What is also apparent is that the current Naked’s are not as user-friendly as in yesteryear. The Z1 was a great two-up tourer with the extra weight calming the lively chassis. I remember my old mate Charlie looking for a passenger before taking on Honda 750s, as he could still dust them two up and keep the big Kawi running straight. Not so the current Zed. If your lady friend is prepared to spend serious time on the pillion, it is a sure sign that she is seriously into you! This would be a reason why you may choose the modern retro Z900 RS with its bikini fairing and pillion-friendly accommodation over the Z900.
It would surely not be too difficult for Kawasaki to engineer a GT touring kit for this bike. A screen, proper comfy double seat and perhaps even heated grips with handguards could be the makings of an absolute winner. I would be first in line to put my money down. In the meantime, if you are a purist with a penchant for handsome naked roadsters with proper capabilities, you know where to go. This Kawi is proper!
Kawasaki Z900
For more information on the bike featured in this article, click on the link below…
