Kawasaki Z900 ABS specifications

Kawasaki Z900 ABS

Ride quality, history and reliability

Motorcycle News says the riding triangle is spacious, with a soft supportive seat for hours in the saddle, and that in full power mode throttle pickup is a little snatchy and second gear at slow town speeds a bit jerky on the first few percent of throttle.

It traces the model's history: Euro 5 updates in 2020 with a new exhaust, full LED lighting, a TFT dash with Bluetooth, Dunlop Roadsport 2 tires and rider aids, then a later Euro 5+ update with a standard quickshifter.

On reliability, IWSE notes some owners have reported stator problems that are not considered widespread, and that a Z900 that gets regular maintenance is likely to provide years of trouble-free riding.

This model costs $2,300 more than the Z650 at $7,699 and $5,000 less than the Z1100 at $14,999. So it is the middle of the Z range. The 948cc engine and 4.5 gal tank suit a rider who wants power without paying for the supercharged Z H2 at $21,999.

A used Z900 is common, which helps price comparison, and a buyer should check the chain, the tires and the brake pads, since a 470 lb naked bike wears them faster than a small one.

Against the other big nakeds

Yamaha's MT-09 costs $10,899 and weighs 425 lb wet, and Suzuki's GSX-S1000 costs $10,798 and weighs 472 lb curb. So the Z900 at $9,999 is the cheapest of the three by about $800 to $900. Its 469.7 lb curb weight is near the Suzuki's, and its 31.9 in seat matches it.

The Yamaha has the taller 32.5 in seat and the lighter weight, though the two use different bases. A rider choosing among them should compare the engines' character on a test ride, because the Kawasaki is a four, the Yamaha a triple and the Suzuki a four.

Z900 against the CB1000F, XSR900 and F 900 R

Honda's CB1000F costs $10,599, Yamaha's XSR900 costs $10,599 at 425 lb and BMW's F 900 R costs $10,495. The Z900 at $9,999 is the cheapest of the group, and at 469.7 lb it is heavier than the Yamaha and BMW.