This is my take on the Z900RS, talking about the bike and taking a close look. I give my opinion, and show the changes I've made including luggage. Thanks to weeks of poor weather, this is my first attempt at narration.
good short video on the bike, especially good to see the luggage fitted,i think it's the top box more than anything i dislike on bikes. Honest review, suspension can get bouncy if pushed hard, but a decent ride even two up. For me this is the best looking bike on the market, i am also a child of the 70's and it's how i think bikes should look. They have it bang on with styling of the 70/80's with modern technology. Summed up with your comments about 1st bike bought brand new and you stlll just love it.
Thank you! Yes I agree on the top box, just awful. But it is useful, and the girlfriend feels safer with it there when we’re out together. Be safe! Cheers.
I nearly always give a 👍because people put a effort in for my entertainment, but in tis caes i wish i could have given you a 2 thumbs up. You have a gift of sharing your experience and making the person watching feel like we are somehow respected a friend sharing the experence with you. Jesus bless ya from the brother from down under 🐑🇦🇺👍
Nice one . I still remember my mate surprising me in 1976 when he came round on a brand new original one , in dark metallic green I think . He caned it up to Bristol from Weston-super-Mare with me still half lashed from the night before . Great days in the 70s , no cameras and loads of speed and fun ☺
@@Saddlebags73 Your welcome Saddlebags . Kawasaki have always made fabulous bikes in amazing colours . I have personally loved them since they introduced two stroke triple range here . Who else would think to make their tail lights a Z on some of their other bikes ?
Hi - may I just say, your video's great but you don't need the music in the background to be honest. It was a little difficult to hear your words, which is what matters. (I meant during your in-garage review at 4:00 onwards)
Thank you! I appreciate constructive criticism. I might do a 10’000km review of better quality. I was quite new to all this when I did this one. All the best 👍🏼
Nice video Saddlebags. I have the same year/colour as you and I love it. I went the other way than you did and put a cowl and a set of clip ons, had the ecu flashed and changed the pipes. The best thing about this bike is can do whatever it is you want it to do. Like you said though if you wanted to ride it hard a lot you would likely want to upgrade the suspension. Just like you, I think I will have many more seasons enjoying this bike.
K B I admire your taste 😉 I may change things after my trip to Spain. If I decide to get something different to tour on, I’ll get the luggage off this. I like the idea of clip ons. Yep they’re definitely keepers. Thanks for your comment! Ride safe
A nearly Perfect machine. I'm adding an extended front fender and radiator guard, plus some kind of highway bars so I can straighten my legs occasionally if I can find some (no luck so far on that). My trips will be 1000 miles or less these days. Need to straighten my legs as I have two fake knees, and am 70 years old.
Hi 👋🏼 I added a fender extender. The standard mudguard is quite useless. I can’t advise you highway pegs I’m afraid, but good luck. I’d like to think I’ll still be riding mine at 70 😊 Take care out there!
The standard RS is actually modeled after the old kz900. The Cafe is modeled after the old z1000 cafe. I have the Cafe version and I absolutely love it.
Nicely done video mate. I’ve got the Jaffa version, had it 2 years and done 20,000 kms. You don’t have a problem with the snatchy throttle then? Mine was pretty bad but I’ve fixed it. Agree with the OEM Dunlops, I changed to Bridgestone S22s, heaps better. Is that Devon or Cornwall you’re riding in there? I was brought up as a kid in Cornwall in the 1960s.
Thank you gm! Beautiful paintwork my friend. I’ve heard many complaints about the throttle but mine seems ok. I don’t know if I got lucky or I just adapted without realising. I’d be interested to know what sort of mileage you get from the S22’s. I’ve always liked Bridgestone, but found they wear fast. Yes this video is partly Dartmoor, and dropping into Crackington at the end. I live on the Cornwall-Devon border. Ride safe, and cheers!
Those S22s, I think they are better all round than the earlier S21s, but they make a big difference in handling. I do the occasion track day at Phillip Island with my Z so tyre wear isn’t really measurable properly, but I don’t think there’s a huge difference between them and the Dunlops. Apparently the twitchy throttle doesn’t really affect some bikes, but badly affects others. Mine was the latter! Btw, I’ve got a sister who lives in Plymouth and Mother lives in Truro. Cornwall was a great place to grow up in.
Phillip Island, oh lucky you. Thanks for that, I might give the S22’s a go next time. The Dunlop’s were done in 2700, but once I’ve done my tour of Spain mileage won’t particularly bother me. Ah this is a lovely part of the country, but too much bloody cold and wet.
It was 34°C at the WSBK at Phillip Island on the weekend. Can’t say I miss English weather this time of year lol. I saw quite a few Jaffas and lime green cafe Z900RSs down there. The Kawasaki dealer display had a new bike like ours in the new dark metallic green and gold color, that and the black one is the only color they’re bringing in. No more Jaffas apparently.
Ah that’s a shame, the Jaffa’s are gorgeous. I would have gone for one if there wasn’t a wait for it. The black sparkle grew on me though. I also liked the lime green and considered converting one to the naked version, but it was more involved than I first thought. Who knows what the future holds though? Could be a custom paint job on the cards further down the line. 34 degrees, that’s what dreams are made of 😁
Great looking bike and video. I hear the ground clearance isn’t so good as it can scrape the pegs and exhaust when leaning through the twistys. If this is true then it’s the only thing putting me off from trading in my bike as this is the bike I always promised myself as I too grew up in awe of the Z 1.
Hi Mike, thank you very much. The first day I picked mine up, I dug the side stand mount into the road. But I’ll quickly add that, that only happened once, and it was on a right/left in a dip that really compressed the suspension. I would regularly scrape the pegs (which I quite enjoy) until I changed the original Dunlop’s for Mich road 5’s. Now it’s much harder to get to the pegs, even at what feels like a steeper lean angle. I don’t understand the science behind that, but that’s how it seems. I would also say, the suspension set up is soft from standard, and my guess is, if you stiffened it up a bit you would eliminate any issues with ground clearance completely. I have never heard of anyone scraping the exhaust myself. I had that issue on a gpz550 many years ago, and it would unload the front tyre, very scary! I am actually going to play with the settings once our freedom returns, to stiffen it up a little. Thanks again Mike, all the best.
I realize I'm late commenting on your video so hopefully you see this. How far do you get on a tank of gas on average? I currently have an '09 Buell Ulysses that I absolutely love but it gets about 240km to a tank and I like to go 300+ before stopping. If the Z900RS does that I'm buying one. By the way, I think it looks outstanding with that luggage. That will be the luggage system I'll purchase should I buy the bike.
Hi NB! Riding sensibly I get 180 miles from a full tank (roughly 290km). You might scrape another 10 km out of it but the gauge would be winking causing considerable fuel anxiety 😉 I posted another video solely on the luggage. I don’t think top boxes ever look good on a bike, but the panniers suit it well I think. Many thanks for watching! Ride safe 👍🏼
Thank you so much for the reply and information, I appreciate it. Hmm, now I have to decide whether 50km additional range is worth it to me to get the Z900RS. It is a beautiful bike but I have burned by pretty things before.
@@nbrider7235 its says I average 35mpg, and I ride it pretty hard, so 4.5x35 is? maybe 160 miles? but really only about 3 gallons of this tank ever really gets used yo can't fill it all the way up so maybe I start with 4 gallons and fill up with 1 gallon left, if you get 2.5 gallon into this bike you ran it pretty low
I like your videos, the luggage looks good on the bike. It seems quite a faff re the rear box. Probably decide to side panniers and a dry bag which will be simpler for me to convert back.Looking for a tour next year and purchasing a bike shortly before. Hope you get away.
Thank you! Yes, I removed all the luggage and just mount the panniers when needed. I had a recent trip to Wales, and the panniers and a tank bag were enough for a few days. And a dry bag would be plenty for a longer trip. I won’t be using the top box again. Good luck with the bike and tour. I’m looking at next year now 👍🏼
The whole mounting system ruins the lines of the bike, and I’d agree it probably looks better with the bins on. It transforms the bikes usability, but it’s all off now seeing as my big tour couldn’t happen. Maybe next year 🤷🏻♂️ Thanks for watching 👍🏼
I really want one, a black one like yours. It's on my very shortest list of bikes I must own in my life. Want a little more spare money in my pocket when I get it though for some light customization. It's already so damn good looking, just needs this and that done to be drop dead.
Still loving it. The luggage system is off now, so it looks a lot neater. I think they look nice with clip ons, but I’m not sure I’ll ever change it. Thanks for watching. I hope you find your bike soon 👍🏼
I ride a 1250 GSA which is great but she’s a big old girl, I need one of these in the garage as they look superb and being 60 I remember lusting after the original whilst riding my 250 in the 70s😜
Hi, I haven't ridden a 1250, but I would imagine the Z is quite nimble in comparison. It was the looks that sold it for me, but it's a fantastic ride too. I didn't know much about bikes in the 70's, but I've always loved the style 👍
Nice review mate. I live in New England and I'm jonesing to hop on mine that I bought in December! How do you like the luggage? Is it easy to pop on and off?
Hi there 👋🏼 Many thanks! Hard to resist eh? The luggage is great. Although I’ve actually taken it off the bike, including the mounting system. It was for my tour of Spain mainly, which I had to cancel. I did a video solely on the luggage, in which I demonstrate the fitting and removal, if you’re interested. Thanks again and take care over there 👍🏼 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BI99A6gWv34.html
I haven’t seen those. They possibly weren’t available when I bought my set. I’m guessing they aren’t so obtrusive? I’ll stick with the Shad, but if I hadn’t already bought them would consider other options. Many thanks 👍🏼
Own a 2019 myself and absolutely love it as well. I was comforted to hear your take on the stock Dunlop’s. They felt sketchy to me, specifically the front. Have a set of Pirelli Angel GT’s about to go on. Thanks for the share.
Nice! Still love mine. Yes, changing the tyres transformed the bike. I’m sure the Pirelli’s will have a similar effect. Thanks for watching and ride safe 👍🏼
Good vid m8 but the background music was way too loud and made your comments difficult to hear. Just put a deposit on a 2020 green/yellow for Sept' 1st 😁
Thank you very much. I know I made a mistake here saying it was modelled on a z1000, a different bike. Thankfully most seem to forgive me. As with a few bikes I have owned in the past, I bet you wish you’d had the foresight and kept it in a garage somewhere. Thanks for watching!
Hi when starting from cold I believe that it runs up at 2.500 Reavers do u see that a problem runing that high on a cold engine. .any other quirks of the bike u would look out for yes defo road 5's Realy love the retro style of this bike want to make a one time purchase for a keeper
Hi! Mine doesn’t run that high at start up, maybe 2k max. Any more than that I might be concerned (oil distribution etc), but, I should point out that I’m just a regular guy and certainly no oracle on the rs. The bike revs high until it reaches the 2nd bar on the temp gauge and then drops to normal idle speed. However, you can roll the throttle forward during cold start and it will run at it’s normal idle speed, which allows you to select first gear without drama, or relieve stress if you think it’s revving too high. Some complain of a snatchy throttle, which again isn’t an issue with mine. It seems some suffer and some don’t, but I understand it’s easily fixed with an ecu flash if it’s a problem. (In my mind, you shouldn’t have to worry about these things in this day and age) Both of the above issues are brought about from emissions compliance. Booster plugs or ecu flashes seem to take care of it. As I said, mine doesn’t suffer from any of these symptoms BUT, it does seem to run hot when slow moving, and the fan often kicks in. I’m led to believe it’s due to an over sensitive temp sensor, and can again be remedied with an ecu flash. Having said that, I have never had a warning to say it’s overheating. Other than that, I can’t fault it. I’ve considered selling mine in order to buy something more suitable for what I use it for, ie. longer rides. But I can’t bring myself to part with it. I’ll put up with the tiredness brought on from the wind blast you get from any naked bike. I love it! I don’t know if that’s helpful in any way, I hope so. I’ll end by saying, I’m 99.9% certain that if you bought my bike, you’d be very happy. Mine’s a keeper. All the best!
Great video - thanks for posting - are the shad frames easy to remove and refit? Or is it a bit of a hassle. Hows the throttle snatchyness? lol is that a word? Subbed :)
Hi and many thanks! I haven't had any issues with the snatchy throttle. It would seem it varies bike to bike. Either that or I just adapted to it without taking any notice. The pannier mounts are simple to mount. Bit more involved if your'e mounting a top box too. I did a video on the luggage system, and at the very end I demonstrated how easy the pannier mounts are to attach to the bike. Link below if it helps. Thanks again! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BI99A6gWv34.html
Victor Dule many thanks! I wish I could help more, but I can only go by what my girlfriend says. She says it’s comfortable, but it’s the only bike she’s been on, so can’t make comparisons, and the longest ride with her has probably been a hundred miles or so. I imagine it would be pretty comfortable, especially compared to sports bikes. The bike certainly feels good with a pillion. Plan on more videos once our freedom returns. Thanks again! Take care.
I’d love to have one. At 6 feet 2 I’d probably look like a guerrilla riding a moped though ☹️. Never had a sport bike because I can’t stand the crotch rocket seating. But this I could ride! I just wish they weren’t so tiny
JohnnyRebKy I’m 6’2”. It’s actually quite big, I can’t remember the seat height, but shorter riders struggle and have to buy cut down seats. I know what you mean about sports bikes. I’ve had them in the past and they really aren’t built for us taller chaps. This however is perfect 👌🏼
I'm 6'4" riding a Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. The guys at work called it my moped before they heard it with s and s exhaust, air intake, and ecu. Now they like trading me their bikes for a week so they can try it out. Don't worry how you look on a bike, if it makes you grin ear to ear when you go to start it then it's the perfect one for you.
It's a very cool and capable motorcycle, kudos to Kawasaki. Its having modern brakes, suspension, and tires do not detract in any way: when the original Z-1 was king, roads were much safer and far less crowded. Fuel was better, and emission rules were, like, almost non-existent, right? Let's be honest, since that time most of us have ridden far better motorcycles than the old Z-1. I like the utility of this machine and its being a nice starting place for owner customization, as you've shown here! Every time I see one, it gets my imagination rolling. Would color-matching the entire front fender look better? How about those little silver side panels and radiator covers, black them out?
Ricardo Juliet 100%! Modern bikes are much better and safer. It’s nice to have that with the retro style. I don’t actually mind the front fender or the rad panels. The side panels though! Yea they’d probably look better black. After my tour of Spain, (assuming this Covid19 has blown over by august) I may consider making some big changes. A custom paint job could be one of them. Thanks for your comment. Be safe!
You should try to adjust the suspension sag for your weight, front and rear. It is very easy with this bike in stock form and it will transform how this bike feels. I own this bike in the states and weigh about 205 lbs. (92 kgs) without kit. In the showroom, the suspension is set very soft so the bike feels nice and comfy to sit on. Obviously on the road this doesn't make sense. I would suggest at least setting the sag on the front and rear to reflect the rider weight. If you don't weigh much more than 90kg's I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how responsive and comfortable it feels with its stock components. Thank you for the video. Cheers.
Thanks Matt P. Yes, I should probably stiffen it a bit. Especially as I often have the girlfriend or luggage on the back. I need to find out what shock spanner I need and have a play.
Hello, i bought my RS in 2018, and recomend mounting a radiator guard to prevent stones damage, also mounted slide guards from puig, retrostyling and a small screen smoked also from puig, That prevents all That sir and is very confortable
Thaís os an all rounder, with a scrambler triangle, That even allow's me to do some stand riding wich is excellent on longer journeys. Its a winner design and unlike most bikes, in 20 years from now, it'll still be a beautiful unique bike. Kawasaki kept it Simple and functional like all bikes should be, less gadgets more pleasure on riding. And the sucess of this bike. Thanks for the vídeo. "Andalé"😊
Yes, I had a radiator guard fitted from new, and I fitted a fender extender shortly afterwards. I doubt I’ll do anymore to it, as I might be changing. But I still love this bike. It’s been great at everything I have thrown at it and if I do change, I shall miss it dearly. Kawasaki got it just right with this one 👍🏼
A propos leaving suspension settings as is, this bike has above average suspension adjustment capabilities. Why not use it to a great improvement in ride quality and safety? Check out Dave Moss videos on how to do it yourself. It's fairly easy.
impact0r thank you. I’ll check it out. I’ve decided I want to stiffen it a little, especially as I often have my girlfriend or luggage on. Thanks again!
@@Saddlebags73 Pleasure. This playlist and this video are a good start: * ru-vid.com/group/PLYg2ZlPb_FjQ4-1jJMt7ZkgWBDlsvdnPm * ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7czjzbXAOJk.html
As good as it is, it has flaws. OEM tires are crap. Shock is crap if you are adult sized. Forks need thicker fluid for more damping. ECU flash gets rid of the throttle restrictions and timing restrictions up top... Also, a lower more aggressive bar lends itself to sportier riding while still being all day comfortable... Get better tires installed, replace the shock and get the forks sorted and the ECU flash at least, and the bike is transformed... I have done all these mods so far, plus a few others, and done videos and tutorials as well as fast paced ride reviews, if you are interested...
Pretty much spot on... I have put on a fender extender, G2 throttle tamer, Akro headers with standard can, remapped to get rid of jerkiness, changed the tyres to Michelin Road 5s, changed out the shock to a Nitron R1 with black spring and no external adjuster, Rizoma brake reservoir can, core comfort seat and finally Kineo chrome wire wheels. Now it is a nice bike but I have probably thrown too much money at it. Next owner will get a bargain !
@@brynthomas2047 Yeah, I did a track day on mine last week and it was a blast, but it made me realize just how useless 6th gear is for anything other than lazy cruising on the highway... Its geared way too tall and all but useless for acceleration... So I have a 520 sprocket and chain conversion kit coming today, with a +3 rear sprocket for more drive. Stock gearing has the bike hitting 167mph at 10,000rpm in 6th, which of course is only possible in a vacuum or on a dyno... In the real world it can't get anywhere near that, so I figured gearing down a bit, should actually increase the top speed I can hit... Other than that, love the bike. Next mod might be the headers, as our dyno tuning session showed the headers to be the primary power restriction. Confirmed that with Brock as well. I have track videos up on my channel if you are interested.
Forgive my ignorance but what is an ecu flash and how do you get this done, if it was this simple would the factory do it or the dealer. I don’t get get it .
@@Paul-kp1tu Its a way to tune the the bike at the ECU level, without the need for a piggy-back system like a Power Commander. You can adjust the fueling and ignition tables, get rid of torque limiting settings, etc... Dealers don't do this kinda stuff typically
Useful review, thanks. I have a Z1000SX and like to camp and tour. I would like to know how easily that hideous scaffolding goes on and off. If it was relatively quick job I could live with only putting it on when I went away.
Alan Briggs thank you. Funnily enough, my idea originally was to fit and remove the scaffolding when necessary, but it wasn’t quite as easy as I imagined. It probably took around two hours to fit, so I decided to leave it on. Having said that, you could most likely half that time once you were used to it, maybe less. I only decided to do some touring/camping after buying the bike. If I’d had the foresight I would have probably gone for something more like your Z. I’m planning on dedicating a video solely on the Shad luggage sometime soon, as I couldn’t find much information when I was looking. Thanks again, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
The suspension on these bikes is set too soft by the factory. I got mine set up by a specialist. This and street pilots changed the handling dramatically.
I have this bike. The rear suspension is very lacking. The front can be resprung for your weight, but the rear IMO should be replaced for the best results.
Great video, I like the bike too. Question: Often the throttle response is criticised as on and off. Is it really a problem or can you get used to? Thank you.
Thanks Toni R. I’ve heard that a lot. I haven’t found it a problem. I’m not sure whether that’s because they vary bike to bike, and mine is a good one, or I have adapted to it. A lot of people get the ecu flashed to cure it, as well as the high revs at cold start.
I got one of these as well, and I have to say I found the throttle response very irritating in the beginning. But you do get used to it after a while, and after I changed to use the clutch to vary the speed in parking lots/slow manoeuvres, it solved the biggest issue for me.
It isn't an issue on new bike apparently 2022 onwards. They've obviously tweaked sthg but they didn't specify anything in press releases. Probably didn't want to admit the "mistake" to those buyers of earlier models
I wish it came with the front windscreen fairing like the cafe version. what tires are recommended, are there a few choices in case I can't find the one choice. I haven't bought the bike yet. but I am in the middle of a negotiation for a used 2018 with 2700 KL. I think it has the original tires on it.
There’s a few aftermarket options for screens. Chic designs do a nice one. Regarding tyres, the majority seem to favour Michelin road 5’s, or Pirelli angel GT’s. The Michelin’s are likely to be harder wearing. Good luck with the deal. I’d be very surprised if you were disappointed if you made the purchase.
I have a Metzeler M7 RR. This is a really very good option for the RS. Didn‘t make 1 mile with the original tyres, because didn‘t feel safe enough when I tested the RS before I bought one...
Curious as to why you didn't look into a Honda CB1100? The Z900rs and the CB1100 are the two I'm having difficulty making up my mind on. From all I've read, this is sportier and lighter, however, I do like comfort and it seems the CB1100 may be more comfortable.
Hi Nick. I did consider the CB but I quite simply preferred the style of the RS. I didn’t test ride the CB so can’t compare the two, but I find the RS comfortable enough for 200 mile rides. I’m also led to believe the seat becomes more comfy over time. Good luck with your decision, they’re both good bikes in my opinion.
Super hard choice, my decision was based on power, sound and handling because I really like the looks of both. I chose the Kwai, although I love Honda’s and have a 919 Hornet, a 1997 Valkyrie and a 2012 Goldwing and should mention my 2008 Suzuki B King. I have a 2017 Honda Ridgeline, a Honda lawnmower, a Honda Generator, a Honda powered Water pump, pressure washer and wood splitter. I’m 71 and have a very good time on my Z900 RS!
@@SteveJohnson-sn9gq Hey Steve, I picked up a new '18 z900rs. As the Brit's like to call it (Jaffa) colored. Picked up a staple with the rear tire that required two plugs to stop the leak. Just installed Michelin Power 5's, and WOW! Have more confidence getting it low down on either side! Have 750 miles on it and completed my first oil change with the tire swap. Wish I had gotten an inline-4 bike in my mid 20's now. I'm about to be 43, but having a blast!
Ruckus Piper Hi. Good question. I’m 6’2” 33” inside leg. I can almost get my feet flat. It’s hard for me to judge but, yes I expect anyone under 5’8”-9” would be on tip toes. I’m fairly sure you could find a lower seat though. I’ll look into it 👍🏼
how was it on long tour? did you encounter bad roads? My heart is on this bike but my head is on Tiger 900. Getting greedy to just have one versatile machine
Sadly my tour was cancelled due the C word. But I’ve had 4 to 5 hour rides without too much discomfort. It handles everything from back lanes, to twisties, to motorways no trouble at all. I guess the advantage of the tiger would be on dirt or gravel.
Great video. It actually doesn’t look too bad with the bags on it. Did I hear you say you are liking the Michelin 5s ? I’m asking cause the Dunlop’s are not a good match for this bike. I just had my ECU re-mapped and it has made an already lovely bike even more pleasurable to ride.
Many thanks! All the luggage and framework is off now, as for obvious reasons my tour of Spain was cancelled. Yes the Mich Road 5’s make a huge difference. Those Dunlop’s were awful. I presume you had the ecu flash to fix the throttle snatch? This seems to vary from bike to bike. Mine isn’t actually bad, the only thing I have found very occasionally is surging at low speed. I would be interested to hear if it’s solved the engine temp/fan cutting in issue? Thanks again, ride safe 👍🏼
@@Saddlebags73 Thanks for clarifying about the tires. Just ordered the power 5s. As far as the throttle snatch, yes, it has disappeared from the re-flash. And like you, mine was bothersome at low speed. I thought I could get used to the Quirkiness of the throttle but I surrendered and went for a re-map.The bike ran very hot and as I understand they are meant to. It’s hardly been a month since the re-flash so I can’t speak as to whether that has been adjusted. I’ve just ridden the bike twice since re-flash and did notice that the fan was kicking in earlier than before. Take care and be good to yourself. ps: what’s the difference between one yard and two yards ? a fence 🤓
Hello from Texas, USA. You mentioned chain lube kit, it sounds fantastic idea, can you please provide some details on the kit and where you bought it? Thank you!
I can indeed. It’s a Cobrra nemo 2 chain oiler. You can fill with Scott chain oil. I’m going to try EP90 gear oil. A quarter of a turn every hundred miles or so feeds a steady dribble of oil to chain for 2-3 minutes. Easy to install but you will have to find a way of mounting it. I used the bracket it came with, and an old bicycle reflector mount to clamp on the bar. I bought it from eBay but will probably be available elsewhere. I hope the below link helps. Thanks for watching 👍🏼 www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cobrra-Nemo-2-Motorbike-Quad-Chain-Oiler-Kit-Universal-FOC-Scottoiler-Oil-UK-/303134200701?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
Can’t understand the small mudguard on the front wheel . All the crap from the road flung up on those stainless steel headers and the motor . The front brake hydraulic reservoir and the radiator look like tacked on after thoughts . Such a pity !
I bought an extender for the front mudguard. Seems to be quite common for modern bikes, which is quite annoying. Yes, the brake reservoir is hideous. The rad doesn’t bother me so much, but I’ve heard others say the same. Perhaps not your cup of tea, but thanks for watching and taking time to comment 👍🏼
@@Saddlebags73 No probs , Don’t get me wrong , I’m of the vintage of the original Z900 . Never owned one but drooled at the thought . I love the Z900rs . Just sold my Duc 900 monster and got my heart set on the Z900rs . Mad Max lives on . LMAO 🤣
Steve Povey sorry, I’ve just seen this. I’m not being alerted to comments for some reason. Yes it fitted fine. There was a point where I thought this doesn’t line up properly while fitting, but following the instructions and leaving all bolts loose until everything was in place, it all pulled in perfectly.
I’ve heard people complain of fuelling, more towards having a snatchy throttle. I understand it can be overcome with an ecu flash. However I haven’t encountered any issues at all. It would appear some do, some don’t. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.
I never noticed anything on the one I test rode but I could have been distracted by having so much fun. The one I bought was really snatchy rolling off and back on the throttle when slowing for corners. I bought a boosterplug for it and it's smoothed it out at the expense of over idling slightly.
Thanks for watching Flat Cap. I was fairly new to YouTubing when I made this. I often think I should do an update. It’s a great addition to any collection, or as an only bike 👍🏼
Hi Wolfgamer! Thank you. I have just removed the luggage system and it’s as pretty as it should be now. I would be very surprised if you were disappointed 👍🏼
@@Saddlebags73 it's still looks good with,.But what I've noticed with the Kawasaki z900rs , it just looks great from every angle , and what I have reviewed it rides as good as it looks.
I haven’t ridden an xsr so I can’t really say. Nice bike though, main difference would be style I should think. The z is tuned to give power throughout the rev range, whereas the xsr is sportier in that respect (I should think) Harleys are a whole new story, and I don’t really know much about them. I’d probably hire one if I ever went to the US 😊
Nice bike! How is the low speed fuelling and stop start city riding? My duke 790 is driving me nuts and not much I can do without a full tune and new exhaust.
Thank you. They seem to vary bike to bike. I appear to have got lucky. I have only experienced some surging on one occasion in 5500 miles, whilst riding mile after mile in a 20 limit. Others have complained of a snatchy throttle, which I’m told can be solved with an ecu flash. It might benefit from losing the bread bin of a cat, but as I say, mine seems fine.
Ps. I’m a country boy and rarely venture into the city. Apparently they run hot (experts suggest it’s a sensitive gauge) in the city. Once again the ecu flash fixes it 👍🏼
@@Saddlebags73 Not a problem. I have seen quite a few "Z" videos and yours was offering a unique atmosphere. The perspective of a guy who does not feel the urgent need to prove something to somebody via his motorcycle and still appreciates the bike tenderly. I love that more so that it is so rare especially in a motorcycle world.
Bit of a guess (educated guess) I would say slightly under 5k. 1st gear is quite short, the rest are close together until you hit 6th, 6th is like 2 gears up from 5th and really long. If I remember rightly, 80mph is about 5 and a half thousand revs. If the weather is as good as they’re promising for this weekend I’ll take notice 👍🏼
I want one of these very soon. Wondering what the cafe racer style nose does for deflecting the wind? I need one bike for commuting, brapping and taken the mrs away with luggage like yours
I can only guess how the cafe fairing works. But in my experience, a small nose cone can make it worse than none at all, as it causes more buffeting around your head. As a naked bike the air is quite clean, but at 70mph+ on longer rides it can get a bit tiring. There are taller after market screens available. Not pretty, but if they're easy enough to fit and remove might be worth considering. But like I say, I can only guess. And I'm fairly tall so couldn't very well hide behind a small screen.
@@Saddlebags73 I'm 6ft but I may look into these bigger screens as it'll only be a couple of trips away each year and a maximum of 150 miles on the motorway, with stops. Cheers for the quick response
Ps. If it’s any help I did a video specifically on the luggage system. At the end of the vid I show how easy the pannier mountings are to fit. If you want the top box too, it’s a bit more involved. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BI99A6gWv34.html
Thanks Uncle. I find it good for up to about 200 miles. I’m told it improves over time. I rarely exceed that sort of mileage in one hit. I was planning to this summer, but seems unlikely now.
I also have a 2018 with the stock seat, after about 150 miles that seat gets almost unbearable although it looks good I’m hoping to get a Sargent seat soon.
Oh nice! I’m sure you’re going to love it. The heel plates are by Beowulf and I found them on eBay. They are no longer listed, but I think there are others. Best of luck with it 👍🏼
@@Saddlebags73 Went on a bit of a spree and ordered a colour coded hugger (Candytone Green Scheme), Some gold spool sliders and a fender extender. I've been lucky enough to own a fair few bikes over the years but this one has got me well excited. Thanks for your initial help. I'll sub to your channel to keep in touch.
@@PaddyWack999 thanks for the sub, much appreciated 🙏🏼 Sounds like you’ve got it sorted. It’ll be good to hear how you get on with it. I noticed my fender extender is coming unstuck so I’ll have to resort to drilling and using the plastic rivets. Bit annoyed as I followed the instructions to a tee, and didn’t want to drill my mudguard 😢
@@lcdubs7847 ah ok. In my experience, unless it’s a sports bike and I’m tucked right behind the screen, fairing causes a lot of buffeting. Being fairly tall, and the upright riding position means the fairing would have to be enormous to be effective. So I prefer the clean air of the naked bike, although it can be hard work on a long day.
Sgt. V they do sound good don’t they. Kawasaki actually put some effort into tuning the exhaust, to make it sound the way it does. They sound even better with akro headers 👍🏼
That’s a difficult one to answer. I think it would depend on the individual. It’s a fairly big bike and quite weighty. Also quite powerful, but if it was treated with respect, it shouldn’t be a problem.
I got them here but they’re currently out of stock. I also noticed a big price increase. fastbikebits.com/products/kawasaki-z900-rs-3p-pannier-fitting-kit-by-shad-k0zr98if
Hi. No those were never a problem for me. I’ve read it many times on forums and they say an ecu flash is the remedy. I’m assuming they must vary from bike to bike because this one was silky smooth at low speed. The throttle maybe a little sensitive but is easily managed by feathering the clutch.
Hey paul. I actually picked up a 2018 very recently with 11k miles, and before finding any details like that on forums, it is one of the things I noticed on the ride home. Grain of salt of course as its a used bike in my case. If you're cruising down at like 35 mph or slower, you'll feel a slight buck forwards and back. It gets better at higher RPM, but does not go away. It's like a cylinder isn't firing correctly, which of course leads to the common cause everyone already points to: The F/A mix is leaned way out to meet emissions. I myself am going to look at an ECU flash this winter to see if that fixes it.
@@Saddlebags73 Thanks mate 🙏. Since I'm going to purchase one of these sooner than later, may I asking humbly for more ownership insight, mate? Any major drawback/s you might have experienced with it?
No major drawbacks as far as I’m concerned. Some people complain of a snatchy throttle due to fuelling. It may vary bike to bike and mine seems ok. Either that or I adapted to it by feathering the clutch without really realising. High revs at cold start is a common complaint. I understand an ecu flash solves these issues, but I’m happy with mine as standard. The only thing I would recommend from the start, is a front fender extender. Like pretty much every new bike these days, the front mudguard is too short and the headers get plastered with whatever is on the road. I bought mine new in 2018’ and still love it.
@@Saddlebags73 AWESOME, mate 👍 Thanks for sharing your immensely prompt as well as highly appreciated feedback. Your comment just cemented my purchase decision, the fender extension shall be attached to the Kwaki prior leaving the Stealer's shop.
Fantastic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine. I find it handles everything from Motorway to single track roads brilliantly. I did a trip to Wales in August with some long days in the saddle, and loved every minute. The seat may seem quite firm at first, but comfort improves in time. Best of luck, enjoy and take care 😊 PS. I mention the tyres in the video. I didn’t like the OE Dunlop’s but they’re ok. Wear them out and fit something better. Mich Road 5’s and Pirelli Angel GT’s seem popular. Something I didn’t mention is that it’s quite low geared until you get to 6th, which is really loooonnng, but good for cruising.
@@Saddlebags73 funny because I'm doing the opposite. I hit 30 last year and had to part with my lovely 07 cbr600rr due to ergonomics. Switched to an Indian Scout but I think I jumped too far ahead. 😂 Figuring the z900 is good middle ground. Cruisers definitely make you feel badass though and are comfy.
Hi, This is a link to the cobbra chain oiler on eBay: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303134200701 The battery tender is an ‘Optimate 4’, I will see if I can find a link.
those SHAD racks are hideous, I don't understand why you'd buy a Z900RS and then put that on it. A Z1000SX would have served you better and the panniers integrate
Gert Legend yep, as I said, I’m the first to admit it’s ugly. It wasn’t my intention when I bought the bike to put luggage on it. But I decided I wanted to do some bigger trips. I didn’t want to sell the bike so had to adapt. I’m considering other options at the moment, so I maybe stripping it back off and giving it its sexy ass back.
Matte you’re not wrong. I would have preferred soft luggage, but it doesn’t offer the security I needed. I’ve stripped the luggage for now, as this years plans have been foiled.
At 46, the most age-appropriate categories of bikes for me are Modern Classics and Cruisers.. My dream Modern Classic is Z900RS because of its sweet Inline 4 Engine.. Alas ! It’s almost thrice as expensive as my Kawasaki Vulcan S, here in India.. So I’m having to be content with my Vulcan S for near and also distant future !
Sathish Rao we’re the same age! It is a cracking motor. But the Vulcan S is also a great bike. I haven’t ridden one, but can see myself on one for sure 👍🏼
The only thing I don't like about this bike is the fact it's liquid cooled and it has a huge radiator at the front. There was a time the 4 inline motorcycle engines were air cooled so it's not something impossible.
Strange question. This is the first and only bike I have ever put panniers on, and as I said, it was mainly to tour Spain. You don’t have to buy a GS or Goldwing to go touring you know. You can adapt what you have. The tour was cancelled, so you’ll be pleased to hear it’s all off now. All the best.
I’ve thought about a fairing, but everyone complains about buffeting. As you’re sat upright, and I’m 6’2” it’s likely to be an issue. Chic Design do a nice fairing, but a lot of money if it doesn’t work for you.
