For some reason comments are disappearing from this video and others and I’m not seeing them on the YT dashboard so cannot reply - sorry! Cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, great reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Morning Rich, you’re absolutely right. A kid with a crayon would probably draw the Z900 if asked to draw a bike…either that or maybe a MX bike….And it’s not orange, which personally, is a colour I find quite challenging on a bike 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great Video and I totally agree in every aspect!👍Bought mine in april in really love it as you do! Have a great time! Greetings from trier, germany! Hope next year I visit your lovely country!
Hey Axel, you know, I think that’s the conclusion I’m coming round to…What a bike! Thanks for watching, greetings from the UK and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks, yes, it is a right bit of eye candy, I’m very very happy with it. Wish I’d got it two years ago, still, it’s here now! Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Non stoppie als je hem eens wil testen always welkom. Ik heb de Candy Tone brown in men garage staan Je moet wel overkomen naar het belgenland hiervoor 🤣
I bought the z900rs in 2018 when it first came out in orange/rootbeer....4 years later it still excites and I still love to "bench" ride it when the weather is bad....best bike Ive ever owned and Ive owned a lot.
Good morning, now that’s a lovely colour scheme! Great to know that even after all that time the bike still hits the mark. I think I’ll be keeping mine for quite some time…Thanks for stopping, cheers, Phil.
Hey Mert, well the screen does work quite well in terms of smoothing the airflow and I find a sustained cruising speed of 85mph (where conditions allow) is perfectly acceptable. But yeah, it’s still windy out there! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
A new bike !!! .Classy ride . I love the sound track of this one ... Comfort and speed ... I really like the idea of a steady steed in the middle of a bumpy curve . Strong and sure footed ;Always a great combination ..COngratulations !!!! Thanks for the ride ... Yours Guy
Good evening Guy, how are you doing? Comfort and speed….Yes, a sign of growing up maybe? 😀 But yes, it’s a lovely, lovely motorcycle, so easy to ride yet not boring, super efficient but not clinical or anodyne and ooohhhhh…That paintwork! I feel it will be a very handy machine when / should I ever get back to Europe….Or PA 😀 And the wife likes it. Hope all is going well in the pottery. Looking forward to another motovlog around the leafy lanes! Cheers, Phil.
Thanks very much, great to know you enjoyed the review and thanks for the sub, much appreciated. You have a ZX10, blimey, don’t think I could hang on to that bike…The Z900 would be a nicely paired with that I think and would look great in the garage together 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Hey Peter, thanks for dropping by. You'll love the Z900RS I'm sure - let me know what you think of it. I'm very glad to hear you're keeping a little bit of the Guzzi charm and magic though...There's nothing quite like it - but I am biased... All the best, cheers, Phil.
Bought a Z900 abs in February., the so called naked version. I enjoy it so much, I'm trading in my VStrom for a '22 blue RS 900. Wonderful engines and everything else. No complaints. Now my brother can ride with me on some long trips. The RS should be somewhat more comfortable. Love that dark green metallic of your bike. Thanks for the great video.
Hey Frank, hope you’re doing well. Sounds like you’re hooked on the Kawasaki 4 cylinder loveliness and just the great ease of use and fun factor. I’m still blown away by mine to be honest and yes, the green paint is quite nice..As is the blue! Glad you enjoyed the video, your comments are very much appreciated, cheers, Phil.
Just found your video. I own a 2018 Z900RS, and love it. Just purchased a 2021 Moto Guzzi V7 Special E5, and love both bikes, even though they are polar opposites in a way.
Good morning! Excellent choice of vehicles! That’s exactly why I like both bikes…The experience of riding them is so different and when I go from one to the other, it’s like being almost on them for the first time. Both great bikes. Anyway thanks for stopping and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Who are you?? Screen writer? Director? Movie editor? You amazed me... Totally impressed with the cinematic of this video. Wow! Absolutely wow... Thanks for an epic video. Your insights on the Z900RS is greatly appreciated. Two thumbs wayyyyyy up!!! Cheers from Malaysia :D
Hello! Ha ha None of the above 😀 Thanks for your kind words - great to know the work is appreciated! More to come soon I hope, thanks for watching and hope all is ok in Malaysia, cheers, Phil.
hello! I'm sorry. 2nd message for you from the country of Kawasaki. I'm not good at English language. In my 1st message, I want tell you that your video is very beautiful and nice editing .And sound is also good. I’m looking forward to next video! Thank you ! and God speed!
Hello my friend from Japan! My Japanese is much much worse than your English! I’ve just watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics and despite everything I found it beautiful, unique and very affecting. Japan is a country I would love to visit. Very glad you enjoyed the video, I will do better next time I promise. Thank you so much for stopping by, and god speed also, cheers, Phil.
Loving the artistic photography - blurry effects etc. It's such a nice retro bike but the huge gap above the rear wheel just looks weird, like something is missing or it's a jacked-up hot rod. I'd want to lower the suspension but that would no doubt upset the handling.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video. As for the gap…yes, it’s probably not the best from a purely aesthetic perspective and that’s the price to pay for a monoshock I guess. In the flesh though and I suppose I would say this, it’s the flat line of the tank and side panels which really grab your attention and overall it does work, even if it’s not faithful to the original. Thanks for stopping by and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Just picked mine up here in NZ yesterday. 2022 in blue and gold. Went for a blat through the hills , what fun it was. You forgot to mention the glorious induction noise under throttle. Off for a ride north with the boys tomorrow. Ps My last Kawasaki roadbike was the magnificently evil H2 ( yes that long ago ) Let the good times roll 😃🏁
Hey Neville, how are you doing? Quite well I’d imagine with a brand new, gorgeous blue and gold Z900RS in your garage! Hope you had/are having a fabulous ride up north! But yes, induction roar, especially in a high gear is just delicious. The whole bike is! I love it! Plus it handles beautifully! On to your H2 then 😀 Yeah, lovely and smoky. I never rode one but I’ve a few run ins with bikes that over powered their chassis and whose fuelling was er…interesting. Hence when I ride the Z900RS it’s like soooooo easy and what bikes should be like. And personally I find the throttle fine! Hope all is well in NZ, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Solid review. Love mine, a '21 green/yellow combo too - a truly classic UJM. And you're absolutely correct about the clocks- so traditional, clear and informative and I'm not dancing thru a bunch of screens or choices. Wonderful engine too, along w/exhaust/intake sounds.
Hey Levi, classic is the word! As for the clocks, having experienced that weird and useless anxiety of the TFT where you’re forever switching modes, flicking switches, changing settings and wondering whether they are ‘right’ I realised it was the the equivalent of staring at a phone and not taking the real world in as you walk. And the beauty of bikes is surely the analogue connection to a machine and the world around you. All I need to know is speed, revs and time. Sorted! What a bike! Anyway thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a great video! Different format and styling made it really interesting. Great production and editing. I like your style. Northumberland is probably my favourite county in the UK.
Thanks very much…The videos are as much about enjoying the filming and editing as the bike…Plus having the attention span of a gnat, personally I can’t be doing with 25 minutes of GoPro on a helmet. Anyway, I’ve found I can’t speak and ride at the same time…Remind me to tell you the story of my first wife and the intercom 😀 Northumberland is totally glorious. Coming from Manchester and having lived in South Cheshire for ages, the skies, the space, the beaches, the empty roads are just glorious and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. Of course, it’s really windy and the winter is chuffing grim (though beautiful) and I can’t really understand Geordies but this is home and I love it! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Your cinematography and general quality is amazing! Keep it up. Big growth ahead for this channel. I’m not even interested in this bike (‘20 R Nine T Pure owner here). I’m trying to get some editing and shot ideas for a MC side channel…this is a gold mine of what every MC channel should strive to be. Liked and subbed!!!
Good morning! Thanks very much - good to know the work is appreciated. And good luck with your own channel….I came close to a R Nine T before choosing the Z - they are great bikes. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Edward, thanks for stopping by. While I’m obviously biased, the RS is a fabulous bike to ride and gorgeous to look at, I’m sure you would love it! It can whizz around but cruise also 😀 Let me know what you decide! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hello again! Hmmm…Well, first of all the Z remains cool and in European conditions doesn’t get uncomfortably hot, whereas the XE was like having a toaster and a George Foreman grill strapped to your leg. Physical comfort - again, the Z is better (for me) as the handle bars on the Scrambler are so wide, that at speed, it becomes quite arduous so cruising speed has to be kept at no more than say 80mph. I’ll be honest, I got seduced by the gorgeous looks of the XE and thought it was multi-purpose. It isn’t…it’s a trail bike that just happens to have a ginormous engine. And it doesn’t quite work, at least for me as it’s too compromised. The Z on the other hand was just lovely…I mean I did 700 miles on day one over 13 hours and still felt OK! And it’s faster 😀 Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Ha ha…Er, maybe not 😀 Thing is though I could really see a turbo with a huge wastegate bolted to the side of the bike…it would look amazing…Just not sure if I fancy 200hp though 😳 Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Jim! Yeah I got a bit of flack about the beer, cheese and biscuit reviews, can you believe it! Still, if there’s public demand 😀 Totally enjoying it! Cheers, Phil.
I have a 2019 version of this and agree with all what you say.. my only complaint is the wind buffeting , but with a naked bike you kind of sign up for it , but with a tall design and up right riding position , it is perhaps more pronounced in this one
Morning Suresh, how are you doing? The screen does help a little bit with the buffeting I find but as you say, that’s what you sign up for and overall it’s a cracking bike. Love mine! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Morning! As per the video mine was absolutely fine once acclimatised - which took around 5 minutes and from on then it was no problem. Having ridden many a dodgy fuelled bike and two strokes, feathering the clutch and sensitive throttle control is pretty much second nature though. Either way, great bike! All the best for 2023, cheers, Phil.
Hey Lyn, er, um. Well, to be honest, er, I’ve not got anything particularly useful to say anyway so, um, maybe turn the sound down and use subtitles? I’m actually going to do a video of just visuals and natural sounds in the summer, can’t stand my accent to be honest. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil,
I'm going to get a case of beer and sub your channel. A drink for me every time the word "wooshtastic" gets said. Cheers for a video that was as informative as it was pleasant to watch.
Hey Ian thanks for stopping by and very glad to hear you enjoyed the review! Thanks for the sub, enjoy the beer and yeah, wooshtastic is exactly the word! 🍻 Phil
Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? Aside from hitting the dirt, it pretty much is a great all rounder. Round town it’s great and accept you’ve got no weather protection it’s easily capable of many comfortable miles. It’s kinda too nice for the commute but from a capability perspective (not economy) it’s more than up for it. Yeah, it’s a nice thing, I like it also! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
This Kawasaki and all the other current brands with the rear fender with an erection don't make visual design sense to me. You don't need all that height for vertical wheel travel. You could lower the rear fender and frame by 4 inches and be more my style.
Hey Philip, thanks for stopping by. Personally, I've no idea whether it's engineering or fashion related, though looking at the triangle above the swingarm - on an older bike it would be based around the swingarm pivot, whereas on the Z900RS because it has a vestigial beam frame, the triangle starts much further up. Either way, it doesn't offend me that much and to be honest, that kind of enclosed rear end can look a bit BSA B31 :-) Despite all that the Z900RS rides beautifully - and I'll forgive it many things for that and for it's unfeasibly shiny paint. But I do know what you mean. Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Fantastic video, congrats. I own a XSR 900 and I am going to pick up a Kawi like yours but I will keep my Yamaha though. I think that both are georgeous and completely different bikes. Yamaha engine is superb, plenty of torque and caracter, while the Kawasaki 900 seems to me that has a very smooth engine. XSR suspension is very stiff and precise but the Kawasaki one is more comfortable. I love the looks of both but there are substantial differences between them. Both are classic bikes but Yamaha is minimalistic and feels more nimble and light while the Kawasaki looks more classical and retro. The sound of the XSR is a stunning "three cylinder sound" and Kawi's sound is the typical inline-four sound that screams at high revs. Sorry for my English.
Morning Jose! Your English is great and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, the XSR engine is simply amazing and sounds just terrific. As you quite rightly point out the Kawasaki’s suspension is very much about comfort and given I have very poorly surface roads around here, that’s a big deal and is why I ultimately sold the Yamaha. If I had better roads the XSR would have been perfect. As you say it feels a lot nimbler and lighter. However, I’m very happy with Z900, I feel for me, it’s more usable in more situations even if it isn’t as crazy as the XSR. Or maybe it’s an age thing…Anyway thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great review. Have just put a deposit down on one. As in the video, it's my first 4 cylinder bike in a very long time, but seems to be everything I'm looking for.
Morning, thanks for stopping by. I think if I were a few years younger and had local roads where I could exploit the XSR, I probably would have kept it longer. It was just a little too fidgety and aggressive for me and the Z900RS suited a more mellow vibe. Both great bikes though. All the best, cheers, Phil.
Well, you know how it is when you’re a teenager, 8 pints of McEwans in Dunbar the night before is probably the equivalent of a couple of cans, an early night and desert island discs in your 50’s. I’m sure I remember throwing up somewhere though…Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Martin, great to know you enjoyed the video. As for talent, well, I don’t know really but I keep trying to up the quality and do something different and visually appealing each time. More coming soon! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
At last! A real motorcycle RU-vid channel with no music and no waffle. Top class production work, but the lighting guy needs to add a bit more sunshine to the set :)
Thanks Jonathan! Kind words much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have a word with the lighting guy as suggested 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Good morning! Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. And yeah, the bike is just brilliant! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual. I like the fact that you keep a healthy rotation of bikes going - why not? We only have one go-around on this earth, might as well sample all the flavors and enjoy. Plus I always think 'maybe that's the bike for me'... Enjoy and keep the videos coming please!
Hello again. Yes, I decided that while I can and before the demise of the ICE, I’d like to try a lot bikes in a way I couldn’t do years ago. And of course, to try and find the perfect mix and the keeper(s). Which I reckon, I’m now quite close too with the CRF, the Z and maybe a new Guzzi 😀 Finding what you really want as opposed to what you think you need is a very complex equation. At least that’s my excuse. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
I've never owned a big Kawasaki, don't really know why that is. Always been kind of a Yamaha followed by Honda type, with the occasional Suzuki every decade or so. But this one is one is now on my list of candidates.
It’s worth a try, maybe with a Guzzi thrown in also 😀 I had a GPz550 followed by a GPZ900 a million years ago, but like you had kinda given up on them, mainly because of the styling but also because a screaming four cylinder bike just seemed a little passé. This one though, gosh, it’s like the perfect road riders bike. I’m really not sure what else I need or want. Thanks for taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Eric, great to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the video and more importantly are enjoying the bike. It’s a cracking machine! Hope you’re well, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks for your highly appreciated reply, Phil 🙏 The quality of your video is outstanding, I enjoyed watching it most definitely! Keep up the great work, *AND* ride safe, Phil!
Laughing my tits off at the prices on the petrol pump sign at 1:44....seems like a bargain compared with current prices. Hope you are recovering well Phil.
Wow yeah! £1.29 / litre? Pardon? Maybe I shot that video in 1989 after a trip in my TARDIS? Seems unreal - good spot! And yes, all going well thanks! Had a few funny days recently but the trajectory is looking good! Hope all is well with you and good to hear from again, cheers, Phil.
Dear Sir, Many thanks for your most informative and professionally-done video; I really enjoyed watching it. I'm seriously considering buying one of these beauties, brand new. Thus far in my riding career, I've only ever ridden sports-tourers (e.g the Honda Super Blackbird etc..) and wanted a change. The thing is, I'm 6ft 4" tall, with a 36" inside leg. Do you think that I might be a wee bit too big for this bike? Also, I'm hoping to do a bit of touring around Europe later on in the year -Amsterdam, to Hamburg, To Leipzig and Dresden, and back again. Do you think it'll be able to cope with the big motorway miles, over extended distances - 300 - 400 miles a day? Your advice and opinion is much appreciated and, once again, many thanks for your video. Safe riding! Neil.
Hello Neil, how are you doing? Thanks for your kind comments - it’s really good to know you enjoyed the video. As for your questions : The bike has a seat which is a little taller than you might think - that, combined with the high bars and generous seat to peg distance, makes me think you’ll be just fine. The seat is big, long and wide so again plenty of space to move around and it’s not the kind of bike where you are stuck in one position. If you check out one of the later touring videos I personally found the bike to be very comfortable over long distance (I did something mad like 700 miles in one day on my trip) and it was always fun to ride and always felt smooth and confident. It’s easy to fit soft luggage also, looks cool and sounds brilliant. What more could you want! Hope that helps and safe riding also Neil, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Hi, Phil. Many thanks for your reply. Could you tell me which one of your later videos covered your long-distance tour on the Z? Also, what soft luggage would you recommend for a two-three week tour of Europe? N :)
Hey Neil - if you check out the two Vlogs on France and Switzerland on the channel they will give you an idea. As for the soft luggage I’ve had a set of Oxford sport panniers forever (well over 10 years old) and that’s what used for my trip. Assuming you’re not camping something like that a rollback on the seat will do you just fine for a few weeks I reckon. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
dear Phil congratulations for the video and the explanations. I have also owned a "tiger" z900 rs for 3 months and I can't wait to understand it well despite having already done 1500 km. for the moment I do not perceive the "on / off" at low speeds, perhaps because I'm used the twin-cylinder Speed Twin. I am very happy for everything, the bike is magnificent, the most beautiful there is! Thank you very much for everything, you are really a gentleman. Greetings from Como, Italy
Hey Michele, many thanks for your kind comments. Great to know you’re enjoying the bike as much as I am. Like you I don’t really notice any problems with the throttle, aside from really low speed and if I’m not really paying attention! And it is very beautiful as you say. Hope all is well over in Italy, thanks again for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Good morning, thanks very much for your kind comments - great to know you enjoyed the video. Happy new year, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Evening Christian, thanks for dropping by. Well, the standard bike sounds amazing so I can only imagine what yours sounds like. What a bike though! Cheers, Phil.
Afternoon Lance, how are you doing? Thanks for stopping by - it's good to hear from you. Well, I'm sure you'll love it! Let me know how you on, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Good morning Mr Outlander. Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. The moon was a corker, imagine my surprise when I saw what was behind me when replaying the footage! The real shame is that if I kept the camera rolling a little bit longer I'd have got the lunar eclipse with a fleet of X-Wing fighters crossing in front of it. Still, there's always another time! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great vídeo! My opinion is the same as yours! I’ve got a Z900RS Cafe for one and a half a year and I’m still in love with it and every ride is a pleasure! Congratulations for the video!
Morning Paulo, thanks very much - glad you enjoyed the review. Great to hear a long term owner still loves the bike. Hope all is well where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Hey Hugh, well, I think it’s really great that Kawasaki have (apparently) listened to customers and made some worthwhile changes on the back of that and kept the standard RS as an option. The extra price, while fair, does start to nudge it closer to more exotic stuff and sportier stuff, so it will be interesting how it fairs. Aesthetically, I’m personally not a fan of gold forks and wheels but hey that’s just me! Will I be swapping mine or would I have gone for the SE if both were available earlier this year? Well, my head probably would have said “get the best, get the SE” but having now done 2000 miles on the standard RS, I kinda really recognise what it is and does and that kinda matches what I want to do. So knowing what I know now and given the horribly bumpy roads I’ve got, it’s the standard for me and I’ll easily put up with the slightly floaty suspension. Anyway I’ve just put Michelin Road 5’s on it and blimey! It’s a different bike! Hope that makes sense! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Amazing video and my dream bike I'm a local lad so these routes are the ones i love to ride and I ride up from Bedlington just to eat at that van I love it there... Keep up the good work
Evening Spencer, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. I’m sure the ‘bad boy burger’ goes down a treat after a ride up from Bedlington 😀 May see you around, cheers, Phil.
Better tires, thicker fork oil and a new shock, and you will be terrorizing supersports in the twisties all day long. A few mods and it's a proper sportbike in vintage clothing... Just did a 340 mile ride on Saturday up to to Deal's Gap and the surrounding area with my sportbike riding friends and it was brilliant. My ZX6r is faster in some areas, but not many...
Hello! I like the sound of that! Thanks for the tips! I really like the fact that it’s a bit of sleeper but is good for a right hoon when the mood takes. And that it’s so comfortable means the hooning can last for longer. Just coming up to 2000 miles now and the honeymoon continues 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Yeah, keep an eye on my channel for more mods and tutorials. Hell, at some point I might do a track day on the thing... haha Love that part of the UK that you are in. Spent a couple weeks there back in 2000... Stayed at a place in Warkworth, and we day tripped out to different areas and castles each day... From Bamburg down to Newcastle, then drove up to Stirling and then Oban area for a couple days... One of the best vacations of my life. Amazing country, amazing people and food... Was really good to see where my ancestors came from... Would have LOVED to have done it on a bike.
I will and yes, Northumberland is lovely and Warkworth is a lovely place to stay and as you say, there’s quite a few castles knocking around. They should have made Game of Thrones here 😀 Sounds like you had a great visit.
This is the bike that bought me back to riding after ~30 years away! My Green Meanie now has 1,124 miles on it, and most of my observations match yours. The last new bike I purchased was a GPZ900 in 1986, and when you compare and contrast the overall build quality, including the paintwork, frankly there is no comparison. I still giggle when I walk into my garage and see it sat there, although I have also added a grab rail as I think that perfectly completes the retro vibe. Speaking of which - whilst the mirrors do remain clear, I am a bit surprised by the buzziness of the grips. I've purchased some Grip Puppies, but not fitted them yet. Also, I find the seat pushes me too far forward ( I'm 6'2" and 219lb ), putting a bit too much strain on my wrists at low speeds. But, I certainly see no need to flash the ECU, change the headers etc. etc. as I read so many others do. That said, I might be tempted to change the front sprocket to a 16T as I do find 1st rather low. Apart from that, what's not to love? Oh, and nice production values !
Hello Simon, yes, when I think back to my GPZ900 with anti-dive forks, 16” front wheel and super thin paint (concentric chain adjust though!) I do shudder a little! Must admit I’ve not noticed any buzziness through the grips (yet) but I haven’t done any sustained / stable speed on it yet - mainly up and down the box all the time, so perhaps that may show up. As for the seat, I’m 5’10 and it feels fine to me but I could see how being (a lot) taller might compromise that. And yes, I won’t be getting it flashed, after a few hundred miles I’ve adapted and it’s not a problem. I think it’s part of understanding the characteristics of a bike and making it work. Sure if I were commuting everyday I might have a different opinion bug then I’d probably get CB500. It’s a cracking bike, works well for cruising, messing about and touring…Just love it! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I would say to not discount the ECU flash. I have put a similar amount of time on my z900rs, and I came to the same conclusion about the snatchy throttle, I can just get used to it. A buddy of mine also got the same bike, and he recently had the ECU flashed. I must admit, after riding it around without the injectors totally cutting off when you close the throttle totally, its a whole new bike. Throttle is much smoother and the over the top engine braking is very much reduced. There were a few performance things that got better, but that was all moot. Removing the injector cut will take the bike to the next level, I promise.
As a man whose had had too many bikes I'm with you on this🤭🤭 🤭...vstrom 1050xt nearly a year old agghhhh stoppit dave😉😉😉 proper nice colour 👍enjoy sir....
Too many bikes? Is that possible? It’s a lovely lovely thing the Z…Can’t stop riding it…As always, thanks for stopping by Dave…You know you want to 😀 Cheers, Phil.
Morning Mark, thanks for stopping by…Yeah it’s a great bike, I totally love it! As for the moon…Well, there was too much sky in that shot and I happened to have a 3D spinning moon lying around so I though why not. Also it might be a subliminal Star Wars reference as I was waffling about Harrison Ford earlier 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Morning, great to hear form another owner and thanks for watching. At the moment I’m OK with the suspension but as you say it probably is the one area to look at. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews for reference I run a standard shock with 2 clicks harder, 35mm lift kit in the rear and a 20mm drop in the front through the triples and straight bars.
Great insights into the owning experience of this dream machine. It was love at first site for me in it's presence. Just breathtaking attention to detail. The large tear drop tank in metallic paint, the analog gauges... Kawasaki nailed it
Hey Robert, of course I’m going to agree with you completely! You’re right it does have quite some presence and like you I think the tank shape is just gorgeous. I know some folk say it’s too big or bulbous but I think it really adds to the sense of old school solidity. As the analog gauges I find I’m appreciating them more and more - you get exactly what you need and no more with a quick flick of your eyes and there’s no fiddling about with buttons, scrolling or whatever…Brilliant! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Mate...I subscribed 2minutes in. Then it just got better and better. Wicked production and humour. And you have a Guzzi V7. I don't...but want one because fate had me buy a V50II maaaaany years ago on my OE and rode it all around your fair geen land then across Europe to Israel and all about. Loved Guzzis ever since and forever. Take care bro. Ride on. Love and respect from a kiwi. That Kawasaki is just bloody gorgeous by the way.
A Guzzi to Israel! Brilliant! I took various bikes through Europe, Turkey and onto the Middle East in the early 90’s so you must have had a blast. I met some bloke on a ferry from Patreus - sure he was a Kiwi and we stocked up on vodka before boarding, played poker for 48 hours, only ate Mars Bars and I don’t remember anything. Best approach for boats I reckon 😀 The Z is just great, just hoping I can get to Europe on it next year, this year is toast but the thought of whizzing around the Alps, the Dolomites, the Picos keeps me going. Hope all is ok where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I’m just getting back intro motorcycling after a 35 year hiatus. My current bike, which I am currently very pleased with, is a beautiful green T120 Bonneville. It’s very pretty and not too fast for me. When I’m ready for a change my next bike will be one of these. Now here’s the difficult questions: 1. Who did you buy it from? 2. What are its service intervals? and 3. Who will be servicing it? I ask because I’m from your part of the world. ps. I appreciated the humour.
Hey Trevor..How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ll love the Z 😀 As for your question…I got it from M&S motorcycles in Newcastle, very professional plus they have an amazing showroom of new, used and classic bikes. It’s a big dealership so it’s not like your best mate looking after you, but they are totally professional, well trained and are enthusiasts and know their stuff so recommended. Service intervals are every 7000 mile or annually and while in warranty I will be using M&S. after that I’ll do the basics myself (oil, filter, brakes, bearings) and anything more complicated my local Berwick non-franchised guy - either Andy at Border Bikes or Tim at TI in Spittal. Hope that helps, maybe see you on an A1 roundabout at some point. Cheers, Phil.
Thanks very much! Those are going to great test rides…Not sure how you’ll split them to be honest so probably best to buy both. Hope that helps 😀 and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
What an amazing quality review. Sounds, camera angles, content, narrative. Just excellent. Considering getting this one but also had one eye on the touring 1000zx or the new suzuki gt. Thinking I need to go back to basics and have regular handlebars without the faring, despite the wind blast that will inevitably come and lack of weather protection.
Evening Dunc, how are you doing? Many thanks for stopping by and your kind words on the review - much appreciated. As for touring, I took mine over to Switzerland last year and found it supremely comfortable and with a little windshield on it, a steady 85 (where conditions allow) was absolutely fine and I never got that sense of having to hang or of getting sucked off the bike. Obviously when the weather takes a turn for the worse you’ll feel the lack of fairing, but let’s face it, the sun always shines on a Z900RS 😀 Having said that the new Suzuki is meant to be amazing though, doesn’t look half as cool as the Kawasaki though hahaha. Anyway, hope all is well and let me know what you decide to do, cheers, Phil.
Morning Richard, no real reason aside from the fact I had a 3D moon lying around and wanted to do something with it! Although it could also be a subliminal reference to Harrison Ford 😀 Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Thank you for your heart touching review. I been search for 10 motorcycles to buy and you made me to by z900rs. I have plan to drive to UK from Seoul South Korea. I hope to meet you someday after pandemic.
It certainly does and the thing is it’s fun for all sorts of riding and so confidence inspiring. Then you add the noise in and life doesn’t really get any better. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Had to turn the volume up to 11 for the start of your vid. Mmmm, sounds so good!!! I have 4500 miles on my '21 Cafe and owning a zrx1200 w/full Muzzy exhaust and pods, I can safely say the z900rs is a brilliant upgrade. And the only cycle I'll replace my z900rs with will be another z900rs. Dear Saint T.E.L, I hope my bike sounds as good as yours. I'm gonna go back and listen again
Morning Charlie, hope you’re doing ok. Yes, it does make a quite delicious sound! I’m sure it pops a little on the overrun also which can only be a good thing 😀 The ZRX (Lawson rep I assume) must sound quite good also…perhaps a little more raucous….What with your cafe I’m seeing quite a bit of green in your garage! Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great video, I went to look at a 900rs but couldn't get both feet down and being a newish rider didn't feel comfortable as was a lot heavy than previous bike so went with the trident 660 instead, hopefully in a year or two and a bit more riding experience I will go back for another try.
Good morning and thanks for stopping by. I’m sure after a few more months riding experience you’ll be trying the Z900 again and in the meantime the Triumph is going to be a whole lot of fun. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Good evening, well I dragged the Kawasaki out of the shed last week for the first proper ride in months and it took me like 2 seconds to remember and adjust to the throttle response. But isn’t that the same with any bike? So honestly, from my perspective it’s never been a problem and I would never describe the throttle as jerky at all. The engine runs Euro 5 lean and if I’m being careless it can be a bit sudden, but is it a problem? No. Now perhaps the 2021 bikes are better than previous versions, I really don’t know. It simply has a bike specific throttle characteristic, just as my Guzzi and CRF do. When I hop between bikes it takes me a couple of seconds to acclimatise then all is fine. And personally I always find it’s clutch feel which takes more getting used to. But it’s a personal opinion…having owned lots of bikes with awful fuelling and lots of two strokes, anything as accomplished as the Kawasaki feels like a dream to me! Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Ordered it today. In 2022 blue. Delivery in a weeks time. Your videos and assistance were of great help in the decision making. Many thanks! 👍😁
Sad you sacked off the xsr but the z9rs is a lovely thing. Agree absolutely about the Yam's suspenders which feel like they're granite based. Beautiful cinematography as usual. Have you enquired at the rug warehouse to see if you can get your Jim Morrison hair back? If so, get me one while you're at it. Cheers!
Hey Richard, yeah the XSR is a great bike but could so easily be fabulous. Thing is on smooth roads (that I don’t normally ride) it was totally brilliant…On bumpy B roads it was a bit less good unfortunately. Bought the wrong bike I guess (again!). Anyway, glad you enjoyed the video and images…As for the rug - I’ve got some ‘lotion’ on order so I’ll let you know how that works out 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I like these kinds of designs in the world of sharp angles, geometric shapes for fuel tanks seeing a swooping design in a modern standard motorcycle is an amazing thing. For now, I'm stuck with my 2020 CB400SF since I just started riding but looking forward to picking up a Z900RS once I'm ready.
Morning, thanks for stopping by…Yes, the swoopiness of the design is what really caught my eye also - and when you consider the donor bike for the RS it’s quite an unbelievable transformation! And your CB400 will do just fine for the time being I’m sure. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, greats reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hey Laurentiu, comments are working again! Well, to make a comparison the XSR is a bottle of Prosecco, while the Z9 is a bottle of nice, fruity red wine. Around town it’s a difficult call - the XSR flicks around so quickly that it would be great in and out of traffic, but the suspension and hard seat could get a little tiresome, especially after a day at work. The Z on the other hand is more comfortable, just as fast but not as excitable or nervous. It also handles poor road surfaces better. If I were 25 years younger I’d say XSR as I wouldn’t mind the suspension and would value the crazy engine. Now, I’d rather have the Z for a little more comfort and the smooth reliable way it reacts. Of course it does have the well reported on/off throttle which for me only manifests itself in some very specific situations and I ride round it. I got caught up in lots of busy city riding while I was away and it was great - more upright than the XSR and it didn’t surprise me in anyway. You’ll need to do a back to back test ride in reality, but as an overall package, I do wish the Z had been on my radar earlier. Oh and one last thing, I get vibration induced white fingers really easily…on the XSR that caused a problem occasionally…on the Z never. Hope that helps & thanks for watching, Cheers, Phil.
Hey Jim…You know you could be right. I can’t wait for all this nonsense to be over and to get some serious miles over in Europe, the Alps, the Dolomites….I’m sure it will be perfect for the job. Thanks for stopping by Jim, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Had my 2021 model since Feb, agree 100% with your views, Way better than i even expected & this from someone who has a 2020 Ducati Streetfighter & def the best sounding bike ever on a stock exhaust. Great Review AU.
Hey Andrew, thanks for stopping by - great to know you’re still enjoying the bike. I think part of the reason is that in one bike it satisfies so much of what is good about motorbikes - looks great, pride of ownership, fast, handles, cruises nicely, sounds great and isn’t so demanding or focussed that it becomes a one trick machine. It’s brilliant. Glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
Good morning, thanks for stopping by. I’ve no idea actually but will say that it’s very relaxed and of all the bikes I’ve owned it’s probably the one where my legs feel the least scrunched up. My feet are pretty much inline with my backside (maybe a little back) and my legs feel very relaxed on the pegs. It’s a great riding position. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Hey John, yes, it is such a beautiful bike - I can’t believe it passed me by when it first came out. Every ride is brilliant - easy, predictable, fast when I want it, smooth and easy when I need it…And I really thought my 4 cylinder days were behind me. It’s great! I will enjoy thanks and hope you do with yours. Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great video, Yes, Kawasaki Green! I too am an owner of this bike. My most favorite time with this machine is, when the engine gets waken up. The first noise as the engine was fired on makes me so delight and lifts my spirits for a ride. I am so happy to have this bike, though I was a kinda HONDANESE until I got this machine. (Leg reach is a little bit far since I am a woman and not tall...)
Good afternoon, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review. It's a bike (and sound) that definitely lifts my spirits also - totally joyful! Hope all is well where you re, cheers, Phil.
Morning Natasha, thanks for stopping by. Yes, what a bike! It has to be be one of the best I’ve ever owned also and it’s so much more than “just another retro styled” bike. Love it! Hope all is good where you, cheers, Phil.
