Kawasaki Z900RS SE Ride Review - Cycle News 

All just personal preference.

Obviously never used one.

@@MrMoto948 Why is it 'obvious' I've never used one? Actually I have, when I had an MT 10 SP, I just don't see why you would want one on a bike with such a retro flavour...

@@spudflap I agree. Also, this bike has slipper clutch and from what I've heard from many is that the gear changes are very light and smooth, so don't get the "agricultural" comment in video. Are they just spoiled in Ozzie land with their perpetual sun, surf and barbies? No clue about all weather riding down under.

Mate get real, next you will say we should go back to brakes that don't work and carbies that stall out and suspension like a mattress 😂. Get a naked bike with a QS and you will never look back! You can use the clutch with a QS Of you like so it doesn't detract from anything and only adds to the bike.

We got you!

@@cyclenews i love you

An all time classic

agreed, I hated quick shifter on Versys 1000

I guess my old Honda Z50 was considered a quick shifter since it did not have a clutch. QC is not wanted to needed.

Congrats!

Good stuff, Brandon. I'm glad to hear an actual owner wants a quick shifter, too! Enjoy the ride.

I installed a G2 throttle tamer in my 50th which made a big difference in off on throttle jerkiness. I’m happy with the performance so waiting for the warranty to expire before I do the header and flash. The only other things I’ve changed is the optional low pro seat and Roadsmart IV tires after getting a large puncture in the rear tire.

Cheers mate

@@cyclenews And I'm happy to see you made it back unscathed. I hope Boothy is coming along as best as can be expected. 🤞

Then why'd you sell it? You must have room in your garage. That beautiful green paint. I know you like big HP #'s, but this thing looked great.

@@TrustyZ900 Garage is a bit full these days. 2022 Ninja ZX14R, 2022 Triumph Speed Twin, 2018 Triumph Bobber and a 2022 Harley Street Glide. I just tend to run through bikes at an alarming pace. haha I can see myself getting the new SE model at some point.

Very cool. Nice job on those key mods.

Very nice

Yes 👍

Yeah, I have a fair idea who you mean ;).

Bruce - agree. Caught one while pootling along one sunny Sunday near Wollombi a while ago, and it looked great.

Thank you! Cheers!

Noted

@@cyclenews - it would just be my choice for where I live and how I would use the bike. 👍🙂

Probably looks amazing!

The 2020 candytone green with yellow trim is stunningly beautiful!

@@RickyJr46 👍 yeah, so better to put a Ohlins and brembo on that one

Paul Dark, yep, I have the Öhlins shock and a pair of black Dymag UP7X wheels on it now.

@@RickyJr46 cool👍

👍👍

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

Hits us right in the nostalgia feels

Cheers

Congrats! Great choice

😀😀

Good choice!

Happy to help!

Can't go wrong!

Our pleasure

@@cyclenews *Which Z-RS is best Z-RS: SE or Cafe version? Is the Brembo, Ohlins, inverted fork worth the higher price?*

Totally agree

I had a 13 CB1100 when they came out. Nice looking bike but motor was bland

Very cool James

Right on!

Good point.

Thanks so much👍

Why the need for the Power Commander when they can do the same with a flash on the dyno?

Exactly

Nice, welcome back!

They never made an SE edition for the 2018 RS.

I would love to get an SE this year

Time to rally the troops! Best of luck.

I’m sorry.

This is one of our favs. But yes, still wishing it came with the quick shifter.

Widowmakers lol

Nailed it

Dude it is basic standard qs is bs and cruise control is for cars. If you cannot ride without those get a car. I still hate no kick starter on bike, when battery dies i could still crank and go back in the day. Riders today ate pampered girlie men. Do your on speed shifts, easy if you know how to ride and just as quick. Put pressure on shifter, blip throttle next gear fast butter smooth no clutch.

Just personal preference

*Coupling and Doctor Who Stephen Moffat?*

Not sure, mate. I'll do some digging.

This test was done in the States. Not sure the status of this bike in Oz. Cheers

Exactly!

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

You nailed it!

That would be awesome

Yeah 2018

Thanks, also read the article - useful. Was the tank colour Orange/black? Or Orange/brown?

@@guitartolearn You can see the bike at 2:20

@@cyclenews Thanks. Have looked a few times - and the article - but not clear to me if it’s black or brown paint

@@guitartolearn It's brown as per the original Z1 of the early 70s.

I have a Z900RS Cafe and also a Speed Twin. Both great bikes, but very different. Triumph has a ton of torque early in the power band. Very addictive! The Kawi likes to be revved out more. I think I prefer the Triumph ever so slightly. U can't go wrong with either.

@@churchofbrap876 Thank you!

Nice! Have fun

Hard to beat the classics

Will make for a great comparison.

Honda 1000r neo cafe also!

All just personal preference

They aren't hard to find - try Cycle Gear or Revzilla.

Rider in this video is about 6 feet tall

Salva, I'm 6’3” with a true (measured) inseam of 38.5” - with the standard U.S. saddle, a Z900RS is very roomy for me.

6’ 2” and no issue. Ride with a passenger often and still have plenty of space and great handling.

Thanks for the tips

Agreed 👍

Mine gets more than it’s fair share of attention whenever or wherever you pull up. They must be looking at that ugly radiator and exhaust 😂

Nice catch

Specification listed on the German website for every version of Z900: It has dual valves per each cylinder, one which is connected to the throttle cable and on which is an electronic valve which is controlled by the ecu. There is a symbol with two circles and a number 1 and 2 on it on the feature site.

I do t plan on crashing it.😅

Congrats!👍

Will make for a good comparison test

Wow ... good info.

@@cyclenews it's pig ugly too

It’s still a sows ear compared to the Kawasaki.

Buy the Yam.

Be cool to see the exact colors from the retro bikes

I Own a 2018 Z900RS Cafe and have NEVER noticed any throttle response issues. BUt I will say the bike does have a particular riding style it prefers. I grew up road racing the old Eddie Lawson Replica and I prefer this bike. It has crisp throttle response and it ya take the traction control off it will pull power wheelies on straight aways on tracks.

No problem in mine either.

Government workers who never ride….

@@jtwu8931 not everyone wants the total blacked out boring ugly look

Beautiful bike. $21k in Aus. "Stuff I Like" - Are they discontinuing or just long lead time?

@@TylerDurden775 No the SE version is not available here, can get the std 900RS but I would want the Ohlins & Gold wheels

@@TylerDurden775 update....the SE is now on the Kawasaki Australia website as a 2023 model...saving up for Xmas😁

@@VISATcomms Yeah, I just had a look at the Kawasaki Australia website. $21,270 ride away as against $18,230 for the standard RS. I paid just under $18,000 ride away for my Jaffa in March 2018. Better order the SE now because I reckon they’ll have very little stock coming.

@@gm16v149 over priced for sure but I'm probably going to get one anyway😂

I do a fair bit of drag racing and getting a stock wheel base bike with a middle of the road horsepower to weight ratio into the low 11s for the average rider would be sensational. Professional riders and journalists seem to be. 2 to .3 quicker in the quarter mile but they don't have to worry about breaking the bike, run close to sea level and get more practice. I'll run my Z900RS SE at the drag strip in Spring 2024 at 3000 feet, but I'll do video on what an average can do. Stay tuned.

@@flatcapcaferacer I had a zx 11 and on the freeway it was smooth cruseing between 110 and 160 can't do that in teXas because they pigs will shoot you off your bike and take your money 🧝🌴🚬⚡🌄

I have heard that the se version is set up differently. I myself cannot confirm this but it was stated by someone here on RU-vid.

@@fyorbane It's not, but you'll notice how reports from those riding press bikes appear to have a difference experience...

How about a snorty 690-700 V-twin? Kawasaki first introduced the 649cc parallel twin they currently run.... back in 2006 for crying out loud. Now they have it shoved into Versys, Vulcan, Z, Ninja. It's the least powerful, most buzzy, worst sounding of the entire segment. Suzuki SV engine? Yes please. Yamaha 270° CP2? yes please. Even the Honda 650 i-4 engine? Sure. The Triumph 660 triple? Of course! Anything but that 180º buzzy mess Kawasaki refuses to overhaul, even with Kawasaki corporation's MASSIVE BUDGET. Kawasaki doesn't do sports V-twins. Just wish they would. Not everything needs to be an inline-4 or raspy parallel.

I wish I never mentioned the quickshifter. It seems nearly everyone has something to say about my opinion, which is given the price of the bike, it would be nice to have a quickshifter as the gearbox isn't the best out there. That is just my opinion. I'm amazed at the hate comments I get when I try and stand up for the people buying the bike by saying they should get more for their money. A KTM 390 Duke has a quickshifter, why can't this bike that has over twice the horsepower, twice the cost and four times the number of cylinders? Just because it looks retro, does that mean it has to be? I like a 500 horsepower V8 that has its heritage from the 1960s, but I like modern things too like air conditioning and, yes, cruise control.

I wonder if there are any aftermarket round turn signals available. I kind of miss the twin rear shocks also but it probably wouldn't handle as well.

@@dandersonjr I suspect that OEM signals of yesteryear would fit. There's no good reason to change something that works well.

@@user-un9lx4kp6u Yea I wouldn't change them I was just responding to the other comment.