Why I chose a Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe over a Speed Twin 1200 | A 4-Week Review | The Pros and Cons 

Thanks so much! Yeah this 2022 model has this color scheme, which I love! The in-line 4 too is a whole different feel than a Twin. But man, I don’t know who thinks this bike is “sedate.” Once you get it past 6000rpm, it turns into a completely different machine! And I’m coming from the 1200 Speed Twin. I would say it’s a lot more like a Speed Triple. But I only test drove that.

Nice! The SE? Good choice. Thanks for bringing up the size. That was a big factor for me too. You don’t realize how small the Speed Twin is, until you see it side by side next to another bike. You know?

​@@motojared I haven't had a chance to try the Speed Twin yet, because the dealer is miles away, so I'm just going off the reviews. It's also another reason why I'm going for the Z900RS, I got fed up travelling long distances with my previous bike, a Yamaha Ténéré 700. My local Kawasaki dealer is less than seven miles away, and once I sat on the Z900RS, I was blown away! The bike felt so right, and the Candy Tone Blue/Gold stripe version looked stunning. It's my favourite colour, I just wish it had gold wheels, a Öhlins S46 rear shock, and Brembo brakes! I also love inline four-cylinder bikes, and I can't understand why some people don't? I did all my training on a Honda CB659R, and thought it was a fantastic bike, composed around town, it felt very stable, and that four-cylinder howl when you open it up is glorious! After selling my Ténéré 700, I bought a Suzuki SV650, and it's a cracking bike, it brings a smile to my face every time I ride it. It's V-twin, or L-twin as Ducati would call it, sounds fantastic, especially with a slip-on. Strangely, it feels heavier than the Z900RS, I think it's the centre of gravity? But, it's time for a change. We have a registration plate change every March and September in the UK with a year and month identifier, so I'll talk to my dealer at the end of December. Hopefully, I can get one for the new registrations on March 1st 2024, I can't wait. Don't think they'll drop the price, though, as it seems to sell well, and the supply is limited. I love the Bonneville range, with the Speed Twin being my favourite, and I always promised myself I'd buy one. But, many reviewers have commented on its small size, which is a pity, but you never know. Anyway, enjoy your bike. 👍

There’s a ton of people out here with the Tenere! Haven’t been as interested in those, though, since I primarily do street riding. It’s my first in-line 4 and I love the way it sounds and performs! But think I’ll keep it stock for a bit (although my buddy got the headers replaced and got it tuned real nice)… and it takes off! But the he gets really low mpg on it with those mods. I wanted to check out the SV650 but once I was stuck on this, I just went for it! Hondas are great bikes too. Totally get why you would prefer a dealership that’s close to you. Easier on maintenance and if you need anything done.

​@@motojared I don't blame you, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is so top-heavy they're positively dangerous on the road! They're not ideal on the street because of its size, its weight, the 21" front wheel, and go past about 15 degrees, and you're hitting the deck! It was good on bad roads and speed humps, though! The Ténéré was a certainly a handful, and I nearly dropped it once at the lights during rush hour. I was on a very bad road, that was 'W' shaped due to all the heavy traffic. I had to come to a stop on top of the 'W', but a small, unassuming pothole turned out to be just that little bit too deep and sent me sideways-I just about managed to save the bike! Even coming to a stop on a steep camber could catch you out. I liked some aspects of the bike, like the CP2 engine, and the commanding view, but you seemed to be constantly fighting the bike to keep it upright at low speeds. I sold it after a year and went back to a sport bike, and I'm much happier. My advice is, if you're going touring, then buy a sports tourer, and if you are going to go off-road then buy something lightweight, like the Honda CRF300L. If you do want an adventure bike, then buy the new BMW R 1300 GS which can lower its suspension, but it will cost you a pretty penny! If I do manage to buy a Z900RS, I wouldn't do much to it. I certainly wouldn't put a tail tidy on it, I've got fed up with getting cr*p up my back! Plus, it's got a duck-bill tail cowl, which pays homage to the original Z1. I'd keep the stock exhaust for a while, as the bike sounds excellent. I've got a slip-on exhaust on my SV650 which makes that beautiful V-Twin a bit louder, and I might use that to see if the Z900RS sounds any better, but I'm not a big fan of overly loud motorbikes. The Suzuki SV650 is an excellent bike, and I'd highly recommend it. But, the Kawasaki Z900RS is certainly a step-up in every department, and if I had to choose between the bikes, choose the Z900RS every time. 👍

Hey again! Thanks for sharing that. Yeah. That radiator guard doesn’t bother me at all, either. I was thinking about getting a radiator guard and love a lot of the Evotech stuff! But for some reason a lot of it has been hard to get and out of stock. Eventually, though. I just got the tail today and frame sliders (that should arrive next week)… so that’ll clean things up a bit.

@@motojared My RS definitely looks meaner without that big duckbill out back. Try Motovation, MotoMachines, orAccessories International for Evotech parts if others are out of stock. Motovation in Texas is my favorite.

Will do! Thanks so much for sharing that. I’ll check it out.

Totally get it. Did you test ride them yet?