I agree, editor was too cocky and disrespectful, I don't believe A WORD from him, Guy near ducati seemed to be in little conflict/dispute with guy who rated kawa third
I am so glad you brought the older fellow, no denying his age bracket is part of the purchasing demographics, but more importantly his experience level can rule out all of the ego testosterone BS of the younger fella’s and leave left what is good about riding a motorcycle. Do us all a favor and keep him in the further video reviews as well. Excellent video by the way
I agree. It would be interesting to see if the improvements are worth the premium price. I am not certain that I ride hard enough to notice the difference. Also, it is pretty sneaky for Yamaha to only offer cruise control on the SP.
Monster + is an accessory package that simply adds a fly screen and cowl… There is no “premium” (performance) version of the new Monster yet. I expect an S model will come next year. My suspicion is Ducati waited to release the new Monster S because they had an overstock of leftover 1200/1200S models to sell off and didn’t want to to hurt their ability to do that. Otherwise, I agree… We’ve already seen the 890 Duke R vs 765 STriple RS head to head last year, but a re-do including the new MT-09 SP would be great.
The Duke 890R and MT09 SP gotta be pretty damn close. Can't go wrong with either bike, but I'd go Yamaha only because of better overall reliability and much closer dealer.
@@johnridesadv2512 My gf likes Yamaha a lot (she currently rides an R6), and went in preferring the looks of the MT-09 SP, but after riding both back to back, she came away a lot more excited by the 890 Duke R. That's a pretty good endorsement from somebody who was actively avoiding the Duke because she didn't want to match bikes with my Super Duke. I've ridden both as well, and the KTM has a notably more fun personality. Also, the KTM gives you a MUCH better braking system versus the Yamaha. Honestly, though, any of the three will be a riot on canyon roads and the track, and I'm excited to see an S version of the new Monster come along as well.
@@rjwz28 Damn. Hard to believe the engine in the Duke would be more exciting than Yamaha's triple with the quick shifter. My XSR900 is great, but if it had a quick shifter, wow wow wow. I will need to test ride both!
Yeah it's a great all-rounder bike, maybe one would say 'average' at worst. Plenty of power and respectable handling. There's really nothing in particular that would make someone hate it other than just hating on Kawasaki's bike for no rational reason.
I don't own any of them.. yet.. preferences can be very subjective but I'm looking at getting the MT9 SP.. I know the 890R is the more focused machine but the Yam is close enough, more of an all rounder and I much prefer the MT09's engine note... looks :o, reliability and lower price. I'll be sure to check out the Z900 though, sounds like the engine is a real peach too.
@@paulhope3401 i have the ‘21 z900, ecu flashed with a full titanium sc project.. nothing is boring or ‘average’ about this terminator trust me😄 the sound of the bike sounds waaay better then any 3 cilinder too lol. Not to mention thats it’s an eye catcher.
Yup. I agree with mine being a terminator as well. Got a 22 z900 se. Opened up that exhaust and put a dna filter. Ecu flash to come and it’s already a beast, turns plenty of heads. Also mine was 123 or 125 hp from the dealer. Never heard of this 108 situation.
This feels like the kind of review that neatly illustrates why people shouldn't take professional reviews seriously. The Z900 got panned because it was "boring" but that's completely subjective. The BMW got panned too, but maybe a little more fairly, but it can be optioned up with stuff that's just not available on some other bikes. You've gotta ride the bike yourself and not just buy on a spec sheet.
I bought the z900 because of this video. It's my daily, I love it, its more than enough bike for me. I go on 4 hour rides every other week. Its not until hour 3 start getting cramped. I'm 5'10" with long legs and longer arms.
Yeah, they can't find words to why it's bad? 😑 I thought that was very dumb. The senior Editor spoke on why it's very good and they responded with we don't remember it so it's bad.
Yeah, this is strange because in previous years it got first, and in many shootouts. I was surprised. I have a 2018, and I would not say it lacks character, I love the bike.
I owned the 2017 model. level in terms of outright power and more torque pretty much everywhere than every other bike. Put a higher seat on it and it's way more comfortable with leg room. Engine is quiet but it might feel like it has more "soul" if you put a straight pipe on it. (slippons don't do much for sound). It is a fair bit cheaper than the other bikes too. (except BMW which is not even in the same class and should be compared with the middleweights in terms of power output). It isn't small and cramped at all if you get the higher seat. Can't compare it to the other bikes because I haven't ridden them but if the top 5 all had the same tyres the fastest bike would be the one with the best rider on it - meaning the difference in performance isn't that significant.
I would call myself a senior rider, and gave a huge amount of weight to your review of these bikes. I would say I have pretty much to this point 99.9% dual sport experience, with the exception of riding a buddies gold wing. I ended up buying a used 3rd gen mt09sp. Thank you guys for helping me make the decision, it was between the mt09sp and the z900. Excellent video
Unfortunately this channel loves everything I hate and hates everything I have loved. I have owned plenty of motorcycles and my opinion has always been opposite of theirs. I bought a Yamaha FJ-09 due to great reviews and it was the worse motorcycle ever and I owned a Honda VFR800 after and it was better even though it lost in the same comparison video. I knew this video was going to swing in Yamahas favor before it even started.
Two of the guys had negative reviews about the ergonomics, but one said they were great. Body types are different so they should not have made ergonomics the basis of their review. It seemed like that was their only complaint, as long as you feel comfortable then it's a great bike.
So Ive not even finished watching the video and Troy is already bashing the BMW F900R whilst he preferred it over the Kawasaki Z900 in the 1v1 comparison video on this channel? How does this make sense?
Fun review to watch and we all have opinions, but… …I’m tired of hearing about engine character bullshit. If it vibrates it’s too buzzy. If it doesn’t vibrate it’s a boring motorcycle with no character. If it’s a buzzy KTM that has a notchy transmission and leaks oil it has “great character”. Riiight. The Triumph looks dated, is dated and is way overpriced. The Ducati is also way overpriced. The whole premise of a naked bike was to have a comfortable sport bike. To have a performance motorcycle with comfort and around town ridability. The KTM and Triumph don’t live up to this. It is completely insane that the Z900 is a great naked bike, but everybody except Burns knocks it for doing everything well. The Kawasaki is also comparatively cheap. It should be ranked top 3. Oh by the way, I hate Kawasaki. The only major issue with the Kawasaki is its weight, but I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the larger gas tank. Then Ryan says the Monster got rid of the “dumb” trellis frame yet he ranks the KTM higher. No mention of the low seat and super bent knees on the ugly Ducati? What is going on with this review? Burns, who is surely the oldest by a few years, is the only one that isn’t going senile. So much hypocrisy in this review. At least the Yamaha won because the Ducati and KTM don’t deserve it.
I've got a 2021 Z900. The weight is only an issue on paper really. The center of gravity is low and I honestly don't feel that it's any heavier to push around than a SV650. Once your on the move it's light on its feet and very stable at lean. Got no problem with being cramped either - mine does come with the 825mm seat height as standard though. The only thing I would really knock against it is that the OEM Dunlop Roadsport 2 tyres leaves a bit to be desired. Any way, I complete agree with you. Naked bikes need to be more than just a sport bike without a fairing. With the current trend of naked bikes getting more and more sporty (as in track toy) we will reach a point of them being too extreme to actually be enjoyed on the road without doing stupid speeds.
i dont get how he can say the KTM looks like a tool and then turn to the MT09's headlight and Paint scheme, that primer grey and orange wheel's combo is vomit inducing
Dude, that is so we'll written and I agree 100%. I love this channel when they do first rides or 1 on 1 comparisons but these shootouts are all over the place. They raise a score for "character" because a buzzy engine but then say a bike that has a smooth engine is better because it's easier on the hands and butt but it has no "character"!? Like what.
The Z900 gives you exactly what you want when you want it. I recently tested it against the S1000R and walked away thinking I'd take the Z nine out of ten times.
Andy L The BMW S 1000 R is a fantastic bike .. I have not had the pleasure of riding a Z900 but given that I believe the BMW is a better bike and better value than the Aprilia Tuono V4 and MT-10 ( both of which I’ve spent lots of time on ) I struggle to believe that the Z900 is superior to the S 1000 R .. however all bikes are very subjective .
I got one here in U.S.A.... a 2021 MT-09 SP. I actually flew to another state to get it and road it back. It is an AMAZING bike! I love rhe cruise control, and the Ohlins suspension is excellent. I broke it in right, going through all the gears, up and down, and did an oil change at 600 miles. The bike is fantastic!
@@spokplumpen123 stock just sounds too feminine, like a happy bumble bee. You can also put a slip on instead of full system. Just take the db killer out and it will sound alot deeper and meaner. I put a full system on it last month and it is very loud, but it just puts a smile on my face every time when i rev it hard☄️ 😩 it adds so much character to that kawi it almost makes it necessary in some way..
I keep hearing reliability issues with KTM and problems with transmissions and then with the Ducatis it's heat, which is glossed over with the scrambler too. But these guys prefer these kind of bikes to the ones that just work, which might be okay for them because they test a bike and then it's on to the next one. So bike testing becomes more of a show-pony event than a consideration of what might be best for someone who buys a bike and rides it everyday for 4 or 5 years. The reviews are entertaining though, just not that relevant unless you've got 4 bikes in the shed and can pick one to ride depending on your mood
For $9399 you get a 6-axis IMU, quick shifter up/down, TFT display, 417 lbs wet weight, torquey/great sounding triple engine, radial master cylinder and more. All wrapped up with Japanese quality and reliability. Nothing can top the MT-09 for the price. I know the headlight is pretty polarizing but don't have to worry about how it looks when you're riding and it's a great headlight for actual light output.
And terrible, pogo-stick-like suspension in the MT09. Also, I think you mean radial calipers, not master cylinder… typical of cheap Yamahas, stellar engine wrapped in a crappy chassis
The Triumph Street Triple would be my pick. It ranks low in this class because it simply doesn't belong in this class… a 765cc triple has no business competing with 900cc bikes. But then again you buy a street triple not because it's a good 900cc bike, you buy it because it's a street triple.
none of them is a bad pick if its for the right reasons .. certainly not however just because its a street triple IMO you should buy it cause it excites you when you ride it or when you look at it or cause it suits your "needs" etc .. not only the street triple but any bike. Also, either you like it or not it competes with the 800-900 cc bikes, because that is the category Triumph put it in (middle class naked) Displacement increased already from 675 a couple of years back, in a try to remain competitive as EU regulations on emissions where becoming tighter...My guess is that they could be increasing the displacement again (as they did it with speed triple). For what is worth, if i was buying a street triple, the latest SP would be the only model i would be considering, otherwise if you follow the "because its a street triple" approach, buy an older 675 one and save yourself lots of $'s for upgrades
@@avrc9285 i think the lower spec one is deffinitly not the one to get the street triple rs is the one to get with its ohlins shock perfromance brembo and autoblip quickshifter suits the bike better when you strip the street triple of its bling there really no point in paying more for the bike then say a z900/mt09 bikes.
It makes the most power of the bunch! It's biggest downfall is it's relatively low torque specs, as they mentioned. They also say nothing about finish of the motorcycles. A Triumph has an overall nicer "feel" than a Yamaha and it's reflected in the price. Plus the Yamaha makes barely any more torque with a much larger motor
I understand the reason, it's a street triple And I think it can compete these 900 cc easily, cos of how it's rides, it's really light, steering so sharp and the engine is so smooth and the intake sound is fantastic And on the road you don't need the power and you don't need the tork, cos you use mostly a fraction and because you ride mostly with higher rev, the power and tork of the 3 cylinder engine makes it really smooth And for tork you use the speed triple, but a street triple rides better
@@Ghutton505 I'm surprised by the way they just glossed over everything but their emotional review of peak performance. Fit & finish completely unmentioned, brakes glossed over and not taken into serious consideration, likewise for suspension, electronics packages thought of as 'Yes or No' questions rather than comparing their performance, switchgear and instrumentation treated as somehow frivolous or unnecessary, ergonomics described arbitrarily rather than comparatively, and optional equipment never discussed. The MT-09 has an exciting power plant for sure, but it doesnt seem to outshine the others in any other way.
Couldn't agree more. And as one of the gentleman said, if you got the SP MT-09, it would have much better suspension and cruise control and still cost the same as the KTM. Great video guys!
Good day gentlemans. I know the comparison was a year ago, but i notice that the BMW F900R only has 85 bhp instead of 105 bhp. I just read the test, my apologize. But, how come the bike only has 85 bhp, because in Europe outside the A2 driving license, it normally has 105 bhp??
Love the tests you guys do! I'd like to offer an idea for future videos if I may: you should continue to do these Shoutout tests with experienced riders, but also do the exact same test again with novice riders - riders with a few years of riding experience only and with limited knowledge - and get their feedback. Rather than "find" the best bike, as that can be subjective in many cases, give information to viewers to make the purchasing process less difficult. Most riders are not well informed like you guys, and getting feedback from less experienced riders would offer even more information for serious buyers. Thanks again for the videos!
I waited more than 3 months for my MT09SP in Australia, finally received it yesterday, i was soo exited, i couldn't sleep the night before, i love the bike
Character is about the engine, not the looks. It’s an i4 which are generally a bit boring, not as exciting when just pulling back on the throttle…just a bit too smooth.
@@andrewwillcox5252 traditional character is only about the looks and style. Thats why Harleys are considered the bikes with the highest character even though they are easily beaten on performance.
@@mcmcmorris yeah that’s not the character I’ve ever hear anyone ever talk about. In England I have never heard a Harley called anything but a bit shit, to be completely honest.
You are absolutely right,I own my 2019 z900 for 6 months now and what a great bike it is.Having owned Yamaha,Triumph and Moto Guzzi I think it's fair to say nothing beats the price/quality on this bike.The only few things that bother me are solved on the updated model,so I think after the summer I will be ordering a new one 😅
I dreamt about this comparo video for months, we are going thru an outstanding time in the motorcycle industry, some of the products coming out now got a remarkable upgrade compared to their previous model changes, from electronics to chasis to suspension, engine ….. A really difficult time to decide what motorcycle to get from those in the market!!!
Z900 is deceptive "sleeper" and best bike if you like smooth and fast with long range. Like 20:10 praise the lowdown torgue of Ducati. But 16:49 shows the truth its down by alot vs Kawasaki. 1.MT-09(SP), 2.Z900, 3.Triumph, 4.KTM, 5.Ducati, 6. BMW
Sadly, a smooth torque curve is now seen as "boring" by many (like some of the testers). A bump in the torque curve that causes a sudden increase in power is often viewed as providing "character," even if it results in slower overall acceleration.
My guess is that it would just increase the score differential between the Yamaha and KTM, if each bike lives up to their manufacturers usual reputation.
@@marcelltoth1302 the z900 has an ideally flat torque curve. Everyone who reviews it lauds the engine for being able to be in third or even fourth gear all the time on twisty roads.
These all sound like great features of your daily driver car... I want my motorcycle to excite the soul, even if from time to time it has an issue. I also don't know how often you think European bikes spend in the shop. In the 12,000 miles I have put on my Aprilia it had a radiator hose start to leak a little and I had to replace a starter solenoid which was getting finicky; of note, the solenoid was made my Hitachi and not some obscure Italian supplier... If that is the penalty I have to pay over the much less interesting/lustful Z1000 then so be it...
@@ColoradoS14 what features are you referring to? My post was not intended to bash on euro bikes, but reliability is something that needs to be considered when selecting a bike.
First time watching you guys, impressive video. I'm in the market for a mid range motorcycle and the Yamaha MT09 is now at the top of the list. Greetings for Victoria, Australia.
I did ride triple rs, mt 09, z900. I liked the suspension triple rs, but I understood the price was too high. I liked the design mt09 and quickshiftter, but I wouldn’t say I liked the traction control and response of high rpm. I felt much safer at z900 in high rpm and stable response, but z900 has no quick shifter. I bought Z900, and I installed the quickshiftter. In my opinion, price, stability, reliability, Z900 is better, but all bikes are fantastic.
@@578_ I installed healtech. You can do by yourself, it is easy, you can watch videos on TH-cam showing how to install it. I am so happy with my z900 and quickshiftter. Because I do understand that the traction control is perfect
I have had the opportunity to ride 4 of the six bikes tested here. I personally feel you guys were mostly on the money in your evaluation and fair. Each of these bikes are focused to either track, sport and some track or lower price daily riders intended for brand loyal/ first time buyers. The winner MT09 is unusual in that it isn’t an over priced exotic or a track focus primarily bike. I finally bought a 2022 MT09 and have found it to be the best in many ways. Price for what you get in a motorcycle makes the MT09 winner. Then you find on track it will stay with the big dollar exotics with non pro riders on board. I find it works perfectly as a commuter/ even in town. It does a fair job as a sport touring motorcycle because of riding position. What you wind up with in a MT09 is a very good do everything bike at a fair price point. I might mention after market support is excellent for whatever mods you wish to tailor your MT09 to do. The looks will grow on you!!
Troy Siahaan’s statement (14:30) that “[The Street Triple R actually makes the most power 109.2 HP at almost 12,000 RPMs] below that everything else in this field just smokes it.”; is demonstrably incorrect. Two of the six motorcycles here do not even make 100 HP the Ducati and the BMW; and do NOT “smoke” the Street Triple R. The other three that do make more than 100 HP have much steeper (narrow) power curves thereby showing that the power is available in a narrower range than the Street Triple R, so they do NOT “smoke” the Street Triple R. The Street Triple R’s power is strongly available from 8,000 to 12,000 RPMs. Hold on tight or it might run out from under you.
What's the speed in 1st gear at 12k RPM? The point is the other ones launch faster. I had a 675 and noticed the same, loved it but I had to ring it out a bit and the gearing was long.
I’ve ridden the RS and an MT09. The MT09 felt way more powerful and the power was available immediately. Far more useful power on the street. Now if you’re a person that likes to ride weave around on highways at 100+mph the RS is the bike you choose in this field. It is comfortable at 100 mph where the MT09 feels at its limit.
Back in 1969 when Honda came out with the CB750 we thought it was king with its 60-something BHP. Four cylinders, four carbs, four gleaming chrome pipes putting out their symphonic sound. It was pure magic. Is there anything like that anymore?
@@elvisthewart670 They are quoting measured rear-wheel horsepower, not manufacturer spec crank horsepower. They should be more explicit about this in their presentation, the rest of their comments are a bit too sloppy to take their pseudo-objective ranking seriously.
A channel on TH-cam called full gas has videos of a Z900 gapping all kinds of things through a quarter including an MT 10. It even pulled on a Duke 1290 R until wind made the power difference apparent at around 100mph and the duke passed it.
I have question regarding the BMW. As they complained about the engines faults - in Europe the new 2021 F900R is 105 hp with 66.3 lb-ft (90 nm) , why the big difference with their bike?
I have a BMW for a year now. And I love bikes. The way it looks, sound and power delivery is adequate for me. I guess in the end it all comes to personal preference and requirements. Most of the reviews I see are mostly focused on speed and horse power. I believe bikes are more than that. It all count what particular person want and what are there requirements and experience are. All things matter The way bike looks, the sitting, comfortable, handling, built quality, safety features and so on and all these work differently for different people. Having 10-15 bhp less or more doesn't make the bike bad or better. Plus if numbers are higher but you are getting those power at 9000 rpm whats the point for that power in city ride. Also in another comparison between Z900 and F900R one of the journalists praised the F900R and took the F900R over the Z900. So reviews are a good reference and getting better understanding and knowing what is out there. But you have to test ride the bike before making the decision. You may go for the z900 test Ride and after that you don't want to try anything because it is giving everything you were looking for. It happened to me with Suzuki Gladius. I had a test ride book for Ducati Monster but I didn't bother to go after testing Gladius. And one time I just went with my gut feeling for the z800 no test ride no reviews just bought the bike.
Bro stop trying to convince yourself the bmw sucks. Having 10-15 bhp yes its true doesnt mean alot but its an important factor and more is always better. U writing this comment makes u look like a butt hurt bmw bitch
I had a Suzuki GSX-S 750, a Ducati Monster 797 and now a 2022 Z900. By far, the best of the 3 for power, looks, handling, etc is the Z900. And the headlights is nice. The only reason why the MT has some power is because the shaved off about 50-60 lbs.
Sometimes an inexpensive bar-mounted windscreen can make a big difference. Just be aware that a 'universal" one may need a little bit of trimming to fit around the headlight and turnsignals.
What makes the BMW a worthwhile choice is the available options (for those who don't mind spending more). Keyless ride, quick shifter, cruise control, factory heated grips, electronically adjustable rear suspension, cornering headlight, self-cancelling turn signals, factory pannier mounts, 3 optional seat heights, 2 optional suspension heights, integrated turn-by-turn navigation, in-helmet comms unit integration, connected app that records lean angle at every corner, and maps out each use of ABS or traction control. If you don't like tech or won't use the features it's definitely the wrong choice, if you want the pinnacle of performance it's the wrong choice, and if you want the cheapest way to have fun on two wheels, its the wrong choice. If you want an all-around enjoyable motorcycling experience, it does outcompete most of this field when specced properly.
Where I come from they only import the full speced version as described. Puts the price way up into the CB1000R and MT10 range, where frankly it does not compete, despite the tricky electronic everything...
@@paulconnell1309 I think there's a reason BMW goes with "roadster" rather than "naked sport" for the F900R, it's built for a slightly different purpose. For me, I'm glad I'm not on an MT-10, as it frankly does not compete, despite the R1 motor. The CB1000R is much nicer than any MT, still a different mix of priorities, they all have their pros and cons.
I have both the mt09 and z900 and will say the z900 is way more fun if you wanna be stupid on a motorcycle the mt09 is better if you wanna cruse and have fun at the same time
@@SunrazorI bought a used 2019 Suzuki GSX S750 and I was torn between GSX S750 and Z900. I am overall happy with S750, but..I just cannot get rid of this lingering feeling of what if I got Z900 instead....😂🤣.. Having said that though in the year of 2023, yeah I agree with you MT09 seems to be a clear winner over Z900... At for me, MT09 is just more practical for the city ride and weekend tour over all... 😎😊😉
High pegs at 7:02 "Squatty potty." High pegs at 29:52 "Attack position!" 😂 Really though, talking ergos and not mentioning your height, or the available seat height options on the bikes, 🤷
Who cares which is better? It's not about the bike, but the trip. As long as your ride is in good mechanical condition and you've got a interesting road trip ahead, you got everything you need to have a great time.
I sort of feel bad for John, he looked so hurt that the guys not only didn't agree with him about the Kawi they down right did a segment on why John is wrong lol.
The whole point of a naked bike, to me, is comfort. I want something sporty but not a sports bike. Something you could ride for 8 hours and not want to kill yourself. But you don't want a sport touring bike or touring bike. And you don't want a cruiser. I feel like none of the HP numbers matter on the street. It's pennies to the dollar. Oh and the triumph is the ugliest thing ever conceived by man.
Wait, what? my Z900 has 126 hp stock :)).....probably we have better fuel or something is wrong. I find that the Z900 is the limmo of the bunch, if you set it up decent enough, it's so smooth.
I love the Yamaha and KTM, and I don’t love the look of either. 2022 XSR900 for me. Best look and longer stance than the MT09 Sibling. The perfect bike.
Interesting that each reviewer has very different opinions on each bike. There isn’t a best bike here, this just shows that the key thing is try the bikes yourself to pick the best bike for you as a rider (not the best bike for a random journalist rider and their needs). However, I still really enjoyed this review!
Well I don't really see how the KTM ,Ducati, Triumph and MT are better than the Z900 ... Character you say... Come on... It must be kind of joke I guess... Z is by far the most complete bike out there. Especially comparing it with your so called winner the JokeT-09.
Kinda bummed you couldn't score a gixxus for this one. I absolutely loved mine when I had it and would love to see how it stacks up to the others in its class.
Had the BMW for over a year now. It's just been an incredible ownership experience for me. Out of the box, the quick shifter was rubbish, but with some K's on the clock and an SC Project pipe, it's buttery smooth. The Yamaha is exciting, but (at least the old one) felt half finished. The Kawasaki was great, but just too small for me. The previous model Monster felt like a tractor. And service costs are insane. The Triumph is great but expensive and dated looking. The KTM is just constant hard work to ride slowly. Also, the general ownership of a BMW is in another league with cheap servicing, long warranty and a bunch of other perks.
The older guy seemed to evaluate the bikes based on how it would be OWNING one. He knew that the euro bikes were not going to rank very high from an owner's perspective. I appreciate that. In today's economics, even if you got money to blow, I wouldn't want to.
When I'm truly shopping for a bike, I for sure read all the written articles and reviews. When I'm at work and I just want to hear motorcycles piped into my ears, I only do youtube reviews. :D
The top 3 is legit. I bought a Ducati Monster 937 Plus Dark Stealth. If you put the black bike in the video instead of the basic red it would beat those others in looks. I love all 3 bikes but I bought the Monster because of quality, sporty and it has class. It's best to go see it in person.
The BMW "starts" at $8999. Then you look at the bike at a dealer........Loving my used low mileage FZ-10! Really considered the Z900. I need to look and see if you did a 890R vs FZ09SP. I just can stand the looks of the KTM nor the headlight designed by another company look on the FZ.
This is true. I wanted the BMW, but couldn’t lay hands on one for less than $11k. Then I researched it more and found out that it was an underpowered porker with a Chinese engine. So I bought the Z and have no regrets.
The Street Triple R is down on power, due to software. Prior to 2020, the R and RS motors were different. Different cam profile, different fuel and ignition maps, etc... For 2020, the motors are the same. Same cam, same tune, same everything... The only place that they differ, is in the ride by wire tables. On the R model, when you give it 100% throttle, it only delivers 100% throttle until 7500rpm, and from there to redline it drops down to 81%. That's how they castrate the top end power, to create the performance difference between the two bikes. The good news is that you can use TuneECU to change those tables from 81%, to 100% and push them to the ECU. Your R model, will then be an RS model, at least as far as the engine and power are concerned. There is 8-10hp just sitting there, waiting to be unlocked.
@@wirenut3020 Thanks man. I made the video showing how to do it. It's very easy, and almost foolproof. And all the dealer can see, is how many times the ECU has been written to. So they can't even see what changes were made. And there is zero risk of hurting the engine by doing this... It's the RS motor, that is simply held back by a setting in the software. Undo that setting, and it just restores the motor to full power.
I test rode the KTM and MT09SP and I ended up buying the Ducati. The MT I was out off by seat height and position isn't sporty, it's very supermoto style. The screen is tiny also. The KTM is excellent but you have to pay for a lot of the extras to be activated. The Ducati was as quick, it made me feel more special than the others and residuals will be a lot stronger
Hey I am looking to also get the Monster. Beautiful bike but I am concerned which what he said about the plastic quality fading away. Any issues with yours? What about the heat any issues as well?
Ktm is gay with that pay to activate bs, it reminds me of video game you pay 60$ for but if you wanna play it you need to spend another $60 on dlc’s. Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda all come with exactly what you pay for no need for extra $1000s to “unlock” something. Ktm’s suck ass imo just based on that
Great review guys , gotta say I had the 2019 Mt09 and definitely loved great torque . Hooligan feel to it , but then I rode the 2020 Z 900 and hands down blew away the MT 09 . Again just my opi ion felt like I was part of the bike and way more confidence for me personally. Felt like I was gonna fall over the front of The Yamaha. Z 900 was way smoother and way better power delivery. Have not ridden any of the others but would like to.I suppose if the bike has a proper setup for the rider it would make all the difference.
Different strokes...but speaking as someone who's always been an inline-4 guy, I feel like a lot of the apparent journalistic bias against them now is just because they were the standard for so long.
Currently own a 2020 Z900. It’s been a fantastic bike. I’ve actually enjoyed it so much I’m in the process of upgrading to the ZH2. Kawi really won me over with the Z line. I was an MT die hard but damn the Zs are phenomenal.
@@kenross9026 I highly recommend tuning the bike. Kawi has a restriction flash on it that mutes the top end. After my full system and flash it has a top end rush like no other middleweight naked I’ve rode.
@@Adamn58 yeah I have 2 friends that own them and both had it flashed, said it made a huge difference . Very glad to see they did away with the old screen and went to the tft they have now. Very fun bike. Zh2 looks crazy fast
What's especially weird is that every torque curve that anyone has for this bike is profoundly different, this one being the worst of them by far. In their own "First ride" dyno chart, the numbers are quite different. Meanwhile Ridermag's torque curve is completely smooth and flat for this motor. Not sure if that's variability in testing and environment, or variability from one motor to the next.
@@PMitchell106 I’d say you hit it on the head with variability in testing/environment. I did some research myself and this is the only test with these issues. Everyone else says the engine is smooth as butter with torque everywhere. Also the videos I saw it out down like 95ish at the wheels…
With the Z900 SE (with Ohlins suspension) out now in '24, I think the Z900 has moved up the rankings quite a bit. I may be biased though because I don't like twins or triples. I want an inline 4.
Great commentary guys-no bullshit and nice relaxed delivery. I loved the riding footage too. Great roads for riding. I’d love to ride in some of those tunnels. Keep up the good work.
The old man was on point on every aspect of the bikes characteristics and dynamics. The other two not so much.
@Pete how’d you know?
totally agree with you.
I have to agree 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽!
I agree, editor was too cocky and disrespectful, I don't believe A WORD from him,
Guy near ducati seemed to be in little conflict/dispute with guy who rated kawa third
That's only "if you're talking 'neck-eds'"
Otherwise false
I am so glad you brought the older fellow, no denying his age bracket is part of the purchasing demographics, but more importantly his experience level can rule out all of the ego testosterone BS of the younger fella’s and leave left what is good about riding a motorcycle. Do us all a favor and keep him in the further video reviews as well. Excellent video by the way
older?
@@johnburns8956 “more seasoned” or “higher level” perhaps.
Agreed, I appreciate the comments on Z900 being smooth as that's of HUGE importance to me for example. I'm too old for bikes with character. 🤣😂
@@dbauernf Huh!? What did you say? Speak louder Sonny, don't mumble.
(ding-dang kids these days.....)
@@johnburns8956 pay no attention to the whippersnapper 😀
I want to see the same test, but with the premium versions...MT-09SP, Monster+, Street Triple RS, & Duke R!
I agree. It would be interesting to see if the improvements are worth the premium price. I am not certain that I ride hard enough to notice the difference. Also, it is pretty sneaky for Yamaha to only offer cruise control on the SP.
Monster + is an accessory package that simply adds a fly screen and cowl… There is no “premium” (performance) version of the new Monster yet. I expect an S model will come next year. My suspicion is Ducati waited to release the new Monster S because they had an overstock of leftover 1200/1200S models to sell off and didn’t want to to hurt their ability to do that.
Otherwise, I agree… We’ve already seen the 890 Duke R vs 765 STriple RS head to head last year, but a re-do including the new MT-09 SP would be great.
The Duke 890R and MT09 SP gotta be pretty damn close. Can't go wrong with either bike, but I'd go Yamaha only because of better overall reliability and much closer dealer.
@@johnridesadv2512
My gf likes Yamaha a lot (she currently rides an R6), and went in preferring the looks of the MT-09 SP, but after riding both back to back, she came away a lot more excited by the 890 Duke R. That's a pretty good endorsement from somebody who was actively avoiding the Duke because she didn't want to match bikes with my Super Duke.
I've ridden both as well, and the KTM has a notably more fun personality. Also, the KTM gives you a MUCH better braking system versus the Yamaha.
Honestly, though, any of the three will be a riot on canyon roads and the track, and I'm excited to see an S version of the new Monster come along as well.
@@rjwz28 Damn. Hard to believe the engine in the Duke would be more exciting than Yamaha's triple with the quick shifter. My XSR900 is great, but if it had a quick shifter, wow wow wow. I will need to test ride both!
I don't own any of these bikes but it's the first time I've seen someone bag on the z900. It's almost bizarre.
He must just be a Kawasaki hater.
Yeah it's a great all-rounder bike, maybe one would say 'average' at worst. Plenty of power and respectable handling. There's really nothing in particular that would make someone hate it other than just hating on Kawasaki's bike for no rational reason.
I don't own any of them.. yet.. preferences can be very subjective but I'm looking at getting the MT9 SP.. I know the 890R is the more focused machine but the Yam is close enough, more of an all rounder and I much prefer the MT09's engine note... looks :o, reliability and lower price.
I'll be sure to check out the Z900 though, sounds like the engine is a real peach too.
@@paulhope3401 i have the ‘21 z900, ecu flashed with a full titanium sc project.. nothing is boring or ‘average’ about this terminator trust me😄 the sound of the bike sounds waaay better then any 3 cilinder too lol. Not to mention thats it’s an eye catcher.
Yup. I agree with mine being a terminator as well. Got a 22 z900 se. Opened up that exhaust and put a dna filter. Ecu flash to come and it’s already a beast, turns plenty of heads. Also mine was 123 or 125 hp from the dealer. Never heard of this 108 situation.
This feels like the kind of review that neatly illustrates why people shouldn't take professional reviews seriously. The Z900 got panned because it was "boring" but that's completely subjective. The BMW got panned too, but maybe a little more fairly, but it can be optioned up with stuff that's just not available on some other bikes. You've gotta ride the bike yourself and not just buy on a spec sheet.
True, though to be fair they literally road all the bikes
I bought the z900 because of this video. It's my daily, I love it, its more than enough bike for me.
I go on 4 hour rides every other week. Its not until hour 3 start getting cramped. I'm 5'10" with long legs and longer arms.
Yep Kawasaki is definitely being unfairly treated here
You know this is true when you hear "it lacks character"...
Yeah, they can't find words to why it's bad? 😑
I thought that was very dumb.
The senior Editor spoke on why it's very good and they responded with we don't remember it so it's bad.
Yeah, this is strange because in previous years it got first, and in many shootouts. I was surprised. I have a 2018, and I would not say it lacks character, I love the bike.
No character = works with no drama
I owned the 2017 model. level in terms of outright power and more torque pretty much everywhere than every other bike. Put a higher seat on it and it's way more comfortable with leg room. Engine is quiet but it might feel like it has more "soul" if you put a straight pipe on it. (slippons don't do much for sound). It is a fair bit cheaper than the other bikes too. (except BMW which is not even in the same class and should be compared with the middleweights in terms of power output). It isn't small and cramped at all if you get the higher seat. Can't compare it to the other bikes because I haven't ridden them but if the top 5 all had the same tyres the fastest bike would be the one with the best rider on it - meaning the difference in performance isn't that significant.
I would call myself a senior rider, and gave a huge amount of weight to your review of these bikes. I would say I have pretty much to this point 99.9% dual sport experience, with the exception of riding a buddies gold wing. I ended up buying a used 3rd gen mt09sp. Thank you guys for helping me make the decision, it was between the mt09sp and the z900. Excellent video
Great breakdown! i think there are a lot of readers that are searching for the intermediate priced best "bang for the buck" motorcycles. Well done.
#yamaha
I laughed so hard when John mentioned that the KTM looks like a power tool.
Now I can’t unsee black&decker power tools when I look at it 😂
😂😂😂 idk any other brand that actually sells tools too to work on your bike though
did i say power tool or gardening tool? I was thinking more weed whacker, or that headlight looks like a hedge trimmer. Great bike tho!
Funny cause true.
Home depot bike 😂
Z900 wins for most of us...most VFM...and Japanese so reliable and cheap to maintain, more power ...soo
Yes yes yes! R9 - we are waiting for this beast
Hell yeah
except it wont be a beast because it will weigh more than an MT09 and it wont have the bottom end to mid range that the MT09 has.
2025...
Kawasaki is my pick
Thank you, guys. I am going to get a 2021 MT09. Stay safe and more power to you guys!
You won't regret it. I have an all black one, fucking love it
I just bought the 2022 MT09SP. Absolutely love it
I own a 765RS 2019 but I was literally rooting for the yamaha. They blew this upgrade out of the park, listening to all the feedback over the years.
That hurt, I love my z900 until I listened to this. Nah, I still love it!
Unfortunately this channel loves everything I hate and hates everything I have loved. I have owned plenty of motorcycles and my opinion has always been opposite of theirs. I bought a Yamaha FJ-09 due to great reviews and it was the worse motorcycle ever and I owned a Honda VFR800 after and it was better even though it lost in the same comparison video. I knew this video was going to swing in Yamahas favor before it even started.
Mickey Mouse is something chose not to listen too. I am wondering how this grown child has been put in the position he is in.
The z900 is my favorite here!
@@zack8819 They are probably the worst motorcycle reviewer's on youtube to be honest. Just messy all over the place journalism
Two of the guys had negative reviews about the ergonomics, but one said they were great. Body types are different so they should not have made ergonomics the basis of their review. It seemed like that was their only complaint, as long as you feel comfortable then it's a great bike.
So Ive not even finished watching the video and Troy is already bashing the BMW F900R whilst he preferred it over the Kawasaki Z900 in the 1v1 comparison video on this channel? How does this make sense?
Not really sure how the Z900 is suddenly at the bottom here. A bit harsh. Same guys gave it tops a few years ago.
It hasn't had much in the way of updates in a while, but it's still a great bike.
Look at the updates on the Yamaha and KTM from a couple years ago. I love Kawasaki, but they need to keep up in this sector.
The most current Z900 is much better in terms of tech per $ spent. Plus it’s faster then the MT09
@@adamk116 i have a z900, the last thing thats on my mind when i ride are all these electronics lol..
Key words “s few years ago”.
Fun review to watch and we all have opinions, but…
…I’m tired of hearing about engine character bullshit. If it vibrates it’s too buzzy. If it doesn’t vibrate it’s a boring motorcycle with no character. If it’s a buzzy KTM that has a notchy transmission and leaks oil it has “great character”. Riiight.
The Triumph looks dated, is dated and is way overpriced. The Ducati is also way overpriced.
The whole premise of a naked bike was to have a comfortable sport bike. To have a performance motorcycle with comfort and around town ridability. The KTM and Triumph don’t live up to this.
It is completely insane that the Z900 is a great naked bike, but everybody except Burns knocks it for doing everything well. The Kawasaki is also comparatively cheap. It should be ranked top 3. Oh by the way, I hate Kawasaki. The only major issue with the Kawasaki is its weight, but I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the larger gas tank.
Then Ryan says the Monster got rid of the “dumb” trellis frame yet he ranks the KTM higher. No mention of the low seat and super bent knees on the ugly Ducati?
What is going on with this review? Burns, who is surely the oldest by a few years, is the only one that isn’t going senile. So much hypocrisy in this review. At least the Yamaha won because the Ducati and KTM don’t deserve it.
You are indeed too much.
I've got a 2021 Z900.
The weight is only an issue on paper really.
The center of gravity is low and I honestly don't feel that it's any heavier to push around than a SV650. Once your on the move it's light on its feet and very stable at lean.
Got no problem with being cramped either - mine does come with the 825mm seat height as standard though.
The only thing I would really knock against it is that the OEM Dunlop Roadsport 2 tyres leaves a bit to be desired.
Any way, I complete agree with you.
Naked bikes need to be more than just a sport bike without a fairing.
With the current trend of naked bikes getting more and more sporty (as in track toy) we will reach a point of them being too extreme to actually be enjoyed on the road without doing stupid speeds.
Right kawasaki is the best in my opinion , does it all right. Not boring at all. The other reviews are idiots
i dont get how he can say the KTM looks like a tool and then turn to the MT09's headlight and Paint scheme, that primer grey and orange wheel's combo is vomit inducing
Dude, that is so we'll written and I agree 100%. I love this channel when they do first rides or 1 on 1 comparisons but these shootouts are all over the place.
They raise a score for "character" because a buzzy engine but then say a bike that has a smooth engine is better because it's easier on the hands and butt but it has no "character"!? Like what.
The Kawasaki Z900 is still good for its price
The Z900 gives you exactly what you want when you want it. I recently tested it against the S1000R and walked away thinking I'd take the Z nine out of ten times.
That's impressive
Yamaha kills that Kawasaki in every category. Especially the SP.
@@michaeljohnson2922 nah the mt09 has the looks that only a mother can love.. its hideous.
@@michaeljohnson2922 no, it doesn’t. The Z900 is faster and has a higher top speed.
Andy L The BMW S 1000 R is a fantastic bike .. I have not had the pleasure of riding a Z900 but given that I believe the BMW is a better bike and better value than the Aprilia Tuono V4 and MT-10 ( both of which I’ve spent lots of time on ) I struggle to believe that the Z900 is superior to the S 1000 R .. however all bikes are very subjective .
I got one here in U.S.A.... a 2021 MT-09 SP. I actually flew to another state to get it and road it back. It is an AMAZING bike! I love rhe cruise control, and the Ohlins suspension is excellent. I broke it in right, going through all the gears, up and down, and did an oil change at 600 miles. The bike is fantastic!
Hey I love my z900, favorite bike I’ve owned 🤷♂️
I have one to. Great engine and fun to ride! Just tweak the suspension a bit and a set of Great tires thats it!
@@spokplumpen123 just put a full sc-project exhaust system under that thing and trust me she won’t be ‘boring’ anymore 😅
@@Ali-mf7cg thinking about exhaust and a ecu-flash. But i am getting old, dont like it to loud. But stock is to quiet..
@@spokplumpen123 stock just sounds too feminine, like a happy bumble bee. You can also put a slip on instead of full system. Just take the db killer out and it will sound alot deeper and meaner. I put a full system on it last month and it is very loud, but it just puts a smile on my face every time when i rev it hard☄️ 😩 it adds so much character to that kawi it almost makes it necessary in some way..
cope
I keep hearing reliability issues with KTM and problems with transmissions and then with the Ducatis it's heat, which is glossed over with the scrambler too. But these guys prefer these kind of bikes to the ones that just work, which might be okay for them because they test a bike and then it's on to the next one. So bike testing becomes more of a show-pony event than a consideration of what might be best for someone who buys a bike and rides it everyday for 4 or 5 years. The reviews are entertaining though, just not that relevant unless you've got 4 bikes in the shed and can pick one to ride depending on your mood
John is the best. Lol I really value his opinion and tend to lean towards his viewpoints on what issues are important.
For $9399 you get a 6-axis IMU, quick shifter up/down, TFT display, 417 lbs wet weight, torquey/great sounding triple engine, radial master cylinder and more. All wrapped up with Japanese quality and reliability.
Nothing can top the MT-09 for the price. I know the headlight is pretty polarizing but don't have to worry about how it looks when you're riding and it's a great headlight for actual light output.
And terrible, pogo-stick-like suspension in the MT09. Also, I think you mean radial calipers, not master cylinder… typical of cheap Yamahas, stellar engine wrapped in a crappy chassis
@@sleeper.simulant7327 aw where did Yamaha hurt you? you’re free to change the suspension. You’ll probably still be under the price of the triumph.
The Triumph Street Triple would be my pick. It ranks low in this class because it simply doesn't belong in this class… a 765cc triple has no business competing with 900cc bikes. But then again you buy a street triple not because it's a good 900cc bike, you buy it because it's a street triple.
none of them is a bad pick if its for the right reasons .. certainly not however just because its a street triple
IMO you should buy it cause it excites you when you ride it or when you look at it or cause it suits your "needs" etc .. not only the street triple but any bike.
Also, either you like it or not it competes with the 800-900 cc bikes, because that is the category Triumph put it in (middle class naked)
Displacement increased already from 675 a couple of years back, in a try to remain competitive as EU regulations on emissions where becoming tighter...My guess is that they could be increasing the displacement again (as they did it with speed triple).
For what is worth, if i was buying a street triple, the latest SP would be the only model i would be considering, otherwise if you follow the "because its a street triple" approach, buy an older 675 one and save yourself lots of $'s for upgrades
@@avrc9285 i think the lower spec one is deffinitly not the one to get the street triple rs is the one to get with its ohlins shock perfromance brembo and autoblip quickshifter suits the bike better when you strip the street triple of its bling there really no point in paying more for the bike then say a z900/mt09 bikes.
It makes the most power of the bunch! It's biggest downfall is it's relatively low torque specs, as they mentioned. They also say nothing about finish of the motorcycles. A Triumph has an overall nicer "feel" than a Yamaha and it's reflected in the price. Plus the Yamaha makes barely any more torque with a much larger motor
I understand the reason, it's a street triple
And I think it can compete these 900 cc easily, cos of how it's rides, it's really light, steering so sharp and the engine is so smooth and the intake sound is fantastic
And on the road you don't need the power and you don't need the tork, cos you use mostly a fraction and because you ride mostly with higher rev, the power and tork of the 3 cylinder engine makes it really smooth
And for tork you use the speed triple, but a street triple rides better
@@Ghutton505 I'm surprised by the way they just glossed over everything but their emotional review of peak performance. Fit & finish completely unmentioned, brakes glossed over and not taken into serious consideration, likewise for suspension, electronics packages thought of as 'Yes or No' questions rather than comparing their performance, switchgear and instrumentation treated as somehow frivolous or unnecessary, ergonomics described arbitrarily rather than comparatively, and optional equipment never discussed. The MT-09 has an exciting power plant for sure, but it doesnt seem to outshine the others in any other way.
I Havnt even watched it yet but I know it’s going to be epic. Been waiting all year for this review.
Same dude anything made by Troy is GOLD!!! Coming from the uk 🇬🇧 id absolutely love to go ride with these dude’s and make a review .
@@adamstratford6740 My dude! Thanks as always!
@@TroySiahaan you’re welcome bro 👍🏻👍🏻
Couldn't agree more. And as one of the gentleman said, if you got the SP MT-09, it would have much better suspension and cruise control and still cost the same as the KTM. Great video guys!
Spot on - and very reliable indeed - as opposed to the KTM😉🏁🏁
Good day gentlemans. I know the comparison was a year ago,
but i notice that the BMW F900R only has 85 bhp instead of 105 bhp.
I just read the test, my apologize.
But, how come the bike only has 85 bhp, because in Europe outside the A2 driving license, it normally has 105 bhp??
Love the tests you guys do! I'd like to offer an idea for future videos if I may: you should continue to do these Shoutout tests with experienced riders, but also do the exact same test again with novice riders - riders with a few years of riding experience only and with limited knowledge - and get their feedback. Rather than "find" the best bike, as that can be subjective in many cases, give information to viewers to make the purchasing process less difficult. Most riders are not well informed like you guys, and getting feedback from less experienced riders would offer even more information for serious buyers. Thanks again for the videos!
I waited more than 3 months for my MT09SP in Australia, finally received it yesterday, i was soo exited, i couldn't sleep the night before, i love the bike
Wowzer, these dudes really hating on the Z900 !
Bougth a Z900 (2017), in 2018, best bike for me. 69.000 km so far, no prob at all. Like the KTM 890 Duke, maybe thats my next bike.
Agreed
Coz it's not the updated version with TFT dash and all led. They are using the previous generation
but somebody said something nice about it, he said it has a "smooth engine"
I have the 2017 no driver aids. Just you and the bike, just like it should be.
BMW's peak power on paper is 105 HP in the EU.. Where did you get a 86 HP version? Is that the Dyno figure of the theoretically 105HP bike?
i want to see some drag race just to have an idea how each of them compares.
They say the z900 has no character, but it looks similar to the others. Its way better looking then the street triple.
Character is about the engine, not the looks. It’s an i4 which are generally a bit boring, not as exciting when just pulling back on the throttle…just a bit too smooth.
@@andrewwillcox5252 traditional character is only about the looks and style. Thats why Harleys are considered the bikes with the highest character even though they are easily beaten on performance.
@@mcmcmorris yeah that’s not the character I’ve ever hear anyone ever talk about. In England I have never heard a Harley called anything but a bit shit, to be completely honest.
@Andrew Willcox British, that makes a lot of sense.
@@mcmcmorrisas a Harley owner: they're shit
I love the smoothness of the z900 engine. All the power and it feels silky. Great bang for your buck
These guys don't knowt what they saying about the Z900 (only the older one knows)!
You are absolutely right,I own my 2019 z900 for 6 months now and what a great bike it is.Having owned Yamaha,Triumph and Moto Guzzi I think it's fair to say nothing beats the price/quality on this bike.The only few things that bother me are solved on the updated model,so I think after the summer I will be ordering a new one 😅
I dreamt about this comparo video for months, we are going thru an outstanding time in the motorcycle industry, some of the products coming out now got a remarkable upgrade compared to their previous model changes, from electronics to chasis to suspension, engine ….. A really difficult time to decide what motorcycle to get from those in the market!!!
Z900 is deceptive "sleeper" and best bike if you like smooth and fast with long range. Like 20:10 praise the lowdown torgue of Ducati. But 16:49 shows the truth its down by alot vs Kawasaki. 1.MT-09(SP), 2.Z900, 3.Triumph, 4.KTM, 5.Ducati, 6. BMW
Sadly, a smooth torque curve is now seen as "boring" by many (like some of the testers). A bump in the torque curve that causes a sudden increase in power is often viewed as providing "character," even if it results in slower overall acceleration.
@@jfess1911 Z900 motor is the winnah here, tied for most torque and for most horsepower too, at only 9600 rpm... alas...
Is predicted reliability part of the scorecard? :)
It hardly ever is but should be!
My guess is that it would just increase the score differential between the Yamaha and KTM, if each bike lives up to their manufacturers usual reputation.
@@remster1159 why do you say that?
@@remster1159 it isn't pointless at all. Past performance is an indicator of future performance.
Nope, they rather be repairing instead of riding
Glad you guys like my bike. Mt09 is sooooooooo dope. I love it and will keep it till she blows.
The Kawi is more powerful, less expensive, and will spend less time in the shop than the others.
But you only get its peak power on high rpms, which is not usually manageable between two red lights or very twisty roads
@@marcelltoth1302 the z900 has an ideally flat torque curve. Everyone who reviews it lauds the engine for being able to be in third or even fourth gear all the time on twisty roads.
These all sound like great features of your daily driver car... I want my motorcycle to excite the soul, even if from time to time it has an issue.
I also don't know how often you think European bikes spend in the shop. In the 12,000 miles I have put on my Aprilia it had a radiator hose start to leak a little and I had to replace a starter solenoid which was getting finicky; of note, the solenoid was made my Hitachi and not some obscure Italian supplier... If that is the penalty I have to pay over the much less interesting/lustful Z1000 then so be it...
@@ColoradoS14 what features are you referring to?
My post was not intended to bash on euro bikes, but reliability is something that needs to be considered when selecting a bike.
@@ColoradoS14 the Z900 will excite your soul, belive me, i know what i'm sayinng!
First time watching you guys, impressive video. I'm in the market for a mid range motorcycle and the Yamaha MT09 is now at the top of the list. Greetings for Victoria, Australia.
I did ride triple rs, mt 09, z900. I liked the suspension triple rs, but I understood the price was too high. I liked the design mt09 and quickshiftter, but I wouldn’t say I liked the traction control and response of high rpm. I felt much safer at z900 in high rpm and stable response, but z900 has no quick shifter. I bought Z900, and I installed the quickshiftter.
In my opinion, price, stability, reliability, Z900 is better, but all bikes are fantastic.
Was it tough installing said qs? And what one did you get? I got the 22’ z900 and I love it
@@578_ I installed healtech. You can do by yourself, it is easy, you can watch videos on TH-cam showing how to install it. I am so happy with my z900 and quickshiftter. Because I do understand that the traction control is perfect
@@woodworking4459 ok cool thanks again man! Yea me too love the z9!
You bought the most boring bike lol
@@DB-sd3cw unfortunately I’m not a millionaire and it’s the best bang for my buck after buying a house for 150k. I can go 150mph for 10k I’ll take it
I have had the opportunity to ride 4 of the six bikes tested here. I personally feel you guys were mostly on the money in your evaluation and fair. Each of these bikes are focused to either track, sport and some track or lower price daily riders intended for brand loyal/ first time buyers. The winner MT09 is unusual in that it isn’t an over priced exotic or a track focus primarily bike. I finally bought a 2022 MT09 and have found it to be the best in many ways. Price for what you get in a motorcycle makes the MT09 winner. Then you find on track it will stay with the big dollar exotics with non pro riders on board. I find it works perfectly as a commuter/ even in town. It does a fair job as a sport touring motorcycle because of riding position. What you wind up with in a MT09 is a very good do everything bike at a fair price point. I might mention after market support is excellent for whatever mods you wish to tailor your MT09 to do. The looks will grow on you!!
Doesn't the z900 make 125 hp ?? Atleast that's what the catalogue says
Troy Siahaan’s statement (14:30) that “[The Street Triple R actually makes the most power 109.2 HP at almost 12,000 RPMs] below that everything else in this field just smokes it.”; is demonstrably incorrect.
Two of the six motorcycles here do not even make 100 HP the Ducati and the BMW; and do NOT “smoke” the Street Triple R. The other three that do make more than 100 HP have much steeper (narrow) power curves thereby showing that the power is available in a narrower range than the Street Triple R, so they do NOT “smoke” the Street Triple R. The Street Triple R’s power is strongly available from 8,000 to 12,000 RPMs. Hold on tight or it might run out from under you.
What's the speed in 1st gear at 12k RPM? The point is the other ones launch faster. I had a 675 and noticed the same, loved it but I had to ring it out a bit and the gearing was long.
I’ve ridden the RS and an MT09. The MT09 felt way more powerful and the power was available immediately. Far more useful power on the street. Now if you’re a person that likes to ride weave around on highways at 100+mph the RS is the bike you choose in this field. It is comfortable at 100 mph where the MT09 feels at its limit.
@@bobthebuilder372 my 2020 street rs is around 65-70 redlined in 1st if I remember..
@@warlok9 There is no Street Triple RS in this field. It is a Street Triple R which produces its torque lower in the rev range than the RS.
"strongly available" 8,000 to 12,000.
whats available below 8,000? I think that's what they're trying to say
Man, when counting down bikes based on the spec sheet, make sure you got the spec sheets right.
Back in 1969 when Honda came out with the CB750 we thought it was king with its 60-something BHP. Four cylinders, four carbs, four gleaming chrome pipes putting out their symphonic sound. It was pure magic. Is there anything like that anymore?
Check out the Z900RS, the retro version of the Z900 in this test.
Kawasaki z900 ❤️❤️❤️😍
Im here for the z900. Like to see a mature tester who isn't about being a "racer" 24/7. Sensible and brings a wealth of real world experience.
Z900 loses everytime on Real world against the 09 or 890.
@@PetSounds38 how do you gauge that? Based on?
@@nabahmadi5012 on real life.
Dont get how with so much more power the kwack is forget able, it smokes the bmw,triumph,mt i love it
They was wrong on the horsepower the 21 model z900 has 125bhp
@@elvisthewart670 They are quoting measured rear-wheel horsepower, not manufacturer spec crank horsepower. They should be more explicit about this in their presentation, the rest of their comments are a bit too sloppy to take their pseudo-objective ranking seriously.
A channel on TH-cam called full gas has videos of a Z900 gapping all kinds of things through a quarter including an MT 10. It even pulled on a Duke 1290 R until wind made the power difference apparent at around 100mph and the duke passed it.
There is a lot more to a motorcycle than power
I have question regarding the BMW. As they complained about the engines faults - in Europe the new 2021 F900R is 105 hp with 66.3 lb-ft (90 nm) , why the big difference with their bike?
indeed strange that they didn't compare a full spec 105hp version
2021 MT09 is a fantastic midweight, but I really don't like the design. Duke 890 is my top pick.
but BMW has 105hp while you are showing only 85hp are you providing it in kw or km?
I have a BMW for a year now. And I love bikes. The way it looks, sound and power delivery is adequate for me. I guess in the end it all comes to personal preference and requirements.
Most of the reviews I see are mostly focused on speed and horse power. I believe bikes are more than that. It all count what particular person want and what are there requirements and experience are.
All things matter The way bike looks, the sitting, comfortable, handling, built quality, safety features and so on and all these work differently for different people. Having 10-15 bhp less or more doesn't make the bike bad or better.
Plus if numbers are higher but you are getting those power at 9000 rpm whats the point for that power in city ride.
Also in another comparison between Z900 and F900R one of the journalists praised the F900R and took the F900R over the Z900.
So reviews are a good reference and getting better understanding and knowing what is out there. But you have to test ride the bike before making the decision. You may go for the z900 test Ride and after that you don't want to try anything because it is giving everything you were looking for. It happened to me with Suzuki Gladius. I had a test ride book for Ducati Monster but I didn't bother to go after testing Gladius. And one time I just went with my gut feeling for the z800 no test ride no reviews just bought the bike.
Bro stop trying to convince yourself the bmw sucks. Having 10-15 bhp yes its true doesnt mean alot but its an important factor and more is always better. U writing this comment makes u look like a butt hurt bmw bitch
I had a Suzuki GSX-S 750, a Ducati Monster 797 and now a 2022 Z900. By far, the best of the 3 for power, looks, handling, etc is the Z900. And the headlights is nice. The only reason why the MT has some power is because the shaved off about 50-60 lbs.
I'm glad I picked up a naked as my first bike but I'm ready for some wind protection 😌
Sometimes an inexpensive bar-mounted windscreen can make a big difference. Just be aware that a 'universal" one may need a little bit of trimming to fit around the headlight and turnsignals.
Incredible line up... the hosts the different preferences they have really gave a good review!
The FZ-09's headlight looks like the TNG phaser emitter.
What makes the BMW a worthwhile choice is the available options (for those who don't mind spending more). Keyless ride, quick shifter, cruise control, factory heated grips, electronically adjustable rear suspension, cornering headlight, self-cancelling turn signals, factory pannier mounts, 3 optional seat heights, 2 optional suspension heights, integrated turn-by-turn navigation, in-helmet comms unit integration, connected app that records lean angle at every corner, and maps out each use of ABS or traction control. If you don't like tech or won't use the features it's definitely the wrong choice, if you want the pinnacle of performance it's the wrong choice, and if you want the cheapest way to have fun on two wheels, its the wrong choice. If you want an all-around enjoyable motorcycling experience, it does outcompete most of this field when specced properly.
Where I come from they only import the full speced version as described. Puts the price way up into the CB1000R and MT10 range, where frankly it does not compete, despite the tricky electronic everything...
@@paulconnell1309 I think there's a reason BMW goes with "roadster" rather than "naked sport" for the F900R, it's built for a slightly different purpose. For me, I'm glad I'm not on an MT-10, as it frankly does not compete, despite the R1 motor. The CB1000R is much nicer than any MT, still a different mix of priorities, they all have their pros and cons.
@@PMitchell106 Agree. I am not sure I need 145 bhp to get to meetings around the city....
Z900 all the way !!
I have both the mt09 and z900 and will say the z900 is way more fun if you wanna be stupid on a motorcycle the mt09 is better if you wanna cruse and have fun at the same time
You need to test ride some more. The Kawasaki is fine. But it's just... fine.
@@SunrazorI bought a used 2019 Suzuki GSX S750 and I was torn between GSX S750 and Z900. I am overall happy with S750, but..I just cannot get rid of this lingering feeling of what if I got Z900 instead....😂🤣.. Having said that though in the year of 2023, yeah I agree with you MT09 seems to be a clear winner over Z900... At for me, MT09 is just more practical for the city ride and weekend tour over all... 😎😊😉
I agree. I bought the z900 over the mt09.
Z900 SE
I glad someone was thinking about the bikes from a daily ride through traffic and town perspective.
High pegs at 7:02 "Squatty potty."
High pegs at 29:52 "Attack position!" 😂
Really though, talking ergos and not mentioning your height, or the available seat height options on the bikes, 🤷
The Kawasaki’s pegs are really high
Who cares which is better? It's not about the bike, but the trip. As long as your ride is in good mechanical condition and you've got a interesting road trip ahead, you got everything you need to have a great time.
Literally right as I'm debating picking up one of these bikes and wishing for a comparo with the new monster... Motorcycle comes through! Thanks guys!
Bought the new monster 2 weeks ago, funniest bike I’ve ever owned or ridden!!! Seriously if you’re pondering one GET IT😎
@@num1sooner Hows the heat on your thigh like they mentioned in the video?
A lot of other reviewers really like the BMW so I think Motorcycle reviewers are like movie critics. In other words each to their own tastes.
My 2018 z900 is the best bike I’ve ever owned
How many bikes have you owned?
@@mrzeke4413 cbr 400, sv650, Honda shadow 1100, klx 230, r6 and now my z900
@@elianderson3956 no chaaaneeese scooter?!
@@Dranreb865 shit lmao I did have a shitty Tao tao 125 cc dirt bike🤣
Agreed!!! My '21 Rips!!!!
Past rides.......
'73 Yamaha DT 250
'74 Kawasaki H1 500
'77 Yamaha RD 400
'79 Yamaha XS 750 Special
'82 Kawasaki GPZ 750
'91 Yamaha FJ1100
'06 Kawasaki Z 1000
'04 Kawasaki ZRX 1200r (twice)
😎🔥😎
What's wrong with the US version of the BMW? The German one has 105 HP.
I sort of feel bad for John, he looked so hurt that the guys not only didn't agree with him about the Kawi they down right did a segment on why John is wrong lol.
The whole point of a naked bike, to me, is comfort. I want something sporty but not a sports bike. Something you could ride for 8 hours and not want to kill yourself. But you don't want a sport touring bike or touring bike. And you don't want a cruiser. I feel like none of the HP numbers matter on the street. It's pennies to the dollar. Oh and the triumph is the ugliest thing ever conceived by man.
Wait, what? my Z900 has 126 hp stock :)).....probably we have better fuel or something is wrong. I find that the Z900 is the limmo of the bunch, if you set it up decent enough, it's so smooth.
They said 108 up, all wrong brother, we have 126!💪🏼
I love the Yamaha and KTM, and I don’t love the look of either. 2022 XSR900 for me. Best look and longer stance than the MT09 Sibling. The perfect bike.
Interesting that each reviewer has very different opinions on each bike. There isn’t a best bike here, this just shows that the key thing is try the bikes yourself to pick the best bike for you as a rider (not the best bike for a random journalist rider and their needs). However, I still really enjoyed this review!
It's funny how the z900 is the faster better bike but the other guys just won't admit it. Plus the z900 SE is even better.
Well I don't really see how the KTM ,Ducati, Triumph and MT are better than the Z900 ... Character you say... Come on... It must be kind of joke I guess... Z is by far the most complete bike out there. Especially comparing it with your so called winner the JokeT-09.
100% agree. Thank you for speaking the truth.
The Z doesn’t have any of the complaints they gave the winners.
Kinda bummed you couldn't score a gixxus for this one. I absolutely loved mine when I had it and would love to see how it stacks up to the others in its class.
Had the BMW for over a year now.
It's just been an incredible ownership experience for me.
Out of the box, the quick shifter was rubbish, but with some K's on the clock and an SC Project pipe, it's buttery smooth.
The Yamaha is exciting, but (at least the old one) felt half finished.
The Kawasaki was great, but just too small for me.
The previous model Monster felt like a tractor. And service costs are insane.
The Triumph is great but expensive and dated looking.
The KTM is just constant hard work to ride slowly.
Also, the general ownership of a BMW is in another league with cheap servicing, long warranty and a bunch of other perks.
So get the new Yamaha.!
Could you elaborate on that BMW cheap servicing please?
Nothing cheap about servicing a bmw lmao
The older guy seemed to evaluate the bikes based on how it would be OWNING one. He knew that the euro bikes were not going to rank very high from an owner's perspective. I appreciate that. In today's economics, even if you got money to blow, I wouldn't want to.
Funny thing is an R9 wouldve made a lot more sense as an R6 replacement than the R7 did too
When I'm truly shopping for a bike, I for sure read all the written articles and reviews. When I'm at work and I just want to hear motorcycles piped into my ears, I only do youtube reviews. :D
A new video for comparing MT-09 SP VS Street Triple RS !!
Or MT-09 Sp vs KTM 890 Duke R
The top 3 is legit. I bought a Ducati Monster 937 Plus Dark Stealth. If you put the black bike in the video instead of the basic red it would beat those others in looks. I love all 3 bikes but I bought the Monster because of quality, sporty and it has class. It's best to go see it in person.
I agree seeing it pictures and videos isn’t the same as real life, it’s looks blew me away
Sorry gents .. I couldn't disagree more... I love my z900... Put it in rider mode, turn the traction control off... Then say it's not memorable...
I own a duke 890 and I agree with you. Z900 is an outstanding motorcycle for the money.
Old fellow had the best take on all these bikes.
The BMW "starts" at $8999. Then you look at the bike at a dealer........Loving my used low mileage FZ-10! Really considered the Z900. I need to look and see if you did a 890R vs FZ09SP. I just can stand the looks of the KTM nor the headlight designed by another company look on the FZ.
Get the SP, bike slaps
This is true. I wanted the BMW, but couldn’t lay hands on one for less than $11k. Then I researched it more and found out that it was an underpowered porker with a Chinese engine. So I bought the Z and have no regrets.
@@TheAsheybabe89 I think the Z900RS Cafe/Rs, Z900, FZ-09, or Street Triple are all better choices than the BMW.
Talk about torque curve, the KAWI Trumps all!
Would be cool to see that new MT09 engine/ electronics in an XSR
Well do I have good news for you lol
@@gray7890 😆 Yeah welcome to last week. Too bad it got hit with the Yamaha ugly stick. 😖
@@bwxmoto I can only hope there's a seat fix.. if so I'm getting one. The all black with a seat will look great
@@gray7890 Yeah the all black one looks pretty cool actually. Not pretty but kind of menacing / tough looking.
The Street Triple R is down on power, due to software. Prior to 2020, the R and RS motors were different. Different cam profile, different fuel and ignition maps, etc...
For 2020, the motors are the same. Same cam, same tune, same everything... The only place that they differ, is in the ride by wire tables. On the R model, when you give it 100% throttle, it only delivers 100% throttle until 7500rpm, and from there to redline it drops down to 81%.
That's how they castrate the top end power, to create the performance difference between the two bikes. The good news is that you can use TuneECU to change those tables from 81%, to 100% and push them to the ECU. Your R model, will then be an RS model, at least as far as the engine and power are concerned.
There is 8-10hp just sitting there, waiting to be unlocked.
You’re a good man for posting that tutorial.
@@wirenut3020 Thanks man. I made the video showing how to do it. It's very easy, and almost foolproof. And all the dealer can see, is how many times the ECU has been written to. So they can't even see what changes were made. And there is zero risk of hurting the engine by doing this... It's the RS motor, that is simply held back by a setting in the software. Undo that setting, and it just restores the motor to full power.
I test rode the KTM and MT09SP and I ended up buying the Ducati. The MT I was out off by seat height and position isn't sporty, it's very supermoto style. The screen is tiny also. The KTM is excellent but you have to pay for a lot of the extras to be activated. The Ducati was as quick, it made me feel more special than the others and residuals will be a lot stronger
Hey I am looking to also get the Monster. Beautiful bike but I am concerned which what he said about the plastic quality fading away. Any issues with yours? What about the heat any issues as well?
Get a Hypermotard , you'll never look back. Most fun you can have on 2 wheels
Ktm is gay with that pay to activate bs, it reminds me of video game you pay 60$ for but if you wanna play it you need to spend another $60 on dlc’s. Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda all come with exactly what you pay for no need for extra $1000s to “unlock” something. Ktm’s suck ass imo just based on that
Come on, its 2021. Can we do better than 1080p@30?
Great review guys , gotta say I had the 2019 Mt09 and definitely loved great torque . Hooligan feel to it , but then I rode the 2020 Z 900 and hands down blew away the MT 09 . Again just my opi ion felt like I was part of the bike and way more confidence for me personally. Felt like I was gonna fall over the front of The Yamaha. Z 900 was way smoother and way better power delivery. Have not ridden any of the others but would like to.I suppose if the bike has a proper setup for the rider it would make all the difference.
Different strokes...but speaking as someone who's always been an inline-4 guy, I feel like a lot of the apparent journalistic bias against them now is just because they were the standard for so long.
Currently own a 2020 Z900. It’s been a fantastic bike. I’ve actually enjoyed it so much I’m in the process of upgrading to the ZH2. Kawi really won me over with the Z line. I was an MT die hard but damn the Zs are phenomenal.
@@Adamn58 yeah buying the z900 . Super fun and smooth
@@kenross9026 I highly recommend tuning the bike. Kawi has a restriction flash on it that mutes the top end. After my full system and flash it has a top end rush like no other middleweight naked I’ve rode.
@@Adamn58 yeah I have 2 friends that own them and both had it flashed, said it made a huge difference . Very glad to see they did away with the old screen and went to the tft they have now. Very fun bike. Zh2 looks crazy fast
Does the z900 not have 125 hp? A bit confused here.
Damn, the torque curve on the BMW is absolutely atrocious 😵
What's especially weird is that every torque curve that anyone has for this bike is profoundly different, this one being the worst of them by far. In their own "First ride" dyno chart, the numbers are quite different. Meanwhile Ridermag's torque curve is completely smooth and flat for this motor. Not sure if that's variability in testing and environment, or variability from one motor to the next.
@@PMitchell106 I’d say you hit it on the head with variability in testing/environment. I did some research myself and this is the only test with these issues. Everyone else says the engine is smooth as butter with torque everywhere. Also the videos I saw it out down like 95ish at the wheels…
With the Z900 SE (with Ohlins suspension) out now in '24, I think the Z900 has moved up the rankings quite a bit. I may be biased though because I don't like twins or triples. I want an inline 4.
Middlweight Adv Sport Tourer's next please!! Finally Shootouts are back!!
Great commentary guys-no bullshit and nice relaxed delivery. I loved the riding footage too. Great roads for riding. I’d love to ride in some of those tunnels. Keep up the good work.
I like the new Ducati! Change is good!
I just bought a new bike this year, but will definitely buy another if Yamaha makes an R9