Old and New - 2019 Kawasaki Z900RS and 1972 Kawasaki Z1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.พ. 2020
- Does the new @KawasakiUSA Z900RS feel as special as the Z1 that inspired it? Abhi takes the new bike up to Hollister, California to visit a Bike-urious reader with Z1 #265 to find out!
If you want more details about the new bike, check out Abhi's written review from the US launch:
www.bike-urious.com/first-rid...
Or if you'd like to see some of Nathan's photos of both bikes side to side, check out this gallery!
bike-urious.smugmug.com/Kawas...
Special thanks to:
Don Potter
Kawasaki USA
Arai
Aerostich
Sidi - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
![[FULL EP.14] เซียนหรั่ง สอน มาร์ชจุ จับปูนา ฮากระจาย | เฮ็ดอย่างเซียนหรั่ง | One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/M8mPjd_T2lo/mqdefault.jpg)
I own an un-restored completely standard 74 Z1A had it for over 25 years now here in the UK. It was my daily transport for many years paid 850 GBP for it, still had its original tool kit and plastic cover handbook....I would never sell it, still starts first kick or touch of the button. I have other bikes 78 Slater 1200 Mirage and a new 1200 XE Triumph. The Z1 will always be the keeper though, simply nothing like it! To me its the most beautiful bike ever made from any angle.
hey brother man put me in your will as the next lucky bastard to own a Z1 pretty please 😂❤ jokes aside would love a vid of the beauty on your channel
Bought mine in Dec-2019. I rode the original back in 73. At 62 yrs old I love the retro look and feel. Still got my 2001 ZRX 1200r....what a pair of fun from Kawasaki.
Guys If I wanted a music video I wouldn't be here, I want bike sound!!
i agree, and the music is way too loud and not that good. but thanks for an interesting vid!
Finally!! I have been wanting a comparison between the old 900 and the new 900. I thought that the old Z-1 could never be duplicated. It was an awesome bike. It felt like a motorcycle seat strapped to a surface to air missile, back in 73. It's nice to see that Kawasaki has captured that again. I want one!!
Bad thing about the old one was the poor handling at high speed compared to the new one.
Had a z900 in the 70s and loved it. Had a friend that bought a harley sportster the same time I got the z900 and we took a 400 mile road trip to break them in. When we got back home he sold his sportster because it just beat him to death on the ride and he bought a z900. Cheers...
Haha, sounds like you did him quite the favor!
I’ve got the Z900RS, but I’ve also got a 1991 1200 Sportster that I bought near new, it hardly gets ridden now! The vibration is terrible and the Kawasaki is smooth like a turbine. No comparison in power, brakes, handling, comfort.
My Big Wheel could beat a 70's era Sportster.
What a beautiful bike! Back in the early 1970's the Japanese manufacturers were being all polite by not competing directly with Harley Davidson. The Z900 was a direct displacement competitor for the 883 Sportster, and performance wise for the 74 cubic inch (1200cc) big twin FLH (etc.). That "no compete" taboo was broken for all time.
@@camgere Wrong, the Z900 only competitor was the CB750. Kawasaki had a 750 almost in production but Honda beat them to the punch. Kawasaki went back to the drawing board and came out with the Z900. Harley Davidson was nowhere in Kawasaki's R&D department.
In 1986 I bought a 1975 Z1 for $200 in Carmel, California from a rich kid who laid it down and just wanted rid of it. A junk yard alternator cover and aftermarket turn signals got me on the road. It was actually a very civilized beast. A joy in city, country roads and Interstate.
To my generation in the early ‘70s the Kawasaki Z1 was the #1 sport bike . . . unless like me you owned an H2.
Kawasaki 750 H2 MACH IV, the original one...
Had one too. Greetings from Brazil.
For the record, I'd much rather have listened to the bike's engines rather than your music.
Totally fair, and good feedback for us in upcoming videos. We just had very limited time with our recording, but we will definitely keep that in mind for the future. Thanks for watching!
Yea, I was especially waiting to hear the old girl.
I second your comment, lose the music and hear the bike.
@@Bikeurious I always find the music available online for video's to be distracting. I always rather hear the music of the engine than digital music. Good video by the way, I subscribed.
Music was good
That 70s Z1 looks so freaking nice. I absolutely love my Z900RS Cafe. I was looking for a burnt orange model like the one in the video, but once I saw the Cafe model with the bikini fairing and in Kawasaki green, I was in love. I sold my Ducati Monster and literally the next day I was at the Kawasaki dealership and bought my Z900RS Cafe in green. This is my first new bike and my fourth bike, and honestly I don't see myself selling it.
Great review. Loved the stories associated with the original as well. Thanks for posting.
The old bike is better looking than the new bike.
Yep. That radiator looks out of place.
The old bike always looking better. One. Thats because they made so many of the realy gold bike. Take 750cb. That come in 69 and thats the jear fore Honda first. All off the English and other been gone.finish. That because Honda was the new super bike. That have everything bake in 69. Then come Kawa with his Z1.900cc. yes that was did a good engine and they have good timing too slep it to the people. And then. You know the historic,so i didnt tell more,but wee have already slepet so many good bikes before Vee can say. Thats Kawa or Honda or other bike is so good and have all the characteristic like all the bike they have built before is like nearly nonn like that wee have hear today. That they i think it never becomes. That because off many thing but one moment is that wee have made some wery wery good oldtimer before like Cb750 or Kawa Z1 with his 900cc engine and thats eksplain a lot fore they some have one or simply know a little more about the bike and have a old great bike already self. Too have a cb750 or a Kawa Z1 with his 900cc engine in it and off wee are so lucky off they have been saved from the many things like they can do too keep it faster o.l wee are great some already have a lott off bike around in the hole planet with some Honda 750four with a blue orig color and it sleepts in the holy ear 1969. That wee only shall remember Honda CB 750 four.know its over 50jers from they slept they to today. And det still running like a canon and make the historic voise too soo many people in the hole planet. And too the last not forget the Kava Z1 with his 900cc engine. Lets remember the hole bike. Kawasaki Z1 900cc. Goes like a Fast Japanese Train. They goes like a ... Thats because wee vill have a lott off problems with 1newone in carbon and plastic. So good bless the Honda CB 750cc and b.l.a. Kava Z1 with hees 900cc engine. And lets all thinking off formel 1 sound from a CBX 1000cc. It take fore hees self that lady my gentlemen. That are a few bike off many too,so i see. They have already make some realy bike a long time ago. It was also a time sins we been in moon.
Great video. Loved Don’s insights!
I got a 75’ Z1b in my garage. When I break it out the heads really turn. People think it’s a modern bike when in fact it is 45 years old. The styling of the ducktail and gas tank are absolute perfection and timeless. The exhaust note is immediately recognizable as a Kawasaki. I planning on a complete restoration in the next year or so. I’ll never selling it; at least till I’m 85. 😎
That sounds great - best of luck with the restoration!
@@Bikeurious
Hey i live there
Wonderful video......thanks guys!
I was 12 when I saw this bike for the first time I was stunned. Congratulations on such a treasure Thank you again for your time.thumbs up, of course
This was a fun video. Back in the 70's, I spent a lot of time on a Z and and Honda 750 (My roomates' bikes). Great memories riding all around the California coast. I've been riding cruisers for years now, but I really want a z900rs. Such a beautiful bike.
Great video. Thanks brother. God bless you.
Super well done! That wheelie at the end was fantastic
Haha, thank you! It was a fun shoot and a fun bike, the Z900RS makes it easy to wheelie!
Excellent vídeo prodution. My father had the Z1 in 73, and we rode her from Portugal to Mónaco,and Canne's cinema festival when i was 12. I own the RS candybrown since 2018, and everytime i Ride it its a Journey to memory lane. The unique sound, the paintjob, Kawasaki did it, they've built the best looking bike ever made. An ícone, intemporal, and most pleaseant all day Cruiser.
Look I had to come back here. You people did a super great job. Yes we all love the sounds of motor bikes but the most powerful bikes make the least noise now. The 72 triples made the noise of the devil and so sweet but I watched your video with Stereo headphones and was very impressed by your overall sound and production quality. Keep up the good work.
Great job brother!
Man, I remember riding 100-125cc mx bikes as a kid. Most street bikes intimidated me massively (I was, and am short), but when I saw a Z1, I was in awe - and literally scared of it.
Fast forward - I'm 62, have owned and ridden lots of bikes, but mostly Harleys from about 35yrs old to 2018. Everything from Sportsters to Electra Glide, Road King, Softails.
Took a 4 yr break, and I'm as happy as a clam to have recently gotten back to two wheels with my '23 café in classic black and gold. Man, I absolutely love this bike!
this the first comparison video of these bikes i have seen thanks for this i own a fleet of z1's and kz's, infact 2 of my daily riders are a 1974 z1-a and an 1982 kz1000j both are a blast to ride(just a bit hot rodded). so i have a real interest in seeing how the new bike compares.
I saw you forever ago on Jay Leno's Garage with the V-twin Enfield. Somehow I never made it over to your youtube until today. Subscribed.
Great piece! ❤️ the site as well. Cheers 🍻
Thanks, Sarah!
I owned and drove a 73 Z1. In 1977 I purchased it in Oakville,Ontario. It needed exhaust pipes, new chain and both sprockets and a tune-up. Back then it was very fast. I have a picture of me sitting on it . It was fast for those times. I sold it in 1985 for $2200.00 I wish I hadn't.
Mr. Blair M. Phillips
Canada
Well done my man!
Thanks bud!
What a great video! Very professional. I know you’re being polite, but I’m pretty sure you know the new Z900RS is vastly superior in every way to the original Z1, but you’d expect that after nearly 50 years difference. I’ve got the same Root Beer Z900RS, bought it 2 years ago and it’s done 20,000 kms whatever that is in miles. Only problem was fuelling was a bit iffy, but I fixed that. There’s still a lot of early Z1s here in Australia, guys restore them and they’re worth a lot of money. We were a big market for them and my brother bought one new in 1974.
Thanks for the kind words!
Agreed on the fueling - don't know if you have a chance to check out my First Ride Review: www.bike-urious.com/first-ride-2018-kawasaki-z900rs/
How did you end up fixing it?
I had a quick look at your review but I’ll read it in full tonight.
I did a lot of research and bought a device called a Booster Plug which fools the ECU into thinking the outside temperature is cooler under certain conditions. It works very well and fixes the snatchy throttle almost 100%, ideally it needs a ECU reflash which I’ll get done when the bike is out of warranty in a couple of weeks. We get 2 years warranty.
www.boosterplug.com/shop/frontpage.html
The Jaffa!!! 😎
I was a Kawasaki Z-1 fan. I still am. But, then Yamaha came out with the V-max.
I'm looking to tame the twitchy throttle of my z900rs as well with an ECU reflash in the next few weeks. I've heard good things about the booster plug but I consider it a bandaid, albeit a good one.
Remember tooling around with my cousin...me on a 750 Triumph Trident and him on a Z1. Good times!
This is the most unique review of the Z900RS I've seen. Great concept to place it side-by-side with the original and to ask the owner's opinion of the new bike. I have a 1975 Z1B and Don is correct, the exhaust note coming out of the original is what a motorcycle should sound like. Mine has the period-correct mod Kerker header. If Kawasaki has duplicated that sound, they have given heed to an important detail. Thanks for a great look at the new and original Z.
What a great video!
Thanks, Iain! Glad you enjoyed it.
That's a beautiful bike!
My Kawasaki GPz900R (1985-Ninja-blue-grey) (was the replacer for the Z1) with a short open Yoshimura pipe is until now..still the best sounding motorcycle i've ever heard in my life...and I had many motorcycles..a few Suzuki GSX1100R's ,Suzuki GSX1000R K8 and the Suzuki B-King with open Bodis exhaust..
Beautiful bikes and Show
I wish they retained that dual exhaust. The old z900 exhaust are neat.
I love early zeds they had the best paint combinations
Other than the bicurious music, nice production.
When the music started I thought one of the bikes had a rod knock.
First great Video! Funny about his college money, I did the same, sorta, I used mine to buy a 1977 RD400 ($400), in 1987, and used it as a commuter and racer for a few years. I then had to sell it to pay for my last quarter of my degree. I later replaced it with a KZ550, then traded that for a 81 GPZ550 and raced it. Eventually getting an RZ350 to race which I still have to this day in full race trim. I currently have been on a journey to restore a 81 GPZ550 that I rescued, as well as conversion of a 81 GPZ1100 to a KZ1000R S1 Replica. Daily commuter is a ZRX1100..tricked out and I am in the process of getting a 2022 Z900RS Z1 anniversary edition. I think Kawasaki did a bang-up job on the new Z900, just the right look in my book. I wish it had more ponies...but that can be added with the new Yoshimura cams for it. Z1's are well outside of my price range these days, still amazing bikes even today.
KAWASAKI ALL THE WAY! Let the good times roll! Greetings from BRAZIL!
1984 Kawasaki GPz 900 R owner...
For the last 18 years.
I bought a 1975 Z1 brand new that year, put 20,000 miles on it, and then sold it 4 years later because we were expecting our first baby. I didn't know my scooter was going to become a classic!
The 1972 Z1 was the first Japanese bike bigger than the 883 Harley Davidson Sportster. It had more power than an FLH 1200 as well (82 vs. 58). Easy Rider came out in 1969 and the Willie G Davidson FX Superglide came out in 1971. Game on!
Great presentation- v. Professional! Back in 1980 I met a guy at Greyhound late one night on the way home to Phile.- we talked through the night and by time his bus came around to head back- he just handed me the keys to his ''77 KZ 1000 and said- 'Keep it till I get back to SF! 'So there I was with A KZ1000- my experience on bikes was only that of an old Honda 450 some years past. WOW- suffice it to say- I nearly killed myself on it many times but had a Blast- "jetting" over the Golden Gate bridge over 100MPH, Route 1 was a favorite of mine heading South to Santa Cruz. In those day I was managing an international Guest house for backpackers and I had every European 'Fine young woman' on the back trippining out to the coast or up around Napa Valley finding Kool places and IMPRESSING my New girlfriends ALL the way- yeah KZ made it all easy!
I have my 1978 kz1000 my 1976 kz900 and a 1977 kz1000 drag bike. Love the old dinasours
still got my 79 KZ 1000 MKII, bought in brand new
@@peteg8187 thats a rare one now days
Good video. The Z1 was the beginning of the end for the CB750. And the Z900RS may be the beginning of the end for the CB1100F. My brother has a 2014 CB1100 Deluxe. I’ve ridden it many times. Awesome bike. I recently bought a 2020 Z900RS cafe and can honestly say it’s way for fun to ride. BTW you nailed it on the history of Honda beating them to the punch. I read a book on Sochiro Honda. Great book. I still have two 750s. Keep up the good work. 👍
Thanks for watching! The new Z900RS is definitely a lot of fun, congrats on the new bike!
Much beautiful old z
Would rather have the z900 in 2020 and I mean it. To me it's one of the best looking bikes ever made to this day ✌🏻
I was a service manager and mechanic with a Suzuki/Kawasaki shop north of N.Y.C. and got to service and road test them many times. Customers were so very satisfied with them and I quickly noticed how light the handling was at low speeds as well as it's overall good manners. Amazing there aren't more still in service, glad to see that a few good examples remain.
Good looking except that radiator.
nice job!
Good job 👍
When the Z1 hit the market it was a game changing, mind blowing, instant hit! Police departments everywhere sold their Harley's and bout Z1's. My uncle toad one, and while he owned a Honda 750 and loved it he was in love with his work bike. He said it was the best balanced bike he ever road. One day after a double shift he stopped off at 7-11 to get some coffee and take a break before heading into the station to write up his reports. When he came back out and went to get on his Z1 he noticed that he had never put the kickstand down. Try that with another bike, any bike!
So the bike was on it's side? Standing up without kickstand? What are you talking about? LOL
What a load of rubbish.
Ken Cohagen, Yeah, he just told it to stand there--like the cowboy's horse. Try that with a mule!
To me. the 1973 Kawasaki Z1 (Zed One) is the most beautiful bike ever. I would love to have a large diecast model of it. And then there are the 1972 two strokes. Mine was orange
Not many know that the orange 500cc two stroke H1s came with either electronic or contact breaker ignition systems, in the U.S. anyway. Dealership I worked at sold several of both types.
i loved z900rs. but damn. that Z1 😍
Has there ever been a more beautiful bike? I don't think so. Oh, maybe it's because I have one. A 1976 Z900 A4 that I have owned from new. Never been restored, self maintained and it has just over 100000 miles on the odometer. Still a daily runner .
Wow, that's awesome! Congratulations to you, that's very impressive.
Amazing.
Thanks so much!
Fantastica!✌🏍
Cool video. There's a few more than 1000 1973 Z1's running around though.
A friend of mine , short in stature, had one in high school. It seemed like such a heavy bike back then. But very powerful and fast to me. He went through the drive through at jack in the box one day. While getting his wallet out of his pocket he leaned the bike over to far and pinned himself between the wall and the bike. The guy at the window had to come outside and pull the bike off of him. Not sure if any drugs or alcohol were involved. :)
So rad
Thanks, Tim!
Such a nice clip! Like + sub!
Thanks a lot!
Love the old kawasakis I have a H1 500 from 71. It's quirky as hell compared to my Aprilia RS250. Wouldn't part with either.
That's a great pair, I like your taste in bikes!
Z1 is so cool. Nice review and good image quality. Please let me subscribe.
I am lucky enough to own a 1974 Z1A which I have had for many years now, and a 2018 900RS which I brought new, and I would say that overall the Z1A is by far my favourite bike of the two. yes the RS is lighter, better handling, better brakes, faster, etc etc, but there is something very special about the old Z9's that just make it more fun to ride. IMO..
I had a 1973 900 Kawi.... It was super fast but at very high speeds I could feel the chassis flex enough to nearly scare me into a heart attack.
thats an easy fix i own a fleet of z1's and kz's and i do the same thing to all of them get rid of the crappy shocks, install decent tires and install needle bearings in the swingarm pivot and tapered bearings in the steering head problem solved
@@timryerson6733Looking to sell?
Ditch the music. Owned the 1973 Z1. Bulletproof and have the best memories on that bike.
The new Kawasaki is nice bike. But the rear shocks on the side is missing that is a bit sad.
Yea Im an old school rider.
I would install a 4 into 4 exhaust system made by Doremi on the RS 900 to make it look like the original Z1
@@winkeemanley1820 yea that should look good on this bike.
The styling of the older bikes appeal to me more than the present designs.
I owned a 1970 Honda K0 and a 1978 Kawasaki Z1000. Regret selling them.
A key aesthetic of the Z1 and the Z900 was the four into four exhausts. I'm surprised that the Z900RS doesn't have this feature.
The exhaust pipes only lasted 2 years per set due to rusting through. Everyone started putting headers on, lucky for me. I had a deal with my local Kawi dealer, I’d pay for a header ($150) if the new bikes owner would let me have the new stock pipes. They got a free upgrade, the dealer made a sale, and I got 4 new pipes for cheap (factory replacements were $100 apiece) Win-Win-Win!
i have an a4 engine in a z1b frame that used to belong to bob champion in new york.
I agree ,we don't want to hear music, we want to hear the engine
My soul catch the Z1.
i like the old school.
My oil-cooled 2014 CB1100 more closely resembles the 70's era Big Four bikes, despite having too much black painted parts. This Kawasaki just looks like a newer naked bike with a retro gas tank and emblems. Are the Honda or Kawasaki fast? Not so much. Fun? A big yes!
Interesting point ,and I like the air/ oil cooled look of the Honda, , I have the z900rs, I wouldn't swap it!
Please make a video on Kawasaki Z2 750 rs too
Dude is Carlos Lagos legit. Good stuff.
That's very kind of you, thanks so much!
@@Bikeurious You are very welcome. Well done.
I love my 2018 Z900rs... except the blown head gasket it had suffered after 200 miles riding. Lol.
I love my Kawasaki boxer 100t super 100 cc bike
I CANNOT believe they didn't put chrome fenders on the new bike! That's what the 70's was all about.
Ha, but everyone would just do a fender delete anyway.
Kawasaki put out another milestone in the late 70's with the LTD 900, which coined the term crypto chopper, and set the standard for that particular style for many years to come. Also the T-shirt you're wearing with different shades of yellow and orange are emblematic of the 1970's, google patterns for bed linens in the 70's, it was a common color pattern during that time period.
Great eye! It's hard to see but my shirt is actually a Z900RS shirt from Kawasaki, and as you say it's designed to look like it's from the 70s. (It also says "Let the Good Times Roll" on the back. I got it when I was at the US press launch for the bike, you can check out my review here:
www.bike-urious.com/first-ride-2018-kawasaki-z900rs/
Thanks for watching!
Zed 1 please
Dad bought his Rootbeer / Orange '73 new and still has it to this day with 1,700 original miles sitting on its factory Dunlops. I was 3 when he brought it home for the first time and went from riding on the back to riding it myself. When you hammer the throttle, you tuck in your knees and hold on!
Wow! That's like marrying a supermodel and never banging her. How could you NOT ride that bike. Frankly, that's a crime.
Consumer Mentality vs. Collector Mentality...
The 2020 Z900RS, in the candy olive green with yellow trim is a thing of beauty, although that weird three-piece front fender...it gotta go.
Yep. Whoever designed the mount for that front fender must be the same guy that invented new coke in the 90s.
I had a 900 z1 B I was told the B designated that it was a police/law enforcement version way to fast for how bad it stopped
Walt 303 ..erm....nope..the B’ is just the next letter in the model sequence ie; Z1, Z1A, Z1B...
Kawasaki's are the best
Well to me it's just like the repli-cars today, Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. The new Z900RS is better in every way than the original Z1. However the looks of the originals are much nicer, but the new 900RS is probably styled as close to the original as the manufacturer can make it. Hopefully my surgery is going to allow me to recover because I can see a 2020 900RS Kawasaki in my future.
My dad and Grandpa both rode these. They always praised and bragged about them. They even had a fairing on theirs for touring. I wouldn't mind having one to play around with today although I'm a Harley guy 👍. They hated Harley's but in the 70s they were crap . But this is 2020
Your folks sound awesome. Go snag a KZ1000, similar riding experience but much cheaper!
JohnnyRebKy, They're still crap-- or I'm Paddy Cleburne; and if you don't know who he was he's buried in Franklin.
@@ccahill2322 I’ve had Harley’s for 20 years now and never had a issue with either of them 🤷🏼♂️. But ok 👍🏻
Beide Schöne Motorräder. Schön Gemacht Kawasaki🤫😇
My dad's best friend father out ran a squad of Baltimore County police back in the 1970's on his Z900, one car flipped trying to keep up with him. Needless to say he was apprehended hours later at home, dragged out of his house and given a BCPD beat down on his front lawn before they hauled him into the police station, a CB'er got his tag number and later turned it into the police, if it wasn't for that, he would have gotten away.
that new 900 needs a rear fender - something that hugs the tire. Would look better IMO
You're forgetting, Kawasaki had the 2 stroke 750-3's SCREAMED like a chainsaw, the four stroke Honda 750-4 was no match
Bike-curious is one awesome name!
Thanks!
I know this is an old video, but can someone explain why the new Z900RS has such massive rear wheel clearance compared to the original? it just looks weird to me.
BTW Honda has air-cooled engine and spoke wheels.
Anyway, I 'm a Kawasaki guy
Funny you guys talking about the sound of these machine but instead of that we hear shitty music 🤨🤨
The music was making me nauseous. Nice video otherwise, though, I thought.
@@OgamiItto70 They should have used the 'outro' tune throughout instead of that iPad made in 2 minutes no talent nausea.
Both beautiful bikes. I do miss the 4 into 4 exhaust on the new ones but I hear if you have a spare Kidney to donate you can get a 4 into 4 for the new bike. Looks strange without the twin shocks also but I'm sure the mono shock has better ride and handling characteristics but neither is a reason to not buy the newer versions. Thanks.
Great video. Would rather hear the bikes than the awful background music though 😉.
Kawi really missed the boat on the Z900 RS’ exhaust. It looks nothing like the original bike’s pipes. Tbh, the bike doesn’t look anything like the original. Honda did a better job of capturing the nostalgic look of their classic bike.
As a current owner of a 2018 Kawi z900rs, I disagree. I take my bike to impromptu car/bike shows in Long Island NY and I have to say, folks come up to me every single time wondering how my bike is in such pristine condition, and most times I have to tell them this is the new bike before they realize it themselves. Previous owners and fans of the original z900 told me that the exhaust was always the first thing to go on those bikes. Riders always went for the 4-to-1 pipes to make the bike lighter so they could go racing on drag strips. So, the new z900 actually does all that for you out the box. Let's not forget that if you really do want 4-to-4 pipes, you can always get it aftermarket. I agree that Honda's CB1100 is more nostalgic because it makes fewer compromises, it has the steel, the chrome, is heavy and is air-cooled. Where the z900rs has it beat is it's close enough in looks to the original z900 to fool previous owners and fans while being a completely modern bike that is lighter, and much faster than the CB1100.
I realize what you say is mostly true. Although I wouldn’t call the new Z “fast” as it only makes around 110 horsepower. My Dad had a ‘74 Z-1 in the green with yellow stripes. He kept the 4-4 pipes. Made it look badass imo. The new Z is nice but imo i think it could have been better. For example, my FZ-07 makes almost as much torque as that Z does, not sure if that’s a compliment to Yamaha or a slam to Kawi. I also own a Concours 14, it’s a locomotive and it truly is fast.
It depends on one's definition of "almost", I suppose. Looking at various dyno charts, it appears an FZ-07 has ~20 ft-lbs less torque and about 30 fewer ponies than the Z900RS.
The Z1 wasn't just faster than the CB750, it was *devastatingly faster*. How do I know ?
I bought a brand new Z1B when I was 18 and I used to sit on the side of the road and overtake my CB750 friends as they passed by at 60mph, with my Z1 in first gear :)
The poor old CB750 was a slug in comparison, even if it was a lovely bike.
Actually the Kawasaki was only about 1 sec faster than the cb750. in the quarter mile. I still own both.
When you say 'only' 1 second faster in the 1/4 mile you make it sound like a minor difference?
Consider my 1992 CBR900RR ? It's 'only' about 3 seconds faster than the CB750 yet has almost DOUBLE the horsepower and is 45 lbs lighter.
At times I get all nostalgic about my Z1B, then I remember it didn't handle well, didn't brake well but like my CBR900RR it would wheelstand from throttle, but perhaps the Hooker 4 into one exhaust I fitted helped a bit there.
1969 Honda 750
---------
1/4 mile: 13.5 @ 100.9 mph
top speed: 123.2 mph
capacity: 736cc sohc
wet weight: 226kg / 499 lbs
HP: 67 @ 8000 rpm
torque: 60 Nm / 44 ft-lb @ 8500 rpm
1971 Kawasaki Z1B
------------
1/4 mile: 12.61 @ 105mph
top speed: 135 mph
capacity: 903cc dohc
wet weight: 247.6kg / 546 lbs
HP: 82 @ 8500 rpm
torque: 73.5 Nm / 54.3 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm
1994 Honda CBR900RR
-------------------
1/4 mile: 10.3 seconds @ 131.4 mph
top speed: 164 mph
capacity: 893 cc dohc, 4 valves per cyl
wet weight: 206kg / 454 lb
HP: 122 @ 10500
torque: 88 Nm / 64.9 lb-foot @ 10,000 rpm
Z1 is one of the best sounding 70s bikes, such a pity we didn't get to hear that beautiful sound ruined by that useless background music turned up to max! You seriously think people want to hear that music over the sound of a Z1?
agree.
Hey, if you look like Poncherello and you gonna test Zeds 900s, turn of that music and let us listen their engines roar!
That's pure matter of logic! 😉
guess you never hear of prime rib
Rib eyes in Texas!
Rear shocks would of been better
Best vid was S&S at the dragstrip .....all music FFS..!