For some reason comments are disappearing from this video and others and I’m not seeing them on the YT dashboard so cannot reply - sorry! Cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, great reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Great Video and I totally agree in every aspect!👍Bought mine in april in really love it as you do! Have a great time! Greetings from trier, germany! Hope next year I visit your lovely country!
I bought the z900rs in 2018 when it first came out in orange/rootbeer....4 years later it still excites and I still love to "bench" ride it when the weather is bad....best bike Ive ever owned and Ive owned a lot.
Good morning, now that’s a lovely colour scheme! Great to know that even after all that time the bike still hits the mark. I think I’ll be keeping mine for quite some time…Thanks for stopping, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Jim! Yeah I got a bit of flack about the beer, cheese and biscuit reviews, can you believe it! Still, if there’s public demand 😀 Totally enjoying it! Cheers, Phil.
Good morning Mr Outlander. Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. The moon was a corker, imagine my surprise when I saw what was behind me when replaying the footage! The real shame is that if I kept the camera rolling a little bit longer I'd have got the lunar eclipse with a fleet of X-Wing fighters crossing in front of it. Still, there's always another time! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Who are you?? Screen writer? Director? Movie editor? You amazed me... Totally impressed with the cinematic of this video. Wow! Absolutely wow... Thanks for an epic video. Your insights on the Z900RS is greatly appreciated. Two thumbs wayyyyyy up!!! Cheers from Malaysia :D
Hello! Ha ha None of the above 😀 Thanks for your kind words - great to know the work is appreciated! More to come soon I hope, thanks for watching and hope all is ok in Malaysia, cheers, Phil.
Morning Rich, you’re absolutely right. A kid with a crayon would probably draw the Z900 if asked to draw a bike…either that or maybe a MX bike….And it’s not orange, which personally, is a colour I find quite challenging on a bike 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Axel, you know, I think that’s the conclusion I’m coming round to…What a bike! Thanks for watching, greetings from the UK and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Morning Natasha, thanks for stopping by. Yes, what a bike! It has to be be one of the best I’ve ever owned also and it’s so much more than “just another retro styled” bike. Love it! Hope all is good where you, cheers, Phil.
Solid review. Love mine, a '21 green/yellow combo too - a truly classic UJM. And you're absolutely correct about the clocks- so traditional, clear and informative and I'm not dancing thru a bunch of screens or choices. Wonderful engine too, along w/exhaust/intake sounds.
Hey Levi, classic is the word! As for the clocks, having experienced that weird and useless anxiety of the TFT where you’re forever switching modes, flicking switches, changing settings and wondering whether they are ‘right’ I realised it was the the equivalent of staring at a phone and not taking the real world in as you walk. And the beauty of bikes is surely the analogue connection to a machine and the world around you. All I need to know is speed, revs and time. Sorted! What a bike! Anyway thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great insights into the owning experience of this dream machine. It was love at first site for me in it's presence. Just breathtaking attention to detail. The large tear drop tank in metallic paint, the analog gauges... Kawasaki nailed it
Hey Robert, of course I’m going to agree with you completely! You’re right it does have quite some presence and like you I think the tank shape is just gorgeous. I know some folk say it’s too big or bulbous but I think it really adds to the sense of old school solidity. As the analog gauges I find I’m appreciating them more and more - you get exactly what you need and no more with a quick flick of your eyes and there’s no fiddling about with buttons, scrolling or whatever…Brilliant! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
At last! A real motorcycle TH-cam channel with no music and no waffle. Top class production work, but the lighting guy needs to add a bit more sunshine to the set :)
Thanks Jonathan! Kind words much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have a word with the lighting guy as suggested 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a great video! Different format and styling made it really interesting. Great production and editing. I like your style. Northumberland is probably my favourite county in the UK.
Thanks very much…The videos are as much about enjoying the filming and editing as the bike…Plus having the attention span of a gnat, personally I can’t be doing with 25 minutes of GoPro on a helmet. Anyway, I’ve found I can’t speak and ride at the same time…Remind me to tell you the story of my first wife and the intercom 😀 Northumberland is totally glorious. Coming from Manchester and having lived in South Cheshire for ages, the skies, the space, the beaches, the empty roads are just glorious and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. Of course, it’s really windy and the winter is chuffing grim (though beautiful) and I can’t really understand Geordies but this is home and I love it! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
What a joy to find a channel with such dedication to the aesthetic representation of a humble motorbike review. Beautiful bike. As a 2016 XSR900 owner, the brakes and suspension are wanting - that said, the engine is mad as a box of frogs and keeps me on my toes.
Evening Gerhard, well the videos are about me practicing stuff as well as droning on about motorbikes so I’m glad the two things come together, kinda work and are appreciated. And yes, the engine on the XSR is amazing…spins up so beautifully and smoothly yet with a big dose of absolute hooligan. Great bike. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Bought a Z900 abs in February., the so called naked version. I enjoy it so much, I'm trading in my VStrom for a '22 blue RS 900. Wonderful engines and everything else. No complaints. Now my brother can ride with me on some long trips. The RS should be somewhat more comfortable. Love that dark green metallic of your bike. Thanks for the great video.
Hey Frank, hope you’re doing well. Sounds like you’re hooked on the Kawasaki 4 cylinder loveliness and just the great ease of use and fun factor. I’m still blown away by mine to be honest and yes, the green paint is quite nice..As is the blue! Glad you enjoyed the video, your comments are very much appreciated, cheers, Phil.
I got a Z900 RS 2 month ago and did go bit over 3000km so far. I still get exited when i open my garage and love to ride it. I couldn't agree more to the review. cheers!
Thanks, yes, it is a right bit of eye candy, I’m very very happy with it. Wish I’d got it two years ago, still, it’s here now! Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Non stoppie als je hem eens wil testen always welkom. Ik heb de Candy Tone brown in men garage staan Je moet wel overkomen naar het belgenland hiervoor 🤣
This is the bike that bought me back to riding after ~30 years away! My Green Meanie now has 1,124 miles on it, and most of my observations match yours. The last new bike I purchased was a GPZ900 in 1986, and when you compare and contrast the overall build quality, including the paintwork, frankly there is no comparison. I still giggle when I walk into my garage and see it sat there, although I have also added a grab rail as I think that perfectly completes the retro vibe. Speaking of which - whilst the mirrors do remain clear, I am a bit surprised by the buzziness of the grips. I've purchased some Grip Puppies, but not fitted them yet. Also, I find the seat pushes me too far forward ( I'm 6'2" and 219lb ), putting a bit too much strain on my wrists at low speeds. But, I certainly see no need to flash the ECU, change the headers etc. etc. as I read so many others do. That said, I might be tempted to change the front sprocket to a 16T as I do find 1st rather low. Apart from that, what's not to love? Oh, and nice production values !
Hello Simon, yes, when I think back to my GPZ900 with anti-dive forks, 16” front wheel and super thin paint (concentric chain adjust though!) I do shudder a little! Must admit I’ve not noticed any buzziness through the grips (yet) but I haven’t done any sustained / stable speed on it yet - mainly up and down the box all the time, so perhaps that may show up. As for the seat, I’m 5’10 and it feels fine to me but I could see how being (a lot) taller might compromise that. And yes, I won’t be getting it flashed, after a few hundred miles I’ve adapted and it’s not a problem. I think it’s part of understanding the characteristics of a bike and making it work. Sure if I were commuting everyday I might have a different opinion bug then I’d probably get CB500. It’s a cracking bike, works well for cruising, messing about and touring…Just love it! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I would say to not discount the ECU flash. I have put a similar amount of time on my z900rs, and I came to the same conclusion about the snatchy throttle, I can just get used to it. A buddy of mine also got the same bike, and he recently had the ECU flashed. I must admit, after riding it around without the injectors totally cutting off when you close the throttle totally, its a whole new bike. Throttle is much smoother and the over the top engine braking is very much reduced. There were a few performance things that got better, but that was all moot. Removing the injector cut will take the bike to the next level, I promise.
Had my 2021 model since Feb, agree 100% with your views, Way better than i even expected & this from someone who has a 2020 Ducati Streetfighter & def the best sounding bike ever on a stock exhaust. Great Review AU.
Hey Andrew, thanks for stopping by - great to know you’re still enjoying the bike. I think part of the reason is that in one bike it satisfies so much of what is good about motorbikes - looks great, pride of ownership, fast, handles, cruises nicely, sounds great and isn’t so demanding or focussed that it becomes a one trick machine. It’s brilliant. Glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
Mate...I subscribed 2minutes in. Then it just got better and better. Wicked production and humour. And you have a Guzzi V7. I don't...but want one because fate had me buy a V50II maaaaany years ago on my OE and rode it all around your fair geen land then across Europe to Israel and all about. Loved Guzzis ever since and forever. Take care bro. Ride on. Love and respect from a kiwi. That Kawasaki is just bloody gorgeous by the way.
A Guzzi to Israel! Brilliant! I took various bikes through Europe, Turkey and onto the Middle East in the early 90’s so you must have had a blast. I met some bloke on a ferry from Patreus - sure he was a Kiwi and we stocked up on vodka before boarding, played poker for 48 hours, only ate Mars Bars and I don’t remember anything. Best approach for boats I reckon 😀 The Z is just great, just hoping I can get to Europe on it next year, this year is toast but the thought of whizzing around the Alps, the Dolomites, the Picos keeps me going. Hope all is ok where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Great vídeo! My opinion is the same as yours! I’ve got a Z900RS Cafe for one and a half a year and I’m still in love with it and every ride is a pleasure! Congratulations for the video!
Morning Paulo, thanks very much - glad you enjoyed the review. Great to hear a long term owner still loves the bike. Hope all is well where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Your cinematography and general quality is amazing! Keep it up. Big growth ahead for this channel. I’m not even interested in this bike (‘20 R Nine T Pure owner here). I’m trying to get some editing and shot ideas for a MC side channel…this is a gold mine of what every MC channel should strive to be. Liked and subbed!!!
Good morning! Thanks very much - good to know the work is appreciated. And good luck with your own channel….I came close to a R Nine T before choosing the Z - they are great bikes. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual. I like the fact that you keep a healthy rotation of bikes going - why not? We only have one go-around on this earth, might as well sample all the flavors and enjoy. Plus I always think 'maybe that's the bike for me'... Enjoy and keep the videos coming please!
Hello again. Yes, I decided that while I can and before the demise of the ICE, I’d like to try a lot bikes in a way I couldn’t do years ago. And of course, to try and find the perfect mix and the keeper(s). Which I reckon, I’m now quite close too with the CRF, the Z and maybe a new Guzzi 😀 Finding what you really want as opposed to what you think you need is a very complex equation. At least that’s my excuse. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
What an amazing quality review. Sounds, camera angles, content, narrative. Just excellent. Considering getting this one but also had one eye on the touring 1000zx or the new suzuki gt. Thinking I need to go back to basics and have regular handlebars without the faring, despite the wind blast that will inevitably come and lack of weather protection.
Evening Dunc, how are you doing? Many thanks for stopping by and your kind words on the review - much appreciated. As for touring, I took mine over to Switzerland last year and found it supremely comfortable and with a little windshield on it, a steady 85 (where conditions allow) was absolutely fine and I never got that sense of having to hang or of getting sucked off the bike. Obviously when the weather takes a turn for the worse you’ll feel the lack of fairing, but let’s face it, the sun always shines on a Z900RS 😀 Having said that the new Suzuki is meant to be amazing though, doesn’t look half as cool as the Kawasaki though hahaha. Anyway, hope all is well and let me know what you decide to do, cheers, Phil.
It certainly does and the thing is it’s fun for all sorts of riding and so confidence inspiring. Then you add the noise in and life doesn’t really get any better. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Just picked mine up here in NZ yesterday. 2022 in blue and gold. Went for a blat through the hills , what fun it was. You forgot to mention the glorious induction noise under throttle. Off for a ride north with the boys tomorrow. Ps My last Kawasaki roadbike was the magnificently evil H2 ( yes that long ago ) Let the good times roll 😃🏁
Hey Neville, how are you doing? Quite well I’d imagine with a brand new, gorgeous blue and gold Z900RS in your garage! Hope you had/are having a fabulous ride up north! But yes, induction roar, especially in a high gear is just delicious. The whole bike is! I love it! Plus it handles beautifully! On to your H2 then 😀 Yeah, lovely and smoky. I never rode one but I’ve a few run ins with bikes that over powered their chassis and whose fuelling was er…interesting. Hence when I ride the Z900RS it’s like soooooo easy and what bikes should be like. And personally I find the throttle fine! Hope all is well in NZ, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Had to subscribe, you are my generation for sure. Used to ride a Suzuki GT500 two stroke twin back the Mid/late 80's. Now as a returning biker I ride a Harley M8 Low Rider. Thanks for the ride on the Kawasaki, beautiful bike.
Hey Mark, GT500….Mmmmm…I can smell and see the blue haze of smoke now 😀 Hoping you had a blue one - they looked lovely. I don’t think they stopped very well did they! Thanks for stopping by, your comments are much appreciated and hope the Harley is going well, cheers, Phil.
A new bike !!! .Classy ride . I love the sound track of this one ... Comfort and speed ... I really like the idea of a steady steed in the middle of a bumpy curve . Strong and sure footed ;Always a great combination ..COngratulations !!!! Thanks for the ride ... Yours Guy
Good evening Guy, how are you doing? Comfort and speed….Yes, a sign of growing up maybe? 😀 But yes, it’s a lovely, lovely motorcycle, so easy to ride yet not boring, super efficient but not clinical or anodyne and ooohhhhh…That paintwork! I feel it will be a very handy machine when / should I ever get back to Europe….Or PA 😀 And the wife likes it. Hope all is going well in the pottery. Looking forward to another motovlog around the leafy lanes! Cheers, Phil.
hello! I'm sorry. 2nd message for you from the country of Kawasaki. I'm not good at English language. In my 1st message, I want tell you that your video is very beautiful and nice editing .And sound is also good. I’m looking forward to next video! Thank you ! and God speed!
Hello my friend from Japan! My Japanese is much much worse than your English! I’ve just watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics and despite everything I found it beautiful, unique and very affecting. Japan is a country I would love to visit. Very glad you enjoyed the video, I will do better next time I promise. Thank you so much for stopping by, and god speed also, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Louis - glad you said that as I'm thinking of doing visuals only next time, mainly because I struggle to think of anything useful to say :-) The bike is lovely, you're right & thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Had to turn the volume up to 11 for the start of your vid. Mmmm, sounds so good!!! I have 4500 miles on my '21 Cafe and owning a zrx1200 w/full Muzzy exhaust and pods, I can safely say the z900rs is a brilliant upgrade. And the only cycle I'll replace my z900rs with will be another z900rs. Dear Saint T.E.L, I hope my bike sounds as good as yours. I'm gonna go back and listen again
Morning Charlie, hope you’re doing ok. Yes, it does make a quite delicious sound! I’m sure it pops a little on the overrun also which can only be a good thing 😀 The ZRX (Lawson rep I assume) must sound quite good also…perhaps a little more raucous….What with your cafe I’m seeing quite a bit of green in your garage! Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Martin, great to know you enjoyed the video. As for talent, well, I don’t know really but I keep trying to up the quality and do something different and visually appealing each time. More coming soon! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I like these kinds of designs in the world of sharp angles, geometric shapes for fuel tanks seeing a swooping design in a modern standard motorcycle is an amazing thing. For now, I'm stuck with my 2020 CB400SF since I just started riding but looking forward to picking up a Z900RS once I'm ready.
Morning, thanks for stopping by…Yes, the swoopiness of the design is what really caught my eye also - and when you consider the donor bike for the RS it’s quite an unbelievable transformation! And your CB400 will do just fine for the time being I’m sure. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thank you for your heart touching review. I been search for 10 motorcycles to buy and you made me to by z900rs. I have plan to drive to UK from Seoul South Korea. I hope to meet you someday after pandemic.
Thanks so much for your review! My first Kawasaki was a 2001 ZR7S with the 1/4 fairing... an ancient inline 4 engine but I loved it, she took whatever I threw at her. When I tested the XSR900 I described it as a bit "twitchy" all the way around, or maybe it was my skillset at the time lol. I ended up "upgrading?" to a 2nd gen Versys 650. While I'm not loving it's engine it's quite comfortable. I'm thinking about moving up to the buttery smoothness of the Z900RS. Love the moonrise at 7:55 and "aural" haha... caught that one :p Beautiful bike, Godspeed on all your journeys. Great production, thanks for sharing!
Good afternoon....Buttery smoothness kinda say it all. Odd think is totally smooth engines with a relatively flat power curve can feel a little bland but there's something about this one which is super special and very engaging. Plus confidence inspiring feel and grip and more than quick enough. I remember the ZR7S - I was seriously considering one but want for a Bandit 1250 instead - very similar looking with the fairing. Glad you like the moonrise....just felt right with the slightly unearthly power station in the background :-) Yeah aural ha ha ha. Anyway, thanks for your kind comments - great to know the work is appreciated. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
get a booster plug or flash the ecu to get rid of the euro 5 crap, I have a booster plug now which helps but im gonna get it retuned when I change the exhaust soon, got 2300 miles on it
I’m just getting back intro motorcycling after a 35 year hiatus. My current bike, which I am currently very pleased with, is a beautiful green T120 Bonneville. It’s very pretty and not too fast for me. When I’m ready for a change my next bike will be one of these. Now here’s the difficult questions: 1. Who did you buy it from? 2. What are its service intervals? and 3. Who will be servicing it? I ask because I’m from your part of the world. ps. I appreciated the humour.
Hey Trevor..How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ll love the Z 😀 As for your question…I got it from M&S motorcycles in Newcastle, very professional plus they have an amazing showroom of new, used and classic bikes. It’s a big dealership so it’s not like your best mate looking after you, but they are totally professional, well trained and are enthusiasts and know their stuff so recommended. Service intervals are every 7000 mile or annually and while in warranty I will be using M&S. after that I’ll do the basics myself (oil, filter, brakes, bearings) and anything more complicated my local Berwick non-franchised guy - either Andy at Border Bikes or Tim at TI in Spittal. Hope that helps, maybe see you on an A1 roundabout at some point. Cheers, Phil.
Great video, Yes, Kawasaki Green! I too am an owner of this bike. My most favorite time with this machine is, when the engine gets waken up. The first noise as the engine was fired on makes me so delight and lifts my spirits for a ride. I am so happy to have this bike, though I was a kinda HONDANESE until I got this machine. (Leg reach is a little bit far since I am a woman and not tall...)
Good afternoon, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review. It's a bike (and sound) that definitely lifts my spirits also - totally joyful! Hope all is well where you re, cheers, Phil.
Hello again! Hmmm…Well, first of all the Z remains cool and in European conditions doesn’t get uncomfortably hot, whereas the XE was like having a toaster and a George Foreman grill strapped to your leg. Physical comfort - again, the Z is better (for me) as the handle bars on the Scrambler are so wide, that at speed, it becomes quite arduous so cruising speed has to be kept at no more than say 80mph. I’ll be honest, I got seduced by the gorgeous looks of the XE and thought it was multi-purpose. It isn’t…it’s a trail bike that just happens to have a ginormous engine. And it doesn’t quite work, at least for me as it’s too compromised. The Z on the other hand was just lovely…I mean I did 700 miles on day one over 13 hours and still felt OK! And it’s faster 😀 Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Mert, well the screen does work quite well in terms of smoothing the airflow and I find a sustained cruising speed of 85mph (where conditions allow) is perfectly acceptable. But yeah, it’s still windy out there! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Beautifully shot & wittily narrated as usual, Phil. I grew up on big Zs & worked in a Kawasaki shop for a while, so I can confirm that when the Kwak bug bites, it never goes away. Their 4 cylinder engines are special and the lack of useless (for most road riders) widgets is refreshing. Look forward to the next chapter in beautiful Northumbria - Epicurean dining not included! 😆
Morning Hugh, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, I’m very glad there are no widgets or menus to scroll through ahead of a ride. Put the key in, fire it up, what more do you need! My first and last Kawasaki as mentioned in the video was a GPZ900 back in the ‘80s but it’s been worth the wait 😀 I’m not sure if I need or want much else from a bike - it’s got the speed, handling, looks, practically and fun factor so it could be here to stay for a while I think. Anyway, more to come from Northumbria and yes, I’ll find somewhere better to stop for a bite to eat next time 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
G'day mate, and greetings from Oz. Firstly, the camera work, the editing and the lovely country side make this video just bloody great, thyank you. Secondly, the bike itself is an absolute charmer. Smooth, 4 cylinder's, eye catching and Kwaka's reliability. I am positive that this bike was aimed at the more mature aged rider (50-60+ bracket), as we would certainly appreciate the nostalgic memories of bikes that we once rode with total disregard for our own personal safety and wellbeing. I may have become a little wiser and skilled over the last 48 years of riding, but I still get a kick out of carving up a twisty road at some rather not so legal speeds. Certainly considering trading my 2006 VFR800 in for the Kwacka. Thanks again for your perspective on this great bike. Kinda cool with the moon in the shot.
Hey Andrew, thanks for the comments, much appreciated! I too was a VFR owner for many years and enjoyed that sense of speed with good neutral handling that never felt it was going to get away from you and the Z9 is very much like that. It allows the sedate…and a bit of the devil every so often, without egging you on to a place outside of your zone. Plus it’s just a nice thing to own, I can feel what it’s doing and I know how it’s going to behave which then breeds confidence. I suppose it feels like ‘my’ bike. It looks a bit nice also 😀 Anyway, great to know that the green and pleasant land of England is admired over in Oz and hope all is well with you. Cheers, Phil.
Morning Arnab, thanks very much! I try my best and I’m very much inspired by the fabulous bike reviews put out by Sagar Sheldekar, which always make me want to buy the bike and visit India. And yes, I’ve heard prices can be very high in India which is a shame. Anyway, thanks for watching, hope you’re doing ok, cheers, Phil.
Amazing video and my dream bike I'm a local lad so these routes are the ones i love to ride and I ride up from Bedlington just to eat at that van I love it there... Keep up the good work
Evening Spencer, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. I’m sure the ‘bad boy burger’ goes down a treat after a ride up from Bedlington 😀 May see you around, cheers, Phil.
Great review. Have just put a deposit down on one. As in the video, it's my first 4 cylinder bike in a very long time, but seems to be everything I'm looking for.
Fantastic video, congrats. I own a XSR 900 and I am going to pick up a Kawi like yours but I will keep my Yamaha though. I think that both are georgeous and completely different bikes. Yamaha engine is superb, plenty of torque and caracter, while the Kawasaki 900 seems to me that has a very smooth engine. XSR suspension is very stiff and precise but the Kawasaki one is more comfortable. I love the looks of both but there are substantial differences between them. Both are classic bikes but Yamaha is minimalistic and feels more nimble and light while the Kawasaki looks more classical and retro. The sound of the XSR is a stunning "three cylinder sound" and Kawi's sound is the typical inline-four sound that screams at high revs. Sorry for my English.
Morning Jose! Your English is great and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, the XSR engine is simply amazing and sounds just terrific. As you quite rightly point out the Kawasaki’s suspension is very much about comfort and given I have very poorly surface roads around here, that’s a big deal and is why I ultimately sold the Yamaha. If I had better roads the XSR would have been perfect. As you say it feels a lot nimbler and lighter. However, I’m very happy with Z900, I feel for me, it’s more usable in more situations even if it isn’t as crazy as the XSR. Or maybe it’s an age thing…Anyway thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Good morning, thanks for stopping by. I’ve no idea actually but will say that it’s very relaxed and of all the bikes I’ve owned it’s probably the one where my legs feel the least scrunched up. My feet are pretty much inline with my backside (maybe a little back) and my legs feel very relaxed on the pegs. It’s a great riding position. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
Loving the artistic photography - blurry effects etc. It's such a nice retro bike but the huge gap above the rear wheel just looks weird, like something is missing or it's a jacked-up hot rod. I'd want to lower the suspension but that would no doubt upset the handling.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video. As for the gap…yes, it’s probably not the best from a purely aesthetic perspective and that’s the price to pay for a monoshock I guess. In the flesh though and I suppose I would say this, it’s the flat line of the tank and side panels which really grab your attention and overall it does work, even if it’s not faithful to the original. Thanks for stopping by and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks very much, great to know you enjoyed the review and thanks for the sub, much appreciated. You have a ZX10, blimey, don’t think I could hang on to that bike…The Z900 would be a nicely paired with that I think and would look great in the garage together 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Morning! As per the video mine was absolutely fine once acclimatised - which took around 5 minutes and from on then it was no problem. Having ridden many a dodgy fuelled bike and two strokes, feathering the clutch and sensitive throttle control is pretty much second nature though. Either way, great bike! All the best for 2023, cheers, Phil.
Morning, great to hear form another owner and thanks for watching. At the moment I’m OK with the suspension but as you say it probably is the one area to look at. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews for reference I run a standard shock with 2 clicks harder, 35mm lift kit in the rear and a 20mm drop in the front through the triples and straight bars.
Evening Christian, thanks for dropping by. Well, the standard bike sounds amazing so I can only imagine what yours sounds like. What a bike though! Cheers, Phil.
Recently watched your tour of France, Switzerland. Which as I'm looking at buying a z900rs in the new year has been great for me as I wanted to see how you got on touring, I've already had one on a test ride and loved it ,got a z1000sx at moment but want a naked bike next. Love the quality I've your videos.
Hey David, hope you're doing well & thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I found it a cracking bike for doing distance stuff - especially with the long days and miles that I had to do as a necessity. I was dreading riding from basically the Scottish Border to the South Coast (esp with UK roads) but it was actually fine and I didn't really notice it. Coming back wasn't too bad either! Highly recommend. Anyway, thanks for your kind comments & hope is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? Aside from hitting the dirt, it pretty much is a great all rounder. Round town it’s great and accept you’ve got no weather protection it’s easily capable of many comfortable miles. It’s kinda too nice for the commute but from a capability perspective (not economy) it’s more than up for it. Yeah, it’s a nice thing, I like it also! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
dear Phil congratulations for the video and the explanations. I have also owned a "tiger" z900 rs for 3 months and I can't wait to understand it well despite having already done 1500 km. for the moment I do not perceive the "on / off" at low speeds, perhaps because I'm used the twin-cylinder Speed Twin. I am very happy for everything, the bike is magnificent, the most beautiful there is! Thank you very much for everything, you are really a gentleman. Greetings from Como, Italy
Hey Michele, many thanks for your kind comments. Great to know you’re enjoying the bike as much as I am. Like you I don’t really notice any problems with the throttle, aside from really low speed and if I’m not really paying attention! And it is very beautiful as you say. Hope all is well over in Italy, thanks again for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Thanks very much! Those are going to great test rides…Not sure how you’ll split them to be honest so probably best to buy both. Hope that helps 😀 and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great review and if money wasn't an object, this bike and the Cafe 900 would be in my driveway even if I own the Z1000. So many beautiful machines out there nowadays.
Thanks Eric, great to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the video and more importantly are enjoying the bike. It’s a cracking machine! Hope you’re well, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks for your highly appreciated reply, Phil 🙏 The quality of your video is outstanding, I enjoyed watching it most definitely! Keep up the great work, *AND* ride safe, Phil!
Thanks Andy, really appreciate your comments! More coming soon but it does take me a while to think of something else to say so best not hold your breath 😀 Thanks for for the sub and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I have a 2019 version of this and agree with all what you say.. my only complaint is the wind buffeting , but with a naked bike you kind of sign up for it , but with a tall design and up right riding position , it is perhaps more pronounced in this one
Morning Suresh, how are you doing? The screen does help a little bit with the buffeting I find but as you say, that’s what you sign up for and overall it’s a cracking bike. Love mine! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Ha ha, well, I never saw a glimpse of Professor Jones, but I’ll look out for the film. The coastline near Bamburgh is absolutely stunning so hopefully the crew have made the most of it. October….Well, not too long to wait and it’s so worth it. Totally adore mine, can’t stop riding it! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Thanks for your first 1k+ miles impressions on the Z900RS. I like also the XSR900, but right now I am more looking into either the Z900RS or the Triumph Speed Twin. What is your opinion on the Speed Twin? Have you had the chance to take a closer look at that bike or even test ride it?
Hello! I’ve never ridden the Speed Twin but a moderately average experience with a Triumph 1200 Scrambler has kinda put me off Triumph a little. I’ve experienced it before but Triumphs engineering is so good it also feels a little clinical. Which is sort of what you would expect with a Japanese bike but the Z is oddly very engaging in a way that the scrambler wasn’t. It’s all very personal though…all I would say is take a good long test ride on the Triumph if you get the chance….None of that helps, I know! Sorry but thanks for watching! Cheers, Phil.
Speed Twin is fantastic but Kawa 4 cylinders is a different way to drive and suspensions too. More confort with Z900RS. Speed Twin is a strong feeling, Kawa is softer... I prefer each in my garage , very lucky 😀
Good morning! Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. As for the helmet, I’ve got quite a thing for Bell helmets these days. Not only are the graphics much better (to my eye) than the busy Arai/Shoei/AGV offerings, they’re a very reasonable price for what feels like good protection. Only downside I’d say is that they are not the most quiet helmets. And I like the sun visors! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Edward, thanks for stopping by. While I’m obviously biased, the RS is a fabulous bike to ride and gorgeous to look at, I’m sure you would love it! It can whizz around but cruise also 😀 Let me know what you decide! All the best, cheers, Phil.
I've never owned a big Kawasaki, don't really know why that is. Always been kind of a Yamaha followed by Honda type, with the occasional Suzuki every decade or so. But this one is one is now on my list of candidates.
It’s worth a try, maybe with a Guzzi thrown in also 😀 I had a GPz550 followed by a GPZ900 a million years ago, but like you had kinda given up on them, mainly because of the styling but also because a screaming four cylinder bike just seemed a little passé. This one though, gosh, it’s like the perfect road riders bike. I’m really not sure what else I need or want. Thanks for taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, greats reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hey Laurentiu, comments are working again! Well, to make a comparison the XSR is a bottle of Prosecco, while the Z9 is a bottle of nice, fruity red wine. Around town it’s a difficult call - the XSR flicks around so quickly that it would be great in and out of traffic, but the suspension and hard seat could get a little tiresome, especially after a day at work. The Z on the other hand is more comfortable, just as fast but not as excitable or nervous. It also handles poor road surfaces better. If I were 25 years younger I’d say XSR as I wouldn’t mind the suspension and would value the crazy engine. Now, I’d rather have the Z for a little more comfort and the smooth reliable way it reacts. Of course it does have the well reported on/off throttle which for me only manifests itself in some very specific situations and I ride round it. I got caught up in lots of busy city riding while I was away and it was great - more upright than the XSR and it didn’t surprise me in anyway. You’ll need to do a back to back test ride in reality, but as an overall package, I do wish the Z had been on my radar earlier. Oh and one last thing, I get vibration induced white fingers really easily…on the XSR that caused a problem occasionally…on the Z never. Hope that helps & thanks for watching, Cheers, Phil.
Great video, I went to look at a 900rs but couldn't get both feet down and being a newish rider didn't feel comfortable as was a lot heavy than previous bike so went with the trident 660 instead, hopefully in a year or two and a bit more riding experience I will go back for another try.
Good morning and thanks for stopping by. I’m sure after a few more months riding experience you’ll be trying the Z900 again and in the meantime the Triumph is going to be a whole lot of fun. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Hugh, well, I think it’s really great that Kawasaki have (apparently) listened to customers and made some worthwhile changes on the back of that and kept the standard RS as an option. The extra price, while fair, does start to nudge it closer to more exotic stuff and sportier stuff, so it will be interesting how it fairs. Aesthetically, I’m personally not a fan of gold forks and wheels but hey that’s just me! Will I be swapping mine or would I have gone for the SE if both were available earlier this year? Well, my head probably would have said “get the best, get the SE” but having now done 2000 miles on the standard RS, I kinda really recognise what it is and does and that kinda matches what I want to do. So knowing what I know now and given the horribly bumpy roads I’ve got, it’s the standard for me and I’ll easily put up with the slightly floaty suspension. Anyway I’ve just put Michelin Road 5’s on it and blimey! It’s a different bike! Hope that makes sense! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Afternoon Lance, how are you doing? Thanks for stopping by - it's good to hear from you. Well, I'm sure you'll love it! Let me know how you on, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, an excellent video design again with very authentic British spots. The Z900 looks very good to me as well, except the water cooler and the open space between rear wheel and fender. And there are two cylinders too much for my expectation of an emotional vintage bike. It is a bit too perfect - so that's what you (and I) have got the Guzzi V7 for. Is your V7 still the old one or the 850 already ? Best regards Wilhelm
Good evening Wilhelm, thanks for your kind comments. Two cylinders too much 😀 Funnily enough up until a month ago I’d mostly agree - except I would have said 1 cylinder too much 😀 I’ve always found 4 cylinder bikes to be ruthlessly efficient and too clinical….However, this one remains ruthlessly efficient, yet isn’t anodyne and is a ton of fun. As you say though, with a V7 in the garage I can still get the proper quirky mechanical experience also. Best of both worlds! As for which V7 - I’ve still got my mark III stone however I’ve had a new 850 on order since February and there’s still no sign of it! Despite that though, the V7 is still so totally glorious that I keep thinking do I really need the 850…. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews My dealer near Lüneburg has ordered a ten V7 - 850 last November but until now he has got only 3 of them. I made a test ride last week with the 850 and found it more comfortable, seat and rear suspension, compared to my 10 year old 750. That is what I like, as well as the ABS and the TC, which mine does not have. Even if I never would experience ABS or TC, it might help avoiding an accident. I like more torque at low rpm as well as the 6th gear and a very easy to move clutch. Finally I as well am asking myself, is it worth changing to the 850. I would loose the retro charme and sound of a 10 year old 90th anniversario special edition model from 2011 ( I will send a photo by email) for a bit more comfort and technical perfection. It is just a slight improvement, but even more than you would have by a step from the V7 III to the V7 850. I will at least wait for the anniversario model Guzzi announced to show in September, so in just two month. Let's see. Wilhelm By the way: The new engine does shake as much as the old one does !
Evening Wilhelm, I finally found your comment and see you are asking the same question as myself. I’ve not even managed to get a test ride on an 850 so it’s useful to get your views. I spoke to the dealer today and they are now saying mid-August, so I think I will wait until the end of August, then cancel if it’s not here and wait until 2022. I also keep hoping they might bring out a ‘racer’ version that has the style of a LeMans…that would be very nice. Hope all is well in Luneburg, cheers, Phil.
Sad you sacked off the xsr but the z9rs is a lovely thing. Agree absolutely about the Yam's suspenders which feel like they're granite based. Beautiful cinematography as usual. Have you enquired at the rug warehouse to see if you can get your Jim Morrison hair back? If so, get me one while you're at it. Cheers!
Hey Richard, yeah the XSR is a great bike but could so easily be fabulous. Thing is on smooth roads (that I don’t normally ride) it was totally brilliant…On bumpy B roads it was a bit less good unfortunately. Bought the wrong bike I guess (again!). Anyway, glad you enjoyed the video and images…As for the rug - I’ve got some ‘lotion’ on order so I’ll let you know how that works out 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Loved this video. Quality content, presentation, style and care in compiling it all shines through. As an owner of the Tiger 900 looking for a bit of retro myself and this video was very helpful. That the bike looks so stunning didn't do any harm either. Top of my shortlist. Enjoy your bike and thanks for the review. Great County too. ;)
Morning David, thanks for stopping by and really appreciate your kind comments. The Z900 remains an eye opener for me - aside from the attributes you mention it’s comfortable, useful and is surprisingly real-world sporty. I’m very happy with my purchase and enjoying every second of every ride. I’d gone off 4 cylinder bikes over the last few years as twins and triples had got so good…But this one is just lovely to ride. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hey Peter, thanks for dropping by. You'll love the Z900RS I'm sure - let me know what you think of it. I'm very glad to hear you're keeping a little bit of the Guzzi charm and magic though...There's nothing quite like it - but I am biased... All the best, cheers, Phil.
Hey Russ, thanks for that and great to hear from a long term owner. Yeah, mines got the feeling of a keeper also…..I’ve said that before but this time….. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
As a cb 1300 owner I approve! Love the retro styling and the colour scheme is definitely unique. Only fly in the ointment is the monoshock, it needs twin shocks in my humble opinion. Excellent review as ever, keep up thegoodwork!
Morning David, thanks for stopping by and good to have the approval from CB owner! Yes, twin shocks would complete the vibe perfectly, still, it goes round corners and handles bumps very well so I’ve no practical complaints. Anyway, I get my twin shock kicks (quite literally) from my Guzzi 😀 Hope all is good where you are, thanks is for your comments, cheers, Phil.
Twin shocks may look better, but mono is the better way to go. No two shocks will ever be exactly the same and there will always be SOME level of wobble, even if its just micro.
I've not rode this bike but hear great things about it. My first bike was a 1982 Honda cb900f. Big Japanese four cylinder engines have their own charm. If only we all had a bigger garage and pocket book. 😉👌 Enjoy your new machine! Cheers.
Hello again! I used to stare longingly at CB900’s back then…especially as I was just about to pass my test on a smoky GP100…The Z is quite a revelation for me…I’d got to the point of thinking twins were where it’s at, but this one has really changed my mind. My pocket book is exhausted now and no more room left in my garage… Cheers again, Phil.
Hey Rob, thanks for stopping by, yep, it’s a gorgeous bike…I love it! As for the moon, well, I happened to have a 3D spinning moon lying around, so why not? There was too much sky in the shot 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
For some reason comments are disappearing from this video and others and I’m not seeing them on the YT dashboard so cannot reply - sorry! Cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, great reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
-Yes in 78 i had a Z650 . 79 z1000 an’ now i got my zero1 ✅
I am waiting for Z650 RS this month..... I am hoping it will be as good as Z900
Hello! It will be great I’m sure! Hope it’s not too long a wait, cheers, Phil.
How convenient😂…only kidding just found your channel ..watched a few vids …now subscribed .
Can't believe the production value of that video! Incredible work, it looks like a LOT of effort went into it! Thank you.
I agree, it is very well done!
Thanks! Great to know the work is appreciated! And thank you! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Daniel, cheers, Phil.
Great Video and I totally agree in every aspect!👍Bought mine in april in really love it as you do! Have a great time! Greetings from trier, germany! Hope next year I visit your lovely country!
Loved the moon rise!🌕
I bought the z900rs in 2018 when it first came out in orange/rootbeer....4 years later it still excites and I still love to "bench" ride it when the weather is bad....best bike Ive ever owned and Ive owned a lot.
Good morning, now that’s a lovely colour scheme! Great to know that even after all that time the bike still hits the mark. I think I’ll be keeping mine for quite some time…Thanks for stopping, cheers, Phil.
Great review, sweet bike. Your editing is a joy to watch. Thank you dear sir!
Thanks very much! Good to know the work is appreciated, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Your camera work and editing is above any over motorbike channel out there mate keep up the awesome work love the videos good stuff man
Hey Samuel, thanks for your kind comments and good to know the work is appreciated. More coming soon! Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thanks Jim! Yeah I got a bit of flack about the beer, cheese and biscuit reviews, can you believe it! Still, if there’s public demand 😀 Totally enjoying it! Cheers, Phil.
Fantastic video Phil. Your sense of humor, your good taste taking the images is comforting.What a moon dude!!
Good morning Mr Outlander. Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. The moon was a corker, imagine my surprise when I saw what was behind me when replaying the footage! The real shame is that if I kept the camera rolling a little bit longer I'd have got the lunar eclipse with a fleet of X-Wing fighters crossing in front of it. Still, there's always another time!
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Who are you?? Screen writer? Director? Movie editor? You amazed me... Totally impressed with the cinematic of this video. Wow! Absolutely wow... Thanks for an epic video. Your insights on the Z900RS is greatly appreciated. Two thumbs wayyyyyy up!!! Cheers from Malaysia :D
Hello! Ha ha None of the above 😀 Thanks for your kind words - great to know the work is appreciated! More to come soon I hope, thanks for watching and hope all is ok in Malaysia, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews the quality of your video is top notch... Kudos to you.. Thanks again.. Cheers!
I don’t think it’s about the bike being retro. It just looks good, how a naked bike should look. Give me one of these over a KTM any day
Morning Rich, you’re absolutely right. A kid with a crayon would probably draw the Z900 if asked to draw a bike…either that or maybe a MX bike….And it’s not orange, which personally, is a colour I find quite challenging on a bike 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I am 60 years old and I had many motorcycle and since I bought 2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS it was my best investment.👍😊🇺🇸
Hey Axel, you know, I think that’s the conclusion I’m coming round to…What a bike! Thanks for watching, greetings from the UK and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a bike. Mechanical perfection. Been riding 40 years, all makes, Harley for the last 30 years. This is the best.
Morning Natasha, thanks for stopping by. Yes, what a bike! It has to be be one of the best I’ve ever owned also and it’s so much more than “just another retro styled” bike. Love it! Hope all is good where you, cheers, Phil.
Solid review. Love mine, a '21 green/yellow combo too - a truly classic UJM. And you're absolutely correct about the clocks- so traditional, clear and informative and I'm not dancing thru a bunch of screens or choices. Wonderful engine too, along w/exhaust/intake sounds.
Hey Levi, classic is the word! As for the clocks, having experienced that weird and useless anxiety of the TFT where you’re forever switching modes, flicking switches, changing settings and wondering whether they are ‘right’ I realised it was the the equivalent of staring at a phone and not taking the real world in as you walk. And the beauty of bikes is surely the analogue connection to a machine and the world around you.
All I need to know is speed, revs and time. Sorted!
What a bike! Anyway thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Hi from Slovakia! Thank you - nice review! I have got Z900RS for more than 3 years and still very satisfied.
Hello and greetings from the UK. Three years and still satisfied - great to know and glad you enjoyed the review.
Hope all is OK in 🇸🇰, cheers, Phil.
Enjoyable, scenic and informative review of the Z900R by a most enthusiastic bike owner. Keep it up!
Thanks Alan…the enthusiasm isn’t dying! Hope all is well where you are and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great insights into the owning experience of this dream machine. It was love at first site for me in it's presence. Just breathtaking attention to detail. The large tear drop tank in metallic paint, the analog gauges... Kawasaki nailed it
Hey Robert, of course I’m going to agree with you completely! You’re right it does have quite some presence and like you I think the tank shape is just gorgeous. I know some folk say it’s too big or bulbous but I think it really adds to the sense of old school solidity. As the analog gauges I find I’m appreciating them more and more - you get exactly what you need and no more with a quick flick of your eyes and there’s no fiddling about with buttons, scrolling or whatever…Brilliant!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
At last! A real motorcycle TH-cam channel with no music and no waffle. Top class production work, but the lighting guy needs to add a bit more sunshine to the set :)
Thanks Jonathan! Kind words much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have a word with the lighting guy as suggested 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
What a great video! Different format and styling made it really interesting. Great production and editing. I like your style. Northumberland is probably my favourite county in the UK.
Thanks very much…The videos are as much about enjoying the filming and editing as the bike…Plus having the attention span of a gnat, personally I can’t be doing with 25 minutes of GoPro on a helmet. Anyway, I’ve found I can’t speak and ride at the same time…Remind me to tell you the story of my first wife and the intercom 😀
Northumberland is totally glorious. Coming from Manchester and having lived in South Cheshire for ages, the skies, the space, the beaches, the empty roads are just glorious and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. Of course, it’s really windy and the winter is chuffing grim (though beautiful) and I can’t really understand Geordies but this is home and I love it!
Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
What a joy to find a channel with such dedication to the aesthetic representation of a humble motorbike review.
Beautiful bike. As a 2016 XSR900 owner, the brakes and suspension are wanting - that said, the engine is mad as a box of frogs and keeps me on my toes.
Evening Gerhard, well the videos are about me practicing stuff as well as droning on about motorbikes so I’m glad the two things come together, kinda work and are appreciated. And yes, the engine on the XSR is amazing…spins up so beautifully and smoothly yet with a big dose of absolute hooligan. Great bike. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Bought a Z900 abs in February., the so called naked version. I enjoy it so much, I'm trading in my VStrom for a '22 blue RS 900. Wonderful engines and everything else. No complaints. Now my brother can ride with me on some long trips. The RS should be somewhat more comfortable. Love that dark green metallic of your bike. Thanks for the great video.
Hey Frank, hope you’re doing well. Sounds like you’re hooked on the Kawasaki 4 cylinder loveliness and just the great ease of use and fun factor. I’m still blown away by mine to be honest and yes, the green paint is quite nice..As is the blue! Glad you enjoyed the video, your comments are very much appreciated, cheers, Phil.
I got a Z900 RS 2 month ago and did go bit over 3000km so far. I still get exited when i open my garage and love to ride it. I couldn't agree more to the review. cheers!
Hey Dennis, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, me too and I don’t even have a light in my garage! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Of all the bikes that have a bit of that neo-netro going on. I find this Kawasaki to be the best looking. Very nice! Enjoy :)
Thanks, yes, it is a right bit of eye candy, I’m very very happy with it. Wish I’d got it two years ago, still, it’s here now! Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Agree. It has lovely proportions and lines.
Non stoppie als je hem eens wil testen always welkom.
Ik heb de Candy Tone brown in men garage staan
Je moet wel overkomen naar het belgenland hiervoor 🤣
I can't wait to see the 2022 SE version.
Likewise!
This is the bike that bought me back to riding after ~30 years away! My Green Meanie now has 1,124 miles on it, and most of my observations match yours. The last new bike I purchased was a GPZ900 in 1986, and when you compare and contrast the overall build quality, including the paintwork, frankly there is no comparison. I still giggle when I walk into my garage and see it sat there, although I have also added a grab rail as I think that perfectly completes the retro vibe. Speaking of which - whilst the mirrors do remain clear, I am a bit surprised by the buzziness of the grips. I've purchased some Grip Puppies, but not fitted them yet. Also, I find the seat pushes me too far forward ( I'm 6'2" and 219lb ), putting a bit too much strain on my wrists at low speeds. But, I certainly see no need to flash the ECU, change the headers etc. etc. as I read so many others do. That said, I might be tempted to change the front sprocket to a 16T as I do find 1st rather low. Apart from that, what's not to love? Oh, and nice production values !
Hello Simon, yes, when I think back to my GPZ900 with anti-dive forks, 16” front wheel and super thin paint (concentric chain adjust though!) I do shudder a little!
Must admit I’ve not noticed any buzziness through the grips (yet) but I haven’t done any sustained / stable speed on it yet - mainly up and down the box all the time, so perhaps that may show up.
As for the seat, I’m 5’10 and it feels fine to me but I could see how being (a lot) taller might compromise that. And yes, I won’t be getting it flashed, after a few hundred miles I’ve adapted and it’s not a problem. I think it’s part of understanding the characteristics of a bike and making it work. Sure if I were commuting everyday I might have a different opinion bug then I’d probably get CB500.
It’s a cracking bike, works well for cruising, messing about and touring…Just love it!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I would say to not discount the ECU flash. I have put a similar amount of time on my z900rs, and I came to the same conclusion about the snatchy throttle, I can just get used to it. A buddy of mine also got the same bike, and he recently had the ECU flashed. I must admit, after riding it around without the injectors totally cutting off when you close the throttle totally, its a whole new bike. Throttle is much smoother and the over the top engine braking is very much reduced.
There were a few performance things that got better, but that was all moot. Removing the injector cut will take the bike to the next level, I promise.
Hey Kurtis, thanks for the advice / if it’s a good as you say it’s gotta be worth considering, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Keep up the great content! 👍
Had my 2021 model since Feb, agree 100% with your views, Way better than i even expected & this from someone who has a 2020 Ducati Streetfighter & def the best sounding bike ever on a stock exhaust. Great Review AU.
Hey Andrew, thanks for stopping by - great to know you’re still enjoying the bike. I think part of the reason is that in one bike it satisfies so much of what is good about motorbikes - looks great, pride of ownership, fast, handles, cruises nicely, sounds great and isn’t so demanding or focussed that it becomes a one trick machine. It’s brilliant. Glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.
Another great video Phil. Kawasaki should be paying you! I'm salivating over this bike - what a beauty.
Thanks Mark! It time to get your deposit sorted I think! All the best, cheers, Phil.
Mate...I subscribed 2minutes in. Then it just got better and better. Wicked production and humour. And you have a Guzzi V7. I don't...but want one because fate had me buy a V50II maaaaany years ago on my OE and rode it all around your fair geen land then across Europe to Israel and all about. Loved Guzzis ever since and forever. Take care bro. Ride on. Love and respect from a kiwi. That Kawasaki is just bloody gorgeous by the way.
A Guzzi to Israel! Brilliant! I took various bikes through Europe, Turkey and onto the Middle East in the early 90’s so you must have had a blast. I met some bloke on a ferry from Patreus - sure he was a Kiwi and we stocked up on vodka before boarding, played poker for 48 hours, only ate Mars Bars and I don’t remember anything. Best approach for boats I reckon 😀
The Z is just great, just hoping I can get to Europe on it next year, this year is toast but the thought of whizzing around the Alps, the Dolomites, the Picos keeps me going. Hope all is ok where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Great vídeo! My opinion is the same as yours! I’ve got a Z900RS Cafe for one and a half a year and I’m still in love with it and every ride is a pleasure! Congratulations for the video!
Morning Paulo, thanks very much - glad you enjoyed the review. Great to hear a long term owner still loves the bike. Hope all is well where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Your cinematography and general quality is amazing! Keep it up. Big growth ahead for this channel. I’m not even interested in this bike (‘20 R Nine T Pure owner here). I’m trying to get some editing and shot ideas for a MC side channel…this is a gold mine of what every MC channel should strive to be.
Liked and subbed!!!
Good morning! Thanks very much - good to know the work is appreciated. And good luck with your own channel….I came close to a R Nine T before choosing the Z - they are great bikes. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Cracking video as usual. I like the fact that you keep a healthy rotation of bikes going - why not? We only have one go-around on this earth, might as well sample all the flavors and enjoy. Plus I always think 'maybe that's the bike for me'... Enjoy and keep the videos coming please!
Hello again. Yes, I decided that while I can and before the demise of the ICE, I’d like to try a lot bikes in a way I couldn’t do years ago. And of course, to try and find the perfect mix and the keeper(s). Which I reckon, I’m now quite close too with the CRF, the Z and maybe a new Guzzi 😀 Finding what you really want as opposed to what you think you need is a very complex equation. At least that’s my excuse.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Love at first sight when this came out.Can't wait to get mine.Thank you for sharing your thoughts.👍👍
Hey Brian….It will be worth the wait and it’s my pleasure…Glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.
What an amazing quality review. Sounds, camera angles, content, narrative. Just excellent. Considering getting this one but also had one eye on the touring 1000zx or the new suzuki gt. Thinking I need to go back to basics and have regular handlebars without the faring, despite the wind blast that will inevitably come and lack of weather protection.
Evening Dunc, how are you doing? Many thanks for stopping by and your kind words on the review - much appreciated. As for touring, I took mine over to Switzerland last year and found it supremely comfortable and with a little windshield on it, a steady 85 (where conditions allow) was absolutely fine and I never got that sense of having to hang or of getting sucked off the bike. Obviously when the weather takes a turn for the worse you’ll feel the lack of fairing, but let’s face it, the sun always shines on a Z900RS 😀
Having said that the new Suzuki is meant to be amazing though, doesn’t look half as cool as the Kawasaki though hahaha.
Anyway, hope all is well and let me know what you decide to do, cheers, Phil.
This is my next motorcycle. I rode this beast of a machine back in 2019 at Bike Week in Daytona. It was insanely fun to ride!! It also sounds AMAZING!
It certainly does and the thing is it’s fun for all sorts of riding and so confidence inspiring. Then you add the noise in and life doesn’t really get any better. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
From Australia. In February I sold my beloved Suzuki Gsx1250fa to help finance my 2021 z900rs... Have not regretted it for a moment.
Great review, perfectly shot. Nice to see Northumberland! Greets from Whitley Bay. Both of your bikes are bikes I’m considering for my first bike!
Thanks very much, great to hear from you! Either one is a good choice, both are fabulous bikes. Hope all is well in Whitley Bay, cheers, Phil.
Just picked mine up here in NZ yesterday.
2022 in blue and gold.
Went for a blat through the hills , what fun it was.
You forgot to mention the glorious induction noise under throttle.
Off for a ride north with the boys tomorrow.
Ps
My last Kawasaki roadbike was the magnificently evil H2 ( yes that long ago )
Let the good times roll 😃🏁
Hey Neville, how are you doing? Quite well I’d imagine with a brand new, gorgeous blue and gold Z900RS in your garage! Hope you had/are having a fabulous ride up north! But yes, induction roar, especially in a high gear is just delicious. The whole bike is! I love it! Plus it handles beautifully!
On to your H2 then 😀 Yeah, lovely and smoky. I never rode one but I’ve a few run ins with bikes that over powered their chassis and whose fuelling was er…interesting. Hence when I ride the Z900RS it’s like soooooo easy and what bikes should be like. And personally I find the throttle fine!
Hope all is well in NZ, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
I really like the look of this beautiful machine!
Will keep my eyes open for a RS in the winter season
It is lovely. Don’t wait! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Had to subscribe, you are my generation for sure. Used to ride a Suzuki GT500 two stroke twin back the Mid/late 80's. Now as a returning biker I ride a Harley M8 Low Rider. Thanks for the ride on the Kawasaki, beautiful bike.
Hey Mark, GT500….Mmmmm…I can smell and see the blue haze of smoke now 😀 Hoping you had a blue one - they looked lovely. I don’t think they stopped very well did they! Thanks for stopping by, your comments are much appreciated and hope the Harley is going well, cheers, Phil.
A new bike !!! .Classy ride . I love the sound track of this one ... Comfort and speed ... I really like the idea of a steady steed in the middle of a bumpy curve . Strong and sure footed ;Always a great combination ..COngratulations !!!! Thanks for the ride ... Yours Guy
Good evening Guy, how are you doing? Comfort and speed….Yes, a sign of growing up maybe? 😀 But yes, it’s a lovely, lovely motorcycle, so easy to ride yet not boring, super efficient but not clinical or anodyne and ooohhhhh…That paintwork! I feel it will be a very handy machine when / should I ever get back to Europe….Or PA 😀 And the wife likes it.
Hope all is going well in the pottery. Looking forward to another motovlog around the leafy lanes! Cheers, Phil.
hello!
I'm sorry. 2nd message for you from the country of Kawasaki. I'm not good at English language.
In my 1st message, I want tell you that
your video is very beautiful and nice editing .And sound is also good.
I’m looking forward to next video!
Thank you ! and God speed!
Hello my friend from Japan! My Japanese is much much worse than your English! I’ve just watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics and despite everything I found it beautiful, unique and very affecting. Japan is a country I would love to visit. Very glad you enjoyed the video, I will do better next time I promise.
Thank you so much for stopping by, and god speed also, cheers, Phil.
Your photographic skills really are the best part of the review. And the bikes lovely.
Thanks Louis - glad you said that as I'm thinking of doing visuals only next time, mainly because I struggle to think of anything useful to say :-) The bike is lovely, you're right & thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Had to turn the volume up to 11 for the start of your vid. Mmmm, sounds so good!!!
I have 4500 miles on my '21 Cafe and owning a zrx1200 w/full Muzzy exhaust and pods, I can safely say the z900rs is a brilliant upgrade. And the only cycle I'll replace my z900rs with will be another z900rs.
Dear Saint T.E.L, I hope my bike sounds as good as yours. I'm gonna go back and listen again
Morning Charlie, hope you’re doing ok. Yes, it does make a quite delicious sound! I’m sure it pops a little on the overrun also which can only be a good thing 😀 The ZRX (Lawson rep I assume) must sound quite good also…perhaps a little more raucous….What with your cafe I’m seeing quite a bit of green in your garage!
Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Man ...I really like the style of your video.....very cool.... clearly have a talent.
Thanks Martin, great to know you enjoyed the video. As for talent, well, I don’t know really but I keep trying to up the quality and do something different and visually appealing each time. More coming soon! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I like these kinds of designs in the world of sharp angles, geometric shapes for fuel tanks seeing a swooping design in a modern standard motorcycle is an amazing thing. For now, I'm stuck with my 2020 CB400SF since I just started riding but looking forward to picking up a Z900RS once I'm ready.
Morning, thanks for stopping by…Yes, the swoopiness of the design is what really caught my eye also - and when you consider the donor bike for the RS it’s quite an unbelievable transformation! And your CB400 will do just fine for the time being I’m sure. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Thank you for your heart touching review. I been search for 10 motorcycles to buy and you made me to by z900rs. I have plan to drive to UK from Seoul South Korea. I hope to meet you someday after pandemic.
Thanks very much! The Z900 is a fabulous machine! Hope all is well in Seoul, cheers, Phil.
Thanks so much for your review! My first Kawasaki was a 2001 ZR7S with the 1/4 fairing... an ancient inline 4 engine but I loved it, she took whatever I threw at her. When I tested the XSR900 I described it as a bit "twitchy" all the way around, or maybe it was my skillset at the time lol. I ended up "upgrading?" to a 2nd gen Versys 650. While I'm not loving it's engine it's quite comfortable. I'm thinking about moving up to the buttery smoothness of the Z900RS. Love the moonrise at 7:55 and "aural" haha... caught that one :p Beautiful bike, Godspeed on all your journeys. Great production, thanks for sharing!
Good afternoon....Buttery smoothness kinda say it all. Odd think is totally smooth engines with a relatively flat power curve can feel a little bland but there's something about this one which is super special and very engaging. Plus confidence inspiring feel and grip and more than quick enough. I remember the ZR7S - I was seriously considering one but want for a Bandit 1250 instead - very similar looking with the fairing. Glad you like the moonrise....just felt right with the slightly unearthly power station in the background :-) Yeah aural ha ha ha.
Anyway, thanks for your kind comments - great to know the work is appreciated. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
get a booster plug or flash the ecu to get rid of the euro 5 crap, I have a booster plug now which helps but im gonna get it retuned when I change the exhaust soon, got 2300 miles on it
Great review & editing. Bike looks & sounds spot-on. 👍🏼
Thanks Oliver…It has to be said I am rather smitten. Up at 05:00 this morning for a quick ride 😀
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
I've had a Z900RS since 2018. Cracking bike.
Hey Mark, good to hear from a long term owner! Yeah, it’s a brilliant bike…feels like a keeper….Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
I’m just getting back intro motorcycling after a 35 year hiatus. My current bike, which I am currently very pleased with, is a beautiful green T120 Bonneville. It’s very pretty and not too fast for me. When I’m ready for a change my next bike will be one of these. Now here’s the difficult questions: 1. Who did you buy it from? 2. What are its service intervals? and 3. Who will be servicing it? I ask because I’m from your part of the world.
ps. I appreciated the humour.
Hey Trevor..How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ll love the Z 😀 As for your question…I got it from M&S motorcycles in Newcastle, very professional plus they have an amazing showroom of new, used and classic bikes. It’s a big dealership so it’s not like your best mate looking after you, but they are totally professional, well trained and are enthusiasts and know their stuff so recommended. Service intervals are every 7000 mile or annually and while in warranty I will be using M&S. after that I’ll do the basics myself (oil, filter, brakes, bearings) and anything more complicated my local Berwick non-franchised guy - either Andy at Border Bikes or Tim at TI in Spittal.
Hope that helps, maybe see you on an A1 roundabout at some point.
Cheers, Phil.
Great video, Yes, Kawasaki Green! I too am an owner of this bike. My most favorite time with this machine is, when the engine gets waken up. The first noise as the engine was fired on makes me so delight and lifts my spirits for a ride. I am so happy to have this bike, though I was a kinda HONDANESE until I got this machine. (Leg reach is a little bit far since I am a woman and not tall...)
Good afternoon, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review. It's a bike (and sound) that definitely lifts my spirits also - totally joyful! Hope all is well where you re, cheers, Phil.
Love the videography, how would compare it in terms of comfort vs the 1200XE?
Hello again! Hmmm…Well, first of all the Z remains cool and in European conditions doesn’t get uncomfortably hot, whereas the XE was like having a toaster and a George Foreman grill strapped to your leg. Physical comfort - again, the Z is better (for me) as the handle bars on the Scrambler are so wide, that at speed, it becomes quite arduous so cruising speed has to be kept at no more than say 80mph.
I’ll be honest, I got seduced by the gorgeous looks of the XE and thought it was multi-purpose. It isn’t…it’s a trail bike that just happens to have a ginormous engine. And it doesn’t quite work, at least for me as it’s too compromised. The Z on the other hand was just lovely…I mean I did 700 miles on day one over 13 hours and still felt OK!
And it’s faster 😀
Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I love these kinds of bikes but I do a lot of highway riding and I hate hard wind hitting against me.
Hey Mert, well the screen does work quite well in terms of smoothing the airflow and I find a sustained cruising speed of 85mph (where conditions allow) is perfectly acceptable. But yeah, it’s still windy out there! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Beautifully shot & wittily narrated as usual, Phil. I grew up on big Zs & worked in a Kawasaki shop for a while, so I can confirm that when the Kwak bug bites, it never goes away. Their 4 cylinder engines are special and the lack of useless (for most road riders) widgets is refreshing. Look forward to the next chapter in beautiful Northumbria - Epicurean dining not included! 😆
Morning Hugh, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, I’m very glad there are no widgets or menus to scroll through ahead of a ride. Put the key in, fire it up, what more do you need! My first and last Kawasaki as mentioned in the video was a GPZ900 back in the ‘80s but it’s been worth the wait 😀 I’m not sure if I need or want much else from a bike - it’s got the speed, handling, looks, practically and fun factor so it could be here to stay for a while I think.
Anyway, more to come from Northumbria and yes, I’ll find somewhere better to stop for a bite to eat next time 😀
Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews I bet they still use the same oil filter part number - 16099-003 - sold a ton of those in my time!
Great video ,is that the standard or lowered seat?
Hello! That’s the standard seat..thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
A couple weeks ago I traded my Ducati Monster for a Z900rs same color as the one you showing in this video…And loved !
Excellent! Really hope you’re enjoying it! Brilliant bike! Cheers, Phil.
G'day mate, and greetings from Oz. Firstly, the camera work, the editing and the lovely country side make this video just bloody great, thyank you. Secondly, the bike itself is an absolute charmer. Smooth, 4 cylinder's, eye catching and Kwaka's reliability. I am positive that this bike was aimed at the more mature aged rider (50-60+ bracket), as we would certainly appreciate the nostalgic memories of bikes that we once rode with total disregard for our own personal safety and wellbeing. I may have become a little wiser and skilled over the last 48 years of riding, but I still get a kick out of carving up a twisty road at some rather not so legal speeds. Certainly considering trading my 2006 VFR800 in for the Kwacka. Thanks again for your perspective on this great bike. Kinda cool with the moon in the shot.
Hey Andrew, thanks for the comments, much appreciated! I too was a VFR owner for many years and enjoyed that sense of speed with good neutral handling that never felt it was going to get away from you and the Z9 is very much like that. It allows the sedate…and a bit of the devil every so often, without egging you on to a place outside of your zone.
Plus it’s just a nice thing to own, I can feel what it’s doing and I know how it’s going to behave which then breeds confidence. I suppose it feels like ‘my’ bike. It looks a bit nice also 😀
Anyway, great to know that the green and pleasant land of England is admired over in Oz and hope all is well with you.
Cheers, Phil.
Well made video - thanks for the effort you took to make it enjoyable to watch 👍🏻
Morning Lance, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.
You single handedly produce such a quality video
Morning Arnab, thanks very much! I try my best and I’m very much inspired by the fabulous bike reviews put out by Sagar Sheldekar, which always make me want to buy the bike and visit India. And yes, I’ve heard prices can be very high in India which is a shame.
Anyway, thanks for watching, hope you’re doing ok, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks for the reply and yes PowerDrift channel and Sagar's channel are the best here in India :)
Amazing video and my dream bike I'm a local lad so these routes are the ones i love to ride and I ride up from Bedlington just to eat at that van I love it there... Keep up the good work
Evening Spencer, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. I’m sure the ‘bad boy burger’ goes down a treat after a ride up from Bedlington 😀 May see you around, cheers, Phil.
Great review. Have just put a deposit down on one. As in the video, it's my first 4 cylinder bike in a very long time, but seems to be everything I'm looking for.
Hey Rob, I’m sure you’ll love it. Things have certainly moved on! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Fantastic video, congrats. I own a XSR 900 and I am going to pick up a Kawi like yours but I will keep my Yamaha though. I think that both are georgeous and completely different bikes. Yamaha engine is superb, plenty of torque and caracter, while the Kawasaki 900 seems to me that has a very smooth engine. XSR suspension is very stiff and precise but the Kawasaki one is more comfortable. I love the looks of both but there are substantial differences between them. Both are classic bikes but Yamaha is minimalistic and feels more nimble and light while the Kawasaki looks more classical and retro. The sound of the XSR is a stunning "three cylinder sound" and Kawi's sound is the typical inline-four sound that screams at high revs. Sorry for my English.
Morning Jose! Your English is great and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, the XSR engine is simply amazing and sounds just terrific. As you quite rightly point out the Kawasaki’s suspension is very much about comfort and given I have very poorly surface roads around here, that’s a big deal and is why I ultimately sold the Yamaha. If I had better roads the XSR would have been perfect. As you say it feels a lot nimbler and lighter.
However, I’m very happy with Z900, I feel for me, it’s more usable in more situations even if it isn’t as crazy as the XSR. Or maybe it’s an age thing…Anyway thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, you are a gentleman.
What is the distance between the seat and foot pegs?
Good morning, thanks for stopping by. I’ve no idea actually but will say that it’s very relaxed and of all the bikes I’ve owned it’s probably the one where my legs feel the least scrunched up. My feet are pretty much inline with my backside (maybe a little back) and my legs feel very relaxed on the pegs. It’s a great riding position. Hope that helps, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, I'll try and get a sit on one...love the styling.
Loving the artistic photography - blurry effects etc. It's such a nice retro bike but the huge gap above the rear wheel just looks weird, like something is missing or it's a jacked-up hot rod. I'd want to lower the suspension but that would no doubt upset the handling.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video. As for the gap…yes, it’s probably not the best from a purely aesthetic perspective and that’s the price to pay for a monoshock I guess. In the flesh though and I suppose I would say this, it’s the flat line of the tank and side panels which really grab your attention and overall it does work, even if it’s not faithful to the original.
Thanks for stopping by and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
Great review, i have a 2019 zx10r, but really want a z900rs, such great bikes :)
Thanks very much, great to know you enjoyed the review and thanks for the sub, much appreciated. You have a ZX10, blimey, don’t think I could hang on to that bike…The Z900 would be a nicely paired with that I think and would look great in the garage together 😀
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
The snatchy throttle is supposedly fixed on the new models - not sure if it's 21/22/23 though.
Morning! As per the video mine was absolutely fine once acclimatised - which took around 5 minutes and from on then it was no problem. Having ridden many a dodgy fuelled bike and two strokes, feathering the clutch and sensitive throttle control is pretty much second nature though. Either way, great bike!
All the best for 2023, cheers, Phil.
An absolute TV quality video. Loved it.
Thank you very much! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Was that Planet Woosh I just saw?
Morning! Yes, definitely planet Woosh…Lovely place, very green 😀 Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
I love mine. However the suspention was a let down for my riding. It took a bit of tweaking to get it where I wanted it now it's a weapon.
Morning, great to hear form another owner and thanks for watching. At the moment I’m OK with the suspension but as you say it probably is the one area to look at. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews for reference I run a standard shock with 2 clicks harder, 35mm lift kit in the rear and a 20mm drop in the front through the triples and straight bars.
Added delkevic headers to mine. Sounds really good
Evening Christian, thanks for dropping by. Well, the standard bike sounds amazing so I can only imagine what yours sounds like. What a bike though! Cheers, Phil.
Recently watched your tour of France, Switzerland. Which as I'm looking at buying a z900rs in the new year has been great for me as I wanted to see how you got on touring, I've already had one on a test ride and loved it ,got a z1000sx at moment but want a naked bike next. Love the quality I've your videos.
Hey David, hope you're doing well & thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I found it a cracking bike for doing distance stuff - especially with the long days and miles that I had to do as a necessity. I was dreading riding from basically the Scottish Border to the South Coast (esp with UK roads) but it was actually fine and I didn't really notice it. Coming back wasn't too bad either! Highly recommend.
Anyway, thanks for your kind comments & hope is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Could it be an all rounder? Around town...commute... tour? I see you can get luggage. I like it!
Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? Aside from hitting the dirt, it pretty much is a great all rounder. Round town it’s great and accept you’ve got no weather protection it’s easily capable of many comfortable miles. It’s kinda too nice for the commute but from a capability perspective (not economy) it’s more than up for it. Yeah, it’s a nice thing, I like it also!
Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Awesome review! Some of my local haunts too.. not sure about the dubious rotating moon near the power station though! 😂 Great bike.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Strange things happen near power stations…Hope all is well where you are and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
dear Phil congratulations for the video and the explanations. I have also owned a "tiger" z900 rs for 3 months and I can't wait to understand it well despite having already done 1500 km. for the moment I do not perceive the "on / off" at low speeds, perhaps because I'm used the twin-cylinder Speed Twin. I am very happy for everything, the bike is magnificent, the most beautiful there is! Thank you very much for everything, you are really a gentleman. Greetings from Como, Italy
Hey Michele, many thanks for your kind comments. Great to know you’re enjoying the bike as much as I am. Like you I don’t really notice any problems with the throttle, aside from really low speed and if I’m not really paying attention! And it is very beautiful as you say.
Hope all is well over in Italy, thanks again for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thank you so much !! And you, a Guzzi and the Z ... it is correct ? :-)
@@MicheleSpiriticchio that’s correct plus a CRF300 for getting muddy!
Will be having a test ride as soon as possible on the RS and cafe, one of them will be coming home😀. Your bike looks stunning, enjoy!
Thanks very much! Those are going to great test rides…Not sure how you’ll split them to be honest so probably best to buy both. Hope that helps 😀 and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Great review and if money wasn't an object, this bike and the Cafe 900 would be in my driveway even if I own the Z1000. So many beautiful machines out there nowadays.
Good afternoon, that would a great lineup of Z’s….Maybe one day! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Seconds away from leaping on to said pictured Ninja.
SV650 owner but, thinking about the Z900 as a second bike purchase..
Good morning….thanks for stopping by….Of course I would heartily recommend that! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Amazing review. Congratulations! Cheers from Brazil.
Morning Rafael, glad you enjoyed it and many thanks for your kind comments. Hope all is well in 🇧🇷 and Cheers from 🇬🇧, Phil.
Wooshtastic review of the Kwaki Z900 RS!
You nailed it on the head, can confirm everything you said, mate 👍
Thanks Eric, great to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the video and more importantly are enjoying the bike. It’s a cracking machine! Hope you’re well, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews
Thanks for your highly appreciated reply, Phil 🙏
The quality of your video is outstanding, I enjoyed watching it most definitely!
Keep up the great work, *AND* ride safe, Phil!
The most polished and engaging bike review video I’ve seen… very impressed indeed. More please - I’ve subbed of course…👍
Thanks Andy, really appreciate your comments! More coming soon but it does take me a while to think of something else to say so best not hold your breath 😀 Thanks for for the sub and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I have a 2019 version of this and agree with all what you say.. my only complaint is the wind buffeting , but with a naked bike you kind of sign up for it , but with a tall design and up right riding position , it is perhaps more pronounced in this one
Morning Suresh, how are you doing? The screen does help a little bit with the buffeting I find but as you say, that’s what you sign up for and overall it’s a cracking bike. Love mine! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I have this exact bike and colour coming my way in October. Now im even more excited. Great review and good luck with Indiana..
Ha ha, well, I never saw a glimpse of Professor Jones, but I’ll look out for the film. The coastline near Bamburgh is absolutely stunning so hopefully the crew have made the most of it. October….Well, not too long to wait and it’s so worth it. Totally adore mine, can’t stop riding it!
Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
Thanks for your first 1k+ miles impressions on the Z900RS. I like also the XSR900, but right now I am more looking into either the Z900RS or the Triumph Speed Twin. What is your opinion on the Speed Twin? Have you had the chance to take a closer look at that bike or even test ride it?
Hello! I’ve never ridden the Speed Twin but a moderately average experience with a Triumph 1200 Scrambler has kinda put me off Triumph a little. I’ve experienced it before but Triumphs engineering is so good it also feels a little clinical. Which is sort of what you would expect with a Japanese bike but the Z is oddly very engaging in a way that the scrambler wasn’t. It’s all very personal though…all I would say is take a good long test ride on the Triumph if you get the chance….None of that helps, I know! Sorry but thanks for watching! Cheers, Phil.
Speed Twin is fantastic but Kawa 4 cylinders is a different way to drive and suspensions too. More confort with Z900RS.
Speed Twin is a strong feeling, Kawa is softer...
I prefer each in my garage , very lucky 😀
You’ve got both? Brilliant - I think a twin and a four is a very nice combination! Cheers, Phil.
Great review and brilliant bike. I love that helmet too
Good morning! Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. As for the helmet, I’ve got quite a thing for Bell helmets these days. Not only are the graphics much better (to my eye) than the busy Arai/Shoei/AGV offerings, they’re a very reasonable price for what feels like good protection. Only downside I’d say is that they are not the most quiet helmets. And I like the sun visors!
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
My last three bikes have been Harley Davidsons but I’m really thinking about getting one of these. It reminds me of my Honda Nighthawk from the 80s!
Hey Edward, thanks for stopping by. While I’m obviously biased, the RS is a fabulous bike to ride and gorgeous to look at, I’m sure you would love it! It can whizz around but cruise also 😀
Let me know what you decide!
All the best, cheers, Phil.
A concise well presented review. Will look at your other videos now. Thumbs up.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it. Hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.
I've never owned a big Kawasaki, don't really know why that is. Always been kind of a Yamaha followed by Honda type, with the occasional Suzuki every decade or so. But this one is one is now on my list of candidates.
It’s worth a try, maybe with a Guzzi thrown in also 😀 I had a GPz550 followed by a GPZ900 a million years ago, but like you had kinda given up on them, mainly because of the styling but also because a screaming four cylinder bike just seemed a little passé. This one though, gosh, it’s like the perfect road riders bike. I’m really not sure what else I need or want. Thanks for taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil! As always, greats reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hey Laurentiu, comments are working again!
Well, to make a comparison the XSR is a bottle of Prosecco, while the Z9 is a bottle of nice, fruity red wine. Around town it’s a difficult call - the XSR flicks around so quickly that it would be great in and out of traffic, but the suspension and hard seat could get a little tiresome, especially after a day at work. The Z on the other hand is more comfortable, just as fast but not as excitable or nervous. It also handles poor road surfaces better.
If I were 25 years younger I’d say XSR as I wouldn’t mind the suspension and would value the crazy engine. Now, I’d rather have the Z for a little more comfort and the smooth reliable way it reacts. Of course it does have the well reported on/off throttle which for me only manifests itself in some very specific situations and I ride round it. I got caught up in lots of busy city riding while I was away and it was great - more upright than the XSR and it didn’t surprise me in anyway.
You’ll need to do a back to back test ride in reality, but as an overall package, I do wish the Z had been on my radar earlier. Oh and one last thing, I get vibration induced white fingers really easily…on the XSR that caused a problem occasionally…on the Z never.
Hope that helps & thanks for watching,
Cheers, Phil.
Great video, I went to look at a 900rs but couldn't get both feet down and being a newish rider didn't feel comfortable as was a lot heavy than previous bike so went with the trident 660 instead, hopefully in a year or two and a bit more riding experience I will go back for another try.
Good morning and thanks for stopping by. I’m sure after a few more months riding experience you’ll be trying the Z900 again and in the meantime the Triumph is going to be a whole lot of fun. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Whaddya think of the just announced Z900 RS SE, Phil?
Hey Hugh, well, I think it’s really great that Kawasaki have (apparently) listened to customers and made some worthwhile changes on the back of that and kept the standard RS as an option. The extra price, while fair, does start to nudge it closer to more exotic stuff and sportier stuff, so it will be interesting how it fairs.
Aesthetically, I’m personally not a fan of gold forks and wheels but hey that’s just me! Will I be swapping mine or would I have gone for the SE if both were available earlier this year? Well, my head probably would have said “get the best, get the SE” but having now done 2000 miles on the standard RS, I kinda really recognise what it is and does and that kinda matches what I want to do. So knowing what I know now and given the horribly bumpy roads I’ve got, it’s the standard for me and I’ll easily put up with the slightly floaty suspension. Anyway I’ve just put Michelin Road 5’s on it and blimey! It’s a different bike!
Hope that makes sense! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, you answered my hidden question perfectly! Look forward to the video on the new Michelins soon. 👍
Yup, I’m sold - gotta get one ASAP!
Afternoon Lance, how are you doing? Thanks for stopping by - it's good to hear from you. Well, I'm sure you'll love it! Let me know how you on, all the best, cheers, Phil.
Hi Phil, an excellent video design again with very authentic British spots. The Z900 looks very good to me as well, except the water cooler and the open space between rear wheel and fender. And there are two cylinders too much for my expectation of an emotional vintage bike. It is a bit too perfect - so that's what you (and I) have got the Guzzi V7 for. Is your V7 still the old one or the 850 already ? Best regards Wilhelm
Good evening Wilhelm, thanks for your kind comments. Two cylinders too much 😀 Funnily enough up until a month ago I’d mostly agree - except I would have said 1 cylinder too much 😀 I’ve always found 4 cylinder bikes to be ruthlessly efficient and too clinical….However, this one remains ruthlessly efficient, yet isn’t anodyne and is a ton of fun. As you say though, with a V7 in the garage I can still get the proper quirky mechanical experience also. Best of both worlds!
As for which V7 - I’ve still got my mark III stone however I’ve had a new 850 on order since February and there’s still no sign of it! Despite that though, the V7 is still so totally glorious that I keep thinking do I really need the 850….
Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
@@80eightReviews My dealer near Lüneburg has ordered a ten V7 - 850 last November but until now he has got only 3 of them. I made a test ride last week with the 850 and found it more comfortable, seat and rear suspension, compared to my 10 year old 750. That is what I like, as well as the ABS and the TC, which mine does not have. Even if I never would experience ABS or TC, it might help avoiding an accident. I like more torque at low rpm as well as the 6th gear and a very easy to move clutch.
Finally I as well am asking myself, is it worth changing to the 850. I would loose the retro charme and sound of a 10 year old 90th anniversario special edition model from 2011 ( I will send a photo by email) for a bit more comfort and technical perfection. It is just a slight improvement, but even more than you would have by a step from the V7 III to the V7 850. I will at least wait for the anniversario model Guzzi announced to show in September, so in just two month. Let's see. Wilhelm
By the way: The new engine does shake as much as the old one does !
Evening Wilhelm, I finally found your comment and see you are asking the same question as myself. I’ve not even managed to get a test ride on an 850 so it’s useful to get your views. I spoke to the dealer today and they are now saying mid-August, so I think I will wait until the end of August, then cancel if it’s not here and wait until 2022. I also keep hoping they might bring out a ‘racer’ version that has the style of a LeMans…that would be very nice. Hope all is well in Luneburg, cheers, Phil.
You can buy a Triumph Bonnivile T120 if you don't like the looks of open space between rear wheel and fender styling of Z900RS.
If I didn’t love my Bonneville this would be the bike for me. Nice work as always and sharp jacket!
Thanks Brendan, the wife chose the jacket actually - as she does with all my clothes, including socks. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.
Nice bike, good initial review, excellent vid. Enjoy the new toy =)
Thanks! Great to know you enjoyed the video and thanks for taking the time to comment. And yeah! I will…I am! Cheers, Phil.
Sad you sacked off the xsr but the z9rs is a lovely thing. Agree absolutely about the Yam's suspenders which feel like they're granite based. Beautiful cinematography as usual. Have you enquired at the rug warehouse to see if you can get your Jim Morrison hair back? If so, get me one while you're at it.
Cheers!
Hey Richard, yeah the XSR is a great bike but could so easily be fabulous. Thing is on smooth roads (that I don’t normally ride) it was totally brilliant…On bumpy B roads it was a bit less good unfortunately. Bought the wrong bike I guess (again!).
Anyway, glad you enjoyed the video and images…As for the rug - I’ve got some ‘lotion’ on order so I’ll let you know how that works out 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Loved your video on the 900RS, thanks.
Morning Jose, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Loved this video. Quality content, presentation, style and care in compiling it all shines through. As an owner of the Tiger 900 looking for a bit of retro myself and this video was very helpful. That the bike looks so stunning didn't do any harm either. Top of my shortlist. Enjoy your bike and thanks for the review. Great County too. ;)
Morning David, thanks for stopping by and really appreciate your kind comments. The Z900 remains an eye opener for me - aside from the attributes you mention it’s comfortable, useful and is surprisingly real-world sporty. I’m very happy with my purchase and enjoying every second of every ride. I’d gone off 4 cylinder bikes over the last few years as twins and triples had got so good…But this one is just lovely to ride.
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
V7, good man! As it happens I'm going from a V7 to the Z900RS, but I will keep my V85TT for that Guzzi magic. Great video BTW.
Hey Peter, thanks for dropping by. You'll love the Z900RS I'm sure - let me know what you think of it. I'm very glad to hear you're keeping a little bit of the Guzzi charm and magic though...There's nothing quite like it - but I am biased...
All the best, cheers, Phil.
I loved your review, I absolutely love my 2018 version and it is definitely a keeper.
Hey Russ, thanks for that and great to hear from a long term owner. Yeah, mines got the feeling of a keeper also…..I’ve said that before but this time…..
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Review's almost movie style... artsy and a pleasure to watch!! thank you Sir!
Thanks very much - great to know the work is appreciated. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
As a cb 1300 owner I approve! Love the retro styling and the colour scheme is definitely unique. Only fly in the ointment is the monoshock, it needs twin shocks in my humble opinion. Excellent review as ever, keep up thegoodwork!
Morning David, thanks for stopping by and good to have the approval from CB owner! Yes, twin shocks would complete the vibe perfectly, still, it goes round corners and handles bumps very well so I’ve no practical complaints. Anyway, I get my twin shock kicks (quite literally) from my Guzzi 😀 Hope all is good where you are, thanks is for your comments, cheers, Phil.
Twin shocks may look better, but mono is the better way to go. No two shocks will ever be exactly the same and there will always be SOME level of wobble, even if its just micro.
Very very nice video, good quality, many pics with a bike I love it. Thank you.
Thanks very much, great to know the work is appreciated! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
I've not rode this bike but hear great things about it. My first bike was a 1982 Honda cb900f. Big Japanese four cylinder engines have their own charm. If only we all had a bigger garage and pocket book. 😉👌 Enjoy your new machine! Cheers.
Hello again! I used to stare longingly at CB900’s back then…especially as I was just about to pass my test on a smoky GP100…The Z is quite a revelation for me…I’d got to the point of thinking twins were where it’s at, but this one has really changed my mind. My pocket book is exhausted now and no more room left in my garage…
Cheers again, Phil.
@@80eightReviews 👌
Great bike, nice editing and an interesting moon!
Hey Rob, thanks for stopping by, yep, it’s a gorgeous bike…I love it! As for the moon, well, I happened to have a 3D spinning moon lying around, so why not? There was too much sky in the shot 😀
Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.
Quality bike, Quality video ....Im full of envy !
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video and yes, the bike is a quality machine, I love it! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.