2020 Kawasaki Z900 Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 มิ.ย. 2020
- Lockdown was a period of self-reflection, where people spent time in their homes, spent time with family and discovered themselves. For Donovan, the lockdown meant the roads of Johannesburg were empty, and the new Kawasaki Z900 begged to be ridden. Welcome to the Ilse of Johannesburg TT.
Videography by Meghan McCabe: megmccabephotography
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Filmed in South Africa. Prices in South African Rands. Prices may differ in each country. - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
The Z800 was an overlooked gem in my opinion. The Z900 will be overlooked as well, but those who know, know. Brilliant bike.
Best out of the bunch in my opinion, I test rode pretty much all of the bikes in this class. Easily the best all-rounder, strongest engine, and one of the best in terms of build quality.
Hence why I bought a 2018 version new two years ago.
Finally, been waiting for this review from you guys. Awesome bike, entertaining review. Thanks
I love the way he explains and describes different motorcycle's
Hey really nice video, I love the edits and music u chose as the background, it all comes together really well, your review reminded me of like a top gear episode, really well done and profesional, good job man
Informative and entertaining review. 👍 Cheers!
Brother this one my dream bike.....thank you so much for new z 900 review.love from India Kolkata...,
Nice review Don ,
Must say , I would not mind having this new Z in my stable 👍🏻👌🏻
Cheers from Jozi 🇿🇦
Essential worker permit? I love it! Motorcycles are essential if you ask me! This bike is one of the few Kawasaki’s that grabs my attention. I love the comical banter both during and after the review! The world will be a sad place when manufacturers realize it’s expensive to produce 4 cylinders and chop off a cylinder or two on all bikes.
........ 'both wheels off the ground' …….. 'I'm going to speak to the Council' - LOL.
I really love that Kawasaki TFT, best looking of all, I even like the graphics more than the BMW. Grettings from Vstrom 1000 XT rider.
When you put a full exhaust on this, it sounds insane. Like the liter bike that it truly is.
As always, great review
This bike is so underated.. I saw this next to a Z1000 and its noticeably bigger in size and its faster off the line.. Can't wait to get mine HAHAHA
Great review guys.
Love the kawe plus I wanna say reliability is a plus here.
Great review, love the South Africa accent! :)
I'd love to see where the mv dragster 800 fits in this test🤔
Hopefully in the next group test 🙏
Great review Donovan
Nice review Don. The new Z900 is the (highly competent) UJM for 2020.
that's one hellova bike and hellova review! thanks a lot!
Don, Don, Don......Good Job! That Kawa is special.
Just PX'd my SX1000 for a new Z900 (2020). Still waiting on delivery of it. Great review.
I think we better get further away !! That was really a nice act !!!
Great ride
Love the Z900. It is such a great bike. Not stupidly fast and surely not a faired bike alternative but epic and good value.
@@Stu0808 well it simply isn't for a basically 1000cc sportbike. We reviewed it and simply love it. Great value at that.
Hello, Where did you get the suite? In Cork where I'm living I can't find a shop with your (my) size. My next (2nd) bike after Suzuki GW250, is this my dream bike, or MT-09 :)
They're called Mass Sports. They do only custom suits. Have a google for it.
Great video as always. But don't you guys have Suzuki in South Africa? Not a mention of the GSX S750? That one is the most affordable in the class.
The last ones that were sold in SA were the GSR750 sad we won't see the GSX 750 but we do get the 1000
Currently ride a 2017 Z650 and this will 100% be my second bike
I went from Z650 to Z900... love both bikes ! I have droven 54.000 km on my 2017 Z900 !
it still has slipper assist clutch ?
I love how he calls the 900 the “mid” range bike.....
I think 1000-1301 count as top end
@@TH-cam_Globetrotter i kind of agree. But i dont think 900 is middle wieght. 500-800cc maybe but i consider 900-1200 high end. Anyone on a 900cc sport or naked needs damn good experience and or self controle
@@toofastnobrakes yeah, the Z900 is definitely no slouch. Highly underrated bike in my opinion.
@@toofastnobrakes 9:15
Good control sure but 900 imo isn't really high end... I'm a beginner and started on a gsxs1000, easy to control and has more power than z900.. just use common sense is all.
ok so this bike or the YAMAHA MT09SP??? please advise
This video made me want a Z900!
I am an old kawasaki fan - the first new street bike I ever bought was a KZ 750 1984 ( I was about 27 then ) . It was a light metal flake blue one with a dark blue pinstripe. I searched for hours and only found one or two of that color . 20 years ago I got a used 1984 KZ 550 LTD . Then in 2019 I got a red Z900 ( only has ABS ) . I liked it so much that I then got a blue 2020 . I have 1500 miles on it and about 6500 miles on the red one .
I love them both - I am also 6 1 and about 200 lbs .
I don't do tricks or anything but on the red 2019 bike - after the 600 mile break in, I always accelerated hard . Even so, I got 5000 on the rear tire before replacement . I almost never use the rear brake ...
The fastest I have been is 145 MPH on both bikes . What about you ?
Great review, great bike. It should be noted that it is significantly heavier as well.
2 kilos.
I love this guy. Great voice and South African accent. Not a smart a$$. I have a '22 Z900 and a new z900RS. These bikes are superb. Took a 300 mile ride today in Idaho mountain roads, before it got to 105F. My Z runs like a champ. Smooth, powerful. wonderful. Have had 30 plus bikes. This one IMO is flawless. Try one, you won't be disappointed.
How is the height on the bike is this made for a shorter person or can a taller person still ride it and be comfortable say like somebody 6'4 ??
Z1000 still on sale ?
Nice video, I'm a beginner motorcyclist, my first bike at age 48 end am small 166cm,, so which bike of this equation is right for me? I drive daily to work in the city and also the highway and sometimes during a weekend round of recreational so, which one? don't like Adventure such an engine, love Naked bike so what is your opinion? are they similar to Honda cb 1000 cc r from 2008/2009 or Suzuki GSX-S 1000
Do you have riding experience? Better a low or a real mid range bike. For some people starting high displacement works, but can be dangerous or even unnecessary expensive.
@@luiz576 thanks for reaction and advice
Sir Can we go off road also with these kind of bikes ?
2:01 Camera car a 2 stroke?
Fun review, thanks. I am still trying to get to ride one. I rode and loved the GSX S750, I know you did too Donovan. Where I live the Z900 is USD300 more than the MT09 SP. Which would you like to get on every morning.
No wrong choice there. I have the z900, but I might reconsider if the SP was cheaper, as it also has more features. Ugly as a dog's butt, though.
@@lovelessissimo 🤣
Mid Range liter bike?
Were you both bothered by the close together transmission gearing? The gears are too close together for b the street in my opinion.
Nice Bike 👍.
u driving or running with z900 .. ur voice feels the same
you can change the background to white and numbers turn black.. I love my z900 from April.
I was for going for z900 as a starter bike but I went for the twin kawasakie ninja 650 great bike
So you messed up it has sport road rain then rider where you can turn off ktrac and turn power full.
I have the yamaha mt09sp which i've had for 2 years , great bike , plenty of fun but very twichy bike . However seeing the new z900 decided to part ex it and for the first time own a kawasaki . Getting it on the 1st September . Looking forward to it .
So how does it compare to the 09?
@@wattoman28 for me depends on what you want when I got the sp it was the upgrade from the 07 and found it great but that was two years ago and I did not like anything else . Now 2 years on the Kawasaki has moved on and with all the new features etc I was itching to have a go but being a short gift at 5ft 6 that is the key factor on any bike for me ... But I felt ok and could move it around easy . So the first thing you notice over the my is the riding position much tighter but you get used to it , the tft screen is brilliant over the mt but the biggest difference is how smooth the engine is . My ride has become more confident and once run in you know it's gonna perform . Downsides to the z900 no quickshift or ohlins . But the handling on the z900 is good but I will get it set up very soon . The z900 holds more fuel which is a key point for me . The mt is lighter but not by much . I have always stuck with Yamaha and this is my first Kawasaki and I'm very impressed but to be honest you have to ride both . Never gonna slate the mt as I enjoyed owning it but I feel this is a big improvement for me .
@@QQRREE Glad you enjoying the bike. How was your experience with the mt-07?
@@trevor2830 the 07 is a great learning bike and gives you confidence. Nice and light and great fun . The bad you are forever changing gear . Now the 09 is really good not sure about the gen 2 as I had the fen 1 .
@@QQRREE good choice!
Can this Z900 handle bouncing off the rev limiter every shift like my Harley???? Also cold start full throttle at redline for 3 hours???
Yes and it will smoke your Harley in every gear.
@@humblebeginnings8328 I wholeheartedly agree!
How are 900-950 are considered to be mid-ranged now???
Funny that we have come to a point where 900cc basically an 1litre bike is called middle weight bike :P
But the engine is not even close to being set up the same as a litre bike. Thats why in reality is more like a 600cc with more torque.
I had one in 2017. Regret I sold it so fast. Get a full exhaust and it will be wery exciting. Not so much with stock exhaust sewing machine sound.
This is going to be my first bike ,100÷
That's a liter class posing as a mid Ranger
True it's 948cc did it with the 636 in the 600 class
I think he said mid range because of the price. I mean a 790 Duke cost around 1000€ more than a Z900.
I wouldn’t call it as a liter class, it’s the HP that counts not the CC. It produces 123 ps of power whereas ZX6R being a 600cc(mid range) bike produces 136 ps of power.
@@junaid-e-ellahi6015 funny how it's only 50cc off a litre bike yet makes 125hp not 200hp. The last 50cc counts for 75hp more
@@chrishart8548 camshafts
01:58 Why a flipped video?
Consider the Suzuki GSX-S1000 is only about $2000 (US) more and a significant upgrade in performance. Here the Street Triple splits the difference but that’s the R model with 116hp. The RS with 121hp is more expensive than any of them. The MT-09 may “only” have 117hp but it accelerates harder than all of them and is only slightly more than a Z900. It’s a difficult choice between them all.
When is this coming to Philippines?
Z900 AT Z800 wala di bebenta ang Z1000 kapag yan Lumabas dito. Sa tatlo magmumukang panget ang Z1000
It’s a keeper
Harkening back to the original superbike. The Kawasaki Z1 900.
Team Green has turned to things "Standard". Look at the forks.
Trying to decide between this z900 and an mt 10...
Mt10 looks heavy 🤔
@Robert Wallace - mt
This bike has more torque than the MT10.
If I'm not mistaken the Z900 is heavier than many litre bikes? Still, great value for money. Great review, Donovan 👍
litre superbikes that is, something that is purposely bred to be on the track. the z900 is among the lightest for street bikes.
iodineclip the Zed is 210kg. A BMW S1000R is 205. A Triumph Street Triple R 168kg. I'm not saying the Z is a bad bike, I quite like them. But light it is not
Km/L please?
2:52 mirrored shot chain is not on the right side. Strange choice.
Alex LaJeunesse good spotting!
Alex LaJeunesse - Good eye. 👍
Yamaha: wait we’re making a 600 and 900 class? Ok make sure the cc doesn’t exceed, heck make it one lower just for safety and now figure out how to make it fast.
Kawi: haha more cc go brrrrrr
I wish that Kawasaki would make the z800 again. To me, it looks much better. It seems slimmer than the z900 and the z1000.
The Z900 does make the most HP and Torque. But, that's only on paper, and before adding in the weight penalty.
Dyno's show the new MT09 making identical power as the Z900 yet it weighs in at almost 50 lbs lighter. The Z900 only puts down roughly 108-110 HP to the rear wheel. It's a good bike, but definitely has its shortcomings. It is due for an all new version of the Z900. This one is ready for retirement.
The Z1000 is pretty much the same bike isn’t it?
Can a 5.3" guy ride this
Probably. It has a low seat height.
Meanwhile my 2003 Z1000 has a 954cc motor and is considered a liter bike lol.
Yes because it has more than 950 cc
But z900 has 948 cc which is less than 950 cc
SO HOT!! and I’m not referring to the bike
Wtf
Get some Donovan!
The Z900 is a nice commuter. If you want something with a big punch go for the Z1000.
Reckon you should check the stats ! Z1000 10 kg heavier and no difference in performance or very little 🤣 no brainer 🤸
@@gazakelly9266 Naw there is a big difference 129hp vs 143hp and the torque difference is huge
Z900 125 bhp 74 ftp Z1000 136 bhp 82ftp check road tests no difference on quarter mile or top speed , both fantastic bikes though 🤗🤸@@lav1daloca
@@gazakelly9266 I had the Z1000 for a couple seasons it came with 143hp here and 110NM of torque. Did and ECU flash and brought it to 160hp. A monster. I dont think I would say that for the Z900.
HONDA CB?
Don: "It has electronic aids"
Me: Has actual aids😎
J3xY wtf
Cute
Come on guys most motorcyclists are nearer 60 than 16.
What? Which part of the world do you live in?
Speak for yourself old timer...
Real bikers don't grow up , we just get older 😎
..the real world, getting older and wiser and still riding with a smile on my face. 🤣🤪
No quick shifter or cruise control (even as an option). Come on guys it’s 2020 :-(
What a bike it could have been with and up and down shifter on it ... and cc I'd go and buy one right now
that's why it's the cheapest in this segment?
Wish it had cruise control 😅
Tre Webster yeah you need to go up to the Ninja 1000 SX.
@@samiam5326 those are dope too...and I get the keeping the cost low for certain bikes I wish they just always make it an option for people wanting to spend the money
Why did i think he was in discovery channel lol
This video should have been two seconds longer
9:18 yes It has a lot of power but it's also heavy. The Duke 890r is very light in comparison and almost the same hp, and you get good forks and brakes on it.
Ktm 420lbs dry
Mt09 430lbs dry
Z900 460lbs wet
Most manufacturers list their machines as dry weight (no oil, coolant, gas and even the tires)! FYI
@@adamprater6216 You're wrong the KTM Duke 890R I'm talking about has a dry weight of 366 lbs
Z900 brakes seem a bit underdone.
The KTM doesn't have the Kwak's reliability.
@james avery Well if you're going the highway then you should go sport bike and not naked.
You forgot the Suzuki
I hope these manufacturers keep these bikes within these hoarse power ranges or they just become too powerful I like how they are and if I want more power then I can have it but this power range is sweet.
Mt09 not scary 😁😁😁
ZH2 soooooon become MID range learner's best choice 🤪🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣
Especially with an exhaust, filter, and flash for that easy-going 240 wheel HP.
That bike is way better than z1000r
Couldn’t understand a bloody word he said !
Is the production of this models going to satisfy rural remote dealers? Suppose that's as possible as getting my irs refund tomorrow! 900se
Suzuki gsx s750
😂
And for 99cc more, S1000R which blows it out of the water.
The price here in the states is $8,000 more
This Kawasaki is not in the same price league as a S1000R 🤔
I thought u call it scary because it doesn't have many technology to protect you.
Rider aids wont protect you dont rely on them to save you
That bike is moving a lot of weight!
Well, One figure Hp and torque doesn’t mean much as we al know. You should manage to compare the curves over the whole rpm range.... I’ve tested the new Z900, I like it but it’s either a scooter at lower rpm, either a beast for track at high rpm...Not very practical for road, not what I expect from a roadster. .. I keep my Monster 👍😀
Mid-range? Ya no.
I found the gsxs1000 more fun. More nimble and sounded better.
If you need wind protection , drive a car .
Well said 😎
Not for me, too old
drop some pounds mate - you'll notice an improvement in the bike's overall performance
Did not hear him complain once about performance, wot you on about ?
I like Don just the way he is...
Would rather spend a few rand more and buy the Suzuki GSX-S1000 more power better motor and brakes
By that justification you may as well get the z1000
I got a GSX-S 1000. Brilliant engine gearbox clutch riding position @ seat . badly let down by crap suspension, so you will have to spend about $ 2000-2500 ( AUS ) to fix it. When you do that it's about $2000 more to get a B.M.W S1000 r.
Ummm, bullsh1t !!.... just because it's got BREMBO calipers does not mean it stops any better ?!
Suzuki always had crap brakes, does not matter which year !!