Quite a few manufacturers were stumbling over themselves at the end of the last decade trying to come out with a modern retro version of an iconic model from their past, but none of them really nailed the concept like Kawasaki did with its Z900RS. A proper homage to the firm’s inimitable 1973 Z1, the Z900RS does away with the Z900′s angled bodywork and replaces it with a full one-piece seat, teardrop-style fuel tank (notable in that the RS frame is slightly different to accommodate the shape of the fuel tank), round analog-style gauges, etc. Kawasaki also raised the front of the RS and lowered the rear a tad along with different triple clamps compared to the standard Z900. The result is a look that does a great job of capturing the lines and stance of the original without trying too hard to cover up the modern engine’s components such as the radiator, etc.
Kawasaki then went one better in releasing the Z900RS Cafe, which incorporates a bikini fairing around the large round headlight and harkens back to the late ‘70s cafe racers. The Cafe also gets a humped seat that follows the styling trends from back then (a little taller than the RS seat at 32.3 inches), as well as a black handlebar with lower rise and a more swept-back bend to better complement the bikini fairing. What the RS Cafe doesn’t follow from the past are the old torture rack ergos; while the handlebar is lower, it’s still high enough and the fuel tank is short enough that the reach to the grips is nice and easy. The Cafe’s 4-into-1 exhaust is finished in a nice brushed aluminum look (the RS’ is chrome).
Both bikes come with a 41mm inverted fork with 4.7 inches of travel, and adjustability for spring preload, rebound and compression damping. A horizontally mounted back-link shock strokes through 5.5 inches of travel with adjustability for spring preload and rebound damping. Nicely styled cast aluminum wheels sport Dunlop GPR-300 rubber in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 sizes, with braking hardware consisting of dual 300mm discs clamped by a set of radial-mount four-piston calipers up front, with a single 250mm disc/single-piston caliper combo out back.
Kawasaki then went even further in 2022 with the Z900RS SE that outfits the RS with an Öhlins S46 rear shock with remote preload adjuster, Brembo M4.32 calipers, gold-colored wheels and upper fork tubes, and a distinctive “Yellow Ball” paint scheme that goes back to a rare yellow sunburst paint release in Europe from the ‘70s. Whichever Z900RS model you choose, you’re sure to get all the great styling from the original Z1 with modern-day performance.
The 2024 Kawasaki Z900RS is available in Metallic Diablo Black for $12,149. The Z900RS Cafe ABS version is available in Metallic Diablo Black for $12,899. The Z900RS SE ABS is available in Metallic Diablo Black/Yellow Fireball for $14,149.
