Kawasaki z900 SE

[Biker 1]

Quite like the look of the updated Kwak. Apparently it has upgraded Brembo brakes with braided lines, Ohlins adjustable springy bits & a few other bells & whistles.
I'm hoping to test ride one in the new year & was wondering what the PH Massive have to say - I've never owned a Kwak, so was wondering what to look out for....

[Harji]

I test rode one, and loved it, instantly felt at ease with it, quite chuckable and good usable power. Waiting for the new year to purchase one.

[Jazoli]

I owned one, it looked and sounded alright but meh, not a memorable bike for me.

[mickrick]

I test rode one. Nice looking thing, I was so close to buying one, but I walked away. The throttle from idle is like an on/off switch. fking horrible! 15k euro's here in Spain, it doesn't do anything better than my T300 Triumph which owes me a couple of grand, and is as smooth as silk with it's carbies.

[Jazoli]

mickrick said:

I test rode one. Nice looking thing, I was so close to buying one, but I walked away. The throttle from idle is like an on/off switch. fking horrible! 15k euro's here in Spain, it doesn't do anything better than my T300 Triumph which owes me a couple of grand, and is as smooth as silk with it's carbies.

I'd agree with that, the fuelling is terrible coming off a closed throttle, even in normal riding, you eventually ride around it, a remap from jct33 developements works wonders but also invalidates the warranty.

[Zedboy]

Lovely smooth polished bike. I test rode one when considering to add to my Z1000 r and Versys 1000 fleet for a little nostalgia. I just found it rather antiseptic and a little too small for my 6’1” build.

[carinaman]

It's not clear to me whether the title refers to the Z900 'naked' or the Z900RS retro styled Z900 homage? The Z900RS retro had better cycle parts than the Z900 with regard to front brake calipers adjustable front suspension. The SE version of the Z900 has radial mounted front calipers and adjustable front suspension compared to the normal Z900.

They're both available in SE forms.

Z900:



Z900RS:

[underwhelmist]

carinaman said:

It's not clear to me whether the title refers to the Z900 'naked' or the Z900RS retro styled Z900 homage? The Z900RS retro had better cycle parts than the Z900 with regard to front brake calipers adjustable front suspension. The SE version of the Z900 has radial mounted front calipers and adjustable front suspension compared to the normal Z900.

They're both available in SE forms.

Z900:



Z900RS:

I mean, I know I'm an old fart, but why would they make something that looks like the first one when they can make something that looks like the second one?

[Biker 1]

Sorry for the lack of clarity: I'm not particularly interested in the retro RS - it is the Z900 SE I am thinking of, with the Ohlins gold bits & Brembo radial brakes.
I dropped into a showroom earlier today - they didn't have anything available for test ride, but there was a base model sitting next to an SE. They also had a secondhand one with high miles: the paint, fixings, exhaust etc still looked good. The build quality is something that I really like the look of.
Edit to add: those that mentioned crap fueling - this sort of thing can be very subjective. Coming from a KTM 690 single, I'm not sure I would notice any 'on/off' behaviour....

Edited by Biker 1 on Thursday 29th December 16:24

[Harji]

Biker 1 said:

Sorry for the lack of clarity: I'm not particularly interested in the retro RS - it is the Z900 SE I am thinking of, with the Ohlins gold bits & Brembo radial brakes.
I dropped into a showroom earlier today - they didn't have anything available for test ride, but there was a base model sitting next to an SE. They also had a secondhand one with high miles: the paint, fixings, exhaust etc still looked good. The build quality is something that I really like the look of.
Edit to add: those that mentioned crap fueling - this sort of thing can be very subjective. Coming from a KTM 690 single, I'm not sure I would notice any 'on/off' behaviour....

Edited by Biker 1 on Thursday 29th December 16:24

I also didnt notice any on/off throttle issue on my test ride, this is the 2022 model I rode. I have ridden snatchy throttle bikes before and this was not one of them. Note the new z900 is quite different to its predeccessor, seat height is higher for example. Anyway, I did a spreadsheet with like minded bikes and the equipment and price for a 2022 SE is impressive.

[Pent]

I have a kwak 1000sx 2021 so I thought I would enjoy the 900rs naked.

Honestly i felt it was wooden. Horrible brakes and throttle.
The looks are great though.

The SE version seemed to improve on the things I hated about the bike but I haven’t test rode one to comment.

[Jazoli]

Biker 1 said:

Sorry for the lack of clarity: I'm not particularly interested in the retro RS - it is the Z900 SE I am thinking of, with the Ohlins gold bits & Brembo radial brakes.

Oh right, I don't know why you'd choose one over an MT09 to be honest, they are both fugly but the yam is better equipped, has a qs as standard and has 'that' engine.

[CoreyDog]

underwhelmist said:

I mean, I know I'm an old fart, but why would they make something that looks like the first one when they can make something that looks like the second one?

I’m in my late 30s so not quite old fart yet… just maybe in my head but agreed, 2nd would be my choice everytime.

[carinaman]

Biker 1 said:

Sorry for the lack of clarity: I'm not particularly interested in the retro RS - it is the Z900 SE I am thinking of, with the Ohlins gold bits & Brembo radial brakes.

No apology necessary, I apologise for not wording my response better. It seemed to me that at least one response was about the Z900RS, but to be fair they have the same engine.


I've ridden a Duke 690, but it may have been remapped. I am not a riding god and I cannot remember any issues with the throttle other than going a bit too fast and taking a liberty after approaching a giveaway very slowly so as not to have to come to a complete halt and possibly getting a bit near to the rear of the vehicle I was waiting to clear the roundabout.

Thanks for your comment on how good the high mileage used Z900 appeared as these appeal to me from an ownership perspective. I want a painless ownership experience, I cannot be doing with a toy giving me problems that become another demand on my attention and time.

I was impressed the 2020 revamp included a strengthened frame around the swing arm pivot, so that revamp was a bit more than LED lights and TFT screen. I didn't know the 2022 model had a higher seat, as some seem to like the Z900 due to the low seat and 'sit in' rather than 'sit on' riding position.

In late Spring MCO had a new unregd. Z900 in last year's colours and two years additional warranty for £8495 and a couple of months ago another dealer had a 20 regd. one with 2K miles and new rear tyre for £7395 which was past the deadline to take out the extended warranty but with hindsight perhaps I should've seen that as an opportunity to get it remapped without invaldating the warranty.

I am not worried about the normal one not having radial mounted front calipers, I like gold forks but can live without them and I'd imagine after market springs and shock are available if the standard suspension were an issue. The Firecracker Red anniversary ones with gold forks don't look good to my eyes.

The snatchy throttle puts me off. I approached a chap on Z900 with a non-standard exhaust, not an Akra, who'd just ridden into a supermarket car park to ask about the snatchiness. I think he may've thought I was walking towards him to have a go about the noise his bike was making or the speed he rode into the car park He said he didn't have a problem with throttle snatchiness and he found it lighter than a Bandit to push about. He said the Z900 was a great bike.

I'm a bit of a tight wad. I'd find it easier to spend £11K on a Z900RS than a Z900. Bransons in Yeovil a few weeks ago were advertising new MT-09 SPs for £10,195

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 29th December 21:52

[Biker 1]

I wouldn't normally write off a bike purely down to looks, but the MT09 front end is just soooooo ugly. Even worse in the flesh! I also looked at the XSR900 - an interesting thing, but very Marmite

[loftylad]

Biker 1 said:

I wouldn't normally write off a bike purely down to looks, but the MT09 front end is just soooooo ugly. Even worse in the flesh! I also looked at the XSR900 - an interesting thing, but very Marmite

I’ve ridden the Z900 and the Z900rs. Both perfectly acceptable ‘bikes.

I bought a MT-09 gen 3. Yes they’re ugly as from the front, but you can’t see it when you’re riding it!!
Such a fun ‘bike to ride. Never fails to put a smile on my face.