Heritage
The Z900RS is all about heritage – and what heritage it is. Kawasaki’s defining two-wheeled creation is the Z1 of 1973. The mighty, DOHC 903cc four was the world’s fastest and most glamorous superbike until 1976 when it was updated to create the original Z900. Those Seventies “Zeds”, as stylish and robustly engineered as they were potent, established Kawasaki as a motorcycling force and now change hands for five-figure sums.
The Z900RS comes from a more recent family of Kawasaki fours. The Z750 of 2004 was only moderately powerful but its looks and competitive price helped make it popular. The Z800 that followed in 2013 was also successful and led to last year’s Z900, which combined similarly edgy, modern styling with a traditional tubular steel frame. The Z900RS, its initials standing for Retro Sport, adds nostalgia to the format. There’s also a café racer derivative, the Z900RS Café, featuring a bikini fairing plus paintwork in Kawasaki lime green and white.