Last year, Kawasaki had both a Z800 and a Z1000 in their naked sportbike lineup. Both are now gone, and they’re about to be replaced by the Z900. I’m in San Diego for the next couple of days for the press launch of the new bike – so if there’s anything specific you want to know, here’s your chance to give me a heads up!
When I think of the color green in the automotive world, I think of Lotus and their founder, Colin Chapman. His philosophy was “simplify, then add lightness.” When it comes to motorcycles, Kawasaki is known as Team Green – and Colin would be proud of their approach to this new bike. It’s the same price ($8,399 – add $400 for ABS) as the outgoing Z800 though it makes 12 more horsepower and weighs 50 pounds less.
So on paper, this looks like a very interesting competitor for Yamaha’s FZ-09, especially if you don’t like electronic aids like traction control or a ride by wire throttle. Let’s see what it’s like in the real world…
If there’s anything specific you’d like to know that might not usually be covered in a review, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to address it!
UPDATE: Here’s my review on the Z900.
Photos courtesy of Kawasaki.