PETALING JAYA: Fans wishing for more choices of retro-themed bikes should be delighted with the entry of the new Kawasaki Z900R, which represents Kawasaki’s long awaited foray into the retro genre of motorcycling.
A throwback to its 1970’s predecessor, the famed Kawasaki Z1, the Z900R is not slouch when it comes to all the bells and whistles that defines performance.
Let’s start with the
liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 948cc in-line four cylinder engines, which is a detuned version of the mill taken from the naked Z900 so that the Z900R gives more punch in the midrange.
liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 948cc in-line four cylinder engines, which is a detuned version of the mill taken from the naked Z900 so that the Z900R gives more punch in the midrange.
The bike was unveiled to the media at Kawasaki Malaysia’s Chinese New Year event here yesterday.
The newest addition to the Z family features 41mm inverted front forks, slipper clutch, and Kawasaki Traction Control, all housed within a modern trellis frame to bring great performance while sporting handsome good looks.
The high-quality clutch with assist and slipper function working in unison with its transmission to produce a smooth ride, while the fully adjustable rebound damping and preload in the rear shocks help ensure total comfort.
The bike also features a meticulously tuned exhaust pipe to produce the best balance between sound and performance so that the entire package not only looks good, but sounds good too.
While Kawasaki in-line four cylinder engines are known for their great-sounding exhausts, this is the first time that Kawasaki has used sound research to craft the model’s ideal exhaust note.
The long, flowing stainless steel header design that mates to the short, low hanging megaphone silencer ensures that the “original” look of yore is maintained.
A visual masterpiece of the Z900RS is the beautiful 17-litre teardrop-shaped fuel tank, which is reminiscent of the Z1, and the entire frame was designed with the aim of showcasing the fuel tank.
Speed scrubbing is performed by a full disc brake setup featuring modern ABS. The radial-pump front brake master cylinder is paired to a pair of 4-piston radial-mount monobloc calipers gripping a pair of 300mm discs, while the rear brake is a single piston, pin-slide caliper that grips a 250mm disc.
The Z900RS is equipped with Kawasaki TRaction Control, which has two performance settings riders can choose from: Mode 1 prioritises acceleration, while Mode 2 provides greater reassurance by facilitating riding over slippery surfaces.
The entire package weighs in in a not-too-pudgy 214 kg, wet, while seat height is a very accessible 800mm.
The stylish appearance of the standard Z900RS is available in Metallic Flat Green and Candytone Orange.
The Z900RS will be available by March, at a price of RM67,900 and RM69,900 (prices inclusive of GST), for the base model and the SE respectively.
