Online: Humbug

Z900 RS Cafe Racer

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  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    6 years ago
    Just placed my hard earned down on a deposit for one of these.

    Now to find a Titanium 4 into 1 race pipe for it.

    A bit nostalgic for me as I learnt to ride on a original Z900

  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    6 years ago
    Delivery late Feb/early March 2018
  • steelo
    steelo
    6 years ago
    I think 900's or similar used on the OZ movie Stone

  • speedzter
    speedzter
    6 years ago
    Nice one Lofty, I'll be interested in your review when it turns up.
    Have they finalised pricing yet ?
  • Squidy
    Squidy
    6 years ago
    Nice choice mate, can't wait for the first ride report!

    Enjoy.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    6 years ago
    Bolton's Adelaide, 1976  New, 900 Kawasaki with Bikini Fairing for $1850.
    I had 4 of the barsteads, around Australia. 
    Loved them. 
    Could buy a second hand K900 in 78 (19 that is ) for $1400, all good.
    Very interested to read report on the new babies..

  • JFE
    JFE
    6 years ago
    Good one Lofty. I look forward to hearing how ya find it. Jap made Yoshi or a Akra pipe? Not sure if Kerker still around.
  • JFE
    JFE
    6 years ago
    If that’s true, it’s promising. I’ve always thought Kwaka’s were good value for money, but harboured some doubt that if it was circa $12-14,000 it could be disappointing.
    Ride reviews and a test run will tell.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    6 years ago
    And do you know . I saw a few riders in the then main street of Adelaide one night, Now Rundle Mall,  in 1974 and one dude was excusing himself all over his new 900. 
    Blown away..
  • JFE
    JFE
    6 years ago
    Pauly, the Zephyr was nothing more than a commuter and its looks were nothing on this. I agree about it not being a big seller. I read a review on Rideapart that was very complimentary of the base version, which I’d expect will be a consistent view.
    Noting most brands are pushing a retro style bike here and there at different price points, a comparison would be worth the read.

    Saying all that, myself, I’d give it a couple of years and find a second hand one which has already taken the depreciation hit.
  • JFE
    JFE
    6 years ago
    I should have been more polite then (and observant). Ha. My mistake.
  • Retroman
    Retroman
    6 years ago

    I'll also be keeping an eye out for this on arrival in Perth WA.

    One of the Perth Kawasaki dealers is only 5 K's from my house , so well handy.

    With respect to the Zephyr 1100 of the early 90's ,back in Scotland a mate of mine bought one new and stored it at my workplace

    Business was alarmed up the wazoo ! so I got to ride it.

    It rode EXACTLY like my 1976 Z900 ( which it was probably supposed to ). Bland bland colours tho'...

    So the Glasgow Kawasaki dealer painted a number of them in 1974/5 Z1B colours , using a brand new Z1B tailpiece from yours truly to colour match

    They also painted a few in "Jaffa" colours around the same time. Trouble is all the boys wanted Yamaha R1's etc etc and they faded away fairly quickly

    I don't think I've seen a Zephyr 1100 here in Perth in the last 22 years , BAZILLIONS of Harley's tho' haha...



  • Ferrett62
    Ferrett62
    6 years ago


    For those interested z900rs  good review and look.
  • Choco
    Choco
    6 years ago
    Had a look at the new Z900rs great  looking bike except for way they have set up the rear suspension big gap between the tyre and guard. Trouble for me owning a bike like this is seat height for my short arse legs there is a low seat that can be fitted but I guess it will come at a cost. Looking forward to seeing the café racer model in person but at $18000 the jury is still out for me but would I own one at a  better price the big answer is YES.
  • Retroman
    Retroman
    6 years ago

    $18,100 "on the road" in the UK for the "Jaffa" version. Sounds same same to me !

    $11.200 USD in the US , translates to $15,000 AUD !

    Now where have we seen that before ???

    Sadly it was NEVER gunna be $12500 Aussie dollars folks , wishful thinking !

  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    6 years ago
    Still waiting for mine, 6-8 weeks away
  • LOFTYBOB
    LOFTYBOB
    6 years ago
    There were 4 of them brand new and registered at Gepps Cross Kawasaki, all getting picked up today
  • Phelics
    Phelics
    6 years ago
    These are a lovely bike, I reckon. 

    I saw one on the toy run (Kawasaki rep riding it) and it was great. 

    My critique would be:

    1. Rear is too high. The original has more of a bonneville look. This looks like a sports bike from the rear. 

    2. I’d love it if they had kept (but modernised) those four idiot lights between the speedo and the tachometer. Instead it looks really modern between them, much like a ninja 1000 display set. 

    3. The exhaust. Why, why, why? Replicate the original. 

    4. The chrome handrail is missing. I know you can buy it aftermarket as an accessory, but it should have been standard. 

    Still, even with those issues, some of which I expect can be fixed for under $2000, I think it is a gorgeous retro bike which goes a long way to capturing the feel, if not necessarily the look, of the original. 


  • JFE
    JFE
    6 years ago
    Mate, I don’t see the point in a manufacturer making a decent looking exhaust. I’d rather they save the $$ and invest it elsewhere on the bike. I’m gonna ditch the original anyways; plenty others like me too.
    Lemmy from Revzilla did a good review:

    https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/2018-kawasaki-z900rs-first-ride-motorcycle-review

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