The Z900 super naked from Japanese marque Kawasaki’s stable is the epitome of how an ideal super naked should look, feel, and perform. Its head-turning Sugomi-inspired styling and confidence-evoking riding position are a sight to behold. In terms of performance, this aggressive beast will win the heart of any kawi lover who has tasted one of their “Z” bikes before. For 2024, it is even more attractive because the manufacturer has loaded it with some mind-blowing next-gen features. In this article, we present to you the 10 best things that we like about the 2024 Kawasaki Z900.
Looking at the manufacturer website we have put together a list of the best things that we like about the Kawasaki Z900
10 Competitive Pricing And Placement
Perfect Market Placement
If you look carefully at the naked categories of the other two Japanese manufacturers, Honda and Suzuki, and the Austrian giant KTM, you will understand what Kawasaki is trying to do with its Z900. Neither Honda nor Suzuki have a 900 cc class offering. What they have is either 650 cc or 750 cc and then a straight jump to 1000 cc machines. This creates a gap in the market and an opportunity for Kawasaki. KTM has the 890 Duke, but its price is similar to the 1000 cc nakeds of Honda and Suzuki. Grabbing this opportunity, Kawasaki placed the Z900 ABS/SE with a 948 cc engine against the 1000 cc-powered Suzuki GSX-S1000 and Honda CB1000R. Because there is so little displacement difference, there is no major difference in performance, yet they are still able to keep the price comparatively low. Well played, Kawasaki.
Price Comparison
|
Manufacturer |
Model |
Engine Displacement |
MSRP |
|
Kawasaki |
Z900 ABS |
948 cc |
$9,799-$10,099 |
|
Z900 ABS/SE |
948 cc |
$11,299 |
|
|
Suzuki |
GSX S1000 |
999 cc |
$11,499 |
|
Honda |
CB1000R |
998 cc |
$12,999 |
|
KTM |
890 Duke |
889 cc |
$12,949 |
9 Sugomi Inspired Design
An Aggressive Predator Ready to Kill
If you are a Kawasaki fan, then you must have come across the word ‘Sugomi’. Kawasaki mentioned this word summarily in the Z900 model overview, and we looked up what it means. In Japanese, Sugomi basically means aggressive body language. Imagine a fierce predator gathering its energy in a crouching position and waiting to pounce on its prey. Now if you look at the Z900, you will see how Kawasaki replicated this imagery in the Z900’s design. Featured with a sharp, aggressive headlight and broad shoulders behind it, the Z900 is an attacking predator if seen from the front. Following the Sugomi inspiration, the bike has minimalist bodywork, revealing its raw muscle. The lean-forward riding position, bulged fuel tank, and inward curves on the sides of the tank allow the rider to have a better grip on the bike, fostering a strong man-machine connection.
8 Powerful Engine
0-62 MPH in a Lightning Fast 3 Seconds
A predator must be powerful, and here the Z900 totally justifies its Sugomi inspiration. The 948 cc 4-cylinder engine runs smoothly and produces plenty of torque across the rev range. Especially, the low-end grunt pulls the machine smoothly in slow-moving traffic and in corners. Kawasaki’s DFI electronic fuel injection ensures seamless power delivery with a twist of the throttle. The engine’s power is controlled by a 6-speed transmission, which features short gearing that enables quicker shifts. The transmission works in tandem with the slipper and assist clutch, which provide a lighter feel at the lever. A number of power and riding modes are also available to assist the rider and make the ride an exhilarating experience.
Performance and Engine Specifications
|
Engine Type |
Liquid cooled 948 cc, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC |
|
Fuel System |
DFI with 36 mm Keihin throttle bodies |
|
Transmission |
6-speed, return shift |
|
Horsepower |
125 horsepower |
|
Torque |
73.1 lb-ft. |
|
Top Speed |
155 mph |
7 Class Leading Handling
It’s a Beast, But Tameable
The Z900 shines bright when it comes to handling. Built around a high-tensile, light-weight trellis steel frame, this bike is agile and nimble in city traffic and highways alike. The road-oriented suspension set-up features an inverted fork with rebound and damping adjustability with 4.7 inch travel and a preload and rebound adjustable horizontal back link spring. This setup handles paved and a little bumpy tracks really well. SE variant buyers will get an Öhlins rear shock with a remote preload adjuster. Dual discs at the front wheel and a single disc at the rear improve handling by providing excellent stopping power. The upright sitting position and minimal bodywork at the front allow the rider to have better visibility of the road too.
Chassis and Dimensions
|
Z900 ABS |
Z900 SE ABS |
|
|
Frame |
Trellis, high tensile steel |
|
|
Front Suspension |
41 mm inverted fork with adjustable rebound damping |
|
|
Rear Suspension |
Horizontal back link, stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload |
Horizontal back link, Öhlins S46 gas-charged shock with adjustable rebound damping and remote adjustable spring preload |
|
Curb Weight |
467.5 pounds |
469.7 pounds |
|
Ground Clearance |
5.7 inch |
|
|
Seat Height |
31.5 inch |
|
6 Hi-Tech Rider Assistance Package
Ready for Any Challenge
First, there are two power modes. One enables the throttle to deliver full power to the rear wheel, and the second cuts the power output by 55–60% of the maximum. So, if you are a newer rider, the low power modes make this bike more manageable for you. The next rider assistance feature is four riding modes, namely, Rain, Road, sport, and Rider. As the name suggests, the Sport mode enables you with maximum power and acceleration to do nasty things (always ride responsibly), whereas the Rain mode limits the rev range and reduces throttle response and delivers power to the rear wheel in a more docile manner in order to prevent traction loss. The Road mode is for your daily errands, and the Rider mode allows you to customize the power map as per your choice. Besides that, there are three levels of traction control to help increase confidence.
5 TFT Instrumentation And Rideology App
Modern Age Smart Riding and Connectivity
The cockpit of the Z900 features a 4.3-inch digital TFT color display, giving the dash a high-tech look. You can toggle between a black or white background, and the screen brightness automatically adjusts as per ambient lighting for better readability. This screen shows all the necessary information a rider might need, such as the digital speedometer, tachometer, gear position indicator, fuel gauge, fuel consumption, and clock, among others. Adding to the next-gen touch, the Z900 also has smartphone connectivity powered by Kawasaki’s Rideology smartphone application, this app connects your phone to the bike’s display via Bluetooth. You can access your phone notifications from the TFT display, and this app keeps a record of your vehicle information and riding log on your phone.
4 Comfort And Ergonomics
Despite its aggressive stance and super-naked characteristics, the Z900 has ergonomic design elements that make it a comfortable bike to ride. The rider triangle is designed in such a way that it allows the rider to have a longer ride without fatigue or back cramps. The seat height for the ABS model is 31.5 inches, whereas it is 1 inch higher in the case of the SE variant. These numbers are lower than the seat heights of the KTM 890 Duke and Honda CB1000R. Besides, the Z900’s seat is tapered with a wide rear for comfort and better grip while cornering. Even tall riders can expect a relaxed knee bend because of the less aggressive placement of the foot pegs.
3 Highly Efficient Stopping Power
Ride with Confidence
The top speed of the Z900 is an impressive 155 mph, and can get to 60 in just 3 seconds. Which means you need some superb stopping power before cornering, and to save yourself from distracted drivers in town. With the Z900, you can ride with confidence because it features dual 300 mm discs with 4-piston calipers at the front and a 250 mm single disc with a single piston caliper at the rear. It is equipped with ABS and the SE variant comes with a premium Brembo front brake setup.
Brake Setup
|
Z900 ABS |
Z900 SE ABS |
|
|
Front Brake |
300 mm dual petal-style disc with 4-piston calipers |
Brembo 300 mm dual semi-floating disc with 4-piston calipers |
|
Rear Brake |
250 mm single disc with single piston caliper |
|
|
ABS |
Dual channel ABS |
|
2 Full LED Lighting
Better Visibility
The impression of aggressive Sugomi design language in the lighting of the Z900 is clear for all to see. Headlights, position lamps, license plate lamps, and turn signals are all LED and feature a sleek design. The sharply designed headlight is powerful, and its beam provides excellent visibility at night. The turn signals are also bright and easily noticeable.
1 High Performance Tires
Excellent Grip and Road Feel
A good bike needs good tires to perform at its best, and Kawasaki didn’t make any mistakes by choosing Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires to wrap the wheels. The Z900 is equipped with street- and track-oriented Roadsport 2 tires on its 17-inch wheels at the front and rear. These tires offer excellent grip and stability under braking and, at the same time, contribute to the bike’s agile and nimble handling. Incredibly lightweight, these tires are designed to provide excellent grip in both dry and wet conditions.
Source
https://www.topspeed.com/things-we-like-about-the-2024-kawasaki-z900/
