2018 Kawasaki Z900RS/Café

Really good retro.

2018 Kawasaki Z900RS

Retro fever is the perfect motorcycling affliction. Hipster types love it because they totally missed the 1970s and ’80s (heh, heh). And those who were riding then may still be in the game and eager to reminisce—with better machinery. Enter Kawasaki’s Z900RS and Z900RS Café. Based on the Z900 naked bike, the Z900RS uses the same 948cc inline-four and steel chassis, outfitted with bodywork recalling the 1973 Z1 superbike. Besides hugely improved performance in all areas, deviations from the original include 17-inch cast instead of wire-spoked wheels, radial tires, a multi-adjustable inverted fork in place of the old-school conventional fork, link-style monoshock rear suspension in lieu of twin shocks, and a 4-into-1 exhaust rather than the Z1’s 4-into-4 system.

Channeling Eddie Lawson and the 1981–’82 AMA Superbike championship-winning KZ1000, the Z900RS Café looks quite the business. It adds black wheels, a lower and flatter handlebar, a racy stepped seat, a bikini fairing, and Vintage Lime Green and white paintwork which, true fact, was concocted by Rollin Sanders (a.k.a. “Paint by Molly”) in a Los Angeles-area shop a half-century ago! There. Now you know.

Likes: Great design and way better performance than the original Z1

Dislikes: Overtly wide fuel tank, overly fast idle during warm-up

Verdict: An engaging blend of old-school design and modern tech

2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Specs and Pricing

MSRP $10,999
DISPLACEMENT (CC) 948
SEAT HEIGHT (IN) 32
WET WEIGHT (LBS) 472