Imitation is the best form of flattery
The 1969 Honda CB750 was, as is often claimed, the first superbike of the modern era. Three years later Kawasaki unveiled the Z1, the fastest production motorcycle in the world at that time, bringing the fight and raising the bar. An exciting superpower war had started.
You can’t talk about Kawasaki's new Z900RS without referencing the original Z1 – its primary reason for existence is to remind you of the company's heritage and to take you back to that original bike and a different time. Plus there’s the added bonus of modern technology and, ironically, a significantly cheaper price tag than an original Z1 is now commanding.
The official line from Kawasaki is that its Z900RS is an ‘homage’ to the Z1, not a copy. What that means is that while the new bike has taken significant styling cues from the original superbike, it’s still a thoroughly modern bike, with tech, safety, performance and handling for today’s riding. So have Kawasaki managed to combine classic looks and charm with modern ability? Or is it a modern bike with a tear-drop tank?
ZED APPEAL
The Kawasaki Z900RS may be the latest
