2018 Kawasaki Z900RS First Ride Review | Ultimate Motorcycling

With the retro-bike craze now in full swing, Kawasaki has entered the game with the elegantly styled 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS. The Z900RS is a fitting homage to the 1973 Kawasaki Z1, which marked a distinct change in performance for the world of motorcycling as a whole.

The Z900RS takes its styling cues from the now iconic Z1, but is built on the modern and sporty platform of the Z900 and while that model is used as a beginning reference point, it's a fundamentally different machine.

This new retro-roadster has a revised frame that accommodates a more upright and neutral riding position, relative to that of the original Z1. Handlebar height has been raised and brought back, while the foot controls were lowered and moved forward slightly, allowing for greater comfort and a traditional feel. But don't let that fool you, the '18 Z900RS is more than willing to explore the canyons with some zest.

Kawasaki saw it fit to give the 948cc inline-four powerplant its own unique personality, one far different from that of the rev-happy Z900. Engineers gave the RS' heart calmer cam timing, smaller diameter exhaust, lower compression, and a heavier flywheel to allow a tuning that is optimized for low to mid range power. The result is an inline-four engine that produces a claimed 72 ft/lbs of torque at 6500 rpm, allowing for a grin inducing amount of torque and character to come through from the moment you release the clutch.

In revising the tuning, there was an unintended consequence of an abrupt throttle. While it isn't a deal breaker, it can be an issue when first transitioning back to the throttle mid-corner. Oddly, in traction control level 2, the abrupt throttle nearly cured.

Owners will also be pleased to discover a fully adjustable KYB fork, as well as a KYB shock featuring spring-preload and rebound adjustment. This is the definition of set-it-and-forget suspension. Once you've dialed in your sag and settings, the Z900RS will feel poised and confident in the city or the the canyons, making it a truly satisfying ride.

The Z900RS is equipped with two-level traction control as well as ABS. The traction control is completely unobtrusive and allows for a good amount of fun before it makes its presence known. However, traction control can be disabled.

Beginning at $10,999 in Metallic Spark Black and $11,199 for the Candytone Brown/Candytone Orange paint scheme - the Kawasaki Z900RS as one of the well rounded retro machines currently available on the market, with only a few minor hiccups that can undoubtedly be fixed. An early entry for 2018's lineup, we're eager to see how this new roadster will stack up against the competition.

Senior Editor Nic de Sena took the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS out and was able to share his thoughts after spending some quality time with the brilliantly styled Z900RS.

Stop by https://www.UltimateMotorcycling.com check our full text review of the 2018 Kawasazki Z900RS - https://goo.gl/HBjfhB

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