2025 Z900. What We Saying?

[Al Gorithum]

https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/products/Supernaked/...

Was about to push the button on a late CB1000R for everyday messing about (the new Hornet is too ugly), when I stumbled across the new Z900. Seems pretty decent and has cruise control.

[Kawasicki]

I like the looks. I also think Kawasaki build good bikes with fun 4 cylinder engines.

[Stevemtb]

I haven’t seen the Hornet 1000 yet, bike show this Thursday but is the Z900 better looking? Very similar but to my eyes no better and doen on power.
Think I’d go down the CB1000R route, late used one for not much now!

[conkerman]

How about the GSX S1000?

Polarising looks, but looks like fun.

[trickywoo]

conkerman said:

How about the GSX S1000?

Polarising looks, but looks like fun.

I’d go for the gsx over the z but I’d go new Hornet over both.

[TurboHatchback]

They both have more peak power than can be used on the road so any difference there is immaterial. On features the Kawasaki takes it, cruise control, IMU etc, on looks I have to give it to the Hornet. Ultimately rider fit and subjective feel would be the decider and without at least sitting on each and hearing them running it's impossible to say.

What's the price going to be for the Z900?

[GSA_fattie]

mmmm looks like an H2 that you couldn't afford

[carinaman]

Thank you. I read it here first.

[Factualist]

I have the '22 Z900 SE Performance edition, this has the SE pack ohlins supsension but a with an additional Akro slip on which doesnt seem available for 25. I like theyve added cruise control and USB , something my bike lacks and tbh a charging point is more useful to me.

As for ridiing it, I love mine, excellent on the b roads, great usable power and I think the 25 has more lower down torque which is a plus, not that I noticed but was used to lower grunt from my ER6F. I find the motorway ok with the extended screen, not found myself buffeted much at all.

Its a good bike with lots of good features such as Ohlins and steel braided lines, the engine is a peach as well. Change the OEM tyres though, they are c**p, take a while to heat up and with average feel.

Edited by Factualist on Thursday 21st November 15:41

[carinaman]

Factualist said:

I have the '22 Z900 SE Performance edition, this has the SE pack ohlins supsension but a with an additional Akro slip on which doesnt seem available for 25. I like theyve added cruise control and USB , something my bike lacks and tbh a charging point is more useful to me.

Thanks for your post. What's the headlamp like for illuminating the road at night on dipped beam?

I realise the new one has a different headlamp.

[SteveKTMer]

I think it looks great, I think I still prefer the older 2003 or so Z1000 with four exhaust pipes, very well styled.

[Factualist]

carinaman said:

Thanks for your post. What's the headlamp like for illuminating the road at night on dipped beam?

I realise the new one has a different headlamp.

Perfect, though mine failed and was fixed under warranty, come to think of it, I haven't ridden in the dark much, but when I did, I only had in comparison my previous ER6F and it was literally like night and day!

ETA : I would go for the SE version
https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/products/Supernaked/...

Edited by Factualist on Friday 22 November 09:01

[carinaman]

Factualist said:

Perfect, though mine failed and was fixed under warranty, come to think of it, I haven't ridden in the dark much, but when I did, I only had in comparison my previous ER6F and it was literally like night and day!

Thanks, I know someone with one of those and I'll check what halogen bulb fits the ER6F.

I've seen a video from the US I think of someone riding in the dark on LED headlamped Z900.


The 'reveal' video with Chris Northover starts with a few seconds of pillaging the Z900 back catalogue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6NveGu1Wzs


The colour choices for the current one and next years aren't that appealing. The only colourway that appeals to me is the SE with the green wheels.

[Biker 1]

I have a Z900RS & love it. Plenty of power & torque, exhaust is nice & the finish is excellent.
So far, totally reliable - I swapped out the crap Dunlop OE tyres for Michelin Road 6 which transformed the bike.

[SteveKTMer]

Biker 1 said:

So far, totally reliable

My 2007 ZX6r was the same, I thrashed the living sh*t out of it and it never went wrong, felt as good when I sold it at 22k miles after 2 years as it did wen I bought it, the brakes were perfect and the gearbox was like a little microswitch. Really enjoyable bike and very well made.

[2ndclasscitizen]

I was keen on the CB1000 as well but one of these is a definite test ride next year. I doubt I'd miss the 30hp over the cruise control and better electronics on the Z.

[Ghs]

I’ve just brought a 2025 yr z900 performance , the performance part is the akaprovic can , passenger seat cover , tank pad & taller tinted screen , not sure of the price of the pack as the can is free from Kawasaki up until the end of March . I had been looking at various nakeds ( love sport bikes but finding them hard now ) but couldn’t get a deal anywhere near the one ive got on this z900 , so went for it
Only had it a couple of days but I’m liking it more than I expected after years of sport bikes , I like the riding position , it’s not upright , nor is like a sport bike , just slanted forward a bit , running in , but seems to have enough power , quick shifter is very nice .

[carinaman]

Ghs said:

I ve just brought a 2025 yr z900 performance , the performance part is the akaprovic can , passenger seat cover , tank pad & taller tinted screen , not sure of the price of the pack as the can is free from Kawasaki up until the end of March . I had been looking at various nakeds ( love sport bikes but finding them hard now ) but couldn t get a deal anywhere near the one ive got on this z900 , so went for it
Only had it a couple of days but I m liking it more than I expected after years of sport bikes , I like the riding position , it s not upright , nor is like a sport bike , just slanted forward a bit , running in , but seems to have enough power , quick shifter is very nice .

How do you find the throttle at low speed, and the fuelling to get through the emissions tests?

I missed out on a previous model in silver with the met maroon frame and wheels last year. It was below <£8K for a performance, it had <300 miles on it. The bike looks better with the Akra performance model can on.

The 2025 model functional upgrades seem worthwhile and less tickbox specification comparison deficient. I like Kawasaki quality and paint finishes, but the colour ways don't do it for me and the new rear lamp setup doesn't appeal to me as much as the Zorro Z rear lamp on the previous model. 'Sell benefits not features' is all very well but I bought into that Zorro Zed rear lamp marketing factoid.

One reason for me not to get a Z900 is the metallic green Z1000SX appeal to me more. I've spent time gazing into a metallic green tank on a 12 plate Z1000SX. I think the headlamp performance on the 2017> Z1000SX may be more acceptable to me while I am riding in the dark.

[Jazoli]

carinaman said:

How do you find the throttle at low speed, and the fuelling to get through the emissions tests?

I missed out on a previous model in silver with the met maroon frame and wheels last year. It was below <£8K for a performance, it had <300 miles on it. The bike looks better with the Akra performance model can on.

The 2025 model functional upgrades seem worthwhile and less tickbox specification comparison deficient. I like Kawasaki quality and paint finishes, but the colour ways don't do it for me and the new rear lamp setup doesn't appeal to me as much as the Zorro Z rear lamp on the previous model. 'Sell benefits not features' is all very well but I bought into that Zorro Zed rear lamp marketing factoid.

One reason for me not to get a Z900 is the metallic green Z1000SX appeal to me more. I've spent time gazing into a metallic green tank on a 12 plate Z1000SX. I think the headlamp performance on the 2017> Z1000SX may be more acceptable to me while I am riding in the dark.

The headlights are like lasers on the '17 on, plus the bike has an IMU which means lean sensitive ABS and all that, plus it is much better looking, I had a met green 2017, it was fantastic.

[carinaman]

Jazoli said:

The headlights are like lasers on the '17 on, plus the bike has an IMU which means lean sensitive ABS and all that, plus it is much better looking, I had a met green 2017, it was fantastic.

Thanks for the endorsement.

Those metallic green tanks are metalflake like licious. I so want to see in the dark. Second to last time on a road I regularly use I almost went straight on into a bank on the NS at an almost brow of the hill. The hill continued going up to the right. Dying or being hospitalised at the moment would be particularly inconvenient.

I was in town earlier as car had it's MoT. To kill time and watch the MoT history, I left my mobile phone at home, I went to the library outside the library there was a chap on one of those disability cart trike things that looks like a motorcycle trike. I told the chap I reckoned it had the same headlamp as my SV650, I'd have put money on it. I've just been to the garage to check my SV650 and the trike plastic headlamp lens had 'top' on it, so I was mistaken.

Good day/bad day. Car passed it's MoT without additional advisories from last time, but I've received legal paperwork about the garage I have access to so a green Z1000SX will have to wait.

Edited by carinaman on Monday 23 March 15:49