Kawasaki Motors Australia has hinted at the prices for the Z1-tribute retro Z900RS and Z900RS Cafe Racer models.
Marketing co-ordinator Milo Dokmanovic says the bikes are expected to arrive in February 2018, “possibly earlier” for the Z900RS.
Prices for the Z900RS will be “around $18k ride away” and the Z900RS Café Racer will be “around $18.5k ride away”, Milo says.
On their website, the Z900RS is listed at $16,499 plus on-road costs. No price yet for the Cafe Racer.
The original and the tribute bikeThe retro Z900RS was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show and a couple of weeks later the Cafe Racer version with a 1970s bikini fairing was unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan.
Both bikes were also on show at the weekend at the Sydney Motorcycle Show.
“I’ve been told that a number of Kawasaki dealers have taken deposits for the Z900RS and Café variant, even before the models were unveiled at the Sydney Motorcycle Show over the weekend,” Milo says.
“Both models were hugely popular and attracted a lot of interest over the weekend.”
The bikes are based around the Z900 that currently retails for $12,499 (plus on-road costs).
However, the retro bikes come with higher spec than the Z900 including radial-mounted front brake calipers and two-level traction control.
So that the bikes can pay tribute to the 1970s Z1 we loved so much in the cult Aussie bikie film “Stone”, the chassis had to be modified.
This allowed the designers to accommodate retro styling cues such as the flatter ribbed seat and teardrop tank.
Tribute retro styling includes Z1 tribute orange-and-brown “jaffa” paintwork on the Z900RS and classic Kwaka green paint on the Cafe Racer.
The Z900RS also comes in a choice of black or matte green.
The Cafe Racer also comes in an interesting milky tow-tone grey.
They both feature a shortened Z1 duck tail and dual analogue instrument pods.
Retuned power
Kawasaki has retuned the 948cc in-line-four with power down from 93kW to 82kW.
Torque is also down from 98Nm to 72.5Nm, but with more on tap at under 7000rpm.
Despite the lower output, Kawasaki has added traction control and a slipper clutch.
There are also two riding modes for sport and wet road surfaces.
Kawasaki has shortened first gear so it is more difficult to stall and lengthened sixth gear for smoother highway duties and fuel economy.
Brakes are uprated to radial-mounted four-piston monobloc front calipers.
They now feature a four-into-one exhaust system which Kawasaki says is tuned for a deep rumble.
The Z900RS is suspended on 41mm inverted forks with compression and rebound damping and spring pre-load adjustability.
Unlike the dual-shock Z1, it has the Z900’s horizontal back-link, gas-charged shock with rebound damping and spring pre-load adjustability.
Kawasaki Z900RS and Cafe Racer
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke In-Line Four |
| Valve system | DOHC, 16 valves |
| Fuel system | Fuel injection: ø36mm x 4 with sub-throttles |
| Ignition | Digital |
| Starting | Electric |
| Lubrication | Forced lubrication, wet sump |
| Bore x Stroke | 73.4 x 56mm |
| Displacement | 948cc |
| Compression ratio | 10.8:1 |
| Ignition system | B&C (TCBI EL. ADV. D.) |
| DRIVETRAIN | |
| Clutch | Wet multi-disc, manual |
| Driving system | Chain |
| Transmission | 6-speed, return |
| Gear ratios: 1st | 2.917 (35/12) [JPN: 2.916 (35/12)] |
| 2nd | 2.059 (35/17) [JPN: 2.058 (35/17)] |
| 3rd | 1.650 (33/20) |
| 4th | 1.409 (31/22) |
| 5th | 1.222 (33/27) |
| 6th | 0.967 (29/30) [JPN: 0.966 (29/30)] |
| Primary reduction ratio | 1.627 (83/51) |
| Final reduction ratio | 2.800 (42/15) |
| Clutch type (Primary) | Wet, multi-disc |
| FRAME | |
| Type | Trellis, high-tensile steel |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Front | 41mm inverted fork with compression and rebound |
| damping and spring preload adjustability | |
| Rear | Horizontal Back-link, gas-charged shock with |
| rebound damping and spring preload adjustability | |
| Wheel travel: Front | 120mm |
| Rear | 140mm |
| Caster (Rake angle) | 25.0° |
| Trail | 98mm |
| Steering angle (left/right) | 35° / 35° |
| BRAKES | |
| Front: Type | Dual semi-floating ø300 mm discs |
| Caliper | Dual radial-mount, monobloc, opposed 4-piston |
| Rear: Type | Single 250mm |
| Caliper | Single-piston |
| TYRES | |
| Tyre: Front | 120/70ZR17 M/C (58W) |
| Rear | 180/55ZR17 M/C (73W) |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Overall length | 2100mm |
| Overall width | 865mm |
| Overall height | 1150mm |
| Wheelbase | 1470mm |
| Road clearance | 130mm |
| Seat height | 835mm |
| Curb mass | 215kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 17 litres |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Power | 82kW @ 8,500rpm |
| Torque | 72.5Nm @ 6,500rpm |