Kawasaki Z 900

Built:2020-25202020212022202320242025

Photos: Motorradtest.de

Kawasaki has had a real bestseller in its range with the Z 900 since 2017. But the years pass, and the customers once again demand a facelift of the crisp Naked Bike. Ideally, a faclift serves to maintain strengths and alleviate the weaknesses. The test of the 2020 model shows whether this worked.

Two things bothered

Let's start with a look back: When the Z 900 started testing for the last time,it left an almost completely satisfied test crew: How the engine delivered its power of 125 hp, the chassis put this away unimpressed, and the compact Naked Bike wet through the curves – great. Two things, however, bothered: first, the minimal comfort of the passenger. Unfortunately, it has to be said that Kawa did not change this. Why most manufacturers have decided across brands to form a grand coalition of sociable tormentors remains completely unclear.

Still great

Let's start with the impressions that are unimportant for driving. The first lap around the bike shows in direct comparison that a lot of cladding parts have been changed. Kawasaki describes this as the "next stage of Sugomi styling," which means that the typical mix of Transformers elements and insect eyes has been retuned. And yet - without being able to identify a particular cladding part as responsible - it works. The new Z 900 looks more harmonious than the old one. The fact that there is now full LED lighting rounds off the beautiful picture.

The new TFT display is actually good. It is clearly arranged and clearly structured graphically. Sorting, tuning and adapting the electronic helpers should therefore not be a problem. If, yes, Kawasaki would not have been so surprised by the new features that it would have scattered the operation on switches and buttons on the left side of the handlebars and on two more buttons on the display. During the journey you should leave the many necessary fingers away, but you don't have to.

More importantly, everything works wonderfully. The traction control is finely regulated, as well as the appropriate driving mode. The old Kawa made one wonder: 125 hp in a mid-range bike? Finally, we decided to define the Z 900 as an "upper middle class", because otherwise the Z 650 or Yamaha MT-07 would have flown out of the mid-range grid.

125 horsepower, and Kawa wants to re-adapt the engine software. What is clear is that whatever the new program lines of the hardware command in the form of the fantastic four-cylinder, it worked. The Z 900 storms through the speed band with enthusiasm and has a very wide range of usage. Even among 2,000 tours she does not beat with the chain around her and tries to throw off the rider. At the other end, the force doesn't want to stop, from 6,000 the storm unleashes to the top. That's how it has to be. The fact that the new exhaust sound fits in completes the picture.

The Z 900 is a relatively compact bike. But at 210 kilos not overly light. This does not prevent the Kawa from throwing itself into the curves with great vigour. The stoppers work stable and when braking in the curve with a low set-up torque. The sitting position on the rather high handlebars is pleasant, not too sporty. This means, on the other hand, that the wind has a rather large attack surface, which is not mitigated by any wind protection. Naked Bike. In this case, the 240 km/h peak is more theoretical in nature. Unless you have fixed your seat meat to the now higher but still comfortable bench by means of a double-sided adhesive bench.

What else to forget? Oh yes, the gearbox. It switches japan-typically butter-soft and precise, here comes no lawsuit. Although the top gear is designed rather speed-lowering, it does not choke off the 948 cubic centimeter in-line four-cylinder. But Kawa still has a bit of a refusal: one of the increasingly popular Quickshifters is not even available at an extra cost.