KAWASAKI Z900 ABS 2017 REVIEW.

History:

The 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS is a replacement of the Z800, of which production has been discontinued. The decision for having a 900cc machine is based on many Kawasaki legendary 900cc class In-line Four machine that delivers a sublime balance of power and handling. The Z900 ABS is designed with Sugomi performance for maximum riding pleasure and is based on the concept of compact, light-weight, easy to ride and superb handling.

Overview:

Personally, I have never been a fan of the Kawasaki Z naked series, from the Z750, Z800 to the Z1000. I find that they do not handle well especially when taking high speed corners, it is not well-balanced, heavy on the front, turning circle is too wide and for the Z800 and Z1000 models, they are way too heavy.

At first glance, other than a pair of more rounded head lights, the Z900 ABS looks quite the same as the Z800. But on closer inspection, I noticed that the frame and the engine are totally new. The next obvious difference I felt is the weight of the bike. Pulling the Z900 upright from its side stand, I was surprised at how light this Z900 is, 20 kg lighter than the Z800 to be exact. Kawasaki engineers have also done an excellent job in getting its geometry improved to have a well-balanced bike.

Sitting position is more upright with handlebar wider than the Z800 and Z1000. The seat is also lower and coupled with a lower ground clearance, most “vertically challenged” riders can have both their feet firmly on the ground. While the Z800 may have the aggressive look, the Z900 ABS is designed to be powerful yet elegant.

Frame:

A new High-Tensile Trellis frame contributed significantly to its light weight and improved handling. The engine also now serves as a stressed member thus eliminating the use of sub-frame, contributing to the reduction in the overall weight of the bike.

Tackling fast corners is a joy now. I am able to take on any twisty roads with confidence and not have to worry about the rear wobbling as was the case of its predecessor. The frame disperses both the lateral and horizontal stresses well.

Engine:

The 948 cm₃, DOHC, 16-Valves, Liquid-Cooled, In-line Four engine with fuel injection has a strong mid-range that pulls easily to the redline. This new engine is based on the Z1000 powerplant that has a proven smooth power delivery. Good over-rev characteristics mean that power does not drop off suddenly at high rpm. Whether you are imagining doing a drag start before the lights turn green or overtaking vehicles in both slow and high speed, the engine will not fail to impress you with its power and it almost always seems to be asking me “Is that all you got?”

Kawasaki has improved on its 6^th gear ratio which is now slightly wider. This enables the bike to maintain high speed at lower rpm and also lowers the vibration of the bike.

Brakes:

The front has a dual semi-floating Ø300 mm petal discs with dual opposed Four-piston calipers that come with resin brake pads. The rear comes with a single Ø250 mm petal disc with single-piston caliper. The Z900 is equipped with a compact and lightweight Nissin motorcycle ABS unit that comply to the European standard. Brakes are well balanced and responsive with a good feel.

Suspension:

The front KYB Ø41 mm inverted fork can be adjusted for rebound damping and spring preload. Rear suspension is a horizontal back-link with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability as well.

Using the standard factory setting is good enough for most road conditions. However, since both the front and rear suspension are adjustable, you may want to adjust them according to your weight and riding style. Do get an expert to do it if you are not familiar with suspension adjustments.

Kawasaki has replaced the steel swing arm with an extruded aluminum swing arm. This help shed another 3.3 kg and lower the unsprung weight which contributes to the bike’s nimble handling.

Assist & Slipper Clutch:

The assist & slipper clutch, derived from racing technology, uses two types of cams (an assist cam and a slipper cam) to either drive the clutch hub and operating plate together or apart. Under normal operation, the assist cam functions as a self-servo mechanism, pulling the clutch hub and operating plate together to compress the clutch plates. This allows the total clutch spring load to be reduced, resulting in a lighter clutch lever feel when operating the clutch. When excessive engine braking occurs – because of quick downshifts (or an accidental downshift) – the slipper cam comes into play, forcing the clutch hub and operating plate apart. This relieves pressure on the clutch plates to reduce back-torque and helps prevent the rear tires from hopping and skidding.

This is indeed a great feature to have when you are riding hard and need to quickly upshift without hitting the clutch. Be warned not to upshift without pressing the clutch when you are in slow speed as the bike will jerk quite badly and may cause damage to either the clutch or gears or both.

Dual Throttle Valves:

On most fuel injected motorcycles, their throttle bodies generally have only one throttle valve per cylinder. Problems occur when the rider, especially new and inexperienced ones, suddenly open too much throttle resulting in the bike pulling an unintended wheelie and go out of control. Kawasaki Engine Management technology on this Z900 ABS comes with dual throttle valves per cylinder. In addition to the main valves, which are physically linked to the throttle grip and controlled by the rider, a second set of valves, opened and closed by the ECU, precisely regulate the intake airflow to ensure natural, linear response. With the air passing through the throttle bodies becoming smoother, combustion efficiency is improved and so does the power delivery.

Instrument Panel:

The semi-circular LCD Instrument panel comes with multi-functional features. Other than the usual temperature, fuel indicator, an analogue-style tachometer, 1 main and 2 trip meters, the Z900 ABS display panel also comes with a gear position indicator and a range indicator. One premium feature is the Economical Riding Indicator which comes on when a riding condition is at its most fuel economic consumption. This feature is usually found only in larger displacement models. Using high-precision electronic control engine management, the system continuously monitors fuel consumption regardless of the motorcycle speed, engine speed, throttle position and other variable riding conditions.

Personally, I still prefer the panel design on the Z800 as it provides a wider view. But one cool indicator on the Z900 carbon fiber panel is the shift up indicator which will flash brightly to the set rpm indicating that you need to shift gear. Makes one feel like you’re on a factory superbike.

Intake Airbox:

The shape of the airbox was designed based on acoustic test carried out in a sound room. The intake note of the Z900 is clear and mild. Intake funnels of varying length (50mm for the outer pair and 150mm for the inner pair) offer a balance between performance and the intake sound. The longer inner pair contributes to low-mid rpm performance, while the shorter outer pair contributes to the stimulating intake sound.

Overall:

The seat is comfortable and although the padding may look thin, it provides sufficient comfort and bottom support.

The small front screen is surprisingly effective in deflecting wind but unfortunately it is only available as standard in the SE model.

Engine heat disperses well away from the rider. This design improvement is exceptionally good when riding in hot weather or when the rider is caught in bad traffic during the hot season.

The conventional bulb head light is sufficient for night rides but if it is fitted with LED instead, it will not only look modern and stylish but safer too in terms of visibility for both the rider and front or oncoming traffic. Another important feature Kawasaki may want to consider is having a LED day-time running light as standard.

Good weight distribution and handles well in corner entry and exit. Well-balanced as compared to its predecessor.

No rear passenger grip which will have them sliding forward and hitting the rider during front braking.

The Kawasaki Z900 ABS standard model is selling at RM49,158.00 inclusive of GST. This is only RM1,400.00 above its predecessor, the Z800.

The Kawasaki Z900 ABS Special Edition (SE) model which comes with additional 9 accessories, is selling at RM50,959.00 inclusive of GST.

Both these models are available in all Kawasaki Authorized Premium Dealers.

Credits : Photos and content by Justin Hong & Kawasaki Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd.