Competition is healthiest when it challenges us to do better and inspires us to think outside the box. If you're wondering, "Is there a Kawasaki motorcycle dealer near me?" we welcome you to come into SF Moto and experience this competition firsthand when you step into the world of the legendary Z900. But why is this the case?
The Z900 embodies Kawasaki’s global reputation for building high-performance bikes that are not only stylish but durable and remarkably rider-friendly. But how did the Z900 earn its throne as Kawasaki’s ideal supernaked motorcycle? Appreciating everything the Z900 family offers requires traveling through time to an era where competition was fierce. Kawasaki worked to dominate the American market with a prime cut of New York steak, figuratively speaking.
The New York Steak Is Served: The Z900 Legacy
Today, the 2022 Z900 is the epitome of a supernaked bike with its ultra-lightweight chassis, 948cc engine, and responsive suspension. However, these high-performance characteristics aren’t new to the Z900 family. Instead, they define the Z family from the 1970s when Kawasaki set out to build the "New York steak" of motorcycles for American riders.
Kawasaki set out to design a powerful 750cc bike and had a prototype road bike built when Honda threw the industry for a loop and introduced its CB750. Although the prototype was ready and Kawasaki had a gentleman’s agreement not to engineer anything higher than a 750cc, the competition was fierce and forced the company to take a considerable risk. Sidestepping their gentleman’s agreement, Kawasaki knew that releasing the 750cc would be a mistake, especially with Honda working quietly to build a bigger and better alternative. Kawasaki had to do something more to survive.
Scrapping the 750cc prototype, Kawasaki did the unthinkable and broke its gentleman's agreement to fulfill its plans to take on the world with a large-displacement bike. Engineers adopted the double overhead cam layout because of its proven racing performance and boosted the engine’s displacement to 903cc, earning it a place in the 1000cc class. These characteristics made the Z1 Japan's first-ever large-capacity four-cylinder motorcycle to use a double overhead cam design, a feature only found on limited production race and sport bikes.
Exceeding Expectations
All eyes were suddenly on Kawasaki. Could the Z live up to its promise as the perfect bike for expert riders looking for a stronger and more capable powerhouse? Would the Z1 live up to its code name as the “New York Steak,” the best meal in America to complement the best bike to hit American roads? The answer was a resounding “yes.”
Kawasaki took the Z1 to Daytona in 1973, where it set a 24-hour record of 109.641 mph and 46 other world records in the following days. Speed tested at 132 mph and even pushing 170 mph at Daytona, the Z1 delivered head-spinning power and earned its place as the most potent four-cylinder four-stroke production bike to come out of Japan. Where Honda’s single-cam design and 750cc engine might’ve beaten Kawasaki to the punch, the Z1 proved the significance of a heavy-hitting knockout punch.
Before long, the Z1 complemented its many world records with honors like the “Machine of the Year Award” from Motorcycle News. It was praised for its effortless ability to combine speed and style with endurance and reliability. It was a unicorn of sorts, bred by competition and Kawasaki’s insatiable need to deliver what every other motorcycle manufacturer could not.
Continuing the Legacy: Meet the 2022 Z900
The Z1’s legacy has continued since the 1970s, culminating with the latest iteration of the Z900 in 2022. The newest model embodies the bike’s rich heritage in the Kawasaki lineup and is the epitome of what Kawasaki believes a supernaked motorcycle should be–powerful, engaging, and incredibly exciting. To say that the 2022 Z900 delivers is an understatement in every regard.
A Need for Speed
The 2022 Z900 lives up to the Z’s racing heritage as one of the most engaging high-performance bikes in the segment. It relies on an ultra-lightweight chassis and a 948cc inline four-cylinder engine, a noticeable upgrade over the original 903cc engine found in the Z1 of the 1970s. The 948cc engine and lightweight chassis are a perfect combination, delivering immediate acceleration and exceptional torque.
Kawasaki finetunes this performance and gives you more control over the Z900 with a responsive front and rear suspension. The introverted 41mm front fork suspension features adjustable rebound damping and spring preload to give you confidence and control. At the rear, the horizontal back-link rear suspension features step-less rebound damping and an adjustable spring preload that adds to the Z900’s responsiveness, improves ride quality, and optimizes traction at the rear wheel.
Next-Level Technology
The Z1’s use of a dual overhead camshaft and large displacement engine established Kawasaki as an industry pioneer. Today, we see that pioneering spirit in the 2022 Z900’s next-level technology that gives riders more opportunities to harness the bike’s legendary power. What do we mean?
The 2022 Z900 features personalized power output and technology like Kawasaki TRaction Control. The Z900’s personalized power delivery lets you tailor the bike’s power production between Full Power or Low Power for greater control. The Kawasaki TRaction Control system takes this control one step further by letting you finetune the bike’s performance via three modes. For example, Mode 1 limits electronic resistance for a sport-like ride, Mode 2 blends sport-like handling with improved ride quality, and Mode 3 offers the most resistance to prioritize comfort and control to help you confidently navigate technical or challenging conditions.
The Z900’s next-level technology doesn’t stop there and extends to unique power modes that help you adapt the bike to your riding style and terrain. For example, you can easily switch between Manual, Sport, Road, and Rain modes and see the accompanying performance data at a glance via the 4.3-inch digital display. The customizable display gives the Z900 a modern aesthetic that also serves a practical purpose by showing vital insights into speed, range, fuel level, trip meters, gear position, tachometer data, and more.
Joining the Z Family: You Can Have Your Steak and Eat It, Too
Honda beat Kawasaki to the punch when it debuted the CB750, forcing Kawasaki to scrap its 750cc prototype and break its gentleman’s agreement not to outshine the competition. In doing so, Kawasaki took a considerable risk. Releasing the 750cc prototype would give Honda more time to beat them again with a larger bike, a gamble Kawasaki wasn't willing to take.
Kawasaki answered with the Z1, a record-setting speed demon that further sealed Kawasaki’s fate as an industry pioneer renowned for building high-performing, reliable, and innovative models. Codenamed the “New York Steak,” the Z1 proved Americans could have their steak and eat it too, at least when it meant investing in the Kawasaki name. Today, that seemingly endless quest to have it all defies most motorcycle manufacturers, but models like the 2022 Z900 prove Kawasaki still has the market cornered.
The 2022 Z900 is the next iteration of Kawasaki’s speed demon as a supernaked bike with a penchant for speed and style. It’s everything you ever imagined a Kawasaki to be and more because it delivers an immersive riding experience that doesn’t come at the cost of reliability, endurance, comfort, or cost. Instead, it goes against the odds as a legendary powerhouse that continues to prove riders can have it all without compromise.
