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Initially, it was doubtful the Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe would make it to American streets. For whatever reason, Team Green was holding out on their full-fairing iteration of the retro RS. Enthusiasts and nostalgists alike were less than pleased, and for a good reason. The standard Z900RS is a well-sorted machine at an everyman price. Not only did it mark the return of a proper Universal Japanese Motorcycle to the two-wheeled world, but it did so in a uniquely attractive modern-retro package. So, of course, we wanted a crack at its racier looking stablemate.
The Good: Let’s be honest. The Z900RS Cafe is stunning. There’s restraint in the aesthetics that strike a refreshing balance between form and function. Nothing reeks of faux-authenticity or is overwrought. Everything from the headlight cowl, to the humped seat, to the brushed and shortened exhaust silencer has a natural vibe on this bike. If the bodywork were painted black, we’d call it subtle, understated, minimalist. Bathed in the Lime Green of Kawasaki’s racing past, the Z900RS is a distinctive standout.
Watch Out For: The sculpted, artfully humped yet incredibly stiff seat. I’d like to think that things would soften up and the seat would break in after a while but my loaner unit had 2,500 miles on its clock when I picked it up and near 3,300 when I handed it back, and it still felt chiseled from stone.
Who It’s For: The market for retro styled bikes is at an all-time high, with offerings on the table from almost every manufacturer. But so far, Kawasaki have best combined those aesthetics with the neutral ergonomics that made the original UJM so famous to begin with. For that reason, I get the feeling that newer riders who are sick of spending more time wrenching than they do riding their hobbled-together, Craigslist Honda CBs will gravitate towards the Z900RS Cafe and its standard stablemate.
