Kawasaki has paid tribute to the 1970s Z1 with the retro-designed and coloured Z900RS unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Tribute retro styling also includes the ribbed bench seat, teardrop fuel tank, Z1 duck tail and dual analogue instrument pods, the rest is based on the modern Z900.
Tribute colours
It even comes in similar brown and orange colours to the bike that won our hearts in the cult Australia bikie film, Stone.
It also comes in a choice of black or matte green.
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.
It now features 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.
Invitation
Australian Kawasaki Team Green members can register to be among the first to see the Z1 tribute bike in Australia.
It will be unveiled at deus in Sydney on November 15.
To register your interest, send an email to Kawasaki Australia marketing coordinator Milo Dokmanovic.
Milo has not indicated when the bike will be available for sale here or the pricing.
Those details may be advised at the Deus unveiling.
Kawasaki Z900RS
| 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 |