Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1000688
2018 KAWASAKI Z900RS CAFÉ FULL TEST P104 was thanks in part to the excel- lent one-piece bar that's almost a cross between a clip-on and motocross-style flat bar. It can feel a little odd at first, but the Café puts the rider in the near perfect riding position, angling them slightly forward from center but not enough that you end up forcing more weight on your wrists than necessary. Couple that with the deep-dish seat, which holds the rider in place much more than the flatter one found on the 900RS, and the Café becomes an irresistible steed you just want to ride more and more. The Café comes with the Ka- wasaki TRaction Control (KTRC) system and ABS brakes, which I didn't give a second thought to once I'd set off in level one of two. Unless you're blitzing it you'll not notice the systems working in the background. You can turn the TC off if you want, but not the ABS. Whereas I thought the 900RS was a bit of a missed opportunity, I feel Kawasaki has absolutely nailed it with the Café version. The chang- es made—both mechanically and aesthetically—make for an improved package that oozes charisma and charm, while remaining decidedly modern in the process. CN 2018 KAWASAKI Z900RS CAFÉ ($11,499) ENGINE: ............ Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve, inline 4 cylinder DISPLACEMENT: ........................ 948cc BORE X STROKE: ...........73.4 x 56mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ............... 10.8:1 CLUTCH: ...................... Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION: ......................6-speed CHASSIS: ...Tubular steel trellis frame Front suspension: Inverted fork with adjustable compression and rebound damping, and spring preload REAR SUSPENSION: ............Horizontal back-link swingarm with stepless adjustable rebound damping and spring preload adjustment FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ..............4.7 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ............... 5.5 in. FRONT BRAKE: ................300mm dual semi-floating discs, radially-mounted dual monobloc four-piston calipers, ABS as standard REAR BRAKE: ......................... 250 mm disc, single-piston caliper with ABS as standard FRONT TIRE: ......120/70 ZR17 Dunlop GPR-300F REAR TIRE: ........ 180/55 ZR17 Dunlop GPR-300 RAKE: ............................................25.4° WHEELBASE: ............................. 58.1 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ...........................31.5 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ....................... 4.5 gal WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED): .471.9 lbs. COLOR: ................Vintage Lime Green S P E C I F I C A T I O N S Traction control will mitigate this kind of behavior pretty quickly, but the Café will still pull the odd power wheelie.