I briefly owned a 2021 Z900RS in candy blue/yellow stripe, and I think I was not the intended buyer for it. Even at 70 yo, I found it became 'transport' very quickly.
Not boring, but didn't excite my riding style. The throttle was like a J curve, nothing then everything. I appreciate a linear ramp up.
Also the seat in my opinion was too high and riding position forced me up onto the tank as the Z900 chassis was used, and it has a shorter tank length.
I now own a 2022 Z900, and it is everything the RS is not (for me). The RS is far overpriced for what it gives.
An old Mate this week almost bought the new 2023 colour RS, black with red on the tanks flanks, but pulled out when he re thought about the price the next day.
But it looks the part, as the red is not over bright red like the 50th Anniversary, but a deeper crimson red.
Secondly, my 2022 Versys 650, the same as in the lead photo at the top of the page, has departed the garage. After 7 months and 6000 KM, I have tried my luck with a new 2022 Honda CB500X.
I realised that the Versys, while a great machine, did not fit the twisty up and down roads that I appreciate around my locale.
My conclusion was that the bike was primely designed for the North American Market; those long freeways where bottom end end engine performance are secondary to mid rev to top end power.
So nice to ride at 100 KPH and above, an ideal touring bike. But, that was not my use of this bike, and actually, I found I was speeding so easily on it, too often on the open road.
The Honda 500X fills the bottom end range so much better, not with HP, but the constant torque from 0 to 4000 RPM, where the Versys felt weak and unreliable in comparison below 4 K going down the box.
The surprise with the Honda is how plush the suspension is, roads that were sometimes passing the bumps and dips through to the seat of the V650, don't appear to be anywhere as bad.
I have an enjoyable time with the V650, and if I was the long distance rider, I could not wish for a better bike (and I have owned many). I don't have 'Buyers Remorse', don't think that.
The Z900 rattles the teeth on the very same rough roads.
Thirdly, I like to add that the large touring screen from Kawasaki is a 'must buy' for this year model. They priced it right, and it makes the standard screen more a styling exercise.
Recently, I bought a cheap screen extender via Ebay for AU $25. Added to the standard screen, it doesn't help much as the top wings of that screen vortex the wind to both sides of my helmet (Arai GT Air Gen 1). Those vortex's are filling the vacuum left by the wind deflector.
The touring screen, works with the deflector a lot better, and that screen has it's wings designed by Kawasaki to sweep the air away from the rider's helmet.
Here's a picture with the large screen.
Fourthly, Thanks for the good time with this Friendly Forum, and the "Old Hands" passing down knowledge was very much appreciated.
Merry Christmas and a safe New Year, as Fast Eddie has already said elsewhere. He must have a faster calendar than mine, so many days yet, but I've got my present already, the Honda.
Rob.
View attachment 191610
View attachment 191612
