Discussing the riding characteristics of these two machines over iced tea and lemonade, it became clear that picking a ?winner? wouldn?t be easy, and choosing a favorite might come down to a subjective preference for style, personality and feel. Both bikes excel at their shared mission: strafing corners and slicing through traffic. Photos by Kevin Wing.
Fans of ?naked? or standard sportbikes are currently spoiled for choice. The Japanese Big Four, as well as European brands like Triumph and Ducati, have stepped up to offer a slew of exciting new or updated middleweights, and for the horsepower-hungry there is a tantalizing selection of pavement-rippling, wheel-lofting 1,000cc-plus machines from which to choose.
But for those who are wandering the aisles of the moto-market and thinking, ?ah, these are a bit too small?but those are a bit more than what I need,? there are now two options that you might find to be ?just right.? Joining the revamped-for-2017 Yamaha FZ-09, Kawasaki has released an all-new Z model that recalls the heyday of the legendary Z1: the Z900. The 2017 Kawasaki Z900 ABS. Helmet: HJC RPHA 11 Pro. Jacket: Spidi Warrior. Pants: iXS Malaga. Boots: iXS Madox.
The 2017 Z900 replaces both the discontinued Z800 and the wild Z1000 (which is still available outside the U.S.), and it joins the Z125 Pro and Z650 in the modern Z family. The Z900 is mostly new from the ground up, with a new lightweight steel trellis frame that uses the engine as a stressed member, an ex...