Kawasaki has announced a new “SE” version of its retro-styled Z900RS for 2022, which features upgraded suspension and brakes. Up front are new radial-mount monoblock Brembo M4.32 calipers and new settings for the fully adjustable inverted fork, which now sports gold legs. Out back is a new fully adjustable Öhlins S46 rear shock with a remote preload adjuster.
Also new on the 2022 Kawasaki Z900RS is a new “Yellow Ball” color scheme, with Metallic Diablo Black paint, yellow highlights on the teardrop tank and rear fender, and fetching gold wheels.
Read our Kawasaki Z900RS vs Honda CB1000R vs Suzuki Katana comparison review
At the heart of the Z900RS SE is a liquid-cooled, 948cc, 16-valve, inline-Four, which made 100 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 67.5 lb-ft of torque at 6,700 rpm at the rear wheel in our 2019 Z900RS test. This lightweight and compact engine spools up quickly and delivers solid and smooth performance when pushed but is versatile enough to be ridden in traffic with ease. The high-tensile steel trellis frame has received revisions at the swingarm pivot point, which is now stronger.
A fully adjustable 41mm inverted fork offers 10 clicks of compression adjustment, 12 clicks of rebound adjustment, and a stepless preload adjuster. At the rear, the RS is fitted with a horizontal backlink Öhlins S46 shock with a remote preload adjuster. The shock is linked to an extruded lightweight aluminum swingarm to maximize handling, with the linkage placed atop the swingarm helps to centralize the weight.
Braking is provided by a pair of radial-mount monoblock Brembo 4-piston M4.32 front calipers squeezing 300mm petal discs with a Nissin radial-pump master cylinder. Out back, a 2-piston caliper squeezes a 250mm petal disc. ABS and stainless-steel braided lines are standard.
In keeping with the classic styling, the Z900RS SE is equipped with cast flat spoke wheels, finished in gold, to resemble traditional wire-spoked wheels. Dunlop GPR-300 tires further add to the retro credentials.
The Z900RS SE features a large-diameter round LED headlight with a convex lens and chrome ring, adding to the retro look without compromising on lighting. LEDs have replaced all the lights except for the turnsignals. A dual-dial analog instrument cluster is coupled with a multi-function LCD screen for retro-style with modern functionality. The LCD features white letters on a black background and includes a gear position indicator.
Much like the sporty bikes of the ’70s, the Z900RS SE has a relaxed, upright riding position. A wide flat handlebar means the grips are 30mm wider, 65mm higher, and 35mm closer to the rider compared to the sportier Z900, partly thanks to the raised upper-triple clamp. The footpegs are also 20mm lower and 20mm farther forward, enhancing the relaxed riding position. Rubber-mounted bar ends help dampen vibrations in the bars, and both the clutch and brake levers are 5-way adjustable to help accommodate a wide variety of hand sizes.
The slim fuel tank is narrow at the rear, which allows for easy knee gripping. A low seat height, combined with a slim design, adds to the rider’s ability to place both feet on the ground when stopped.
A full range of Kawasaki accessories is available to give owners the option to add to the motorcycle’s iconic, old-school feel, including a tank emblem set, black, gold, or silver oil filler caps, front axle slider, tank pad, frame slider set, center stand, passenger grab bar and more.
2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE Specs
Base Price: $13,449
Website: kawasaki.com
Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse inline-Four, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
Displacement: 948cc
Bore x Stroke: 73.4 x 56.0 mm
Horsepower: 113 @ 8,500 rpm (2020 Z900, rear-wheel dyno)
Torque: 66 lb-ft @ 6,700 rpm (2020 Z900, rear-wheel dyno)
Transmission: 6-speed, cable-actuated slip/assist wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Wheelbase: 57.9 in.
Rake/Trail: 25 degrees/3.9 in.
Seat Height: 32.9 in.
Wet Weight: 474 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gals.
Beautiful bike ! Now, can you simply give me a REAL complete front fender to fend off all of the crud that otherwise gets all over the front of the engine, and ME ??? WHY cannot bike makers put on complete front fenders ? Haven’t these guys ever ridden bikes in the wet, or ridden bikes AT ALL ???
Nail on the head there mate. It would save a lot of cleaning and stop a lot of corrosion to the motor.
We all don’t live in shyt weather counties so add to the fender yourself. It’s looks better with a short fender !!!
It’s just as much about the looks then riding the DAM thing !!!
👍
It’s a styling exercise, not a v-strom.
As an owner some 45+ years ago of a ’74 900Z, I can say the bike needs 4 into 4 Fishmouth exhasts to stir my interest. Beautiful bike, but the exhausts were an integral part of the look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feNecqoNtMA
Everybody dumped their 4 in to 4 exhausts back in the day and replaced them with 4 in to 1 Kerkers. I feel it’s a much nicer to look. Plus the 4 in to 4 were ugly and hard to clean and clean around.
Ha! The fender. Extensions are available, problem solved.
This is THE BEST EVER version of this icon. Makes a seriously emotional case for considering this as an alternative to a tasty selection of sports tourers in this price category. Screen and bags, and…hit the road!
When will the bike manufacturers realise most of us are npt 6 feet tall.
Seat heights are getting so tall that us 5 feet 9 inch types cant park them.
One of the reasons I went to an Indian Challenger.
Go buy a Sportster 48. My back appreciates suspension travel!
I guarantee it has more suspension travel than your 48. Plus it’s a whole different type of bike.
FYI I ride the 2020 version of the Z900RS SE. I’m 5’9″ and I can get my feet flat on the ground. The seat height is only 800mm.
The stock bike comes with 835 seat height,i am 5 8 just about ok, although the lower seat would probably work better.
I agree, but you can set rear shock at softest position (lowest). where do the japanese get 32inch height.
can’t agree more. It’s not just the height, it’s also – some people are six foot tall with short legs
Shim intervals pls
Valve adjustment interval on the 2022 Z900 we tested (same engine) was 15,200 miles.
How do you know valves need adjustment? Noise?
some do get noisy but just look in the bike manual and it tells you when to inspect the valves…most you will find do not need adjustment…just real the manual…good riding and stay safe
Almost 33 inches is not a low seat height. I’m certainly shorter than average, with a 28” inseam, but 33” would only be considered a low seat height for an ADV bike.
31” is a low seat height. Sit on a Triumph Bonneville Street Twin or T120 and that is a low seat height.
Other than that, great looking bike, love the wheels. Better suspension and brakes are always a plus.
Where can I get this bike in the United Arab Emirates?
At a Kawasaki dealer?
Fuel tank is too small and charging output is too low.
Seems to be the new normal?
Your March 2020 review stated 38 miles per gallon, 4 gallons before reserve equals 150 miles. Riding the last .5 gallon reserve is nuts.
Ride at 80mph or have a 20+ mph head wind your looking at 120 miles .
Want to plug in electric vest at 45 watts I do not think so with 336 watts charging capacity.
It is a show bike not a bike to take on anything beyond a day ride for me.
Bummer
Seems you’d have a whole lot of watts to spare – all LED etc.. Be brave.
Why the 4 into 1 exhaust? That’s not retro at all. Dual pipes 2 into one on both sides is the correct look. It may sound trivial but, I’ll pass on that bike for that styling reason.
Hi Guy, I for one love this exhaust configuration. Looks racy to me. Not so much into retro looks. I am a person who buys a bike and then make it mine how I want it too be.
EFI tends to boost the mpg. I suspect that the 38mpg was because the bikes were being thrashed. Real world mileage is more likely in the 45-50mpg range.
LED’s drop the demand on the alternator dramatically, so there is probably more than enough power to run the electric vest.
Either way, if you’re interested, you could dig deeper . If not, there are plenty of other bikes to buy.
Right on bro.
I agree that the 4-into-4 original exhaust would make this closer to the original Zed, but that would likely add upwards of 100+ pounds to the bike.
If we’re requesting the “full nostalgic” re-do, why not add on the original metal front and rear chromed fenders and equally cumbersome spoked wheels?
That alone should push it a bit above the original 549 pound listed weight (1974 specs) of a Z1 900. 🙄
Cracks me up about the exhausts 99.9% of people who brought a original 900 swapped the pipes for a r into one anyway so they are just saving you to do that ha
Yep. That’s what I did on my 1975 Z1B back in the day.
Yu wanna go back to the full retro.
Thats just BS. I owned one they had horrible tank slappers, shitbox suspension, bugger all range and very heavy exhaust. Plus a lot of people put four into one exhaust so that was just as original and better performance. This bike is far and away a great improvement in every aspect and it looks beautifull.
The Knee Slappers. My 73 Yamaha 650 did the same if the spokes were not tight and the wheel balanced. I do not recall that Knee Slapper was used in my circle then. We referred to the scare as “OH %^^#, I’m going to die moment.” I do agree, the bike is a beauty.
I agree, I have been looking around quite a long time and I keep going back to this bike.
So do I, brings back my childhood memories. Love Kawasaki !!!
I have a cafe version and I absolutely love it. There’s really nothing bad to be said about these bikes once you ride one.
The color combination this year on both is pretty good looking. Kawasaki has always put out a good product.. I own a 2011 Concourse and for a sport touring shaft drive, it will hold its own. I keep waiting for a new Concourse, I’ll buy it in a heartbeat. To me the Cafe is the beauty.
have it love it
Wish they would make a LTD tribute bike !
for sure…would buy one tomorrow
Love the bike, I will be looking at getting a z900rs soon. if they give it a Shaft drive, a little high bars and lower pegs it would be the prefect UJM.
shaft drive on a sport bike…no way..chain is way more efficient anyway…just lube and adjust when necessary
Crack me up about staying retro with the exhaust. How about the missing kick starter? Remember that?