2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review

2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review
The 2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE takes its styling cues from Kawasaki’s original naked 900, the Z1.

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

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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.

2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review

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.

2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review
2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review

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.

2022 Kawasaki Z900RS SE | First Look Review

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.

43 COMMENTS

  1. 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 ???

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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. 🙄

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

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