Kawasaki Z900

Owning a big bike is a dream many riders have, and to fulfil that dream, the Kawasaki Z900 is the bike many choose. Over the years, the Z900 has become one of India’s highest-selling street nakeds. But is it the complete package? And does it tick all the right boxes for being the perfect first ‘big bike’? We will be answering those questions in this review.

Looks are one of the most important considerations when buying a big bike. In this regard, the Z900 doesn’t disappoint; it is one bike that I can keep staring at in the parking lot for a long time. This is something people on the road will agree with me on, and from my time spent with the bike, it has not failed to attract attention.

The Z900 has a rich design history, and since its launch in 2017, it has embodied the aggressive ‘Sugomi’ design philosophy well. The Z900 gets a compact-looking LED headlight section that looks even sharper and more angular compared to the 2024 Z900.

The tank extensions feel big and really accentuate that crouched stance. Lastly, the exposed trellis frame bits and tail section with the pillion seat cowl really give the motorcycle a rugged and sporty character.

The motorcycle we tested had the Candy Lime Green/Metallic Carbon Grey colour scheme. I really liked this colour scheme, as it brings out that Kawasaki character, and draws more attention on the road. The paint finish feels very premium, and the black Kawasaki badging on the tank adds a nice contrast to green.

The lack of features was one sore point many riders had with the Z900. With the 2025 update, Kawasaki has addressed this issue, bringing a host of new electronic riding aids to the table. The bike features a 5-inch TFT console, with two display modes: Light and Dark. The display modes can be set to switch automatically depending on the ambient lighting conditions.

There are two display layouts available, and I personally prefer display mode 1, with its artificial horizon-inspired lean angle display. It looks quite good and makes you feel like you’re inside the cockpit of a fighter jet.

Now, moving on to the electronic riding aids. There are two power modes: High and Low. The former unleashes the bike’s full power, whereas the latter limits it to 55 percent of the total output. Next, there’s a lean-sensitive traction control system as well, with three levels of intervention, finally!!

The bike gets 4 riding modes: Rain, Road, Sport, and Rider (custom). The first three riding modes are a combination of different power/traction control settings. The Rain mode limits the power output and puts the traction control setting to the highest level of intervention. Whereas the Sport unleashes the full power and puts the traction control intervention to a minimum. The Road mode offers full power, but the traction control setting is a middle ground between the Sport and Rain modes.

Lastly, the motorcycle gets a quickshifter and cruise control, putting it on par with rivals. The quickshifter works seamlessly, with both up and downshifts happening smoothly. The cruise control is a useful addition while going on longer highway stints.

When sitting on the Z900, there’s that unmistakable feeling that you are on a big bike. But unlike a few big bikes, the Z900 is very comfortable, and you can even use it for daily commutes. It sits you in a relaxed upright position, with a slight lean forward. That eases the stress off your back.

The rider seat is also very spacious, and you can also scoot back and tuck down for a more committed riding posture. This is especially useful when riding at higher speeds on the highway or when tackling the twisties.

Now, time for some bad news. The Z900 isn’t available with a pillion seat and pillion footpegs. Kawasaki isn’t currently offering it even as an additional fitment to bypass the saree guard norms. Now, if you plan to take your significant other on long rides, then that won’t be possible. If you are single and want to impress your dates, then the Z900 doesn’t look like the perfect wingman. We hope Kawasaki introduces a pillion seat as standard in the near future.

Powering the Kawasaki Z900 is a 948cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four engine producing 123.6bhp and 98.6Nm. In the real world, the engine has the ability to put a smile on your face with its exciting performance. At the same time, the motor is not super intimidating like you’d think a big bike of this engine capacity would be. The throttle response is quite linear and doesn’t throw you off with the full 123.6bhp on you at once.

On the go, the motor really starts coming alive after 4,000rpm, and you can feel the surge of power up to 6,000rpm. Riding the bike in the city isn’t a hassle, thanks to the light clutch action and the excellent heat management.

But where the engine truly shines is once you cross the 8,000rpm mark: it lights up, and the performance almost becomes insane. But the only thing holding it back is the lack of wind protection. When riding at speeds above 160kmph, the windblast is quite strong, and it becomes harder to sustain the higher speeds. Overall, the Kawasaki Z900 is a motorcycle that someone upgrading from a 400cc performance-oriented single-cylinder bike can consider.

In terms of handling, the Z900 is an agile and nimble motorcycle; it tips into corners effortlessly and holds the line well. The braking performance is adequate, and the twin-disc setup helps bring the bike to a halt quickly. However, it could do with a bit more initial bite at the front, and rear braking performance would be better, with less ABS intrusion.

The suspension setup in the stock settings can absorb most of the bumps and potholes on the road well. The motorcycle feels like it can handle the daily commutes and even longer rides, which will take one through varying kinds of road conditions. The stock settings work well for my height and weight (5’7 and 63.5kg respectively), so I didn’t find the need to use the adjustment options available.

The biggest issue with the motorcycle is the stock tyres, limiting how much you can push the bike. The lack of feel from the tyres doesn’t inspire much confidence while cornering. There have been instances when the rear stepped, while I had the traction control off, which was unnerving. Changing the tyres is the first thing I would recommend to anyone buying the Z900.

While I’m not a big fan of electronic riding aids in general, I used the Rider mode with the power set to High and traction control off most of the time with the bike. But after those unnerving experiences with poor tyre feedback and the generally low grip on Mumbai’s roads, I found the traction control to be a useful safety net.

When starting the review, the biggest question that I wanted to answer was whether the Z900 has what it takes to be the perfect first ‘big bike’. The answer is quite clear now. It has got the looks, the performance, handling, and features sorted. The only caveat being that it needs better tyres.

But overall, two things make the Kawasaki Z900 stand out. First is the non-intimidating nature of its power delivery, which someone coming from a 400cc-600cc motorcycle will appreciate. It doesn’t catch you off guard, and the electronic riding aids provide a much-needed sense of safety.

The suspension setting is a good balance between sporty and practical for Indian riding conditions. The Z900 is a motorcycle that I can easily recommend to someone who is starting out on their ‘big bike’ journey. At the price tag of Rs. 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom), it is an insane value for money proposition for anyone looking for a bike with a sweet inline four engine, that makes over 100bhp.

Photography by Kapil Angane