2024 Kawasaki Z900 First Ride Review
A thrilling, aggressive naked bike that brings the high-revving excitement of an inline-four to a comfortable, upright platform. It’s built for riders who want supersport energy without the back-breaking ergonomics.
- Surprising low-end punch: For an inline-four, it hits hard even around 3,000 RPM.
- Approachable ergonomics: Low seat height makes it easy to get feet down with a natural upright feel.
- Flickable agility: Doesn’t feel like a 468-lb bike in traffic — it’s light and easy to toss around.
- Dated controls: Switchgear and menus are clunky (long presses just to change modes).
- Abrupt throttle: Noticeable lurch from 0% to 10% throttle makes low-speed inputs feel unrefined.
- Missing essentials: No quick shifter and no cruise control at this price is a miss.
Performance Highlights
The Z900 is a sleeper in the best way. On paper, 468 lbs sounds hefty — on the road, it’s genuinely agile. The 948cc inline-four is the star, delivering 125 horsepower with surprising grunt down low. Highway cruising is smooth with almost zero vibration, though there’s a bit of a mid-range “dead zone” before it wakes up and screams toward the top end.
40–80 mph pull: described as “quick” and high on the leaderboard.
Rider Experience & Tech
You sit “in” the Z900 rather than on top of it, which makes head checks and city riding feel easy and confident. The bars feel tall because the seat is low, creating a slightly aggressive lower-body triangle that works well for technical riding.
Tech is a mixed bag. You get four rider modes (Sport, Road, Rain, Custom), but switching between them is more annoying than it should be. ABS works well, though the rear can intervene early. The biggest letdown is the interface — it functions, but it feels a generation behind the competition.
The Chase Score & Final Thoughts
With a Chase Score of 71/100, the Z900 earns its spot by being an absolute riot to ride. It’s an “absolute weapon” on track and a flickable friend in the city. The soft suspension and dated tech hold it back — but the raw engine performance and comfort make it a killer package for under $10k.
Who it’s for: riders moving away from uncomfortable supersports who still want that inline-four scream
and aggressive styling without the physical pain.
Who should skip: long-distance tourers who need cruise control and wind protection, or tech-heads who
want the latest dash and electronics.