[alphadog]

This is a brief write up about my experience with my 2019 Kawasaki Z900 bought new. I have now had the bike with me for 6 months and I thought I should pen down my experience with the bike which I have named 'Black Hornet'. I am not much of a natural writer, and it takes a lot of effort for me to pen down my thoughts, so do excuse the little imperfections in my narration. These pandemic times, has allowed me some time to write this.

Introducing - Black Hornet



Bit of background: I have always been happier on two wheels. I used to cycle extensively as a child and then graduated on to a 35 cc moped, the TVS express, when in high school. My experience with motorbikes dates back to the time I was in Medical college in Chennai. After much insisting, cajoling, tantrums and such like my dad got me a Hero Honda Splendor. The choice was not much in the 90s in India, but I truly loved that bike. It looked classy, for a commuter bike, had a sweet black, blue and red paint scheme and the exhaust had a slight bass note which was good on the ears. Most of my friends and I believe, a vast majority of youngsters of those times were mad about the Yamaha RX100, for its torquey higher revving engine and of course, that exhaust note. At that time it was considered a sporty, bad-boy exhaust note, but then things change and now when I hear a restored RX100 on the roads, it sounds irritating and shrill to me. Maybe its just my age, but thats the way it rolls.
I had the bike for three years and then with a heavy heart had to give it away, when I moved on to a Maruti 800 for my college commute, considered 'safer' by my parents and also to protect me from the sweltering Chennai heat. At that time, my only ride on two wheelers were on my mom's Scooty and my friends Kinetic Honda, intermittently.

Following graduation, I moved to the UK to pursue higher training and this resulted in a big break and hiatus from riding. It was four wheeler cages for me then, partly due to the inclement climate of the UK and partly due to lack of time to indulge in motorcycling pursuits. For a good 17 years I was away from motorbikes. My return back to bikes only happened when I relocated back to India, after almost 14 years in the UK. I took motorcycling lessons in the UK on a Suzuki SV650 standard and got the UK license just before relocating. So,I did not get to do much biking in the UK.

As you may imagine, I was apprehensive about getting back into biking in India, as I was out of touch and also the traffic conditions had gotten much worse than how it was when I left abroad. So, I got myself a pre-owned Honda CBR250R just to get back into riding and then purchased a RE thunderbird 500, which I had for a few months before giving it away. I had developed a thirst for something more powerful and back in late 2015, I got myself a Harley Iron 883. Looking back, the bike was raw and unrefined, with vibrations and poor handling, but, it made up for it by having oodles of torque and road presence. I did a whole lot of accessorisation and went for a few rides. Work again played spoil sport ( I am an Orthopaedic surgeon), and in 4 years of ownership, I managed only 6000 km. Much less than what I would have loved to have done. Or maybe I never really connected with the bike. It also made me realise that I was not a 'Harley' type of rider. I needed a slicker and faster bike. During this time I was reading prolifically about different bikes, watching reviews on youtube and made up my mind about getting a sports bike. I wanted sometime more refined, more fast , more slick, usable practicality on the crowded Kerala roads and preferably, a Japanese inline 4.

Decision making: I had convinced myself that my next bike had to be an inline 4 and so, the briefly considered Triumph street triple RS, albeit a very capable and desirable machine, was out of contention. I did consider the Suzuki GSX-S750, but their showroom was around 200 kms away in Kozhikode and I was too lazy to go there. The Yamaha MT-09 was a triple cylinder and too temperamental for my liking, so that was out as well. So, I made my way, with my kids, my almost teenager daughter, who loves bikes and my younger son (who is also turning out to be a true blue piston head) to the nearest Kawasaki - Kochi showroom. This was conveniently located only 3 kms away from home. We had a feel of the Z900 and the Ninja 1000. The N1000 was a capable sports-tourer, with additional electronics and slightly more horsepower, however, it was bulkier and lacked the bad-boy looks of the Z900. It also was a couple of lakhs more expensive than the Z. Considering that I needed a city-usable bike with a capable inline 4 engine and that I could use that extra money to accessorise the bike, I finalised on the Z900.

Finalising: I asked for discounts, they politely said no, but they did agree to throw in the much needed radiator guard and a reduction on the insurance costs. They managed to match the insurance quote I had obtained from an independent vendor and hence, I went along with the dealership insurance. I went back home, thought briefly about it and then the next day transferred the deposit towards the Z900. The sales-person said that there was ready stock of the bike available - two black and one in the limited edition grey and red colour. I preferred the muted black colour and said I will take that one. I have never really liked the Kawasaki green colour and thankfully this version did not have much of the horrible green, only the exposed parts of the new trellis frame was green and hence, acceptable to my aesthetic sense. I for one never really liked loans and debt and had saved up enough money to buy the bike in full. So once the decision was made, I did not want to wait much longer. I did the needful transfer and visited the showroom a second time, this time to do a PDI and select one of the two black bikes. I made a note of the VIN and advised the dealership to process the registration. Finally, the bike was going to be mine!.
Wait a minute. What about a test ride you may wonder- I did not do a formal test ride of the bike before making the decision. Silly thing to do one may exclaim, but to be honest, I had done so much research about the bike, that I did not feel like I was taking a leap of faith by not test riding it. Later on, I did a short 2 km long test ride after I had paid the deposit, and the test ride only served to re-enforce that I had made the right decision.
The bike in the showroom





Acquisition: I asked the dealership to hold on the delivery for a few more days, as I had ordered some protective parts from another vendor and wanted these to be fitted before delivery. These arrived promptly in a few more days and I had them delivered to the showroom, to be installed. We agreed on a date for delivery and I went there with my better half and kids for the delivery. There I was as excited as a teenager on their first date, ha ha.

Some pictures of the delivery with the customary unveiling and symbolic key handing over.


Note the Team-Bhp T shirt




So on delivery day the accessories I had added were radiator guards, engine guard, front fork protectors and exhaust protector.

Engine guard


Front fork slider



Radiator guard


Exhaust protector


The overall buying experience at the Kawasaki-Kochi (Rideventure) dealership was good. The sales person was very knowledgeable and answered all my queries patiently and the service and technical team were very friendly as well. I would be interacting with them in the near future for accessories fitment, modifications and services and it felt good to have them on board. Overall I would recommend them. I believe Rideventure run the Bangalore dealership too.

First ride out of dealership




About the bike: The design of the bike embodies the often mentioned concept of Sugomi. So what is Sugomi? There are a few terms to define the word but according to Kawasaki themselves, Sugomi is the embodiment or spirit of a predator on the hunt. This includes the crouching position with eyes locked on the prey ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Another way of looking at it - Sugomi is actually defined by the Japanese as “the intense aura or energy given off by a person or object of greatness and felt by the viewer.” Anything or anyone who possess the Sugomi spirit will leave an unforgettable impression with its appearance and performance which is obliged for absolute respect. Demand respect, the bike certainly does, it looks menacing even at standstill, starting with the down low headlamps, the humped fuel tank, the angular lines and the heavy muscular looking Inline 4 engine mill, narrowing up to the minimalistic upturned clean tail. It is this appearance, that made me christen it 'Black Hornet'. The numbers and details of the Z is available online by a brief summary of the essentials are as follows -




The engine: Words are not enough to describe the sublime perfection of this inline 4 mill from the Kawasaki engineers. It is easy to use in the city traffic, with good low down grunt and not much of a heating issue. The clutch is very light and does not stress the left hand. The gearing is well balanced and hence one can easily ride around at 40 kmph, even in the 5th gear without engine knocking. Its only if one needs to accelerate suddenly that one may need to drop a gear and pull away. The intake howl beyond 6000 rpm is superb and makes one want to rev simply to hear this. The engine braking is decent and the slipper clutch does a brilliant job when aggressively down-shifting.Only issue is with a twitchy throttle in the lower gears, which is not much of a problem, if one is careful when opening the throttle.

Braking: The braking is looked after by twin petal 300 mm discs at the front and 4 pot dual callipers by Nissin. Single 250 mm disc at the rear. ABS is provided, thankfully, I have not had a chance to test it yet. The front brake set up is the standard axially arranged ones and does its job well. Although would have been nicer to get a radially mounted callipers.



Tyres: The stock tyres are Dunlop D214, Sportmax, standard sport bike sizes of 180/55 R17 at the rear and 120/70 R17 at the front. They are average at best, the dry grip is just about ok and the wet grip is bad. I had a couple of instances where I felt the rear slip on curves when accelerating and wet rides during the Kerala rains did not inspire confidence. I plan to get them changed in few thousand kms to one of the Michelin or Pirelli offerings.


Suspension, seating and ride comfort: The seat is nestled in the frame in such a way that you feel like you are sitting in the bike and not on it, the seat is firm and the seat height is low. The 17 litre tank although bulky at the front, narrows down to the rear and hence combined with the low seat height, shorter riders will not find it difficult to flat foot. The foot pegs are rear set, although not as high and back as a supersport bike. The combination of low seat and high and rear set foot pegs does make me feel a bit cramped and I would have preferred a higher seat option being offered as standard. The suspension is firm coming from factory and can be adjusted, not the best in the business but, not the worst by far either. The ride comfort is pretty decent and one can do longer distances comfortably. Although many have done it, multi-day touring trips is not this bikes cup of tea as it is just not built for it.

The rear spring which is placed off-set to the right


Lights: The headlamps are a twin unit, the right side low beam which is also the DRL, remains on on starting the bike. The left side light is the high beam and passing light. Both are halogen lamps and not projectors. LEDs or projectors wound have been nice to have. The indicator lights are normal halogen bulb units as stock. The rear lights are LED and makes a sweet looking Z shape, which is rather nice.
Dual headlamps



Rear lamp with the LEDs placed in Z design


Brake lights


The instrument cluster
This is the old style digital display with a tachometer at the top and buttons to adjust the display on the sides. It is small and compact compared to the TFT displays we have come to see on the newer bikes. However, it provides all the necessary information in easily readable format. The display is clear even in bright sunshine. The display shows the speed, Gear indicator, temperature and fuel gauge. Buttons are used to toggle the bottom most display line between the average mileage, time and range.

Clear view even in bright sunshine




Service costs and maintenance: The bike demands a first service at 1000 km or 1 month whichever comes up earlier. The normal cost is around the ball park of INR 6000, but I paid a bit more as I did a few modifications and accessories fitment, in addition. Being a reliable Japanese bike, it does not need much maintenance other than the chain cleaning and lubing every 500 km or so and the cleaning and wax polishing of the shiny bits. I do not like ceramic coating or PPE and hence did not do this inspite of advice of many. I do not like pressure washes either. I believe in a simple soapy water wash and tender loving care with a simple wax polish done by yours truly.

I have now done 5000 kms in 6 months since the bike came home and it has done 2 services. The miles are mainly made up of 50 kms semi-urban commute, when I take the bike to work two or three times a week. I have done couple of smallish breakfast rides and one overnighter bikers trip from Kochi to Yercaud, TN, roughly 750 km total on good open highways.

This is my overall summary so far

What I like about it

Superb styling, aggressive street naked looks.
Superior build quality with good switch gear and plastics.
Beautifully tuned engine, with a good intake growl and stock exhaust with good hum. Light clutch with apt gearing.
Torquey tuning and excellent flickability (for a big bike)makes it great to ride in city traffic.
Good upright seating position and commanding road presence.
Minimal electronics interference.

The not so good bits


The throttle is twitchy in lower gears and one has to be careful when opening up. (tuning the ECU will sort this out I reckon)
The seat is a bit hard and seating is a bit cramped for my height of 5'11'', but shorter riders might find it perfect. (can be fixed with more cushioning / gel or option of higher seat from OEM)
The ground clearance is adequate but the breadbox of the exhaust scrapes on taller speed humps. (changing exhaust to a full system and getting rid of the breadbox -cat con will solve this)
The lights could have been LEDs (this has been fixed in the 2020 version).
The stock Dunlop tyres are bad.

Summary of my feelings about the Z900
My initial ride impressions are very positive and good. I am happy with my purchase and glad I went for this one. What I love about the bike was that it was sans any electronic jibberish. Other than the ABS, it was raw and simple. I prefer it that way, with minimal electronics interfering in my ride. It felt good to know that I was riding a powerful machine and a small mistake could prove very costly, it keeps me aware and keeps me grounded. It called for easy throttle openings, of a bike that could pop wheelies in 2nd and possibly even in 3rd gear in more experienced hands. The engine is butter smooth with almost no vibrations felt in the grips or the pegs. Unlike other high revving inline 4s, the Kawasaki engineers have tuned this bike well. It could potter along in traffic speeds even in 4th or 5th gears without engine knocking or having the play the clutch. The bike has a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde type personality, it is as docile as you want it and can fly under the radar most of the time, but once you rev it hard and open the throttle, it turns into a menacing hooligan of sorts.
Overall, I am very happy with this gem of a bike from Kawasaki. I try and take it out at every opportunity that presents itself. The present pandemic climate has dampened down things for the last 1 month or so.
In the last 6 months, I have added a few accessories and made some modifications. I will list them out, with a detailed write up in the subsequent posts. Hope to keep updating this thread going forward.

Meanwhile here are a few more snaps of my ride.

All geared up


Leisure ride out by the backwaters


Rear three-quarters view, which looks rather fetching too

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Big Bikes Section. Thanks for sharing!

Your Z900 is going to our homepage. Ride safe .

Kawasaki Z900/ HEXA Automatic/Nissan Micra CVT/ Mahindra Jeep MM 550 XD

Sweet garage man! Great choice in the MM550 & Hexa AT. Guess you also had a Harley earlier.

[Hamza123]

Congrats and welcome to the Kawasaki family. The z900 is a lovely VFM offering and is pretty easy to maintain.
As far as tyres go you could go in for Pirelli Anget GT2 or Michelin Pilot Road 5. A lot of guys in our group have upgraded to the same and are very happy with their choices.

[mohansrides]

Originally Posted by alphadog

This is a brief write up about my experience with my 2019 Kawasaki Z900 bought new..... I am not much of a natural writer, and it takes a lot of effort for me to pen down my thoughts....

You are really underselling yourself. That was a crisp and clean write-up about a wonderful machine.

The Z has always been a VFM motorcycle. The latest version is even more VFM considering that it comes with traction control and riding modes. I know you said that you don’t need the electronic nannies. But they are good to have as long as you can switch them off. I would turn them on if, by chance, I get caught in inclement weather.

I TRed the Z and felt that the pegs were a little too behind for my comfort. Other than that, the motorcycle is absolutely brilliant.

Enjoy your bike and be safe.

Cheers

[bigron]

Looking good! Always happy to see a biker get his ride.

The new z900 is almost all the bike one needs. It should do everything very well and is so much better than the old lumpy z800.

Kawasaki has done a great job with upgrading this. Sure, it could be lighter but weight is something one easily gets used too over time. Lack of electronic gibberish is a change I always like.

Its got usable power, is flickable and its charm lies in its raw appeal.

Have fun with it.

[krishsreedharan]

Ah finally, I get to see your ride. If Bumblebee and Black Hornet were to be parked side by side - they would almost be twins from a distance. Its only when one gets up close and personal would they notice the minor difference - different design on the radiator guard, de-stickered face and touring windshield on Bumblebee etc.

I see that both of us have done approximately the same distance in the same timeframe. It is my daily driver since it got here. My front tyres are already flat-spotting to one side and it might require to be changed as soon as the lockdown is lifted.

I hope I will be able to ride into Cochin at the earliest safe opportunity post lifting of lockdown so that the beasts could meet while their riders catch up over riding - and other stories.

Ride safe and enjoy!!

[samee_arian]

Very nicely written Doc. As mentioned in the earlier post, you are clearly underselling your writing skills. Smooth and slick, I hope you have a similar experience with your bike and many many more miles and rides.

[krishnaprasadgg]

Well written Doc.! And Congrats on your steed.

The new color scheme for the z series is really good. Both the white and black colors, the trellis frame color contrast being the cherry on top. Was never a fan of the grey and red mix though.

Any chance of an exhaust upgrade?
The z900/800 series sound really potent with a good aftermarket exhaust, not the stupid loud tin can type (no offense meant to anyone, just personal opinion)

Wishing you loads of miles ahead with the Black Hornet

Cheers
Krishna

[alphadog]

Originally Posted by Hamza123

Congrats and welcome to the Kawasaki family.
As far as tyres go you could go in for Pirelli Anget GT2 or Michelin Pilot Road 5.

Thank you Hamza. I have been following your threads as well on both your bikes. Yes, I will be upgrading the tyres for sure, maybe in another couple of thousand kms. Pirelli Angel GT and Michelin PR are on my radar.

Originally Posted by mohansrides

The Z has always been a VFM motorcycle. The latest version is even more VFM considering that it comes with traction control and riding modes. I know you said that you don’t need the electronic nannies. But they are good to have as long as you can switch them off. I would turn them on if, by chance, I get caught in inclement weather.
Cheers

Thank you for the kind words, Mohansrides. I will try and write more I guess.
Yes, the electronic nannies are good to have as it gives a sense of security, as long as one can switch them off. However, I feel these are more useful on the track or if one is an aggressive rider, with a tendency to do all kinds of crazy stuff with the bike. Another place when electronics may come handy is during rains & wet roads. I consider myself to be a moderately sedate rider, so other than the ABS which I am thankful for, I am not too keen on things like rider modes and TC.

Originally Posted by bigron

Kawasaki has done a great job with upgrading this. Sure, it could be lighter but weight is something one easily gets used too over time. Lack of electronic gibberish is a change I always like.
Its got usable power, is flickable and its charm lies in its raw appeal.

Thank you for the words, Bigron. Yes, Kawasaki has indeed scored a massive one with the bike. It is by no means light, but one does not feel the weight when on the move, flicking or cornering. There are some die hard fans of the Z800, but I feel the Z900 is indeed a much better bike in more ways than one. I am chuffed that I got the bike. The latest 2020 format makes it even more VFM.

Originally Posted by krishsreedharan

If Bumblebee and Black Hornet were to be parked side by side - they would almost be twins from a distance.
I hope I will be able to ride into Cochin at the earliest safe opportunity post lifting of lockdown so that the beasts could meet while their riders catch up over riding - and other stories.

Ha ha, Krish, it is interesting that we both have named our steeds after insects.
Your ride sure looks sweet, and your thread was what got me to pen down my review. We surely should meet up when you ride up to Kochi, once this lockdown is lifted. I am looking to change tyres too, but I want to give the stock ones another couple of thousand kms. We could even approach the tyre shop together and try and work out a better deal on new tyres. The riding season will start after the monsoons, maybe we can even plan a few rides together.

Originally Posted by samee_arian

Very nicely written Doc. As mentioned in the earlier post, you are clearly underselling your writing skills.

Thank you for the kind words, Samee_arian. I will try and write more. I sure do hope to ride as much as possible and keep updating the thread with the mods, rides and accessories related to the bike.

Originally Posted by krishnaprasadgg

Well written Doc.!
Any chance of an exhaust upgrade?
The z900/800 series sound really potent with a good aftermarket exhaust.
Krishna

Thank you Kirshnaprasad. You are right. Although the stock exhaust hum is good, there is nothing like a good aftermarket exhaust to bring the inner beast out. I have changed the exhaust and have got a full system Akrapovic with carbon end can. I will write in detail about this modification soon.

Originally Posted by GTO

[b]
Sweet garage man! Great choice in the MM550 & Hexa AT. Guess you also had a Harley earlier.

Thank you GTO, for your wishes. I absolutely love the Hexa AT , it is a very under-rated and under-marketed vehicle and the MM550 is a proper brute. It is ex-army vehicle and I had it restored to its present glory. I just do not get enough time to take it off roads at present. Yes, I did have a Harley Iron 883 previously but I gave it away, as I never really connected with the bike and I do not see myself as a 'Harley-type' person. The HOG group rides were good and the brand has a legacy and is instantly recognised, but thats all there is to the bikes. At least thats my opinion, having owned one.

Cheerio!

[neil.jericho]

Doc, congratulations on your Z900, this certainly was a very well written thread. Suzuki is really missing the boat with sales in Kerala by having the showroom located in one corner of the state. There was some talk of dealerships in Cochin facilitating delivery and service of the big Suzukis but it looks as though nothing has come of it. Suzuki's loss is Kawasaki's gain!

Originally Posted by alphadog

Thank you Hamza. I have been following your threads as well on both your bikes. Yes, I will be upgrading the tyres for sure, maybe in another couple of thousand kms. Pirelli Angel GT and Michelin PR are on my radar.

The PR5 was just reaching the Cochin dealerships prior to the lockdown. I believe you must have sourced your accessories from AutoQueen, they stock and source all the tires we need. I found Corsagram as well to have a good range of tires for big bikes.

Originally Posted by alphadog

Your ride sure looks sweet, and your thread was what got me to pen down my review. We surely should meet up when you ride up to Kochi, once this lockdown is lifted. I am looking to change tyres too, but I want to give the stock ones another couple of thousand kms. We could even approach the tyre shop together and try and work out a better deal on new tyres. The riding season will start after the monsoons, maybe we can even plan a few rides together.

Count me in as well Doc, I will likely need to replace the tires of my Triple this year.

Originally Posted by alphadog

Thank you Kirshnaprasad. You are right. Although the stock exhaust hum is good, there is nothing like a good aftermarket exhaust to bring the inner beast out. I have changed the exhaust and have got a full system Akrapovic with carbon end can. I will write in detail about this modification soon.

Do keep an eye out for the enthusiastic MVD folks, they were quite active for quite a while prior to the lockdown and I frequently heard of checking going in, notably towards the Aluva side and so on.

[Altocumulus]

Congratulations !! This is one bike I am so longing to buy since eons. Sadly my wife freaks out when I talk of buying a bike again. If I add a 10L price tag to it, I guess I will be on the road with significant cuts and bruises.

Till then Z900 as rentals when my wife is at my in-laws .... Secret

[motorotor]

Congrats on your Z900 bro! Awesome bike! I had a test ride recently on the 650 and came away impressed so I can imagine what the 900 must be like. Ride Safe and Stay Safe.

[alphadog]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Count me in as well Doc, I will likely need to replace the tires of my Triple this year. Do keep an eye out for the enthusiastic MVD folks, they were quite active for quite a while prior to the lockdown and I frequently heard of checking going in, notably towards the Aluva side and so on.

Neil, thank you. Actually, I have not visited either of these shops for the accessories. I got them online. But for tyres, it is good to know that these shops will have stocks, when it is time to upgrade. We can approach them together for a good deal.
We should certainly meet up, I do come across your posts from time to time providing sound inputs and it will be nice to meet the person putting out the posts.
Regarding the Kerala MVD, yes, they are bit too keen and quite active in checking, fortunately so far, I have not been stopped by them. It maybe because my bike is not crazy loud, even with this full system Akrapovic. It has a DB killer and is actually gentler on the ears as compared to some of the other like Austin racing, SC project and such like. Also, I make it a point not to rev bomb or wring my throttle to scare the living daylights out of other road users when in city limits. Maybe that helps.

Originally Posted by Altocumulus

Till then Z900 as rentals when my wife is at my in-laws .... Secret

Thank you Altocumulus. I can totally understand. I had to do the background work and lobby my case with my family for a significant period of time before this purchase. In the end, persistence pays off and the better half relented.
Renting a bike is a good option, to get a feel of the bike and it tells you if you really want to make a big dive into the world of big bikes.

Originally Posted by motorotor

Congrats on your Z900 bro! Awesome bike! I had a test ride recently on the 650 and came away impressed so I can imagine what the 900 must be like. Ride Safe and Stay Safe.

Thank you, Motorotor. Z900 is indeed an awesome bike. Try and test ride it once the current scenario passes and I am sure you will come away with a wide grin plastered to your face. Since you have test ridden the 650, are you considering getting a big bike as well?

[RodRowdyBiker]

Nice review, the bike is very good except for a few issues with idling, gear shift quality and clutch adjustment. I feel you have been too kind to the stock tyres, they are dangerous in the wet.

[motorotor]

Originally Posted by alphadog

Thank you, Motorotor. Z900 is indeed an awesome bike. Try and test ride it once the current scenario passes and I am sure you will come away with a wide grin plastered to your face. Since you have test ridden the 650, are you considering getting a big bike as well?

Hey Doc, I currently ride a Triumph Speed Twin (had a Street Twin prior to that). For the z650 test ride, I was accompanying my friend who was looking to buy his first big bike.