Hi Phil! As always, great reviews, thank you! Cannot decide between the XSR900 and Z900RS. What are your pros and cons for each? I do mainly city riding. Thanks again. Cheers.

-Yes in 78 i had a Z650 . 79 z1000 an’ now i got my zero1 ✅

I am waiting for Z650 RS this month..... I am hoping it will be as good as Z900

Hello! It will be great I’m sure! Hope it’s not too long a wait, cheers, Phil.

I agree, it is very well done!

Thanks! Great to know the work is appreciated! And thank you! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Daniel, cheers, Phil.

Great Video and I totally agree in every aspect!👍Bought mine in april in really love it as you do! Have a great time! Greetings from trier, germany! Hope next year I visit your lovely country!

Loved the moon rise!🌕

Good morning, now that’s a lovely colour scheme! Great to know that even after all that time the bike still hits the mark. I think I’ll be keeping mine for quite some time…Thanks for stopping, cheers, Phil.

Hey Axel, you know, I think that’s the conclusion I’m coming round to…What a bike! Thanks for watching, greetings from the UK and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning Rich, you’re absolutely right. A kid with a crayon would probably draw the Z900 if asked to draw a bike…either that or maybe a MX bike….And it’s not orange, which personally, is a colour I find quite challenging on a bike 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much! Good to know the work is appreciated, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Samuel, thanks for your kind comments and good to know the work is appreciated. More coming soon! Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Jim! Yeah I got a bit of flack about the beer, cheese and biscuit reviews, can you believe it! Still, if there’s public demand 😀 Totally enjoying it! Cheers, Phil.

Morning Natasha, thanks for stopping by. Yes, what a bike! It has to be be one of the best I’ve ever owned also and it’s so much more than “just another retro styled” bike. Love it! Hope all is good where you, cheers, Phil.

Hello! Ha ha None of the above 😀 Thanks for your kind words - great to know the work is appreciated! More to come soon I hope, thanks for watching and hope all is ok in Malaysia, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews the quality of your video is top notch... Kudos to you.. Thanks again.. Cheers!

Thanks, yes, it is a right bit of eye candy, I’m very very happy with it. Wish I’d got it two years ago, still, it’s here now! Thanks for watching and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Agree. It has lovely proportions and lines.

Non stoppie als je hem eens wil testen always welkom. Ik heb de Candy Tone brown in men garage staan Je moet wel overkomen naar het belgenland hiervoor 🤣

I can't wait to see the 2022 SE version.

Likewise!

Evening Gerhard, well the videos are about me practicing stuff as well as droning on about motorbikes so I’m glad the two things come together, kinda work and are appreciated. And yes, the engine on the XSR is amazing…spins up so beautifully and smoothly yet with a big dose of absolute hooligan. Great bike. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Good morning Mr Outlander. Thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. The moon was a corker, imagine my surprise when I saw what was behind me when replaying the footage! The real shame is that if I kept the camera rolling a little bit longer I'd have got the lunar eclipse with a fleet of X-Wing fighters crossing in front of it. Still, there's always another time! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Robert, of course I’m going to agree with you completely! You’re right it does have quite some presence and like you I think the tank shape is just gorgeous. I know some folk say it’s too big or bulbous but I think it really adds to the sense of old school solidity. As the analog gauges I find I’m appreciating them more and more - you get exactly what you need and no more with a quick flick of your eyes and there’s no fiddling about with buttons, scrolling or whatever…Brilliant! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Levi, classic is the word! As for the clocks, having experienced that weird and useless anxiety of the TFT where you’re forever switching modes, flicking switches, changing settings and wondering whether they are ‘right’ I realised it was the the equivalent of staring at a phone and not taking the real world in as you walk. And the beauty of bikes is surely the analogue connection to a machine and the world around you. All I need to know is speed, revs and time. Sorted! What a bike! Anyway thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Jonathan! Kind words much appreciated and glad you enjoyed it. I’ll have a word with the lighting guy as suggested 😀 Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Brian….It will be worth the wait and it’s my pleasure…Glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much…The videos are as much about enjoying the filming and editing as the bike…Plus having the attention span of a gnat, personally I can’t be doing with 25 minutes of GoPro on a helmet. Anyway, I’ve found I can’t speak and ride at the same time…Remind me to tell you the story of my first wife and the intercom 😀 Northumberland is totally glorious. Coming from Manchester and having lived in South Cheshire for ages, the skies, the space, the beaches, the empty roads are just glorious and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. Of course, it’s really windy and the winter is chuffing grim (though beautiful) and I can’t really understand Geordies but this is home and I love it! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Good evening Guy, how are you doing? Comfort and speed….Yes, a sign of growing up maybe? 😀 But yes, it’s a lovely, lovely motorcycle, so easy to ride yet not boring, super efficient but not clinical or anodyne and ooohhhhh…That paintwork! I feel it will be a very handy machine when / should I ever get back to Europe….Or PA 😀 And the wife likes it. Hope all is going well in the pottery. Looking forward to another motovlog around the leafy lanes! Cheers, Phil.

Hello and greetings from the UK. Three years and still satisfied - great to know and glad you enjoyed the review. Hope all is OK in 🇸🇰, cheers, Phil.

Hello Simon, yes, when I think back to my GPZ900 with anti-dive forks, 16” front wheel and super thin paint (concentric chain adjust though!) I do shudder a little! Must admit I’ve not noticed any buzziness through the grips (yet) but I haven’t done any sustained / stable speed on it yet - mainly up and down the box all the time, so perhaps that may show up. As for the seat, I’m 5’10 and it feels fine to me but I could see how being (a lot) taller might compromise that. And yes, I won’t be getting it flashed, after a few hundred miles I’ve adapted and it’s not a problem. I think it’s part of understanding the characteristics of a bike and making it work. Sure if I were commuting everyday I might have a different opinion bug then I’d probably get CB500. It’s a cracking bike, works well for cruising, messing about and touring…Just love it! Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews I would say to not discount the ECU flash. I have put a similar amount of time on my z900rs, and I came to the same conclusion about the snatchy throttle, I can just get used to it. A buddy of mine also got the same bike, and he recently had the ECU flashed. I must admit, after riding it around without the injectors totally cutting off when you close the throttle totally, its a whole new bike. Throttle is much smoother and the over the top engine braking is very much reduced. There were a few performance things that got better, but that was all moot. Removing the injector cut will take the bike to the next level, I promise.

Hey Kurtis, thanks for the advice / if it’s a good as you say it’s gotta be worth considering, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Keep up the great content! 👍

It certainly does and the thing is it’s fun for all sorts of riding and so confidence inspiring. Then you add the noise in and life doesn’t really get any better. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

From Australia. In February I sold my beloved Suzuki Gsx1250fa to help finance my 2021 z900rs... Have not regretted it for a moment.

Thanks Mark! It time to get your deposit sorted I think! All the best, cheers, Phil.

Hello again. Yes, I decided that while I can and before the demise of the ICE, I’d like to try a lot bikes in a way I couldn’t do years ago. And of course, to try and find the perfect mix and the keeper(s). Which I reckon, I’m now quite close too with the CRF, the Z and maybe a new Guzzi 😀 Finding what you really want as opposed to what you think you need is a very complex equation. At least that’s my excuse. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Neville, how are you doing? Quite well I’d imagine with a brand new, gorgeous blue and gold Z900RS in your garage! Hope you had/are having a fabulous ride up north! But yes, induction roar, especially in a high gear is just delicious. The whole bike is! I love it! Plus it handles beautifully! On to your H2 then 😀 Yeah, lovely and smoky. I never rode one but I’ve a few run ins with bikes that over powered their chassis and whose fuelling was er…interesting. Hence when I ride the Z900RS it’s like soooooo easy and what bikes should be like. And personally I find the throttle fine! Hope all is well in NZ, thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Morning, thanks for stopping by…Yes, the swoopiness of the design is what really caught my eye also - and when you consider the donor bike for the RS it’s quite an unbelievable transformation! And your CB400 will do just fine for the time being I’m sure. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Alan…the enthusiasm isn’t dying! Hope all is well where you are and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Morning Paulo, thanks very much - glad you enjoyed the review. Great to hear a long term owner still loves the bike. Hope all is well where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Hey Dennis, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, me too and I don’t even have a light in my garage! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Good afternoon, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review. It's a bike (and sound) that definitely lifts my spirits also - totally joyful! Hope all is well where you re, cheers, Phil.

A Guzzi to Israel! Brilliant! I took various bikes through Europe, Turkey and onto the Middle East in the early 90’s so you must have had a blast. I met some bloke on a ferry from Patreus - sure he was a Kiwi and we stocked up on vodka before boarding, played poker for 48 hours, only ate Mars Bars and I don’t remember anything. Best approach for boats I reckon 😀 The Z is just great, just hoping I can get to Europe on it next year, this year is toast but the thought of whizzing around the Alps, the Dolomites, the Picos keeps me going. Hope all is ok where you are, thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Morning Jose! Your English is great and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, the XSR engine is simply amazing and sounds just terrific. As you quite rightly point out the Kawasaki’s suspension is very much about comfort and given I have very poorly surface roads around here, that’s a big deal and is why I ultimately sold the Yamaha. If I had better roads the XSR would have been perfect. As you say it feels a lot nimbler and lighter. However, I’m very happy with Z900, I feel for me, it’s more usable in more situations even if it isn’t as crazy as the XSR. Or maybe it’s an age thing…Anyway thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Thanks Phil, you are a gentleman.

Good morning! Thanks very much - good to know the work is appreciated. And good luck with your own channel….I came close to a R Nine T before choosing the Z - they are great bikes. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

It is lovely. Don’t wait! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Excellent! Really hope you’re enjoying it! Brilliant bike! Cheers, Phil.

Hey Andrew, thanks for stopping by - great to know you’re still enjoying the bike. I think part of the reason is that in one bike it satisfies so much of what is good about motorbikes - looks great, pride of ownership, fast, handles, cruises nicely, sounds great and isn’t so demanding or focussed that it becomes a one trick machine. It’s brilliant. Glad you enjoyed the review and hope all is ok where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Frank, hope you’re doing well. Sounds like you’re hooked on the Kawasaki 4 cylinder loveliness and just the great ease of use and fun factor. I’m still blown away by mine to be honest and yes, the green paint is quite nice..As is the blue! Glad you enjoyed the video, your comments are very much appreciated, cheers, Phil.

Evening Dunc, how are you doing? Many thanks for stopping by and your kind words on the review - much appreciated. As for touring, I took mine over to Switzerland last year and found it supremely comfortable and with a little windshield on it, a steady 85 (where conditions allow) was absolutely fine and I never got that sense of having to hang or of getting sucked off the bike. Obviously when the weather takes a turn for the worse you’ll feel the lack of fairing, but let’s face it, the sun always shines on a Z900RS 😀 Having said that the new Suzuki is meant to be amazing though, doesn’t look half as cool as the Kawasaki though hahaha. Anyway, hope all is well and let me know what you decide to do, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much, great to hear from you! Either one is a good choice, both are fabulous bikes. Hope all is well in Whitley Bay, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much! The Z900 is a fabulous machine! Hope all is well in Seoul, cheers, Phil.

Hey Edward, thanks for stopping by. While I’m obviously biased, the RS is a fabulous bike to ride and gorgeous to look at, I’m sure you would love it! It can whizz around but cruise also 😀 Let me know what you decide! All the best, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed the video. As for the gap…yes, it’s probably not the best from a purely aesthetic perspective and that’s the price to pay for a monoshock I guess. In the flesh though and I suppose I would say this, it’s the flat line of the tank and side panels which really grab your attention and overall it does work, even if it’s not faithful to the original. Thanks for stopping by and hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning Charlie, hope you’re doing ok. Yes, it does make a quite delicious sound! I’m sure it pops a little on the overrun also which can only be a good thing 😀 The ZRX (Lawson rep I assume) must sound quite good also…perhaps a little more raucous….What with your cafe I’m seeing quite a bit of green in your garage! Anyway, thanks for stopping by and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Mark, good to hear from a long term owner! Yeah, it’s a brilliant bike…feels like a keeper….Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Hey Trevor..How are you doing? Thanks for stopping by. I think you’ll love the Z 😀 As for your question…I got it from M&S motorcycles in Newcastle, very professional plus they have an amazing showroom of new, used and classic bikes. It’s a big dealership so it’s not like your best mate looking after you, but they are totally professional, well trained and are enthusiasts and know their stuff so recommended. Service intervals are every 7000 mile or annually and while in warranty I will be using M&S. after that I’ll do the basics myself (oil, filter, brakes, bearings) and anything more complicated my local Berwick non-franchised guy - either Andy at Border Bikes or Tim at TI in Spittal. Hope that helps, maybe see you on an A1 roundabout at some point. Cheers, Phil.

It’s worth a try, maybe with a Guzzi thrown in also 😀 I had a GPz550 followed by a GPZ900 a million years ago, but like you had kinda given up on them, mainly because of the styling but also because a screaming four cylinder bike just seemed a little passé. This one though, gosh, it’s like the perfect road riders bike. I’m really not sure what else I need or want. Thanks for taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.

Hey Mark, GT500….Mmmmm…I can smell and see the blue haze of smoke now 😀 Hoping you had a blue one - they looked lovely. I don’t think they stopped very well did they! Thanks for stopping by, your comments are much appreciated and hope the Harley is going well, cheers, Phil.

Hello my friend from Japan! My Japanese is much much worse than your English! I’ve just watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics and despite everything I found it beautiful, unique and very affecting. Japan is a country I would love to visit. Very glad you enjoyed the video, I will do better next time I promise. Thank you so much for stopping by, and god speed also, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much, great to know you enjoyed the review and thanks for the sub, much appreciated. You have a ZX10, blimey, don’t think I could hang on to that bike…The Z900 would be a nicely paired with that I think and would look great in the garage together 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Hey Michele, many thanks for your kind comments. Great to know you’re enjoying the bike as much as I am. Like you I don’t really notice any problems with the throttle, aside from really low speed and if I’m not really paying attention! And it is very beautiful as you say. Hope all is well over in Italy, thanks again for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Thank you so much !! And you, a Guzzi and the Z ... it is correct ? :-)

@@MicheleSpiriticchio that’s correct plus a CRF300 for getting muddy!

Hey Rob, I’m sure you’ll love it. Things have certainly moved on! Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Oliver…It has to be said I am rather smitten. Up at 05:00 this morning for a quick ride 😀 Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

When I was a kid I was in awe of anyone who was riding something big, loud scary and green…I missed the Z1 era so grew up with Lawson rep Z1000J’s growling around the streets. Kerker pipes etc, etc. Kawasaki really know how to do mean! So yeah, I’d suggest letting it pull your nostalgia strings a little more…well worth it! Thanks for stopping by, cheer, Phil.

Hello again! I used to stare longingly at CB900’s back then…especially as I was just about to pass my test on a smoky GP100…The Z is quite a revelation for me…I’d got to the point of thinking twins were where it’s at, but this one has really changed my mind. My pocket book is exhausted now and no more room left in my garage… Cheers again, Phil.

@@80eightReviews 👌

Evening Spencer, thanks for stopping by and great to know you enjoyed the video. I’m sure the ‘bad boy burger’ goes down a treat after a ride up from Bedlington 😀 May see you around, cheers, Phil.

Good morning! Excellent choice of vehicles! That’s exactly why I like both bikes…The experience of riding them is so different and when I go from one to the other, it’s like being almost on them for the first time. Both great bikes. Anyway thanks for stopping and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thank you very much! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much! Those are going to great test rides…Not sure how you’ll split them to be honest so probably best to buy both. Hope that helps 😀 and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Martin, great to know you enjoyed the video. As for talent, well, I don’t know really but I keep trying to up the quality and do something different and visually appealing each time. More coming soon! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Andy, really appreciate your comments! More coming soon but it does take me a while to think of something else to say so best not hold your breath 😀 Thanks for for the sub and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning Suresh, how are you doing? The screen does help a little bit with the buffeting I find but as you say, that’s what you sign up for and overall it’s a cracking bike. Love mine! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Good afternoon, that would a great lineup of Z’s….Maybe one day! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Seconds away from leaping on to said pictured Ninja.

Hey David, hope you're doing well & thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I found it a cracking bike for doing distance stuff - especially with the long days and miles that I had to do as a necessity. I was dreading riding from basically the Scottish Border to the South Coast (esp with UK roads) but it was actually fine and I didn't really notice it. Coming back wasn't too bad either! Highly recommend. Anyway, thanks for your kind comments & hope is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning Hugh, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, I’m very glad there are no widgets or menus to scroll through ahead of a ride. Put the key in, fire it up, what more do you need! My first and last Kawasaki as mentioned in the video was a GPZ900 back in the ‘80s but it’s been worth the wait 😀 I’m not sure if I need or want much else from a bike - it’s got the speed, handling, looks, practically and fun factor so it could be here to stay for a while I think. Anyway, more to come from Northumbria and yes, I’ll find somewhere better to stop for a bite to eat next time 😀 Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews I bet they still use the same oil filter part number - 16099-003 - sold a ton of those in my time!

Thanks Eric, great to hear from you and glad you enjoyed the video and more importantly are enjoying the bike. It’s a cracking machine! Hope you’re well, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Thanks for your highly appreciated reply, Phil 🙏 The quality of your video is outstanding, I enjoyed watching it most definitely! Keep up the great work, *AND* ride safe, Phil!

Hey Mert, well the screen does work quite well in terms of smoothing the airflow and I find a sustained cruising speed of 85mph (where conditions allow) is perfectly acceptable. But yeah, it’s still windy out there! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! Strange things happen near power stations…Hope all is well where you are and thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Louis - glad you said that as I'm thinking of doing visuals only next time, mainly because I struggle to think of anything useful to say :-) The bike is lovely, you're right & thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Hey Andrew, thanks for the comments, much appreciated! I too was a VFR owner for many years and enjoyed that sense of speed with good neutral handling that never felt it was going to get away from you and the Z9 is very much like that. It allows the sedate…and a bit of the devil every so often, without egging you on to a place outside of your zone. Plus it’s just a nice thing to own, I can feel what it’s doing and I know how it’s going to behave which then breeds confidence. I suppose it feels like ‘my’ bike. It looks a bit nice also 😀 Anyway, great to know that the green and pleasant land of England is admired over in Oz and hope all is well with you. Cheers, Phil.

Afternoon Lance, how are you doing? Thanks for stopping by - it's good to hear from you. Well, I'm sure you'll love it! Let me know how you on, all the best, cheers, Phil.

Hey Peter, thanks for dropping by. You'll love the Z900RS I'm sure - let me know what you think of it. I'm very glad to hear you're keeping a little bit of the Guzzi charm and magic though...There's nothing quite like it - but I am biased... All the best, cheers, Phil.

Hello! Totally agree. When I picked the bike up in the late spring sunshine I was astounded. It’s a proper, gorgeous bike that feels and is total quality. Love it! Thanks for watching, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews where ya from ?? In Durham England

Morning, originally from Manchester, but now living up in Berwick-upon-Tweed hence occasional missions across the border 😀 Cheers, Phil.

Morning, great to hear form another owner and thanks for watching. At the moment I’m OK with the suspension but as you say it probably is the one area to look at. Hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews for reference I run a standard shock with 2 clicks harder, 35mm lift kit in the rear and a 20mm drop in the front through the triples and straight bars.

Thanks Michael, glad you enjoyed the review and I'm sure you'll enjoy the test ride even more. Let me know how you get on! Hope all is well where you are & thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Robert, really appreciate your comments. I think that’s the point - it’s just a great bike that happens to look great. While it’s kinda made me reassess my opinions of modern Kawasaki’s (they look horrible so must be horrible) I couldn’t see myself with Z900 in the garage. I’d feel like an old guy trying to dress like a 19 year old. I am quite shallow though 😀 Great to know you’ve got a steam engine also. I saw a W800 in the dealer showroom and it looked amazing. That engine! If only it had some nice brass fittings like the Flying Scotsman… Hope all is good where you are and thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much, great to know the work is appreciated! Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning Lance, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the review, cheers, Phil.

Morning Arnab, thanks very much! I try my best and I’m very much inspired by the fabulous bike reviews put out by Sagar Sheldekar, which always make me want to buy the bike and visit India. And yes, I’ve heard prices can be very high in India which is a shame. Anyway, thanks for watching, hope you’re doing ok, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews Thanks for the reply and yes PowerDrift channel and Sagar's channel are the best here in India :)

Morning Rafael, glad you enjoyed it and many thanks for your kind comments. Hope all is well in 🇧🇷 and Cheers from 🇬🇧, Phil.

Good afternoon, thanks for comments, great to know you like the shots, edits and production. Maroon and gold…what a colour scheme that is…I’m 5’10 and as yet I’ve not had any comfort issues with the bike - possibly that’s because I haven’t pulled any all day rides yet (longest is around 6 hours) and also, I can sit on broken glass and nails and still be OK, which might be due to riding an XR600 over to Egypt many years ago and becoming er, ‘battle hardened’ 😀 As for the re-flash yes, I did wonder from a legal / insurance perspective what the situation might be and as yet, it’s not impinging on my riding or fun…Perhaps if I had a go of a re-flashed bike I’d completely change my mind. Either way though, the bike just does everything I want it to do and combines that with fun, ease, looks and sound. 2000 miles in now…If only I could get to Europe on it I’d have a total blast… Anyway thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews The reflash makes everything sharper and takes the snap out of the throttle, the additional power is only just noticeable but you wouldn't miss it. Here is Australia, although the bike is not likely legal with a loud after market muffler, this is about all you will get pinged for. No one is going to care about a reflash, they wouldn't know what to look for anyway. To my knowledge there are no environmental laws in Australia that really govern this. Our hopeless government only pays lip service to Euro standards, i.e. they apply by accident in that you buy vehicles with them but to change things is not illegal. Even if the cops found out about the reflash, no one is ever going to prosecute you, probably not like the UK or Europe where you actually care about the environment. I think you might value a new seat after an all day ride but am happy to feel like a bit of a wooss given your ability to stay in a hard saddle. Cheers mate, enjoy if you can ever get the Europe again, Switzerland and Norway in particular would be magic on the RS from my experience in a car. The other thing to watch though is the rear shock. Some people have problems with the front as well on tours with lots of luggage but I think the front is fine. It is the rear that can't take the extra weight. I put the Givi pannier set on and had to tighten the shock to the point where it started to lose flexibility but without overcoming the sag. Put a new K-Tech on it with the compression option - works great (expensive though).

Morning David, thanks for stopping by and really appreciate your kind comments. The Z900 remains an eye opener for me - aside from the attributes you mention it’s comfortable, useful and is surprisingly real-world sporty. I’m very happy with my purchase and enjoying every second of every ride. I’d gone off 4 cylinder bikes over the last few years as twins and triples had got so good…But this one is just lovely to ride. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Hey Russ, thanks for that and great to hear from a long term owner. Yeah, mines got the feeling of a keeper also…..I’ve said that before but this time….. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning! As per the video mine was absolutely fine once acclimatised - which took around 5 minutes and from on then it was no problem. Having ridden many a dodgy fuelled bike and two strokes, feathering the clutch and sensitive throttle control is pretty much second nature though. Either way, great bike! All the best for 2023, cheers, Phil.

Good afternoon! Ha ha yeah…I found myself pulling in the clutch for the first 1000 miles until I realised! And yes, simply rolling off the throttle for no other reason to get back on it is totally addictive. While having a favourite gear might be a bit sad…Fourth does it for me! And as for the clocks…Well, I’m currently typing this on an iPad so I certainly don’t want to be confronted with that on a bike. Surely a bike is in part an antidote to all that. As for the cold start, mine will rev up to around 2500 on startup then settle down - it’s summer in the UK so I will be interested to see how it is in the winter - thanks for the tip. At the moment, it just takes a few seconds to settle down so not a problem. Compared to manually prodding a choke lever with thick gloves on it feels like an improvement, though I’ve never had this on other FI bikes so don’t know why Kawasaki feel it’s required…Is something about getting the cat up to temp? Either way, great bike. Total keeper. Looks amazing. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it. Hope all is well with you, cheers, Phil.

Thanks Hugh! Bit early in the morning for me, but I’ll join you in a glass later tonight. Hope all is well, cheers, Phil.

Me too Nick and always ridden by scary looking guys with side burns and cutoff denim jackets. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Good evening and thanks for taking the time to comment. A feast to ride…Great observation, it most certainly is. On mine I can sense the throttle could be a problem but 99% of the time it feels just fine to me - but if I’m not paying attention then it does feel a little snappy. I’m just seeing it as a quirk of the bike but I have to admit that I don’t do a lot of town riding and don’t need to commute on it which is where I think it might annoy me a little more. Overall, I’m so glad I got this bike - compared to the XSR I’ve now got lots of confidence in blind, bumpy bends whereas on the Yamaha while nothing untoward ever happened it was a little nervous. Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your bike and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Morning David, thanks for stopping by and good to have the approval from CB owner! Yes, twin shocks would complete the vibe perfectly, still, it goes round corners and handles bumps very well so I’ve no practical complaints. Anyway, I get my twin shock kicks (quite literally) from my Guzzi 😀 Hope all is good where you are, thanks is for your comments, cheers, Phil.

Twin shocks may look better, but mono is the better way to go. No two shocks will ever be exactly the same and there will always be SOME level of wobble, even if its just micro.

Thanks Alex, hope all is good where you are, cheers, Phil.

Ha ha, well, I never saw a glimpse of Professor Jones, but I’ll look out for the film. The coastline near Bamburgh is absolutely stunning so hopefully the crew have made the most of it. October….Well, not too long to wait and it’s so worth it. Totally adore mine, can’t stop riding it! Thanks for stopping by, cheers, Phil.

Morning, thanks for stopping by. I think if I were a few years younger and had local roads where I could exploit the XSR, I probably would have kept it longer. It was just a little too fidgety and aggressive for me and the Z900RS suited a more mellow vibe. Both great bikes though. All the best, cheers, Phil.

Hey Laurentiu, comments are working again! Well, to make a comparison the XSR is a bottle of Prosecco, while the Z9 is a bottle of nice, fruity red wine. Around town it’s a difficult call - the XSR flicks around so quickly that it would be great in and out of traffic, but the suspension and hard seat could get a little tiresome, especially after a day at work. The Z on the other hand is more comfortable, just as fast but not as excitable or nervous. It also handles poor road surfaces better. If I were 25 years younger I’d say XSR as I wouldn’t mind the suspension and would value the crazy engine. Now, I’d rather have the Z for a little more comfort and the smooth reliable way it reacts. Of course it does have the well reported on/off throttle which for me only manifests itself in some very specific situations and I ride round it. I got caught up in lots of busy city riding while I was away and it was great - more upright than the XSR and it didn’t surprise me in anyway. You’ll need to do a back to back test ride in reality, but as an overall package, I do wish the Z had been on my radar earlier. Oh and one last thing, I get vibration induced white fingers really easily…on the XSR that caused a problem occasionally…on the Z never. Hope that helps & thanks for watching, Cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much - great to know the work is appreciated. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks! Great to know you enjoyed the video and thanks for taking the time to comment. And yeah! I will…I am! Cheers, Phil.

Hey Jeremy, how are you doing? Aside from hitting the dirt, it pretty much is a great all rounder. Round town it’s great and accept you’ve got no weather protection it’s easily capable of many comfortable miles. It’s kinda too nice for the commute but from a capability perspective (not economy) it’s more than up for it. Yeah, it’s a nice thing, I like it also! Thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

Thanks very much / yeah, I would :-) Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Good evening Wilhelm, thanks for your kind comments. Two cylinders too much 😀 Funnily enough up until a month ago I’d mostly agree - except I would have said 1 cylinder too much 😀 I’ve always found 4 cylinder bikes to be ruthlessly efficient and too clinical….However, this one remains ruthlessly efficient, yet isn’t anodyne and is a ton of fun. As you say though, with a V7 in the garage I can still get the proper quirky mechanical experience also. Best of both worlds! As for which V7 - I’ve still got my mark III stone however I’ve had a new 850 on order since February and there’s still no sign of it! Despite that though, the V7 is still so totally glorious that I keep thinking do I really need the 850…. Anyway, thanks for stopping by, hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

@@80eightReviews My dealer near Lüneburg has ordered a ten V7 - 850 last November but until now he has got only 3 of them. I made a test ride last week with the 850 and found it more comfortable, seat and rear suspension, compared to my 10 year old 750. That is what I like, as well as the ABS and the TC, which mine does not have. Even if I never would experience ABS or TC, it might help avoiding an accident. I like more torque at low rpm as well as the 6th gear and a very easy to move clutch. Finally I as well am asking myself, is it worth changing to the 850. I would loose the retro charme and sound of a 10 year old 90th anniversario special edition model from 2011 ( I will send a photo by email) for a bit more comfort and technical perfection. It is just a slight improvement, but even more than you would have by a step from the V7 III to the V7 850. I will at least wait for the anniversario model Guzzi announced to show in September, so in just two month. Let's see. Wilhelm By the way: The new engine does shake as much as the old one does !

Evening Wilhelm, I finally found your comment and see you are asking the same question as myself. I’ve not even managed to get a test ride on an 850 so it’s useful to get your views. I spoke to the dealer today and they are now saying mid-August, so I think I will wait until the end of August, then cancel if it’s not here and wait until 2022. I also keep hoping they might bring out a ‘racer’ version that has the style of a LeMans…that would be very nice. Hope all is well in Luneburg, cheers, Phil.

You can buy a Triumph Bonnivile T120 if you don't like the looks of open space between rear wheel and fender styling of Z900RS.

Good afternoon, interestingly enough it’s kinda my retirement gift also…I’ve been looking for something for the past few years which will continue to excite but will also be something that will accommodate the ageing process. For example, I used to have no problem at all with heavy, tall bikes or way too much horsepower. These days I realise I value and need other qualities such as ease of use in all its forms, combined with great aesthetics and the Z900 is that I think. It will need servicing once a year and in reality, once out of warranty, given the tune of the engine, oil and filter changes plus attention to the moving parts of suspension and brakes is probably all it will need. And…This morning, a chap of 86 years old engaged me in a conversation about his Ariel Square 4 and the last bike he owned a CB500 which he said extended his riding well into his seventies precisely because of its usability. I’m hoping the Z will do the same. Thanks for watching, cheers, Phil.

Ironically I currently have a Honda CB500X I just bought earlier this year. I truly wanted the Z900rs when I bought it but I wanted to get more riding experience before moving up to a 900cc. Plus I did not have the funds to cover the Z. My plan is to ride off into the sunset 🌇 with my CB500X and my last bike...King Zed 🤴. Twos company right? 🙂

Good afternoon....Buttery smoothness kinda say it all. Odd think is totally smooth engines with a relatively flat power curve can feel a little bland but there's something about this one which is super special and very engaging. Plus confidence inspiring feel and grip and more than quick enough. I remember the ZR7S - I was seriously considering one but want for a Bandit 1250 instead - very similar looking with the fairing. Glad you like the moonrise....just felt right with the slightly unearthly power station in the background :-) Yeah aural ha ha ha. Anyway, thanks for your kind comments - great to know the work is appreciated. Hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.

get a booster plug or flash the ecu to get rid of the euro 5 crap, I have a booster plug now which helps but im gonna get it retuned when I change the exhaust soon, got 2300 miles on it

Good morning and thanks for stopping by. I’m sure after a few more months riding experience you’ll be trying the Z900 again and in the meantime the Triumph is going to be a whole lot of fun. Thanks for watching and hope all is well where you are, cheers, Phil.