2020 Kawasaki Z900RS ABS and Café Retro Sport machines

The Z900RS and Z900RS Café are back for 2020 in Kawasaki’s Retro Sport line of performance motorcycles.

The Z900RS harkens back to the legendary 1972 Kawasaki Z1 900 superbike with its classic styling that includes the iconic teardrop gas tank.

The original Kawasaki Z1 900 was supposed to be a 750 but Honda released its 750cc four-cylinder in 1968 so Kawasaki decided to beef up the Z1 to 900cc.

Production began in 1972. The bike boasted a 903cc, air-cooled, dual-overhead-cam inline-four engine and no-nonsense styling that is reflected in the 2020s of today.

The 2020 Kawasaki Z900RS ABS features a 948cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four, 16-valve engine; a six-speed transmission; chain final drive; inverted telescopic front fork with 10-way adjustable compression and 12-way rebound damping.

The bike also features a horizontal back-link swingarm with stepless adjustable rebound damping and spring preload; dual disc ABS up front and a single disc ABS in the rear; and a 120/70 ZR17 tire in front and a 180/55/ ZR17 tire in the back.

The seat height is 32.9 inches, the wheelbase is 57.9 inches and the curb weight is 471.9 pounds.

Color: Candytone Green. MSRP: $11,199.

The 2020 Kawasaki Z900RS Café shares most of the same specs as the Z900RS ABS but the seat height is slightly lower at 32.3 inches. Also, the Z900RS Café has a café-racer style front cowl.

Color: Lime Green/Ebony. MSRP: $11,799.

More info: www.kawasaki.com.