Motorcycle specifications Kawasaki Z 900 50th Anniversary 2022 Golden drops in the blood

Four family members celebrate the 50th anniversary of a Kawasaki icon. The Z 900 is one of them. Each of them thinks back to 1972, when the Z1 hit the market. In that year, the Akashi-based firm in turn put its own spin on the motorcycle market. The letter Z became a constant and an institution, an amusing coincidence at a time when speed was a quest before it was a crime: the SNCF introduced the TGV.

It was also the year of "Bloody Sunday", and of a whole host of events that the Z 900 only heard about through the multitude of Zs that followed. Flamboyant in its "Firecracker" color, it sets the tone for a proud lineage. But this bright red, punctuated by black and grey stripes, is not directly related to the Z1. In fact, it's a reissue of the 1981 Z 1100 GP. It's a change of era, but not of temperament.

Be careful not to confuse it with the "Candy Persimmon" of the Z 900 my2018. It's not the same red, and the one on the 50th Anniversary Edition doesn't shy away from covering the rims. Refinement also includes a gold fork, an evocative logo on the mudguard, a special seat cover and a gold finish for the "Z" and "Kawasaki" logos on the scoops and tank. Get a little closer and you'll be able to make out the words "50th ANNIVERSARY 1972 - 2022" on the shoulders.

A beautiful color scheme to celebrate half a century. Something to dream about, but certainly not to remember. Today's Z 900 shares only one name, one displacement and one engine type with the old Super Four. This roadster offers a much more engaging riding position, 125 horsepower (42 more), some forty kilos less weight, pleasant everyday agility and a healthy dose of electronics. Onboard features include ABS, four driving modes, traction control, a TFT color display with Bluetooth pairing, two power modes and all-LED lighting.

No technical changes to report on this 40th anniversary edition, built around a steel trellis frame, a fully adjustable 41 mm inverted fork, 300 mm brakes with 4-piston axial calipers and a double-adjustable shock absorber (rebound and preload). Like the standard Z 900, it will also be available in a 95 hp / 70 kW version that can be A2 clamped.

Kawasaki has created a website to celebrate this anniversary: kawasaki-cp.khi.co.jp/Z50th/en/

M.B. - Manufacturer's photos