If there’s one motorcycle that really spoke to me when it first came out, it was the final iteration of the Kawasaki Z1000. Its super aggressive Sugomi styling, powerful engine, and inline-four exhaust note just gave it such a menacing aura. This was back in 2014, when bikes, particularly naked bikes, were oddly styled, and looked like they sort of didn’t know what they wanted to be.
But not the Z1000.
That thing looked confident and sure of exactly what it wanted to be—a powerful, muscular, screaming naked sportbike that turned heads no matter where it went. Unfortunately, the Z1000’s reign was cut short, as Kawasaki decided to discontinue the thing in all markets in 2023.
But now that Kawasaki’s updated the Z900 for the 2025 model year, I’d go as far as saying that the Z900 is more than a worthy replacement for the Z1000.
And that’s mainly because Kawasaki’s taken the Z900 and given it a rework—not just in terms of style, but with its inner workings, too. Kawasaki looked at the bike and thought to itself, “What would a naked bike rider really use this thing for?” And indeed, that’s a question any manufacturer of any bike should be asking itself.
As a die-hard naked bike-loving simp, I can say that I use my bike for absolutely everything. I use it for commuting on a daily basis to free myself from the clutches of Metro Manila traffic. I use it on weekends to unwind and ride to the countryside for some fresh air. I use it for spirited rides on my favorite twisty roads and the occasional track day. I use it for thousand-mile tours and long-distance trips. And yes, I use it for running errands, doing the groceries, and just getting to where I need to be.
On paper, the 2025 Kawasaki Z900 ticks all these boxes. For commuting, the bike’s new turn-by-turn navigation system will save you the hassle of having to mount your phone on the bars and fiddle with Waze or Google Maps as you ride. For long-distance touring, the new electronic cruise control feature will allow you to sit back and relax while covering mile upon mile of freeway.
And on spirited rides and track days, the new up-and-down quickshifter will make banging through the gears all the more satisfying. At the same time, the new IMU-powered ABS and traction control will watch your back in case you get carried away in the twisties.
Beneath the surface, Kawasaki also promises improved performance with the 2025 Z900. Redesigned cams and electronic throttle valves promise to give you a little bit more torque and linear power, all while reducing emissions and fuel consumption. But to riders like you and me, none of this really matters, as long as it continues to ride, sound, and feel like a Kawasaki Z naked sportbike.
Best of all, this naked sportbike, which, in all honesty is essentially a liter-bike, won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It has an MSRP of $9,999 USD, which isn’t cheap, but when you factor in how much bike you’re getting for the money, well, it’s actually a pretty sweet deal.
And if not for the crazy irresistible deal I got for my Yamaha XSR900, I’d surely have a Kawasaki Z900 sitting in my garage right now.
Source: Kawasaki
