years after seeing a couple of them at Manfeild.
After the Z900 RS, which is very polished and
45 odd years newer... it certainly felt raw and,
yes, a little feral. But it had character in spades
and a real ‘don’t F**K with me’ swagger about
it. Because of its new nature and rare status I
never really worked the engine, but it’s fair to
say it comes on nicely around 7000rpm...
Nothing about this machine is benign, it’s loud and
sounds awesome, the suspension is hard, the clutch
pull in the ‘manly’ category, likewise the throttle. Yes,
this is a real “man’s bike” and all the more loveable
for it. It’s a bike that assaults your senses and defines
the “when men were men” racing era, but with a
modern twist. And this Z1 900 in particular only adds
gloss to its legendary status, truly a very collectable
and beautiful looking beast. I’d like to say thanks to
Croz for the ride, it was a pleasure and an honour.
KIWI RIDER 43