Dirt_Dad
Well-Known Member
Founding Member
2011 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
As I've mentioned before, my buddy, the GM at MotoMember in Purcellville,VA is always willing to have me try a bike and pass along my perspective. I'm happy to accommodate every chance I can. 
Friday when I rolled in to have them change my rear tire, he rolled out a Z 900 RS, and told me 'go back to your younger years.' Well...I have no younger years that include anything like this one. But he did, so he told me his history with the bike, and how this was the "super bike" in its day. Interesting...I'll give it a shot.
This kind of bike is not on my radar, but I have to admit, it was pretty fun.
I'm not a "sound" guy. I know ChecksWrecks likes the sound of my SAS, but I don't even notice it. I don't like it, I don't dislike it, I'm just glad it's not loud. I've experienced two motors that impressed me with how they sounded, both were Kawasakis. The Leo Vince exhaust on the Z900 was amazing. It was not loud but it did provide a deeply satisfying audio sensation as I was twisting the throttle.
It's impossible for me to avoid comparing the performance of this bike to my current ride. They are not in the same world. But the Z900 is no slouch. While it doesn't provide the massive power hit of the SAS, it does build power with enthusiasm, and when coupled with the incredible exhaust note it made for a very satisfying experience. Nicely entertaining.
Handling was competent as I pushed it through some of my favorite local twisties. Overall it was a lot of fun to ride.
I returned and told my buddy, yes, you should follow through with your plans and take the bike home for the weekend. It's not a long distance bike, but for short jaunts on the back roads, it's a hoot. I said the word 'satisfying' about 10 times in that conversation.
I love that I get the opportunity to try bikes I would never consider buying. It's been so educational for me. The challenge is to have an open mind and figure out what type of rider would love the bike I'm experiencing. For the Z900, I could see a bike like that for me if I did short rides. It's not the quickest bike, and you can point to this or that shortcoming, but when you get off it you have a smile on your face, and you think...that was satisfying.
Friday when I rolled in to have them change my rear tire, he rolled out a Z 900 RS, and told me 'go back to your younger years.' Well...I have no younger years that include anything like this one. But he did, so he told me his history with the bike, and how this was the "super bike" in its day. Interesting...I'll give it a shot.
This kind of bike is not on my radar, but I have to admit, it was pretty fun.
I'm not a "sound" guy. I know ChecksWrecks likes the sound of my SAS, but I don't even notice it. I don't like it, I don't dislike it, I'm just glad it's not loud. I've experienced two motors that impressed me with how they sounded, both were Kawasakis. The Leo Vince exhaust on the Z900 was amazing. It was not loud but it did provide a deeply satisfying audio sensation as I was twisting the throttle.
It's impossible for me to avoid comparing the performance of this bike to my current ride. They are not in the same world. But the Z900 is no slouch. While it doesn't provide the massive power hit of the SAS, it does build power with enthusiasm, and when coupled with the incredible exhaust note it made for a very satisfying experience. Nicely entertaining.
Handling was competent as I pushed it through some of my favorite local twisties. Overall it was a lot of fun to ride.
I returned and told my buddy, yes, you should follow through with your plans and take the bike home for the weekend. It's not a long distance bike, but for short jaunts on the back roads, it's a hoot. I said the word 'satisfying' about 10 times in that conversation.
I love that I get the opportunity to try bikes I would never consider buying. It's been so educational for me. The challenge is to have an open mind and figure out what type of rider would love the bike I'm experiencing. For the Z900, I could see a bike like that for me if I did short rides. It's not the quickest bike, and you can point to this or that shortcoming, but when you get off it you have a smile on your face, and you think...that was satisfying.
