Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe and BMW R nineT Racer, two different ways of being beautiful! [ROAD TEST]

We have known them in the past, the Z900RS in the "standard" version (here you will find a dedicated article and video), while the BMW R nineT Racer at its press presentation, in the fascinating context of the Targa Florio route and together with the Pure and standard versions (here is the article, also in this case complete with video). Now we have had the opportunity to place them side by side, discovering them very similar in some aspects, but surprisingly very different in others. Let's find out in detail.

Aesthetics with a “wow effect” for both

We like one of the two more and, as good journalists, we will try not to make you understand which, but we have discovered that the public is divided between the two, essentially in equal numbers. For many, the Racer wins, with its more extreme and aggressive appearance, with the fairing that extends beyond the tank, the low semi-handlebars and a more tapered silhouette that confirms a vocation aligned with the name that has been attributed to it. Just as many, however, find the Z900RS Cafe irresistible and preferable to its Teutonic rival. Not only for usability, which we will see is decidedly superior, but above all because of the two, it is the only one to have such a strong reference to an ancestor that we still remember. The famous Z1 900 from 1972, which was born faired, but which could be customized, perhaps with a screen like this.

Obviously not everyone likes everything, because when it comes to café racers, subjective taste is absolutely free to wander and lead to customizations that satisfy it. We remind you that in both cases, the respective manufacturers have included their proposals in the price list, but have also left a lot of space to modify and change details that make the appearance of the two bikes different. Some purists, just to give an example, find the Kawasaki exhaust wrong in its satin finish and would prefer a black one, but the list of things that each of those we spoke to would like to change is very long and often with reports that range in opposite directions. We are precisely in the realm of subjectivity. What is objective, however, is that both attract many looks of admiration. The stops at the traffic lights, or at the bar, confirm this, with some even taking a photo with one of the two motorbikes! Thanks to great attention to detail, including coloring. For the R nineT Racer we find a "racing" livery, with the three colors (blue, black and red), which cross longitudinally the white fairing. While the Kawasaki sports the classic pastel lime green, a return to the origins, given that on the most recent bikes it has been replaced by a different green, a more modern metallic shade.

Engines with different characteristics, but with a lot of similar taste and pleasure

The nineT revolves around the "old" Boxer "air" engine (even if in reality the cooling is mixed air/oil), which without it would have been retired years ago. Perfect for a bike in this segment, it gained the transition to Euro 4 last year, as well as a nice character, aggressive at the right point. The 1.170 cc volume leads to a maximum power of 110 horsepower, which arrives at 7.750 rpm, while the torque stands at 116 Nm at 6.000 rpm. Traction control, as if it were a sign of respect for the retro style, is optional (350 euros).

The Z900RS Cafe, on the other hand, is a "pure" modern classic, in fact it has a fascinating look that harks back to its 70s ancestor, but under the guise it is derived from the modern Z900, engine included. The 4 cc inline 948 is softened compared to the funbike it comes from, as well as cleverly modified in its aesthetics, with fins that simulate air cooling. Capable of 111 horsepower at 8.500 rpm (14 less than the Z900), it offers a torque that however becomes more substantial in the medium-low range, reaching a maximum value of 98.5 Nm at 6.500 rpm. Here, however, Kawasaki's choice, compared to the Z900 which does not have it, was to equip the RS (whether standard or Cafe) with the KTRC as standard. Purists may turn up their noses, but regardless of the fact that it can be excluded, traction control is a great convenience and, above all, set to the least invasive levels allows you to have fun with single-wheelers, leaving the safety of the electronics to avoid unpleasant inconveniences.

Between boxer and "inline 4" it's a matter of taste, because if the two engines are very different from each other, each of the two has many reasons to be loved. The sound of the BMW twin-cylinder is magnificent, which has an innate vocation to "always push", starting from just above the idle speed, with a voice and a delivery that grows up to the limiter area. The most modern 4-cylinder Kawasaki on the "RS" gains an elasticity never seen before, it picks up well even at very low revs, but it is in the high part of the rev counter that it excites and convinces.

Getting on the saddle and discovering that two very similar bikes are decidedly different to ride

Just look at them with a careful eye to notice the differences: the BMW seems to be a motorbike straight out of the world of 70s competition, with low semi-handlebars, an extreme riding position and few concessions to comfort. It can still carry a passenger, but to do so it is necessary to mount the footrests and the dedicated frame (optional), with an operation which, although simple, is decidedly more complex than putting and removing a "single-seater nail" above the passenger portion of the saddle. Remaining in the saddle area, that of the Z900RS Cafe is placed at 820 mm from the ground, 15 less than the standard RS, passing to a single-seater profile, which makes it more attractive in look, but also the part intended for the passenger is less welcoming, which however it is much more usable than its rival, which is normally strictly single-seater, as mentioned.

In addition to the saddles, what changes drastically between the two bikes is the riding position. Even more comfortable than the model from which it derives for the Kawasaki, decidedly demanding for the Racer. We said it last year, the wrists are stressed in a full-bodied way, but for a person of around 180 cm, they are even less than expected. In fact, the position is so far forward that the weight is largely unloaded by leaning on the tank, leaving the arms a more marginal role. The Racer has a "hard and pure" approach and seems to want to say out loud that "whoever wants to appear beautiful must suffer a little". A completely different philosophy for the RS Cafe, which even allows itself the luxury of a 12 volt socket under the saddle, a very comfortable handlebar which leads to an almost too upright posture, while the windshield is not a mere element of style, but it is nice and wide and taller, guaranteeing a minimum of aerodynamic protection.

The Z900RS Cafe is more comfortable than the R nineT Racer, but also offers a more refined chassis
If in terms of aesthetics and driving position, the Racer appears to be the most extreme and sporty, the RS Cafe proves to be multi-purpose, much more than the BMW. In fact, the chassis derives from the Z900 and does not disappoint at all, sharp and ready to give you a lot of fun, with brakes and suspensions that go well beyond the most optimistic expectations. It is probably the best cafe racer, from this point of view, that can be found on the market. Similar in weight, which for both is around 215 kg in running order, the two bikes are extremely different. In fact, the Racer is deliberately extremely beautiful and sporty in look, but a little less so in substance. A demonstration of this is the choice to use the classic fork, rather than the front end of the standard nineT (which in reality is also the top of the range of the 5 models), with upside-down stanchions and radial calipers. It remains a pleasant bike to ride, perhaps for a nice ride on the right roads and with a riding position that encourages you to increase the pace, but the Kawasaki is superior to it in terms of riding and chassis precision.

Prices, equipment and consumption
The BMW R nineT Racer starts at 14.500 euros, which can become 17.250 by choosing one of the three fine finish packages, Classic, Club Sport and Storm, which make the look of the motorbike even more refined and personal. You can then choose spoked rims (420 euros), or two contrasting finishes and with visible or smooth welding for the aluminum tank (1.000 and 1.100 euros). The Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe instead stops at 12.290 euros, 500 more than the standard RS in black, which however is reduced to 200 by choosing it in the two-tone version. With the Performance option, a package of accessories is offered, including engine protection, tank and Akrapovic exhaust (alone it would cost 926 euros), with an interesting customer discount. In this case the final price is 13.390 euros.

Moving on to consumption, the two engines offer excellent performance, with very similar maximum power values ​​and with very close efficiency, despite the two different architectures. We are talking about an identical value of 5.3 liters every 100 km traveled (WMTC cycle), with the same tank capacity of 17 litres. Autonomy of over 300 km therefore, while the consumption recorded in our test was around 17-18 km/l for both, with a minimal advantage for the Z900RS, which if used carefully, manages to do something better than the Racer.

Our verdict?

If from an aesthetic point of view our preference remained the same from the first glance until the moment of parting with these two magnificent bikes (it's up to you to decide whether for the Racer or for the RS Cafe), the overall opinion has changed several times, depending on the moment and we are not able to give a certain answer. Obviously the choice would fall on the Kawasaki for daily and all-round use, but the BMW has that charm and taste of being deliberately "hard and pure", more extreme and less rational. A question of taste therefore, but also of the type of use you want to make of it. The fact remains that, of their kind, they are currently the only two comparable, unless after market modifications are made to equip other bikes with the '360s fairing, with which to cover the headlight.

Gianluca Cuttitta collaborated