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This Dazzling New Kawasaki Moto Offers Superbike Trappings in Retro Wrappings

Everything from this bike’s engine and exhaust to its stance and style has been tweaked ever closer to perfection.

Black Kawasaki motorcycle tank and front fork against a red background.Kawasaki
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By Steve Mazzucchi

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Most motorcycle brands refresh their most popular models pretty much every year. Sometimes these changes amount to little more than a fresh coat of paint. Other times they involve a sorely needed overhaul.

The best updates fall somewhere in the middle, with the brand doing plenty to improve the bike while retaining what we loved about it in the first place.

Two Kawasaki motorcycles, one with a red and black tank and gold rims, parked on a paved area in front of a brick wall.
The new Z900RS SE ABS (left) and the standard version of the bike (right) each have their pros and cons, but you really can’t go wrong when it comes to the looks.
Kawasaki

That’s the sweet spot Kawasaki has hit with the latest spins on its high-powered retro-styled sport bike, the Z900RS ABS. 

For 2026, it gets three compelling variants: the base model, a café-style bike and a special edition. Here’s a quick look at what jumps out about each one.

2026 Z900RS ABS

The upgrades for the standard bike alone are worthy of a novel’s worth of words — or at least a novella’s.

The most notable has to be a new 948cc in-line four engine, a now-electronically throttled thumper making 115 horsepower at 9,300 rpm and max torque of 73 lb-ft at 7,700 rpm. 

Black and metallic green Kawasaki motorcycle parked outdoors with visible exhaust pipes and disc brakes.
When the base model of a bike looks this good, you know you are in good hands.
Kawasaki

That snarling beast is accompanied by a host of IMU-driven rider-friendly tech, including Kawasaki Cornering Management Function (KCMF) and Kawasaki Quick Shifter (KQS). 

Note: For those unfamiliar with the alphabet soup of moto tech, IMU is short for Inertial Management Unit, which constantly monitors the bike and makes micro adjustments to help keep the shiny side up.

Person wearing a black helmet and jacket riding a black Kawasaki motorcycle on a city street.
Rider-friendly tech and a more relaxed riding position make the new Z900RS a bit easier for newbies and more comfortable for just about anyone.
Kawasaki

Other updates include electronic cruise control, Bluetooth-powered smartphone connectivity via Kawi’s Rideology app and a more relaxed riding position.

The aesthetics also pop courtesy of throwback styling, the blacked-out “Black Ball” paint scheme and, of course, the new megaphone-style silencer with a tuned exhaust note.

2026 Z900RS Cafe ABS

As a sucker for café racer styling, I can’t help but nominate this edition as the best-looking of the bunch (even if it offends my grammatical sensibilities be eschewing the accent mark over the “e”).

This version features everything the base model does, plus a cafe racer-style cowl, handlebars and seat. 

Black Kawasaki Z900RS motorcycle with chrome exhaust pipes parked on a street near a stone building.
The Cafe edition of the bike is serenely stunning — and probably best prepared for big road riding thanks to the wind protection offered by the cowl.
Kawasaki

These little tweaks significantly shift the vibe while also offering a bit of wind protection when you tuck down to take on the twisties, survive the highway or simply race from café to café around town.

From an aesthetic standpoint, this variant also gets a brushed finish exhaust, ebony paint job and new graphics that nod to the Kawasaki Mach series.

2026 Z900RS SE ABS

While it is a different kind of beast, it’s hard to look at some components of the special edition and not think of Indian’s dearly departed FTR bikes — which is never a bad thing.

These unmissable components include an Öhlins S46 rear shock with remote preload adjuster, complemented by a 41mm inverted telescopic fork with 12-way adjustable compression and gold-colored outer tubes.

Black and red Kawasaki Z900RS motorcycle with gold rims and front forks parked indoors against a dark wall.
The Öhlins rear shock, gold-colored fork tubes and gold rims most definitely stand out on the SE.
Kawasaki

The SE also gets a Brembo front brake package featuring M4.32 calipers and stainless steel braided brake lines, while gold rims on both wheels round out the not-exactly-austere aesthetics.

This bike, of course, gets all the tech of the other two models, plus a new handlebar-mounted USB Type-C outlet and a Z1-inspired “Fireball” paint scheme.

Availability and pricing

The 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS ABS is available now, starting at $12,899. The Z900RS Cafe ABS starts at $13,299, and the Z900RS SE ABS starts at $14,599.

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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