The Kawasaki Z900RS continues to be the best-selling large bike in Japan for five consecutive years starting in 2018. Many riders will be wondering if it will continue to run as is or if a variant model will be added.
It seems unlikely that there will be a "square Z"
The Z900RS sales topped the list in the first half of 2023 and are on track to be the best-selling model for the sixth consecutive year in 2023. This popularity seems to be unwavering. Used motorcycle prices soared during the period when new cars were in short supply due to the Corona disaster, and used car prices still exceeded new car prices in the Webike motorcycle selection.
About future emission regulations, the "OBD2-2," which diagnoses catalyst deterioration in exhausts, must be installed by the end of October 2026, but the next 5th regulation is likely to be fully applied around 2028-2029 in Europe and 2029-2030 in Japan, so the car can be sold with the addition of the OBD2-2 for another five years or so.
Then, what we would expect to see would be an expansion of the "square Z" style derivative of the 1979 Z1000MK2. It would be a good time for the Z900MK2 with square tanks to debut in contrast to the "round Z" with teardrop-shaped fuel tanks that continued from the Z1 in 1972, but it seems unlikely.
The reason is not clear, but it may be a compatibility issue with square tanks, as the tanks tend to be wider on modern high-performance models where the air cleaner box is located above the engine. Another unlikely possibility is the GPZ900R type, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024.
The 2024 Z900RS already has three variants and will continue to run at this rate until 2030!
The Z900RS [KAWASAKI] 2024 model year will be available in new colors with the same specifications as before. The most notable feature is the blue fireball graphic, which was once used on the Zephyr X. The price is (approx.) 10271 USD.
Z900RS Yellow Ball Edition [KAWASAKI] The 2024 model year will feature a yellow ball edition following the 50th-anniversary fireball color of 2022. The price is (approx.) 10805 USD with the old font emblem.
Z900RS SE [KAWASAKI] 2024 model lineup also includes SE equipped with Ohlins rear suspension and Brembo F brakes.
The color differs from that of the Yellow Ball. The price is (approx.) 11794 USD.
According to Webike Motorcycle Selection, the average price of a new Z900RS in December 2023 was 1,538,600 yen, while the average price of a used Z900RS was (approx.) 11493 USD. Even today, the inversion of new and used vehicle prices continues.
Will Honda's CB1300SF continue to OBD2-2?
The CB1300 SuperFour is another big name when it comes to round-eyed, parallel-four-cylinder naked models and the 2021 model features an electronically controlled throttle and traction control and is compliant with the 2020 emission regulations. The CB1300 SuperFour can continue to be sold for the time being under the same conditions as the Z900RS, but it does not appear to be OBD2-2 compliant.
If so, it will be interesting to see if it will be replaced by a new model, as it is expected to be in production until the end of October 2026. Since the CB1000 Hornet will be launched in Japan in 2024, it will be possible to use this as the basis for a lineup of round-eyed naked models, but the key is said to be globalization.
On the other hand, Honda has an established method with Hawk 11 of developing models exclusively for the domestic market in small numbers without globalization, allowing it to develop models that cater to Japanese tastes. The Hawk 11's rival was considered to be the Z900RS, so a second model based on the parallel 4-cylinder CB1000 Hornet is a possibility.
There are rumors that Honda is preparing a successor to the CB1300 series, so it will be important to determine which method will be used to develop a round-eyed model. It will be interesting to see which past model will be used as a motif. We will be keeping an eye on this issue along with the future trend of Kawasaki's Z900RS series.
CB1300 Super Fore [HONDA] The flagship of the CB series has been a long seller for over 30 years since its introduction in 1992.
Priced at (approx.) 10805 USD, the Ohlins and Brembo SP are priced at (approx.) 13391 USD.
Teishiro Goto (center photo), who was responsible for the development of Hawk 11, led the development method architecture series project that responded to the market size and number of units. He retired in May 2022, before the launch of Hawk 11.
Slide projected at the Hawk 11 product presentation. The method of using an existing vehicle body to create a derivative model according to a set number of units was defined as an Architecture Series Project (ASP).
New CB1000 Hornet Japan spec [CG] A 4-cylinder 1000cc version developed as the flagship of the new generation Hornet.
The white version is expected to be released in Japan around summer. It will be the perfect base for the ASP.
