Massive Displacement Four-cylinder motorcycles with double overhead camshaft engines weren't new then, but putting it together in a 900 cc package was a neat trick in 1972. At 85 horsepower, the Kawasaki Z1 was a full 18 horsepower stronger than the popular Honda CB750 four.

The Z1 had full instrumentation and an electric start, produced 82 bhp and had a maximum speed of 130 mph to 132 mph (210 km/h).

As mentioned earlier, the 2024 Z900RS is offered in three trim levels – ABS, Cafe, and SE. They all share the same engine, a 948cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, inline-four cylinder engine dishing out 111 horsepower and 72.3 pound-feet of torque.

The Z900's friendly demeanour is a big reason why the Z900 is so popular. While the performance is good, it hasn't come at the expense of tractability. Let's not forget that this is a 948cc engine that makes 125bhp and 98.6Nm.