2025 Kawasaki Z900 ABS and Z900 SE ABS First Look

Since its release in 2017, the Kawasaki Z900 has consistently ranked as a rider favorite in the large-displacement naked class, mainly due to its bang for the buck. Performance value notwithstanding, by 2022, the bike’s 948cc engine was looking ripe for a Euro 5 update, its electronics were beginning to feel dated, and there had been talk of a face-lift as well. For 2025, Kawasaki has addressed those issues, making tweaks to the liquid-cooled inline-four, enhancing the electronics suite with the addition of a new six-axis IMU, improving the brakes, adding a quickshifter, and more. The styling also got a Sugomi-flavored update as well to bring the big naked in line with its other Z siblings.

First things first: The inline four-cylinder engine retains the same 73.4mm bore and 56.0mm stroke as its predecessor, for the same 948cc displacement, but in Kawasaki’s view, the die-cast cylinders’ new open-deck design and covers help reduce weight, and give the Z900 mill a more compact appearance (though weight itself is largely unchanged from last year). The crankshaft has been redesigned as well, but more notably Kawasaki also chose to rejuggle cam profiles to improve fuel economy and increase torque at lower rpm.

Related: 2020 Kawasaki Z900 First Ride Review

Bigger news in the engine room comes with the addition of new electronic throttle valves, allowing the ECU to control both fuel (via injectors) and air (via throttle valves) intake for a smoother engine response, especially in the midrange. The 36mm ride-by-wire throttle bodies and six-axis IMU also mean Kawi can juice the Z900′s electronics suite, adding more options to the traction control menu (now with three settings), ABS, and ride modes to modulate engine power delivery, traction, and ABS levels. The Z900 also gets the new Cornering Management Function (KCMF), which monitors feedback from the IMU throughout a corner and then adjusts brake force and engine power accordingly for smoother transitions. As a bonus, the KCMF uses IMU feedback to enhance the traction control and wheel-lift functions, while the ABS system benefits from the additional data to calculate lean angle and adjust brake force for certain situations.

Thanks to the electronically controlled throttle, both an up-and-down quickshifter (KQS) and cruise control are also available on the new Z900, with newly revised gear ratios to complement the slip and assist clutch as well as the updated KQS system.

With the Z900s expanded rider aids also comes a new 5-inch TFT dash, which also boasts turn-by-turn navigation—a first for Kawasaki—as well as the usual speedometer, tachometer, KQS, cruise control, and riding-mode functions. There’s Bluetooth functionality here as well, with the option to connect your smartphone to Kawasaki’s Rideology app for full access to all the features.

For 2025 the Z900′s chassis is largely unchanged, and the 41mm inverted fork along with horizontal back-link shock carry over with both allowing for adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. The braking package also carries over its dual 300mm front discs, but new dual radial-mounted opposed four-piston calipers should offer improved feel, while the new 250mm disc out back gets revised pad and brake-line materials for better control. Those stoppers are now paired with new Dunlop Sportmax Q5A tires.

The 2025 Z900 was also fitted with wider and thicker handlebars, while the seat has been redesigned with more padding in the rear and a flatter shape (which also raises height to 31.9 inches). Those changes tie in to the Z900′s new styling updates, which keep the crouching stance and upswept tail and instead focus on details like the lighting, rear end, and new accents. Upfront is a new triple LED headlight design with two upper lights as low beams, while a bit lower are new brushed aluminum shrouds engraved with a “Z” logo. The design of the fuel tank cover, now separate from the shrouds, exposes the frame; bringing up the back is a redesigned rear seat and a shorter, sharper tail cowl, which carries an LED lighting package and offers underseat storage for small items.

As in previous years, the Z900 ABS is accompanied by the Z900 Special Edition which adds higher-grade suspension, upgraded brake components, and a distinctive color scheme. Like the Z900 ABS, the Special Edition model gets a 41mm inverted fork with rebound damping and stepless adjustable preload, but adds compression adjustments as well as gold fork tubes to complement the Öhlins rear shock. That Öhlins S46 shock features a single-tube aluminum body, a large 46mm piston, and separated internal oil and gas chambers, and is equipped with a remote preload adjuster.

Upfront are dual Brembo 300mm discs now clamped by the same M4.32 radial-mount monoblock calipers seen on the Z H2 model, with a Nissin radial pump master cylinder and stainless steel lines for more precise stopping power. Lastly, a USB Type-C outlet is mounted inside the front cowl for added convenience.