2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe Specifications

Name: 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe
Brand: Kawasaki

Naked bike • Specs last verified 13 July 2026

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2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe Overview

For 2018, Kawasaki offers the Z900RS Cafe as a naked bike motorcycle with 948 cc on tap. The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe is built around an In-line four, four-stroke engine running Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC) valve actuation, a compression ratio of 10.8:1. Internally, bore and stroke are 73.4 x 56 mm. Out on the road, the Z900RS Cafe delivers 98.50 Nm @ 6500 Revolutions of torque. In everyday use, the 2018 Z900RS Cafe tips the scales at 216 kg, carries a 17.03-litre fuel tank, offers a seat height of 820 mm and spans a 1,470 mm wheelbase. That's roughly 15 kg heavier than the average naked bike in our database. Every technical detail, from suspension travel to tyre sizes, is covered in the full 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe spec sheet below.

2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe compared with other bikes in the Naked bike category

Measured against other bikes in the Naked bike category in our database (up to 1666 models, one entry per model), the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe comes out as follows.

With 820 mm, the Z900RS Cafe has the joint 175th tallest seat height of 1311 bikes in the Naked bike category, 3% above the category average of 794 mm.
Torque of 98.5 Nm is higher than that of 1044 of the other 1317 bikes in the Naked bike category.
Only 437 of the other 1665 bikes in the Naked bike category have a larger engine displacement than the 948 cc of the Z900RS Cafe.
Narrowing the field to the 546 models within five model years of it, the seat height of 820 mm is taller than that of 408 of the other 545.

2018 Z900RS Cafe - Pros & Cons

Strengths

Fuel injection: No choke, no jetting, no altitude compensation to think about - fuel injection just works across a wider range of conditions than carburetion.
Strong front braking: The double disc front brake bites hard and stays consistent - a solid foundation whether it's stock or upgraded with braided lines.
ABS fitted: With ABS on board, hard braking on a damp or gravelly surface is far less likely to end in a locked wheel.

Considerations

Tall seat height: An 820 mm seat puts flat-footing out of reach for a lot of riders - sit on it in person before committing.
Chain final drive upkeep: A chain drivetrain is the most common setup in its class, but it's also the one that demands the most regular hands-on maintenance.

Wear Points & Servicing Notes

Fuelling & injector care

Fuelling on the Z900RS Cafe comes from fuel injection. Cold starts and throttle response stay consistent across altitude and temperature, the main practical edge over a carbureted equivalent.

Valve clearance checks

Valve clearances on Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC)-equipped engines like the Z900RS Cafe's drift slowly with mileage rather than failing suddenly - sticking to the service interval keeps it a non-issue.

Brake disc and pad wear

Double disc with ABS and four-piston calipers up front provides the primary stopping power; inspect disc thickness and pad wear at each tyre change to catch scoring before it becomes a rotor replacement.

Suspension condition on used examples

Suspension duties are handled by 41 mm inverted fork with compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability up front and Horizontal Back-link, gas-charged shock with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability at the rear. Weeping fork seals aren't a dealbreaker on a used bike, but they're a fair basis for negotiating price.

Final drive maintenance

Chain final drive on the Z900RS Cafe means routine lubing and tension checks are part of ownership - skip them and sprocket wear accelerates noticeably.

Frame & chassis check

The Trellis, high tensile steel chassis holds up well with normal use; on a used bike it's still worth checking the head-stock and swingarm pivot area for impact damage or corrosion.

Z900RS Cafe - Buying & Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying

A pre-purchase check on the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe with its 948 cc naked bike should cover the same ground every time: service history, drivetrain condition, and any oil seepage around the casings. This model runs chain final drive, so check chain slack and sprocket tooth profile specifically - a worn sprocket is a cheaper fix now than after it's chewed up the next chain. Now 8 years old, this naked bike is as likely to show age-related wear (perished rubber, seized fasteners, degraded seals) as mileage-related wear. Start it from cold if you can - a well-kept Z900RS Cafe settles to a smooth idle within seconds.

Oil and filter changes

Oil changes are the cheapest insurance you can buy for the Z900RS Cafe's 948 cc in-line four, four-stroke - keep to the manufacturer's interval rather than stretching it. With a 10.8:1 compression ratio, running the octane grade specified in the manual matters more than on a lower-compression engine. Use the viscosity grade the manual specifies, not whatever's on sale.

Fuel system care

Injector systems like the Z900RS Cafe's hold up well with basic care - decent fuel, an occasional cleaner additive, and draining old fuel before any layup longer than three months.

Valve clearance service

There's no reliable seat-of-the-pants way to tell if a Z900RS Cafe's valve clearances are in spec - a light top-end tick is the only real warning sign, and by then some wear has already happened. Service records are the only proof.

2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe - Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe have?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe uses an In-line four, four-stroke engine with 948 cc of displacement.

How much does the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe weigh?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe weighs 216 kg. This is the manufacturer's wet figure.

How much torque does the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe produce?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe produces 98.50 Nm @ 6500 Revolutions of torque.

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe has a 17.03-litre fuel tank. At around 5-6 litres per 100 km, that is roughly 283-340 km between stops.

Is the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe suitable for shorter riders?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe has a seat height of 820 mm. This is towards the tall end of the spectrum and will require most riders under 175 cm to tiptoe at stops.

What brakes does the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe have?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe uses double disc with ABS and four-piston calipers at the front and single disc with ABS and single-piston caliper at the rear.

What tyre sizes does the 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe use?

The 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe runs 120/70-ZR17 front and 180/55-ZR17 rear tyres. A good selection of sport, touring and all-weather rubber is available in these sizes.

Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe Spec Evolution

The Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe was produced across 6 model years (2018-2023). The table below highlights the key specifications that changed across the production run - useful whether you are comparing years or tracking down a specific variant.

Specification	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Wet Weight	216.0 kg / 476.2 lbs	216.0 kg / 476.2 lbs	215.1 kg / 474.1 lbs	216.1 kg / 476.3 lbs	214.6 kg / 473.0 lbs	216.1 kg / 476.3 lbs
Seat Height	820 mm / 32.3 in.	820 mm / 32.3 in.	836 mm / 32.9 in.	820 mm / 32.3 in.	820 mm / 32.3 in.	820 mm / 32.3 in.
Fuel Capacity	17.03 litres / 4.50 gallons	17.03 litres / 4.50 US gallons	17.03 litres / 4.50 US gallons	17.03 litres / 4.50 US gallons	17.03 litres / 4.50 US gallons	17.03 litres / 4.50 US gallons
Comments	Small windscreen.	Small windscreen.	-	Windscreen. Traction control.	Traction control. Small windscreen.	Traction control. Small windscreen.
Displacement (cc)	948.00 cc	948.0 cc	948.0 cc	948.0 cc	948.0 cc	948.0 cc
Frame Type	Trellis, high tensile steel	Trellis, high tensile steel	Tubular, diamond	Tubular, diamond	Tubular, diamond	Trellis, high tensile steel
Wheelbase	1,470 mm / 57.9 in.	1470 mm / 57.9 in.	1470 mm / 57.9 in.	1470 mm / 57.9 in.	1470 mm / 57.9 in.	1470 mm / 57.9 in.
Suspension - Front	41 mm inverted fork with compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability	41 mm inverted fork with compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability	Inverted telescopic fork with (10-way) adjustable compression and rebound (12-way) damping, spring preload	Inverted telescopic fork with (10-way) adjustable compression and rebound (12-way) damping, spring preload	Inverted telescopic fork with (13-way) adjustable compression and rebound (11-way) damping, spring preload (15-turn	Inverted telescopic fork with (13-way) adjustable compression and rebound (11-way) damping, spring preload (15-turn

Key Specifications

Engine

In-line four, four-stroke

Power

Not recorded

Torque

98.50 Nm (10.0 kgf-m or 72.7 ft.lbs) @ 6500 Revolutions

Top Speed

Not recorded

Weight

216.0 kg / 476.2 lbs

Fuel Capacity

17.03 litres / 4.50 gallons

Full 2018 Kawasaki Z900RS Cafe Specifications

Comments Small windscreen.

Colours Vintage Lime Green

Warranty 12 Month Limited Warranty

Ground Clearance (in.) 5.1 inches

Ground Clearance (mm) 130 mm

Seat Height 820 mm / 32.3 in.

Wheelbase 1,470 mm / 57.9 in.

Height 1,190 mm / 46.9 in.

Length 2,100 mm / 82.7 in.

Width 845 mm / 33.3 in.

Fuel Capacity 17.03 litres / 4.50 gallons

Wet Weight 216.0 kg / 476.2 lbs

Max Torque 98.50 Nm (10.0 kgf-m or 72.7 ft.lbs) @ 6500 Revolutions

Displacement (cc) 948.00 cc

Displacement (ci) 57.85 cubic inches

Engine Type In-line four, four-stroke

Fuel Control Double Overhead Cams/Twin Cam (DOHC)

Bore x Stroke (in,) 2.9 x 2.2 inches

Bore x Stroke (mm) 73.4 x 56.0 mm

CO2 123.0 CO2 g/km. (CO2 - Carbon dioxide emission)

Fuel System Injection. DFI with 36mm Keihin throttle bodies

Compression Ratio 10.8:1

Engine Lubrication Forced lubrication, wet sump

Fuel Consumption 5.30 litres/100 km (18.9 km/l or 44.38 mpg)

Ignition TCBI with electronic advance

Starter Electric

Valve System 4

Clutch Wet multi-disc, manual

Final Drive Chain

Gearbox 6-speed

Primary Drive Sealed chain

Frame Type Trellis, high tensile steel

Suspension - Front 41 mm inverted fork with compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability

Suspension - Rear Horizontal Back-link, gas-charged shock with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability

Rake 25.0°

Trail 98 mm / 3.9 in.

Wheel Travel - Front 119 mm / 4.7 in.

Wheel Travel - Rear 140 mm / 5.5 in.

Brakes - Front Diameter (in.) 11.8 inches

Brakes - Front Diameter (mm) 300 mm

Brakes - Rear Diameter (in.) 9.8 inches

Brakes - Rear Diameter (mm) 250 mm

Brakes - Front Double disc. ABS. Four-piston calipers.

Brakes - Rear Single disc. ABS. Single-piston caliper.

Rims Dunlop Sportmax tires

Tyres - Front 120/70-ZR17

Tyres - Rear 180/55-ZR17

Specifications are compiled from manufacturer documentation and cross-referenced technical sources, and corrected on an ongoing basis. Spot an error? Let us know.