The 2026 Kawasaki Z900 ABS is a middleweight naked bike that delivers sharp handling and aggressive styling for riders seeking accessible performance. Its 948cc parallel-twin engine produces strong midrange torque, while the lightweight chassis and composed suspension make it equally at home carving corners or commuting. Best known for combining modern features like ABS and fuel injection with classic Z lineage appeal.
The 2026 Yamaha XSR900 is a retro-styled middleweight that appeals to riders seeking modern performance with classic aesthetics. Powered by a responsive 890cc triple-cylinder engine producing 68.6 ft-lb of torque, it delivers agile handling and sharp acceleration in a nimble, approachable package. Known for blending vintage charm with contemporary technology, the XSR900 excels as a versatile daily rider and weekend companion.
Both are naked bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
2026 Kawasaki Z900: Built for everyday road riding - commuting, errands and weekend rides - with an upright, unfaired riding position.
2026 Yamaha XSR900: Built for spirited backroad riding, canyon carving, and urban commuting rather than long-haul touring or off-road use.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Kawasaki Z900 if you want a bigger tank. Choose the 2026 Yamaha XSR900 if you want lighter weight. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Kawasaki Z900 | 2026 Yamaha XSR900 |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Naked | Naked |
| Fuel Tank Material | Metal | - |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 948.0 ccm (57.85 cubic inches) | 890.0 ccm (54.31 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | 145 CO2 g/km | - |
| EPA Certificate No. | TKAXC.948AAC-015-R01 | - |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 6.17 L/100km (38.1 US mpg) | - |
| EPA CO Emissions | 0.0 CO g/km | - |
| Engine Type | In-line four, four-stroke | In-line three-cylinder, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 73.4 x 56.0 mm (2.9 x 2.2 inches) | 78.0 x 62.1 mm (3.1 x 2.4 inches) |
| Compression | 11.8:1 | 11.5:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | TCBI with Electronic Advance | TCI |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | - |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Lubrication System | Forced lubrication, wet sump | Wet sump |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓123.0 HP (90.9 kW) @ 9500 RPM | 117.4 HP (87.5 kW) @ 10000 RPM |
| Torque | ✓99.1 Nm (10.1 kgf-m or 73.1 ft.lbs) @ 7700 RPM | 93.0 Nm (9.5 kgf-m or 68.6 ft.lbs) @ 7000 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.6370 HP/kg (dry) | 0.5990 HP/kg (wet) |
| 0-60 mph | 3.10 seconds | - |
| 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) | 3.30 seconds | - |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Twin-tube, aluminum | Diamond |
| Front Suspension | 41mm inverted fork with rebound damping and spring preload adjustability | 41mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound |
| Rear Suspension | Horizontal back-link, stepless rebound damping, adjustable spring preload | Single shock, adjustable preload and rebound damping |
| Front Wheel Travel | 119 mm (4.7 inches) | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 140 mm (5.5 inches) | 131 mm (5.2 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 24.7° | 25.0° |
| Trail | 109 mm (4.3 inches) | 108 mm (4.3 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 145 mm (5.7 inches) | 140 mm (5.5 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Chain |
| Clutch | Wet multi-disc, manual | Multiplate assist-and-slipper wet clutch |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Dual 300mm semi-floating discs with radial-mount 4-piston calipers and ABS | Double disc. ABS. Hydraulic. |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 300 mm (11.8 inches) | 298 mm (11.7 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS. Single-piston caliper. | Single disc. ABS. Hydraulic. |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 250 mm (9.8 inches) | 245 mm (9.6 inches) |
| ABS | Optional | Yes |
| Front Tyre | 120/70-17 | 120/70 ZR17M/C (58W) |
| Rear Tyre | 180/55-17 | 180/55 ZR17M/C (73W) |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1450 mm (57.1 inches) | 1495 mm (58.9 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2065 mm (81.3 inches) | 2155 mm (84.8 inches) |
| Overall Width | 830 mm (32.7 inches) | 860 mm (33.9 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1100 mm (43.3 inches) | 1160 mm (45.7 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓810 mm (31.9 inches) | 815 mm (32.1 inches) |
| Dry weight | 193.1 kg (425.7 pounds) | - |
| Wet Weight | 213.0 kg (469.6 pounds) | ✓196.0 kg (432.1 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | ✓17.00 litres (4.49 US gallons) | 14.00 litres (3.70 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | - | 3.50 litres (3.70 US quarts) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
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