2026 Yamaha XSR900 vs 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS - Spec Comparison
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2026 Yamaha XSR900
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.
2026 Kawasaki Z900RS
The 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS blends retro styling with modern naked-bike performance, making it a fine pick for riders who want classic looks without old-school compromises. Its 948 cc in-line four delivers 114 hp and a broad 99 Nm of torque, giving relaxed roll-on punch around town and on backroads. It's best known for its Z1-inspired design and smooth, everyday usability.
2026 Yamaha XSR900 vs 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS: the key differences
Both are naked bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 Yamaha XSR900 is 20 kg lighter (196 vs 216 kg).
- The 2026 Yamaha XSR900 has a 20 mm lower seat (815 vs 835 mm), which helps shorter riders.
- The 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS carries 3 litres more fuel (14 vs 17 L).
2026 Yamaha XSR900: Built for spirited backroad riding, canyon carving, and urban commuting rather than long-haul touring or off-road use.
2026 Kawasaki Z900RS: Built for stylish street riding and weekend backroad cruising rather than outright performance or track work.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 Yamaha XSR900 if you want lighter weight and a lower seat. Choose the 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS if you want a bigger tank. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 Yamaha XSR900 | 2026 Kawasaki Z900RS |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Naked | Naked |
| Color Options | - | Ino Red Metallic Diablo Black |
| Fuel Tank Material | - | Metal |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 890.0 ccm (54.31 cubic inches) | 948.0 ccm (57.85 cubic inches) |
| Engine Type | In-line three-cylinder, four-stroke | In-line four, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 78.0 x 62.1 mm (3.1 x 2.4 inches) | 73.4 x 56.0 mm (2.9 x 2.2 inches) |
| Compression | 11.5:1 | 10.8:1 |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | TCI | TCBI with electronic advance |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Lubrication System | Wet sump | Forced lubrication, wet sump |
| 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 |
| Fuel Consumption | - | 5.30 litres/100 km (18.9 km/l or 44.38 mpg) |
| Aspiration | - | Naturally aspirated |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓117.4 HP (87.5 kW) @ 10000 RPM | 114.0 HP (85.0 kW) @ 9300 RPM |
| Torque | 93.0 Nm (9.5 kgf-m or 68.6 ft.lbs) @ 7000 RPM | ✓99.0 Nm (10.1 kgf-m or 73.0 ft.lbs) @ 7700 RPM |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.5990 HP/kg (wet) | 0.5787 HP/kg (dry) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Diamond | Trellis, high tensile steel |
| Front Suspension | 41mm inverted fork, adjustable preload, compression and rebound | Inverted telescopic fork with (13-way) adjustable compression and rebound (11-way) damping, spring preload (15-turn |
| Rear Suspension | Single shock, adjustable preload and rebound damping | Horizontal back-link swingarm with stepless adjustable rebound damping and spring preload |
| Front Wheel Travel | 130 mm (5.1 inches) | 120 mm (4.7 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 131 mm (5.2 inches) | 140 mm (5.5 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 25.0° | 25.0° |
| Trail | 108 mm (4.3 inches) | 99 mm (3.9 inches) |
| Ground Clearance | 140 mm (5.5 inches) | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Chain |
| Clutch | Multiplate assist-and-slipper wet clutch | Wet multi-disc, manual |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Double disc. ABS. Hydraulic. | Double disc. ABS. Four-piston calipers. |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 298 mm (11.7 inches) | 300 mm (11.8 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single disc. ABS. Hydraulic. | Single disc. ABS. Single-piston caliper. |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 245 mm (9.6 inches) | 250 mm (9.8 inches) |
| ABS | Yes | Optional |
| Front Tyre | 120/70 ZR17M/C (58W) | 120/70-17 |
| Rear Tyre | 180/55 ZR17M/C (73W) | 180/55-17 |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1495 mm (58.9 inches) | 1466 mm (57.7 inches) |
| Overall Length | 2155 mm (84.8 inches) | 2101 mm (82.7 inches) |
| Overall Width | 860 mm (33.9 inches) | 815 mm (32.1 inches) |
| Overall Height | 1160 mm (45.7 inches) | 1135 mm (44.7 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓815 mm (32.1 inches) | 835 mm (32.9 inches) |
| Wet Weight | ✓196.0 kg (432.1 pounds) | 216.0 kg (476.2 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | 14.00 litres (3.70 US gallons) | ✓17.00 litres (4.49 US gallons) |
| Oil capacity | 3.50 litres (3.70 US quarts) | - |
| Dry weight | - | 197.0 kg (434.3 pounds) |
"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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About this comparison tool
This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
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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.
How the highlighting works, and its limits
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.
Frequently asked questions
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