Kawasaki kicks off 'Z 50th' celebrations with limited edition Z900, Z650

Kawasaki has kicked off a year of celebration to mark 50 years since it launched its first Z model with the release of special edition versions of its Z900 and Z650 roadsters.

The Japanese firm has been teasing plans to honour a half-century of ‘Z’ models, which began back in 1972 with the Z1 Super Four and has since gone on to spawn a number of classic Kawasaki motorcycles, such as the Z1300, Z1000 and Z800.

Today, the Z range in the UK comprises the Z125, Z650, Z900 and Z H2, but it is the Z650 and Z900 that are being honoured for this Z50 celebration.

The Z900 moniker can trace its roots right back to the nameplate’s origins with the Z1 900, but it is the 1980s Z1100GP and iconic GPZ900R that lends its inspiration for these latest editions, with the Z900 and Z650, plus their RS counterparts, available in Firecracker Red and Candy Diamond Brown, which were the firm’s signature colours back in the day.

Touches included gold finished fork outer tubes and a gloss black frame, while blue and silver accentuates the red according to Kawasaki, plus the Z emblem and Kawasaki logo are finished in gold. Finally, the Z900 and Z650 come with red wheels, silver pinstripes, special seat leather and a commemorative Z 50th logo on the front fender.

The Kawasaki Z650, Z650 RS, Z900 and Z900 RS ‘Z 50’ limited editions are available from March 2022 and are priced as follows:

• Z900 – FIRECRACKER RED – £9,799

• Z650 – FIRECRACKER RED – £7,349

• Z650RS – CANDY DIAMOND BROWN – £8,049

• Z900RS – CANDY DIAMOND BROWN – £11,449

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