Creating a "Neo-Classic Crossover Tourer" with the Z900RS
I can ride anywhere.
I can enjoy myself anywhere.
I'm trying to create my own style of travel within my means.
The Z900RS continues to evolve while inheriting its classical styling.
I want to build a Z900RS that fits my own way of using it.
The custom concept I came up with from that thought is,
"Neo-Classic Crossover Tourer"
The Z900RS that will become my partner, nicknamed "Guri-san".
There are three things I valued in customizing Guri-san.
The joy of riding anywhere.
The agility of a road sport bike.
Neo-classic beauty.
I want to be able to ride long distances comfortably and carry luggage for trips.
I also want peace of mind when putting my feet down or when stopped.
However, I don't want to sacrifice the Z900RS's agility too much for that, and I want to keep the original styling as much as possible.
Instead of leaning toward just one thing, I'm balancing it to suit my own usage.
That's the kind of bike I aimed for.
Why a "Crossover"?
If you're going to ride long distances, you need both comfort and cargo capacity.
You want wind protection on the highway, and luggage increases for multi-day tours.
But you don't always ride with maximum luggage.
Usually, it's a road sport bike.
When going on a trip, it's a proper tourer.
I enjoy the Z900RS-like ride while switching between uses.
This is one of the reasons I called it a "crossover".
What I wanted at first was a large ELIMINATOR
My partner until now has been the ELIMINATOR SE.
When I started thinking about my next bike, I didn't want a Z900RS from the start.
What I wanted first was,
a large ELIMINATOR.
I like the style and ease of riding of the ELIMINATOR.
If there were a large model in that vein with a more relaxed engine and equipment to make long-distance travel easier, that would have been the best.
But the large ELIMINATOR I wanted didn't come out.
So, I started looking for other bikes.
What I looked for in my next bike
As I continued touring on the ELIMINATOR, what I wanted in my next bike became clear.
・Relaxed highway and long-distance riding
・Cruise control and electronic aids
・Cargo capacity
・The joy of winding roads
And looks are important too.
A round headlight and a round tank.
There are bikes with the performance I want.
There are bikes with looks I like.
But,
there wasn't really a bike that combined both and made me think, "I want to switch to this."
The 2026 model Z900RS
In the midst of that, the 2026 model Z900RS appeared.
The next one is the Z900RS.
A round headlight and a rounded tank.
Classical styling with the ride of a road sport bike.
Furthermore, the new model added equipment I wanted in my next bike, such as cruise control.
It's a long-time popular vehicle with plenty of custom parts.
It was almost ideal.
The only thing left was the color, which didn't match my preference.
So, I decided to wait.
Thinking about the custom concept
While waiting for the color I wanted to be announced,
I thought about what would be necessary if I were to adapt the Z900RS to my own usage.
Foot reach.
A position that doesn't tire you out on long distances.
Wind protection.
Cargo.
Peace of mind when stopped.
As I looked into each one, I realized that improving one thing affects another.
If you lower the vehicle height for better foot reach, it affects the ride and handling.
If you increase comfort equipment or cargo equipment, the weight also increases.
In that case, instead of maximizing just one part, I'll balance the whole thing.
Driving performance.
Stability performance.
Comfort performance.
Cost-effectiveness.
Even if I can't make everything 100 points, I don't want to sacrifice any one thing significantly.
Regarding costs, it doesn't just mean doing it cheaply.
I use money properly where it's needed.
But I don't increase it unnecessarily for things where the effect is hard to feel or just for looks.
I want to use it where it's meaningful to me.
As I thought about it that way,
The joy of riding anywhere.
The agility of a road sport bike.
Neo-classic beauty.
The direction settled on these three things.
I didn't choose the parts first and then add the concept later.
First, I decide what kind of bike I want it to be.
From there, I choose the methods and parts.
I thought about Guri-san's customization in this order.
2027 model.
The time came sooner than I thought
Candy Tone Greenish Blue.
It's the color I wanted.
Honestly, I didn't think the 2027 model would come out this soon.
It's only been about half a year since the 2026 model came out.
I thought that even if my preferred color came out, it would be a little later, so I was a bit confused.
But I had thought about the direction of the customization and the necessary parts thoroughly while waiting.
In that case,
now is the time.
Thinking that, I decided to go for it.
I ended up putting the "Neo-Classic Crossover Tourer" I had in my head onto the actual vehicle.
Improving foot reach without sacrificing ride quality as much as possible
For Guri-san's customization, I thought especially about lowering.
If you just want to improve foot reach, there is a method called a lowering link.
But what I want is not just a low Z900RS.
I want to improve foot reach.
But I don't want to sacrifice the ride as much as possible.
So for the rear, I used NITRON's lowering specification suspension.
For the front, I used HYPERPRO's lowering specification springs.
I also modified the seat.
Instead of making the seat surface significantly thinner, I shaved the side parts that touch the inner thighs quite a bit to make it easier to put my feet down.
I kept the cushioning of the seat surface used for long distances as much as possible.
Instead of lowering it significantly with just one method, I created foot reach from both the suspension and the seat.
Keep comfort as it is as much as possible.
Make foot reach as good as possible.
Minimize the impact on the ride as much as possible.
I was quite greedy here.
Reducing fatigue and making long-distance riding easier
In my case, I sometimes ride 500km or 700km.
So, I want to include things that can reduce the burden even a little when riding for a long time.
The handlebars are in an up & back direction.
The step position is also adjusted.
A screen for wind protection on the highway.
I also use hand guards and grip heaters.
Even if each one is a small difference, the accumulation of them becomes effective over long distances.
For me, touring is not just about moving to the destination.
I also want to enjoy the time I'm riding.
So, being able to continue riding for a long time is also one of the important performances.
Carry as much as you need, when you need it
For cargo, I use side panniers and a rear carrier.
The side panniers are premised on being attached at all times, and I use them as they are for both daily use and touring.
Only when traveling do I load a carry case on the rear carrier.
For day trips, just the side panniers.
For overnight touring, I add to the rear as needed.
As much as needed, when needed.
I made a configuration where I can change the cargo capacity according to how I use it.
Customization that is hard to tell by looking
Even though I've made various modifications up to this point, when you look at the finished Guri-san, it probably doesn't look like it's been "heavily customized."
"heavily customized"
That's because there aren't many things that drastically change its appearance.
The parts I've worked on involve the suspension, seat, riding position, wind protection, cargo capacity, and equipment related to vehicle protection and safety.
There are more areas that have an effect when you're actually riding than there are that affect the look.
For people who love aesthetic customization, I think they'll wonder,
"Huh? Have you customized anything?"
And that's fine.
This is the result of thinking about how I want to ride and choosing the things I need.
The final verification comes after delivery.
Most of the customization I've thought through up to this point was decided before I even rode my own Z900RS.
Suspension settings.
Handlebar and footpeg positions.
Wind protection from the screen.
Long-distance comfort of the modified seat.
Performance when carrying luggage.
I'll confirm these things by actually riding.
If something is off, I'll adjust it, and if necessary, I'll rethink it.
I've thought about everything I could think about up to this point.
Now, I just need to ride.
I can ride anywhere.
I can enjoy it anywhere.
I'll try to create my own style of travel within the limits of what I can do.
"Neo-Classic Crossover Tourer"
My journey with Guri-san starts here.
#Z900RS
#NeoClassicCrossoverTourer
#IWantToTravelWithZ900RS