SLIM KAWASAKI PACKS FAT PUNCH

This is, of course, a completely hypothetical question, but is it possible to fall in love with a tachometer?

I only ask because the one on the Z900 is mesmerising. It’s a series of slender wands which as you increase the revs open out like the fan of a coy geisha promising you several hours of exquisite Oriental delight.

And she’s not just teasing you: the new Z900 is a treat compared to its capable predecessor, the Z800. If you’d asked for my opinion of that in a three-line poem, it would have been: “Exciting. Fun. Weighs a ton.”

The chaps at Kawasaki were obviously paying attention, for the 900 is a whopping 21kg lighter than the 800, mostly achieved by replacing the heavy steel frame with a lighter trellis and aluminium swingarm.

With the power up from 111 to 123bhp, that magical combination of less weight and more grunt adds up to even more fun and excitement than its predecessor.

The seating position is compact but comfortable, giving you a view of the tank swelling from the slim waist of the saddle like a giant insect, followed by splendidly average mirrors, digital dash and the tacho of my dreams. Have I mentioned how much I love it?

It’s backed up by the rest of the bike, which is a gem. The six-speed gearbox is as slick as a Mississippi card sharp, and the engine is a joy, pulling cleanly and smoothly all the way from below 2,000rpm to the redline at 11,000, accompanied by a glorious, unmitigated howl like a squadron of banshees on their way to the annual banshee convention in Kerry. You may have read about it in Witch? magazine. As the revs hit seven grand, that geisha I mentioned shows she’s a bit stern on it, flashing her fan to tell you to stop being a naughty boy and change gear.

Handling is delightfully light and neutral, aided and abetted by that slim seat which makes it effortless to shift your weight, tucking down and into corners, pinning your arrival and departure with surgical precision.

The suspension’s a little on the firm side, which combined with the shortish wheelbase leads to a bit of jiggery and pokery at speed on rough roads, but it’s amusing rather than threatening.

Even better, there’s a new retro café racer version just out. Can’t wait!