Kawasaki Z1 900 vs Yamaha Xs650
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
Kawasaki Z1 900 vs Yamaha Xs650. Kawasaki Z1 900: 82 hp @ 8,500 rpm hp, 230 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 209 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.5/10. Yamaha Xs650: 53 hp @ 7,000 rpm hp, 193 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 170 km/h, Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
Kawasaki Z1 900
Yamaha Xs650
Horsepower (hp)
82 hp
53 hp
Torque (Nm)
74 Nm
52 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
209 km/h
170 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
230 kg
193 kg
Type
Classic
Classic
Horsepower
82 hp @ 8,500 rpm
53 hp @ 7,000 rpm
Torque
74 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
52 Nm @ 6,000 rpm
Top Speed
209 km/h
170 km/h
Weight
230 kg (wet/curb weight)
193 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
6.5 L/100km (approx. 15.4 km/L) — estimated real-world average
4.5 L/100km (approx. 22 km/L)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
Kawasaki Z1 900
8.5/10
"Buy the best one you can find and never look back."
Pros
+Appreciating classic investment
+Stunning inline-four soundtrack
+Strong parts availability
Cons
−Electrics frequently troublesome
−Expensive to recommission properly
−Rampant fakes and restomods
Yamaha Xs650
8.5/10
"The best vintage Japanese twin you can still reasonably find."
Pros
+Virtually indestructible engine
+Huge aftermarket support still
+Stunning parallel twin character
Cons
−Prices inflated by hipsters
−Many rough project bikes circulating
−Points ignition needs attention
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.









