Watch Kawasaki’s 2025 Z900 SE Shred Tires in Miami, Fiercest-Looking Middleweight Naked
If you don't know what "Sugomi" means, you're about to.
Think about how many bikes I've seen in my life. Like you, my head snaps left or right when I hear a note I know can only come from a motorcycle. And while I remember plenty of my favorite bikes, seeing the Kawasaki Z750s and Z800s littered around Dublin, Ireland, sticks out far more vividly than when I spotted Yamaha R1s or Honda Fireblades.
But that's what the Z range does—it sticks out.
I was lucky enough to head to Miami for the press launch of the 2025 Kawasaki Z900 SE, and it stole my attention as though I were a teenager all over again. And it's no accident. The Z900 was designed to embody the Japanese philosophy of "Sugomi", which is essentially an intense aura that something emmits. Sometimes it can even be thought of as how you feel when locking eyes with a predator.
Powering the Z900 SE is a 948cc, liquid-cooled, inline-four engine with DOHC, 16-valve technology. It produces 123 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 73.1 pound-feet of torque at 7,700 rpm.
But to find out how that works with all the other high-spec parts and Dunlop's latest Q5A tires, you'll have to watch the video embedded at the top of this article.
All-new for 2025 is a 3-piece headlight unit that makes the Z900 SE look more aggressive than ever. Pair this with the green trellis frame, green wheels, and new Tron-like rear light, and the Z900 has more aura-grabbing power than ever. But it's not all show.
Likewise, Kawasaki has fitted this model with all the hardware you'd expect from a model wearing the "SE" badge. It has Brembo Stylema calipers at the front, 41mm KYB forks sit behind them, and you'll find an Ohlins S46 gas-charged shock at the rear. These are high-performance parts, and absolutely fitting for this bike's powerplant.
I can tell you that the bike didn't let itself down when flogged around Homestead-Miami Speedway for the best part of a day. And that's all you can ask for in a middle-weight naked.
Killer Kawasakis
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