While you could "find the nicest people on a Honda," you could find exciting people on a Kawasaki. The Z1 was the first IL4 four-stroke Hooligan's bike.
In 2003 they created the Z1000, trying to recreate the madness of the original Z1
but cold reviews referred to its scary, dangerous handling kept it from being a best seller.
It was updated a couple of times since but never had the big change that it needed until 2010.
In 2010 it was
completely redesigned to an all modern machine:
Aluminum frame, all new engine, EFI, ABS, new shape and more.
I can't think about a single part that would fit both 2009 and 2010 models.
In 2011 Kawasaki used this all new platform to create an all new much needed category, a sportbike that is designed for the street rather then the track.
The rest of the world calls it Z1000SX but in the US we call it the Ninja1000.
That's the one I rode first.
Ninja 1000:
Swinging my leg over it was surprisingly easy for a sportbike, the seat was low and my 5'10" self wasn't cramped in the riding position.
It would have been better if the clip-ons were a bit lower.
The first thing I noticed was the vibration of the mirrors in idle, I was sure it will get better once I started going.
It did.
Then it got worse, over 7K rpm it added to the fairing crackle that I was also disappointed from.
Kawasaki assured me that the fairing crackle is only on the demo bike and is caused from being loaded on and off the truck.
Second thing I noticed was the engine.
What an engine!
I wasn't expecting it to have so much bottom end torque having experienced the Yamaha FZ1's Jakyll&Hyde power curve.
But it does !
It pulls like a train from 3K rpm to 7K for nice city riding and then keeps linearly getting stronger and stronger up to it's redline, blurring out everything.
Note: It's hard to keep the front wheel down accelerating in the upper half of the rev range.
WOT from 6k will lift the front in a fraction of a second in 2nd gear without dipping the clutch (I did not expect that either).
Pros:
*The concept of a real life sportbike, comfy ergonomics (rider and passenger seats, close clip-ons and sanely placed footpegs).
*Usable power, tuned for midrange grunt.
*Better tank range than it's naked brother
*Smaller rear sprocket - can cruse in lower revs.
Cons:
*Mirrors and fairing shake and crackle.
*Raised clip-ons are too high, it makes it feel almost like a big scooter.
*All that time on the Ninja I was thinking how well this will work as a streetfighter.
*I personally didn't like the design, the pop out blinkers and flexible pointy windshield.
We got back to the Kawasaki tent and I was ready to ride the big Z.
Z 1000:
PLEASURE !
Finely a modern take on a real bike for real bikers in the real world.
The same meaty motor combined with wide handlebars and deeper pockets in the tank (that btw felt tailored to me). The Z who is slightly lighter then the Ninja on paper feels much much lighter in person.
The engine sound is amazing, especially the airbox sucking sound up the revs sounds like a jet or turbo wind.
The Z is a naughty bike. It's hard to resist the urge to burnout, wheelie or endo on it.
Well... not endo, I was coming to a red light and decided to roll to it on the front wheel alone,
I forgot about the ABS and painfully stopped on a dime.
Brakes are good, but I wish the ABS could be switched off.
Handling wise it's fantastic in the slow speeds that we rode at.
I'd expect a light front end at high speeds like I would from any naked bike.
On good roads it was like a proper superbike and on bumpy roads it's just fun.
The control and confidence that the handlebars gave me on the bumps made what would have freaked me out on a ZX10R into a game.
Comparing it to it's rivals is hard.
The European streetfighters cost so much more money and are twins/triples (with exception of MV Agusta's Brutale).
There aren't a lot of Japanese bikes in this category, Yamaha's FZ1 is outdated and not a true streetfighter.
I haven't ridden Honda's CB1000R but reviews say it's the sane choice of the 2.
It seems the split is the same almost 40 years later.
CB for the sane and Z for the insane.
That said, I think the Z1000 is for me.
Pros:
*Very close to much more expensive European streetfighters.
*Great Ergonomics.
*Fun fun fun engine.
*Addicting sound.
*Even mother Teresa would pop wheelies with this bike.
*Did I say engine?
Cons:
*Even Mother Teresa would lose her license on it.
*ABS could not be turned off.
*Could use thicker handlebars.
*A bit short geared for highway rides.
*Small gas tank (will get you about 90 miles + 20 on reserve).
*Back seat is a joke (I wonder If I can get the one from the Ninja to fit on it).
Both bikes had sufficient capable (but less then outstanding) suspension and front brakes.
They both had close no feel at the back brake but don't worry about locking it, the annoying ABS will not let you.
Gear boxes were a bit clunky, very "Honda-ish" and the clutch was manageable.
If you are in the market for a Gentleman's sportbike - the Ninja1000 will be a great contendor to the almighty Suzuki GSF1200 Bandit, a more powerful, more nimble, more aggressive, less comfortable option.
I am in the market for a streetfighter/naked musclebike and have taken test rides on a few of them.
Every time, when I got back on my V-Max it talked me out of it in it's torquey way.
This time it wasn't that easy, my Max is speechless.
I think the Z is my next bike.
Wish me luck and a low intrest rate.
