2K10 Kawasaki Z-1000 Ride Review

[Mr. OX]

Here it is ladies and gentlemen.

As you may or may not know, I sold Big Blue on Saturday and went to pick up Zeek immediately after. I came home and put 25 miles on it, just to get it out my system. Today I went and put some more miles on it, keeping to my local roads that I know extremely well to get used to the change in bike.

Let me tell you, it's like i'm a fat kid in a candy store with an unlimited piggy bank! This bike is so refreshing and fun to ride. I took Zeek up to Marietta Motorsports to have Opie adjust the suspension, and I quote: "I don't wanna mess with it, it is damn near perfect from the factory." That was enlightening, knowing that this bike came out the box pretty well configured. I threw on a clear tank protector, and ordered some stainless steel brake lines for the front and rear, and hopped back on the bike to let the good times begin.

Definitely more sporty of a feel than the ZX14. The chassis itself felt much more stiff and sturdy than Big Blue. The engine does not have any lags up to 6k on the tac, but i'm still in the break-in period so i'm not pushing it above that until I break 200mi or so. The breaks aren't bad, but I am sure the SS lines will make them just right. The riding position of the bike is upright and very comfortable. I do have to adjust not having the comfortable Sargeant seat that Big Blue had on it. The bike seemed very balanced, and dives into the turns quiet nicely. This bike actually seems like it is looking for the turns so it can say "Oooo let's lean over some more". I found myself having to consistently look at the speedometer, and majority of the time I am 15 to 20 over the posted limit without even realizing it. This could be problematic for me, it just feels so natural to just let it go, but I have got to keep control and watch my speed before getting a driving award.

On the freeway, up to 90mph the wind was not bad without having any fearings, which was a pleasant surprise coming from Big Blue. The fuel economy isn't bad, when I parked Zeek in the garage today with 60 miles, the digital gauge showed one bar below full. Having a 4.1gal fuel tank, I expect prob getting 150mi from a tank.

To sum it all up, I LOVE THIS BIKE! I had some buyers remorse for changing to this style bike and leaving the big bikes alone, but after spending some seat time on Zeek, I am not disappointed at all. I am very anxious to take it to the hills and see how it fairs up there.

Ride nakkid!!!

[Snafu484]

wooooo ! good to hear your lovin Zeek :D :up:

[A&A Motorsports]

Icant wait to get one myself...once the price drops :)

[Woodk61000]

Told you that you would like it more! I dont know that I will ever got back to a clip on style bar on the street. the track one day, yes. Having the dirty bars make it so much more enjoyable! And hey, its still got the 1000cc if you feel like giving it some stick.

[wjninja]

good too hear another great review on this bike! I am picking up my tomorrow. Hopefully the 1043cc will give me enough to where I do not miss my ZX10R that much.

But of course, i am not selling that one just yet! Unless i get some serious buyers!

[bigb996]

i wanted one badly over what i just got, but ill wait till they are selling used to see about picking one up. not sure ill be riding supersports to much longer with my back issues. glad your enjoying it man, hope to see it in the hills soon.

[vinhtvu2]

Awesome!!! I'm running on an 05 Zed right now...... Still debating on what to upgrade to next, and the new Z is definitely on top of the list.
Glad to hear you like it!!!
There's tons of info and discussion for Z-1000 in general at riderforums.com.... I've been member there for years and it's a good forum.

[wjninja]

Picked mine up yesterday!

<a href="http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/?action=view&current=DSCN0153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/DSCN0153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[wjninja]

Does anyone know, if there is a fender eliminator kit already out for the New Z1000! This thing has to go!

[ogle-z]

I have an 03 Z1000 and love it even with its faults, ie vibration. The 2010 is supposed to have taken care of a lot of the drawbacks of gen 1 & 2. Hope you enjoy and ride safe!

[Mr. OX]

Picked mine up yesterday!

<a href="http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/?action=view&current=DSCN0153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/DSCN0153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Copy cat!


Does anyone know, if there is a fender eliminator kit already out for the New Z1000! This thing has to go!

Yup, EuroTech, mine is already ordered.

[wjninja]

Copy cat!



Yup, EuroTech, mine is already ordered.

Did you order this online? Searched and can't find it. Could you post a link?

Thanks.

[Mr. OX]

Did you order this online? Searched and can't find it. Could you post a link?

Thanks.

http://www.evotech-performance.com/

[wjninja]

[QUOTE=Mr. OX;10360]http://www.evotech-performance.com/[/QUOTE

thanks

[bigb996]

Picked mine up yesterday!

<a href="http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/?action=view&current=DSCN0153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/DSCN0153.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

congrats Wayne! didnt realise you were gonna jump on one already. You need to link up with me and kevin and ride soon.

[chance]

I have an 03 Z1000 and love it even with its faults, ie vibration. The 2010 is supposed to have taken care of a lot of the drawbacks of gen 1 & 2. Hope you enjoy and ride safe!

got any pics of your z?
I ride an 03 as well. great bike, i love it!

[ogle-z]

got any pics of your z?
I ride an 03 as well. great bike, i love it!
Nothing recent. Only thing I have is before fender eliminator (homemade) and led turn signals. It is pretty much stock black other than that. Not a lot of cash with two kids in college and two in private school. I've seen your bike over on riderforums.

[SquireSCA]

I got to see Jarid's bike yesterday and sit on it. Much nicer looking in person, not that it looks bad in pics by any means. I still hate the way the stock exhaust cans look, but they are actually a lot smaller than I expected.

And when I got home I had the new issue if Sport Rider magazine where they did a full review of the bike, and they really had nothing bad to say. It is arguably the best naked bike coming out of Japan to the US. I say that because the Honda CB1000RR also looks badass but we cannot get it here. They strapped a Z1000 to the dyno and got 123hp at the wheel and a nice fat torque curve with a 72ft/lbs peak. With a pipe, air filter and some tuning I can see it getting into the low to mid 130's easily. And on an agile naked bike with little wind protection, that is more than you need. hehe

Was very impressed with it, nice bike!

[TroyBoy30]

that black one looks good!

[Derrick]

that black one looks good!

+1

[bigb996]

i got a chance to ride wninjas z today. All i can say is wow, the entire time i was on it i kept thinking to myself why in the world did i buy another supersport? This thing is comfy, nimble, and smooth. Its got plenty of tq and is imo a fantastic bike. If i could sell my zx i just bought and not have to come up with another 3+ grand id buy one tomorrow.

[wjninja]

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb32/AthensAMR/twins.jpg

Good seeing you guys today! My apologizes to throwing gear at you and putting you both on a bike for a little ride. I am sure you both hated every minute of it.

[chance]

^^^
Yea im sure they couldnt stand it

lol

[MX Tuner]

I just can't get used to that exhaust........

[TroyBoy30]

you mean those exhausts! there's another huge one on the other side!

[SLLaffoon]

I just can't get used to that exhaust........

I kind of like the exhausts.

I liked my old one, and maybe if I had it at a different time I would have kept it. I never could quite put my finger on the reason why, but I always felt like it didn't really have a proper place. I have a couple bikes that are better track bikes, so it never saw a racetrack. It was a fun street bike, but it had it's quircks. I had just as much fun riding my wife's $1500 Hawk, so when I added up what the Z1000 cost me in both bike value and insurance, I sold it. I think I just have more fun riding something that I don't mind scratching. I'd like to ride one of the new ones sometime to see the improvements. I hear they fixed a lot of the previous complaints.

[SquireSCA]

The new one is supposed to be light years ahead of the old one. The power is way up, handling and braking plus suspension is way up. The only thing that I think that they could have improved upon is the weight. At 437lbs dry, that is the heaviest of the naked literbikes out there, excpet for the larger bikes like the B-King, or the BMW K1300R or whatever that thing is.

For a naked bike to weigh that much, I think that while it is 25lbs lighter than it's predecessor, it could have been even less.

The bikes that fall into that "category" would be the following:

1) Ducati Streetfighter - 373lbs
2) Ducati Monster 1100 - 373lbs
3) KTM Super Duke 990 - 410lbs
4) Aprilia Tuono - 407lbs
5) Triumph Speed Triple - 417lbs

You always take dry weights with a grain of salt, but most manufacturers use the same basic means of slightly fudging the numbers.

Of course, the Z1000 is at least 100lbs lighter than the ZX14, and so it is a huge improvement. I think the bike looks fantastic. If it were me though, I would have liked to see them create a naked sportbike closer to the 400lbs mark. If they can make literbikes with full fairings down in that weight range, then they should be able to make a naked bike that light as well, IMHO.