New 2010 Kawasaki Models

[Slyer]

The new Z1000 is interesting to say the least. Even more hunched looking.
<img src="http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/2723/z1000.jpg">
Video: http://kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=432
<img src="http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5024/getscaledimageaspx.jpg">
More: http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/news

[Elysium]

I see a bit of B-King looking at the front of the pic from the first picture.

[NZsarge]

I see a bit of B-King looking at the font of the pic from the first picture.

I can't really see it and so much better looking than a B-King (IMO) it's not funny. I think it's a good update on the previous model but it does'nt really move the design that much further on but that's ok I guess it's still a good looking bike.

[Owl]

I can't really see it and so much better looking than a B-King (IMO) it's not funny. I think it's a good update on the previous model but it does'nt really move the design that much further on but that's ok I guess it's still a good looking bike.

Totally..............however, where's the Z1400:(

[NZsarge]

Totally..............however, where's the Z1400:(

I've just been looking at the Z1000 via the link to Kawasaki UK provided by Slyer, I might have a back track actually and say I don't like the headlight area as much as the last model but it's not horrible. Looks like the ZX14 (ZZR 1400) just gets different paint, maybe an update next year. On the other hand if they keep it as is at least my bike remains current..:2thumbsup
Despite a little bit of fussiness I like the silver and black combo.

[James Deuce]

I can't really see it and so much better looking than a B-King (IMO) it's not funny. I think it's a good update on the previous model but it does'nt really move the design that much further on but that's ok I guess it's still a good looking bike.

A B-King is a much better ride. Fuel's better, handles better, has vastly more power and torque and a much better ride quality. I'm over the argument about bike asthetics.

Most new Kawasakis need money spent on them for simple safety's sake. How Kawasaki avoid lawsuits in the US is beyond me. Ride a Z1000 how you'd expect to ride a Naked Streetfighter and you'll be an ACC stat. Ride a CB1000R or an FZ-1 enthusiastically and you'll be having fun.

[NZsarge]

A B-King is a much better ride. Fuel's better, handles better, has vastly more power and torque and a much better ride quality. I'm over the argument about bike asthetics.

Most new Kawasakis need money spent on them for simple safety's sake. How Kawasaki avoid lawsuits in the US is beyond me. Ride a Z1000 how you'd expect to ride a Naked Streetfighter and you'll be an ACC stat. Ride a CB1000R or an FZ-1 enthusiastically and you'll be having fun.

I have'nt had the opportunity to ride any of the Z1000's. to be fair bar their looks I have'nt been that interested in them (too small), to stop and look at yeah ok but to ride, not so much... I won't comment on the safety of them but just going by spec they never grabbed me much, not compared to my last bike (FZ1 Fazer) which was better looking again. :yes::D And yes ridden enthusiastically as you say there are fun to ride.

[The Pastor]

finally an exhaust that dosent look like ARSE.

Still dosent compare to the 2004 exhaust, that looks sexy!

<img src='http://www.sportbikez.net/bikepics/120/medium/1207750065.jpg'>

[The Pastor]

A B-King is a much better ride. Fuel's better, handles better, has vastly more power and torque and a much better ride quality. I'm over the argument about bike asthetics.

Most new Kawasakis need money spent on them for simple safety's sake. How Kawasaki avoid lawsuits in the US is beyond me. Ride a Z1000 how you'd expect to ride a Naked Streetfighter and you'll be an ACC stat. Ride a CB1000R or an FZ-1 enthusiastically and you'll be having fun.
Can you explain what you mean about safety? I really like the z1000 and if i were (atm) going to buy a jap bike z1000 is top of the list.

I've ridden the z750 and z1000 and I didnt notice anything that made the bike unsafe? Sure it didnt have good susspension or the worlds greatest brakes but the bike, imho, was perfectly safe.

[James Deuce]

Can you explain what you mean about safety? I really like the z1000 and if i were (atm) going to buy a jap bike z1000 is top of the list.

I've ridden the z750 and z1000 and I didnt notice anything that made the bike unsafe? Sure it didnt have good susspension or the worlds greatest brakes but the bike, imho, was perfectly safe.

The suspension is close to criminally bad on both the Z750 and the Z1000. Curiously the new Z750's suspenders (even with USD forks) are worse than the initial iteration.

Push beyond 7/10ths and you'll have little directional control and stability on bumpy roads degenerates to the point of brown trouser scary. You make a fair point that a lot of people don't notice what I'm talking about, but Kawasaki's 2 decade inability to avoid the "Over Sprung, Under-Damped" route to give a bike a firm suspension feel just smacks of laziness. I like to "ride" bikes not ride 80kms , stop, talk smack, drink coffee, ride another 80kms, buy fuel, eat a pie, talk smakc, ad nauseum. To do that I with a measure of control I had to spend $2.2k on my suspension and I'm still saving up the $700 required to finish the job.

You can see where the extra $2k a Street Triple costs over a Z750 goes.

Their engines are a strong point, the 750 more so than the 1000 (the 1000 feels weirdly flat to me, both versions) but everything else suffers as a result. Square edged bumps completely defeat the suspension on both the 750 and the 1000, and ride quality is not a phrase that Kawasaki ever seems to understand or even try to come to grips with.

[pzkpfw]

That thou' has a nice horn.

Peep peep!

[The Pastor]

The suspension is close to criminally bad on both the Z750 and the Z1000. Curiously the new Z750's suspenders (even with USD forks) are worse than the initial iteration.

Push beyond 7/10ths and you'll have little directional control and stability on bumpy roads degenerates to the point of brown trouser scary. You make a fair point that a lot of people don't notice what I'm talking about, but Kawasaki's 2 decade inability to avoid the "Over Sprung, Under-Damped" route to give a bike a firm suspension feel just smacks of laziness. I like to "ride" bikes not ride 80kms , stop, talk smack, drink coffee, ride another 80kms, buy fuel, eat a pie, talk smakc, ad nauseum. To do that I with a measure of control I had to spend $2.2k on my suspension and I'm still saving up the $700 required to finish the job.

You can see where the extra $2k a Street Triple costs over a Z750 goes.

Their engines are a strong point, the 750 more so than the 1000 (the 1000 feels weirdly flat to me, both versions) but everything else suffers as a result. Square edged bumps completely defeat the suspension on both the 750 and the 1000, and ride quality is not a phrase that Kawasaki ever seems to understand or even try to come to grips with.
TBH, i only test rode the bikes, and the Z1000 was from rip u off barron on K road, They only let me take it around the block, that was it!

Looks like I might have to reconsider / re test ride the bikes when im ready to buy them.

You like the 750 engine more? Its so slow?

[James Deuce]

TBH, i only test rode the bikes, and the Z1000 was from rip u off barron on K road, They only let me take it around the block, that was it!

Looks like I might have to reconsider / re test ride the bikes when im ready to buy them.

You like the 750 engine more? Its so slow?

There's about 10 HP and 15 km/hr at the top end in it. The 1000 isn't worth the extra dosh IMO, unless you want the 1st model's ray gun exhaust that steal about 20hp. The Z750's engine feels far more involving and it has a cammy, top-end feel to it like Kawasaki's are supposed to. I would have prefered one bike in the range with the ZX-9's engine as it was in its final iteration. The ZX9 engine is waaaaay nicer than the Z1000's, even though they are nominally the same.

The first time you peel into a corner at speed, hit a mid-corner bump and find yourself 6 feet off line and drifting onto the wrong side of the road will have you opening your wallet for new suspension.

[ernie953]

Unsafe? Im on an 08 Z thou and I can hang with any sports bikes through the twisties. I agree about the suspension though.I put an Ohlins on the rear and it made a huge difference. It has a great engine for the road, good low down and plenty of zing when u need it. Great hooligan bike.

[Maha]

Nice, real nice, I like it. Almost everyone changes the can on Bikes so that aint a problem, and those mirrors.

[James Deuce]

Unsafe? Im on an 08 Z thou and I can hang with any sports bikes through the twisties. I agree about the suspension though.I put an Ohlins on the rear and it made a huge difference. It has a great engine for the road, good low down and plenty of zing when u need it. Great hooligan bike.

Yes, unsafe. The primary safety device on a bike is your suspension.

[ernie953]

The problem with most Jap bikes is that they are under sprung. Most would be only sprung for around 75kg.

[James Deuce]

The problem with most Jap bikes is that they are under sprung. Most would be only sprung for around 75kg.

Kawasaki are the opposite.

[ernie953]

The new Z1000 is a complete redesign. Has alloy frame,beefier swingarm,new wheels, 1043cc, 136bhp and more torque. Should be a weapon and cant wait to ride one.

[The Pastor]

The way i test the bikes out is how well it power wheelies.

I found the z1000 to wheelie alot easier than the z750.

When I accerlated away from the lights on the 1000 i was pushed back on the 750 it just went forward.

I will have to ride these bikes again!

[ernie953]

Kawasaki are the opposite.

According to the manual for my bike, (Quote) The standard settings of the rebound damping force adjuster for an average-build rider of 68kg(150lb).You need to spring to suit your weight.

[Slyer]

The new Z1000 is a complete redesign. Has alloy frame,beefier swingarm,new wheels, 1043cc, 136bhp and more torque. Should be a weapon and cant wait to ride one.
Yes it should be good to hear what independant reviewers have to say about it.
Kawasaki say they designed the new Z1000 to be a streetfighter bike from the ground up, rather than modify a ZX10 etc etc

[stevedee]

I remember reading the Z750 is faster 0-60mph than the Z1000. Funny that.

spd:-)

[EJK]

Z1000: What the fuck is that?

[beyond]

Unsafe? Im on an 08 Z thou and I can hang with any sports bikes through the twisties. I agree about the suspension though.I put an Ohlins on the rear and it made a huge difference. It has a great engine for the road, good low down and plenty of zing when u need it. Great hooligan bike.

I can vouch for that. Ernies no slouch in the twisties. I remember our run to East Cape and back, was a quicky and loads of fun and the Z1000 certainly handled all of that well and got along at a real good pace too.

In fact, I recall a rather slow last few kilomtres back to Whakatane because of a certain white line developing in the middle of the rear tread pattern of the Kawa :)

[ernie953]

Hey Beyond, Hows that 14 going.

[beyond]

Hey Beyond, Hows that 14 going.

It's going very nicely thank you :)
Not been out much lately though as the weather has been pretty shitty and when it's been fine I've been working.

[SixPackBack]

The way i test the bikes out is how well it power wheelies.

I found the z1000 to wheelie alot easier than the z750.

When I accerlated away from the lights on the 1000 i was pushed back on the 750 it just went forward.

I will have to ride these bikes again!

Seat comfort on the original Z1000/750 was non existent, you will find yourself sliding down the seat mashing your crutch into the tank.......A year ago my loaner for the day was a modern Z750, and the seat was just as bad!
On the subject of B-kings; the seat/tank is so wide your hips will ache like a hookers night shift......grunty, smooth but BIG. For a big bike the pillion seat is useless which is a real shame as they could be so much more versatile and usefull with a slightly wider focus.

[James Deuce]

I can vouch for that. Ernies no slouch in the twisties. I remember our run to East Cape and back, was a quicky and loads of fun and the Z1000 certainly handled all of that well and got along at a real good pace too.

In fact, I recall a rather slow last few kilomtres back to Whakatane because of a certain white line developing in the middle of the rear tread pattern of the Kawa :)

My OPINION, okay? You know what that is worth. I don't like the cheap and nasty stock suspension on modern naked Kawasakis. I find it unnecessarily primitve and when pressing on it adds an element of random response that some people get a woody about. I don't.

[James Deuce]

According to the manual for my bike, (Quote) The standard settings of the rebound damping force adjuster for an average-build rider of 68kg(150lb).You need to spring to suit your weight.

That's damping not spring rate.

I went down in spring rate front and rear and I'm 50% heavier than the manual's rider.

[Big Dave]

manual's rider.

I lern heeem from hay boooook.

[AllanB]

I lern heeem from hay boooook.


You been test riding too many cruisers lately Dave? :lol:


Thou has a all new engine.

Looks like a B-King.


What the heck is it with mufflers on new bikes - they are looking like some crap arse high school sheet metal project. Aprilia, Kawasaki new V4 Honda. Origami looks a lot better done with paper.

[Pixie]

A B-King is a much better ride. Fuel's better, handles better, has vastly more power and torque and a much better ride quality. I'm over the argument about bike asthetics.


.

Too right.How much of a bike can you see when you are riding it?