2014 Kawasaki Z1000 Abs

Ignition

KAWASAKI Z1000 FLHTCU TRIUMPH 250s > CWADVENTURE RALLY

lifE RIDE 1RR7~ HERE

Twin LED headlamps in a frowning very Japanese cowl give the new Z100IJ a menacing look. Improved engine and new chassis with better brakes back up the predatory appearance.

2014 KAWASAKI Z1000 ABS

CW FIRST RIDE

Controversial looks, killer performance

Andrew Bornhop

AY WHAT YOU WILL about the new Ziooo's styling, but there's an impressive machine lurking beneath that sugomi-influenced bodywork. It's more serious and harder edged than before, Kawasaki says, and based on my recent ride of this new big-bore naked in the San Gabriel Mountains above Los Angeles, I'd have to agree.

Substantive changes start with the liquid-cooled i,043cc inlinefour, which, like the Ninja 1000, has been tweaked for improved torque and better top-end power. Thanks to a new intake camshaft (with 0.3mm less lift and six degrees less duration), plus a modified airbox, a revised ECU, taller velocity stacks, and reduced internal pumping losses, the dohc 16-valver pulls hard all the way to its 11,250-rpm redline.

Although fuel injected (via four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies), the Z1000 is not ride-by-wire and, unlike its Ninja 1000 sibling, doesn't have any fancy riding modes or traction control, which is in keeping with the minimal streetfighter nature of the bike. But even with its snappy throttle response, the Z1000 is remarkably easy to ride smoothly in slow around-town situations, thanks to its excellent fueling. And when you finally do get to a spot where you can open the throttle, Kawi says there are two passages in the new airbox that produce an intake howl that "complements the physical sense of acceleration."

Not that it's needed. The 2014 Z1000 is plenty quick, thanks in part to final-drive gearing that's shorter than the Ninja 1000's. What's more, the Z1000 is more relaxed at highway speeds, courtesy of a taller sixth gear that has the engine spinning 5,000 rpm at 70 mph in sixth gear.

Other significant new Z1000 hardware includes the twin-spar aluminum frame of the Ninja 1000, plus a die-cast aluminum subframe and a 41mm Showa SFF-BP fork. Although the fork has springs in both legs, the spring-preload adjuster is only on the left tube, and the damping adjusters (for compression and rebound) are only on the right. The main goal, Kawasaki says, is smooth initial travel for improved feel during braking, which has been enhanced by four-piston monoblock front brake calipers, together with a new radial-pump front master cylinder and grippier pads. ABS is provided by Bosch.

BY THE NUMBERS

127.5

PEAK HORSEPOWER: Z1000 backs it I I Ê

up with 75.8 pound-feet of torque. M Mm

147

TOP SPEED:

New Z1000 can't quite match the Ninja 1000, at 151 mph.

10.38

ACCELERATION: Z1000 blisters through the quarter in 10.B8 sec. @ 129.88 mph.

SPEAKING JAPANESE

Sugomi, says Kawasaki, describes "the intense aura or energy given off by a person or object of greatness and felt by the viewer." Are you feeling it with the new Z1000? If not, perhaps this elaboration will help: "Sugomi can be seen in the crouching form of a hunting predator as it gathers energy in preparation to strike, muscles tensing in anticipation, eyes locked onto its prey." Now, stare at the Z1000 for a minute, and take note of those "frown" lines above the sinister-looking LED headlights. Is Kawasaki on to something here?

WHETHER YOU LIKE THE STYLING OR NOT, THERE'S NO DENYING THAT KAWASAKI'S NEW Z1000 IS AN IMPRESSIVE UPDATE ON WHAT ALREADY WAS AN EXCELLENT MACHINE. BUT DOES IT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT LOWERPRICED UPSTARTS LIKE THE YAMAHA FZ-09?

So what's the new Ziooo like to ride? Impressive. It's totally at home in the city, where it spurts through traffic with ease. And it's a delight on twisty mountain roads, where the suspension that feels a tad overly firm in the bumpy city gives the bike a welcome composure in high-speed sweepers. A wide powerband and abundant torque eliminate the need for frequent downshifts, and the gearbox is second nature, blessed with an easy-to-modulate cable clutch. Although the bike has a not-insubstantial dry weight of 462 pounds, Kawasaki worked hard to centralize the bike's mass while also providing it with steering that feels precise but not too quick. The geometry, identical to that of the Ninja 1000, features 24.5 degrees of rake and 4 inches of trail.

As a tall rider (6-foot-4), I prefer the higher bar and more upright seating position of the 2013 bike, but the new Ziooo, thanks to its lower, more forward-canted riding position, feels sportier and gets the rider more out of the wind, which is appreciated if you commute long distances. Moreover, with its firmer suspension and improved throttle response, the 2014 Ziooo feels more ready to play.

Whether you like the styling or not, there's no denying that Kawasaki's new Ziooo, which retails for $11,999, is an impressive update on what already was an excellent machine. But does the new model have what it takes to beat lower-priced upstarts like the Yamaha FZ-09 or proven Euro fighters such as the Aprilia Tuono V4 R or MV Agusta Brutale 800?

Looks like we have a comparison test in the making.

KAWASAKI Z1000 ABS

ENGINE TYPE

dohc inline-4

E HIHUEZIl

1 □ 43cc

MMUHHiH

31.6 in.

E03MBZHB1

4.5 gal.

■■MWJHHÍH

462 lb.

E S

$11,999