Kawasaki Z1000 Abs

KAWASAKI Z1000 ABS

YEAR OF THE NAKED

RICH PERFORMANCE FOR THE POOR

DON CANET

Hold on, big spender... Kawasaki’s Z1000 just powered out of the hole and hit 60 mph in 2.5 seconds as though it had a chip on its shoulder. Perhaps at $11,999 it does?

Despite receiving a host of engine, chassis, suspension, brake, and styling revisions for 2014, clocking an impressive 10.38 seconds at 127.5 mph in the quarter-mile, and running a 147-mph top speed at our test site, the Z1000 was cut from our Super Standards comparison. An injustice considering it costs thousands less and offers competitive performance?

A case can be made for the Ziooo from a performance/ value standpoint; it lacks a lot of the sizzle and definitely doesn’t deliver the premium features present on the elite naked bikes of the year.

Raising a front wheel in the face of those elites, the Ziooo foregoes traction control, wheelie control, and selectable throttle response/power delivery modes. What you get is unfiltered tire-smoking thrust of the most robust type. The liquid-cooled 1,043a: inline-four has been retuned for improved midrange and stronger top-end punch.

Grunt hasn’t suffered a hit in the process; release the smooth clutch and seamlessly motor away from a standstill.

Feeling up to a wheelie? No need to pull this hooligan bike to the curb and page through menus to override electronic safeguards. Just snap open the throttle and tug on the taper-style handlebar. Traction control (present on the Ninja 1000) is hardly missed thanks to supreme fueling and tractable delivery. The gearbox offers a light, short throw, and the fluid upshifts rival those of its quickshifterequipped competitors.

The ride is superbike taut, with standard settings more suited to a billiard table than real-world roads. Backing off damping on the Showa Big Piston fork and single shock all the way out takes the bite out of bumps in town.

Front radial-mount monoblock Tokico brakes are excellent, but it’s a shame the Ziooo’s ABS lacks an off switch.

Running wild, naked, and free while off-throttle is one thing; powering ahead with unrestrained abandon is another. The Kawasaki Z1000 is a beast off its leash when you let it eat.

KAWASAKI Z1000 ABS

$11,999