FIRST RIDE
P64
2014 KAWASAKI NINJA 1000 ABS
The Ninja 1000 ABS
now features traction
control and a host of
other updates over
last year's model
for not much more
money.
over the two days, putting the
bike through its paces on everything from the paved "goat trails"
near Cambria to some of the
best twisties the state has to offer. And a bit of standard highway
riding in between. It was a good
test of rear-end and machine as
80 percent of the riding came on
the first day.
Since Kawasaki did more than
just give the new Ninja a facelift,
the ride was designed to show
us just how much they had done.
And to show us what compromise was all about. The Ninja
1000 isn't a sportbike and it isn't
a touring bike, but it's plenty of
both and we left the one-way ride
up north more than impressed.
Let's start with the engine upgrades. The 1043cc powerplant
gets a new intake cam (.3mm
less lift and six degrees less duration), as well as ECU and intake
and exhaust changes to give it a
bit more oomph down low. As a
result, the new Ninja makes its
peak torque 500 rpm sooner.
It's got plenty of acceleration and
you can roll on the power in any
gear and it never struggles or
leaves you wanting more. Ride
