VOL. 50 ISSUE 43 OCTOBER 29, 2013
P67
SPECIFICATIONS
After two days and nearly 500
miles on the bike, the new Ninja felt like home. It's sporty and
comfortable. The seating position and ergonomics work for
the type of riding we were doing,
which – like the bike itself – offered up a bit of everything. The
Ninja proved to be at home getting thrashed through the twisties
as it is on the highway, though after all those miles we would have
liked it set up a bit softer. In fact,
it will probably offer up a better
ride with the hard bags loaded
to the gills and a passenger on
the back. If we had the bike for
longer, we'd definitely try some
fiddling with the rear suspension.
The bike got somewhere
around 35 mpg during our ride,
according to the trip computer,
and it features a five-gallon tank.
It's also worth noting as far as gas
mileage goes that we were on a
ride that had moments of feeling
like the World Superbike race we
were headed north to watch.
The Ninja also provides decent
wind protection via a three-way
adjustable windscreen and full
bodywork. The windscreen was
designed to be adjusted while
at a stop, but with a little bit of
creativity it can be done on the
fly, though it's probably not the
smartest thing to do. I was able to
find a comfortable setting for my
vertically challenged 5' 8" frame
and I'm betting the taller riders
could do so as well.
So while the Ninja 1000
doesn't offer up everything you'd
want in a diehard sportbike, it
comes very close. And while
it doesn't offer up all the creature comforts of a touring bike
(cruise control, heated grips,
a centerstand, etc.), it again
comes close. So as compromises go, you may not find better.
Part sportbike, part touring bike.
All Ninja 1000 ABS.
CN
KAWASAKI NINJA 1000 ABS
Engine: .......1043cc liquid-cooled, DOHC,
16-valve, inline Four
Bore x stroke: ..................77.0 x 56.0mm
Compression Ratio: .......................... 11.8:1
Fuel system: . FI with four 38mm Keihin
D
throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles
Ignition: ..........TCBI with digital advance
Transmission: .............................Six-speed
Final drive: ........................................Chain
Rake/Trail: ..........24.5 degrees/4 inches
Front Tire: ............................ 120/70 ZR17
Rear Tire: .............................190/50 ZR17
Front Suspension: ...............Showa 41mm
inverted fork, adjustable for compression, rebound and preload, 4.7 inches
travel
Rear Suspension: ........Horizontal linkage
Showa monoshock, adjustable for
rebound and preload, 5.4 inches travel
Front Brakes: ......................................Dual
300mm petal-type rotors with radialmount four-piston Tokico calipers
Rear Brake: .... Single 250mm petal-type
rotor with single-piston caliper
Seat Height: ............................32.3 inches
Wheelbase: .............................56.9 inches
Curb Weight: ...................... 502.7 pounds
Fuel Capacity: .............................. 5 gallon
Color choices: .................... Ebony, Candy
Fire Red/Ebony
MSRP: ............................................$11,999
