VOL. 50 ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 12, 2013
P37
Z1000 GOES
NAKED
K
awasaki literally took the
wraps off its new 2014 Z1000
last week at the EICMA Show in
Milan, Italy, the "streetfighter"
getting totally naked in its latest
version. Goodbye bodywork,
hello "Sugomi" styling.
So what is "Sugomi" styling?
How about "seductively sculpted
shapes invoking a crouching
predator?" There's also special
"Z" logo ignition keys, machined
aluminum steering stem bolt, and
a textured "Z" motif seat cover.
And it's more potent, according to Kawasaki.
The Z1000's 1043cc, DOHC,
liquid-cooled, 16-valve engine
features revised intake cams
that boost its low-to-midrange
torque. And it also gets additional air-box vents and new cylinder connecting passageways
that help strengthen mid-to-high
rpm performance by improving breathing and reducing the
pumping losses associated with
Naked Gun: The Kawasaki Z1000.
displacing air inside the crankcase.
Four 38mm Keihin downdraft
throttle bodies feed the powerplant with help from a re-tuned
ECU that's setup to provide a
livelier engine feel. There's also
extra ducts at the front of the bike
to route fresh air to the airbox
while a new, non-woven air filter element provides better flow
at revs. The Z1000 gets shorter
overall gearing, but a slightly taller sixth gear helps maintain reasonable rpm at highway speeds.
The powerplant sits in an aluminum frame that's similar to
the ZX-10R on which Tom Sykes
recently won the World Superbike title. The lightweight frame
cradles the engine with the powerplant bolting to the chassis
in three places, with a rubber-
backed fourth mount provided
for added vibration isolation and
torsional rigidity.
The Z1000 gets a new fully adjustable 41mm inverted SFF-BP
(Separate Function Fork – Big
Piston) fork up front and a preload- and rebound-adjustable
horizontal back-link shock in
the rear. The single-shock system features a damper mounted
nearly horizontally above the
swingarm for optimal mass centralization and heat resistance.
The Z1000 definitely has a
look that will turn heads and in
keeping with that look the bike
offers a sit-up-and-beg riding position with its wide, large-diameter aluminum handlebars offering up lots of leverage.
The Z1000 will carry a suggested retail price of $11,999.
SPAIN RULES!
(From left to right) MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez, runnerup Jorge Lorenzo and third-placed Dani Pedrosa celebrate on stage
at the end-of-season awards banquet held in Valencia, Spain on Sunday night.
