Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/513714
KAWASAKI Z1000 RIDING IMPRESSION P100 everyday riding, but I prefer a harder set-up so for me the feel straight out of the box was pretty close to what I like. The front- end has exceptional stability under brakes and provides lots of feel when you initially tip into a corner. It feels better the faster you go, and encourages you to go harder and harder under brakes. The back-end is only preload and rebound adjustable, which is a shame consider- ing the front has the full gamut of adjustability, but the Showa monoshock still provides excel- lent stability under power when riding hard. Like the front it's set pretty firm as standard, but that bodes well if you're up for a bit of two-up riding and don't want to have to change the settings on the shock each time. The front monobloc Tokico calipers have tons of power and feel, one finger is all you need to haul the Zee up at speed and thankfully the rear brake isn't an afterthought—it actually works. The braking system is backed up by a pretty unobtrusive ABS system that plays a back role in the show, only shuddering its way into the program when absolutely needed. You can squeeze the lever properly hard and not get any pulsing at the lever, but it's nice to know it's there. The ABS is switchable via the left button on the dash. It's nice that Kawasaki gives you the option of having the system on or off because many manufactur- ers have taken that choice away from you. The Zee is one seriously imposing looking bike. It's small and muscly, like someone gave Mickey Mouse a vein-full of the good stuff and sent him to the gym for a month. Compared to something like a BMW S 1000 R the Kawasaki is tiny—you're pitched forward to get your 2 0 1 5 K A W A S A K I Z 1 0 0 0 ENGINE: ......................................... Inline four-cylinder, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, liquid cooled DISPLACEMENT: ........................1043cc BORE X STROKE: ............... 77 x 56mm TORQUE: ........................................ N/A COMPRESSION RATIO: ................. 11.8:1 IGNITION: .........................................Key TRANSMISSION: ................... Six-speed Front suspension: .........41mm Showa SFF-BP inverted cartridge fork, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: .................. Showa monoshock, preload and rebound damping adjustable FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ...............4.7 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ................ 4.8 in. FRONT BRAKE: ....... Twin 310mm petal discs, Tokico four-piston calipers, ABS REAR BRAKE: ...... Single 250mm disc, single-piston caliper, ABS FRONT TIRE: Dunlop Sportmax D214T 120/70 ZR17 REAR TIRE: .. Dunlop Sportmax D214T 190/50 ZR17 RAKE: ............................................. 24.5° TRAIL: .......................................... 4.0 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ............................ 32.1 in. WEIGHT: ................................ 487.3 lbs. COLOR: Golden Blazed Green/Metal- lic Spark Black MSRP: ........................................$11,999 Get over the front, dig the tire in and the Zee will turn on a dime.