Kawasaki has always believed in delivering horses for courses. With their latest ZX-10R and ZX-6R superbikes they told the world that these uncompromising machines were designed to deliver the best possible racetrack performance for experienced riders, and those who wanted a bike more suited for everyday use should look elsewhere in their range.
That “elsewhere” is right here, with the all-new 2007 Kawasaki Z1000 providing near-superbike performance in a very user-friendly package. The naked machine is the class leader in terms of looks and performance, with the added bonus that its pricing brings it well within the reach of those who could otherwise afford only smaller, less powerful machines that deliver loads of sizzle without much steak.
Because the Z1000 was designed for use in real-world conditions, Kawasaki has tuned the new bike’s engine to deliver more torque across the rev range, particularly in the low to mid-range. This means the rider need merely twist the throttle open in any gear at any speed to experience jet-fighter-like acceleration.
Compared with the previous model, the 2007 machine has new camshaft profiles, smaller intake and exhaust valves, meatier crank webs to increase flywheel mass, and smaller-bore throttle bodies (36mm vs 38mm) with ultra-fine injectors offering a smooth response at any revs or throttle opening. There’s also a new slick-shifting transmission with lower gearing.
A new, lighter, dual exhaust system with twin silencer end-caps on each side maintains the traditional four-pipe appeal of earlier Z1000s, while boosting mid-range considerably. Maximum power is 92 kW (125 PS) at 10Â 000 rpm, while peak torque of 98,7 Nm is now available from 8Â 200 rpm, with a broad spread across the rev range.
The frame of the latest Kawasaki has been redesigned to offer more exhilaration in real-world situations. The steering head has been moved 10mm forward, with the slightly longer wheelbase and rearward shift in weight balance offering improved stability without sacrificing the Z1000’s legendary quick steering.
The chassis was designed with 15% less stiffness than that of the earlier model, for improved feedback to the motorcyclist who likes to ride hard on ordinary roads rather than spend his days playing with a superbike on a perfectly smooth racetrack. A new cast aluminium sub-frame allows the engine mounts to be relocated behind the cylinder heads rather than in front of them, closer to the engine’s centre of gravity. This leads to improved ride quality and reduced vibration transmitted to the rider.
Because Z1000 owners do much of their riding in town, the handlebars have been moved closer to the rider to give a more upright riding position and greater control. The 18,5-litre fuel tank is now narrower, and the width of the bike below the seat 40mm less, which, with the slimmer overall design, enables riders to more easily place both feet on the ground when stopping.
A new pressed-aluminium swing arm hangs on a revised mounting, and is supported by an adjustable rear shock absorber. Stylish 41mm upside-down front forks look the business while doing the job, and radial-mount brake calipers and a radial-pump front master cylinder (both firsts in this category) are mated to triple petal brake discs.
Most motorcycles, like most people, look better with their clothes on, but the naked Kawasaki was designed to look gorgeous in the buff. The exposed 953-cubic-centrimetre, four-cylinder engine is a thing of beauty, and the sexy bodywork gives the bike looks that will guarantee at least a few admirers at every stop. Instrumentation on the new Z1000 is attractive and easy to read at a glance, with an analogue rev counter flanked by an LCD display incorporating the digital speedometer, odometer, trip meter, water temperature and fuel gauges, and a clock.
Superbikes are stunning machines, providing performance and handling way ahead of anything else on wheels, but for many riders they’re unsuitable for everyday use because they’re simply too focused on the racetrack. The Kawasaki Z1000 is a real motorcycle for use by real people in the real world, delivering huge dollops of power and torque where you best use them on the road — at low revs and in the mid-range.
It’s comfortable for both rider and passenger, it handles superbly and it’s fast enough to give superbike riders pause for thought when you feel like playing boy racer with them over weekends. As one tester in the United Kingdom put it, “it’s a stonking streetfighter. It has attitude, it’s got more style than the Beckhams, and it’ll stretch a smile across your face.”
The 2007 Kawasaki Z1000 is available in black or orange, and retails for R89Â 995 with a two-year, unlimited-distance warranty.
Press release by Kawasaki Motors South Africa. Details at www.kawasakisa.co.za