Thanks, I keep bumping this thread hoping to see some more Zeds... I guess there all hibernating for the winter already
I've always liked Z1000s, the new one reminds me a bit of a Brutale in a way. Edgy and bulldog in the way it comes across. How do you like it compared to other bikes you'd ridden?
I haven't ridden very many bikes, but it's very aggressive. It pulls like an ox, especially above 4,000rpm. Even with all the brutish power though, it's never felt like too much, or too raw. Very predictable and controllable power. Gobbs and gobbs of exciting power. Compared to my last bike, Ninja 650, the transmission is like going from a tractor to a BMW. I can be a bit buzzy in the upper revs, but it's not bad, it doesn't bother me in the least. It feels like a very light bike, I can bop it around almost as easy as my old Ruckus, lol. That thing weighed less than I do! I love it.
I chuckled at this because of how agricultural BMW bike gearboxes are. Or can be. I agree about the power delivery of the zed. It's just a lot of useable power without the twitchiness of the race replicas. When you ride in the mountains a lot, you find yourself rowing the gears all the time with a sport bike, unless you have a torquey bike like the Zed.
Kawasaki Z1000 by Southwade, on Flickr Kawasaki Z1000 by Southwade, on Flickr Kawasaki Z1000 by Southwade, on Flickr Kawasaki Z1000 by Southwade, on Flickr Kawasaki Z1000 by Southwade, on Flickr
Sorry for the late response, yes I like them alot. I run them without the inserts and they make a good bit of sound. I bought them off the Z1000 forum cheap so I can always sell them and put the mufflers back on if I choose. Black is the only way to go if you ask me.
I'm having a hard time finding a really good reason to modify this bike at all... I absolutely love it just how it is, lol.