Ninja 1000/Z1000SX Owners' Thread (or wanna be's)

[CrashDummy]

Originally Posted by rs42sport

How many miles do you out of the tires with this bike???

I got about 8,000 out of the stock rubber.

[cls]

Originally Posted by CrashDummy

If you can be conservative and not ride it like you stole it, you can get low 40's like he does. It's so much fun to twist the throttle for me though, so I get mid 30's

Yeh, I know the routine. Most of my riding is around town w/very little steady-state cruising. I'm sure I'd end up in the high 30's to low 40's. Some taller gearing (lighter weight, bigger wind screen, and fully adjustable suspension) would certainly help. Eyes open...

Thanks.

[JSharp]

Originally Posted by cls

Yeh, that won't get it for my primary, work horse bike. That's what I expected.

Thanks.

Almost 13K miles on my bike now and it's averaged right at 40 MPG. I've seen as high as 44 MPG and as low as 34 MPG. My commute and most of my riding is on rural 2 lanes so most of the time I'm near the average, but in colder weather the mileage drops noticeably. I don't ride that hard and spend very little time slabbing it.

Originally Posted by rs42sport

How many miles do you out of the tires with this bike???

I got 5700 miles out of the OE rear and 5800 from the front. Replaced the OE BT-016's with BT-023's. So far I have about 7K on the -023 front but the rear got a puncture around 3400 miles so I don't know how long it would have lasted. The BT-016 Pro that's on the rear now doesn't look like it will outlast the OE BT-016.

When the rear is gone I'll probably replace both tires and try a BT-016 Pro front and an -023 rear. The -023 front is durable but I don't care for how it feels.

[Cos]

Try the Metz Z8.

I have them on my 955 Daytona and i am quite pleased. 190-55 rear.

[haknslash]

I typically average in the high 30's for fuel consumption but I can get in the low 40's if I ride it like a mule (who wants to do that anyways with this bike?).

[Joey Stalin]

Originally Posted by haknslash

I typically average in the high 30's for fuel consumption but I can get in the low 40's if I ride it like a mule (who wants to do that anyways with this bike?).

Fuelly is awesome. Looks like the average for this bike is right around 38-39, pretty standard bell curve distribution.

http://www.fuelly.com/motorcycle/kawasaki/ninja%201000

[JSharp]

Fuelly is awesome. Here's the link to my bike there - http://www.fuelly.com/driver/jsharp/ninja-1000

Notice how the mileage goes to hell in cold weather, especially when it's mostly commuting like it has been for me in the last couple of months. I did get a little 160 mile trip in today and a fill up 1/2 way through was 34.4 MPG.

I'm sure it would have been 40+- if the first 1/2 of the tank wasn't commuting in 30 and 40 degree temps.

[X1Glider]

Everyday commuting, I typically get 38 mpg on mine. But I ride it hard everywhere I go. On a trip, where I can maintain speeds of 65-80, I get about 35-36 with luggage. It isn't geared for highway mile munching. A Busa will get better mpgs (around 5 more) on a cross country trip at a steady 80 mph.

[Harry Backer]

How is the slow speed steering (parking lot) on these. Looking at getting one in a few months.

[cls]

Originally Posted by X1Glider

Everyday commuting, I typically get 38 mpg on mine. But I ride it hard everywhere I go. On a trip, where I can maintain speeds of 65-80, I get about 35-36 with luggage. It isn't geared for highway mile munching. A Busa will get better mpgs (around 5 more) on a cross country trip at a steady 80 mph.

Yeh, I got better economy from my 'Busa when ridden easily than I do/did on a number of bikes. Crazy...The Ninja 1K would be one of my choices for an all-rounder IF it got better mpg (A high-end Versys would be even better IMO.). As much as it shames me, and as far as it is from my past riding history, I finally don't need (or even want...well, sort of don't want) 200 hp. Give me power delivery/character, light handling, economy and fun.

Thanks for the feedback gentlemen and/or ladies.

[JSharp]

Originally Posted by Harry Backer

How is the slow speed steering (parking lot) on these. Looking at getting one in a few months.

The bars are wide compared to a real sportbike so you have a lot of leverage. I think it's nice and light but others that have owned a few more modern bikes than I have may not agree.

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by Cos

Try the Metz Z8.

I put a set of Z8's on after the BT-16's were done. I liked the Bridgestones alright, but the Z8 is a tire I would've run again.

[fast4d]

for those of you in CA that wants to buy one with ABS.....you can't. they don't make one that you can buy new in CA.

you can't buy a 49-state since it doesn't have CA emissions and can't import with less than 7500 miles.

[stripple]

I like my bikes to have the ability to scare me a little in regards to acceleration. I've researched a bit and it looks like you can get close to 150 rwhp from an ECU and pipe combo like Brock's. I have a few questions:

1) has anyone done said modifications? If so, what are your impressions?

2) I've read that the bike has a nice amount of low end power, some have said that it does not. Many of my recent bikes have been larger displacement Vtwins, I have grown to love the feel of the twins, but I still love a smooth I-4 with a strong torque curve. How does this compare to othr large I-4's?

3) one review I looked at said the bike was devoid of "personality". It was written by someone who owned a VFR 800, in my opinion of of the most boring bikes on the road. For me, lack of character in a bike is a death sentence. I cannot own a bike that has no "soul". I realize that this is extremely subjective but anyone's comments regarding this are very appreciated.


This machine sure seems to be my next bike. Seems to have everything I want in a bike. There's been so much rain here lately that I haven't been able to get up to Portland to ride one. I'll have a few weeks off after Xmas, and one big priority is to get myself on one of these for a test ride. Thanks in advence for your imput!!!

[Blakebird]

Originally Posted by stripple

2) I've read that the bike has a nice amount of low end power, some have said that it does not. Many of my recent bikes have been larger displacement Vtwins, I have grown to love the feel of the twins, but I still love a smooth I-4 with a strong torque curve. How does this compare to othr large I-4's?

If you want a bike that will scare you.... do what I did a few years ago and buy a ZX-14. Awesome bikes.

The Ninja 1000 could probably scare you until you got used to it, but it's plenty fast. Doing all those performance modifications (IMO) would miss the point of buying this bike over something that came off the drawing board to impress with speed - not all around capability.

The engine is not a retuned ZX-10R, etc. - it's purpose built for the Ninja 1000 and Z1000, and is a great midrange motor.
It pulls cleanly and firmly from just off idle....you start to feel it gather steam around 3500 rpms, and by 4200 it's got your attention.

It's great on the road too, comfortable and has range. Has the sport touring chops of a VFR, but is much more of a sport bike at heart.