| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Production | 2003 - present |
| Class | Standard |
| Engine | 953 cc, 11.2:1 CR, liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline four with digital fuel injection |
| Power | 127 PS (93 kW) |
| Transmission | 6-speed cassette-style |
| Weight | 198 kg (437 lb) (dry) |
| Related | Kawasaki Z750 |
The Kawasaki Z1000 is a four-cylinder motorcycle in the streetfighter or standard style.
Contents |
Kawasaki introduced the Z1 motorcycle in 1972. Four years later they introduced the Kz900. The original Kawasaki Z1 was the first series of Japanese motorcycles with the combination of four cylinders, dual overhead cams and 903 cc (55.1 cu in). It was one of the most powerful motorcycles produced up until that time, and set multiple world records. And even though its quarter mile times and top speeds were grossly overestimated, actual numbers were impressive enough to earn the bike the nickname “The King”. In 1977 a z1000 ridden by Reg Pridmore became the first Japanese bike to win an AMA Superbike national when it took the victory at Pocono Raceway. In 2003 Kawasaki introduced a completely revamped 30 year anniversary edition of the Z1000. It used a modified engine from the Kawasaki ZX-9R, and was bored out by 2.2 mm resulting in bigger displacement, more low-RPM torque, and only a slight power loss of 4 bhp from the original ZX9. In 2004, Kawasaki released the Z1000's smaller brother, the Z750. In 2007, Kawasaki released a new Z1000. The Z-series since the 1970s until today are also known as the “Z”, “Zed”, and “Z1k”.
In October 2009, Kawasaki unveiled the 2010 Z1000. It received an all new Aluminum frame, Digital Instrument Panel, Bodywork, and a completely new engine. It sports 77 x 56 mm bore and stroke figures, 1 mm over the ZX-10R’s 76 x 55 mm displacing 1,043 cc. That is up from the previous model's 953 cc. Compression ratio is 11.8:1, and fuel injection is handled by a bank of 38 mm Keihin throttle bodies.[1]
Stylistically, the 2003 Z1000 was a departure from other naked sportbikes of the time. The Z1000 used the same tail section that was being used on the 2003 ZX6R 636 cc sport bike. Kawasaki hired the same industrial designer credited with designing the Mazda Miata to create an aggressive bikini fairing to match the 636s tail section.
The Z1000 uses a backbone frame that supports the engine as a stressed member. Engine mounts can be removed to ease access for maintenance.
Compression damping is done on one fork leg, rebound damping on the other. This technology is from dirt bikes, and is rare on street motorcycles. The Nissin brakes have four piston calipers.
In 2007 Kawasaki released an updated version of the Z1000. The bike features a detuned version of the ZX-9R engine. This detuning, in addition to the design of the exhaust, provides less top end compared to the super-sport ZX-9R engine, but more low to mid rpm range, giving a stock '07-08 Z1000 a top speed of about 166 mph and 0-60 mph acceleration in about 2.9 seconds, with about 125 bhp at 10,000 rpm.
| Engine Type | 4-Stroke, Liquid-Cooled, DOHC, 4-Valve, 4-Cylinder |
| Displacement | 953 cc |
| Bore & Stroke | 77.2 x 50.9 mm |
| Maximum Torque | 72.8 lb/ft @ 8,200 rpm |
| Compression Ratio | 11.2:1 |
| Fuel Injection | DFI with four 36 mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles, ultra-fine atomizing fuel injectors |
| Ignition | TCBI Digital Advance |
| Transmission | 6-Speed |
| Final Drive | X-Ring Chain |
| Frame Type | Backbone, high-tensile steel tubes and cast aluminum engine sub-frame |
| Rake/Trail | 24.5 deg. / 4.0 in. |
| Front Suspension/Wheel Travel | 41 mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in. |
| Rear Suspension/Wheel Travel | Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock, stepless rebound damping and adjustable spring preload / 5.9 in. |
| Front Tire Size | 120/70 ZR17 |
| Rear Tire Size | 190/50 ZR17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.9 in. |
| Front Brake Type | Dual 300 mm petal rotors with radial-mount four-piston calipers |
| Rear Brake Type | Single 250 mm petal rotor with single-piston caliper |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 4.9 gal. |
| Seat Height | 32.3 in. |
| Overall Length | 82.3 in. |
| Overall Width | 30.7 in. |
| Overall Height | 41.9 in. |
The first generation of the Z was a definite success, and now resides in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.[3] Multiple motor-journalists reported unstable handling when operating The 2003 model at high speeds. One journalist, Walt Fulton Jr. from Motorcycle Consumer News, stated that the bike entered an intense, violent tank slapper during high-speed testing. However, reports of owners experiencing the same condition are extremely rare as most owners rave about the bikes stable and predictable handling.
| Type | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| Standard | W650 | W800 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Versys | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ER-5 | ER-6n/ER-6f/Ninja 650R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Zephyr | ZR-7 | Z750 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Z1000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZRX1100 | ZRX1200R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dual-sport | Super Sherpa KL250 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KLR250 | KLX250S | |||||||||||||||||||||
| KLR650 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Ninja 250R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ninja 400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ninja ZX-2R/Ninja ZXR250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZXR400 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| EX500/GPZ500/Ninja 500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZX600C-E/Ninja ZX-6 | ZX600J/Ninja ZX-6R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ZZR600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZXR750 | Ninja ZX-7R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| GPZ900R | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZX900/Ninja ZX-9R | Ninja ZX-10R | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ZX12R/Ninja ZX-12R | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport-Touring | ZZR1100C/Ninja ZX-11C | ZZR1100D/Ninja ZX-11D | ZZR1200/ZX-12C | ZZR1400/Ninja ZX-14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Touring | GTR1000/Connie/Concours | 1400GTR/Concours 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cruiser | EL250 | EL125/Eliminator | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 454 LTD | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulcan EN500A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulcan VN500C | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulcan VN750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulcan VN800A/Vulcan Classic VN800B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vulcan VN900 Classic/VN900B | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MotoGP | Ninja ZX-RR | |||||||||||||||||||||