Kawasaki Z1000 (2011)

The Z1000 thrills before you even jump aboard, with some of motorcycling’s most rakishly stunning lines and body shapes. The aesthetic showcase begins with a low-mount front cowl that slopes back radically, highlighting the Z’s prow and, behind it, an adjustable instrument cluster featuring a multifunction LCD display covered by a trick-looking orange lens. The headlight represents Kawasaki’s first-ever use of a line-beam unit, the guts of which are integrated nicely into that angled cowl. Moving rearward, you come to a shapely fuel tank that’s flared on the sides to let you grab it with your knees and that’s trim at the back for a snug fit. The seat is low and narrow at the front to make ground contact easy, and flows beautifully rearward to end in a futuristically retro LED taillight behind a red lens. It’s a thoroughly athletic shape, one sure to garner attention wherever it’s ridden.

Totally redesigned just last year, the Z features a wide range of new-think moto technology, including an aluminum frame similar to the ZX™-10R’s that curves over the engine, cradling it from above. The design allows a narrow mid-section, which fosters a high degree of rider comfort and feedback in addition to keeping weight low and chassis rigidity high. The engine bolts solidly to the frame in three places, stressed-member-style, and there’s also a rubber mount at the upper rear crankcase area for added vibration damping and torsional rigidity. The main frame and swingarm pivot elements are cast as a single unit, with welds eliminated wherever possible for a more aesthetically pleasing look. And the subframe is a lightweight aluminum die-casting, which is light, smooth and beautiful.



Suspension at both ends is thoroughly modern and wickedly functional: a beefy, fully adjustable 41mm inverted fork up front and a spring preload and rebound damping adjustable horizontal back-link shock is mounted above the swingarm to shield it from exhaust heat and foster an added degree of mass centralization. Wheel control is simply superb, and the substantial feedback sent to the rider makes it easy to know exactly what’s going on at the bike’s contact patches.



The heart of every naked bike is its engine, so Kawasaki engineers paid special attention here for maximum, arm-straightening impact: Dual cams. Sixteen valves. 1,043cc. Liquid cooling. High compression. A long stroke – 56mm – for instantaneous thrust. Six speeds. And digital fuel injection. It’s all there.

Kawasaki Z 1000 Features:

Year
2011

Engine
Liquid cooled, four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC, 4 valve per cylinder.

Capacity
1043
Bore x Stroke 77.0 x 56.0mm
Compression Ratio 11.8:1

Induction
DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles

Ignition / Starting
TCBI with digital advance / electric

Transmission / Drive
6 Speed / chain
Frame Type: Aluminum Backbone
Rake/Trail 24.5 degrees / 4.1 in.

Front Suspension
41mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in wheel travel

Rear Suspension
Horizontal monoshock with stepless rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 5.4 in wheel travel.

Front Brakes
2x 300mm discs 2 piston caliper

Rear Brakes
Single 250mm disc 1 piston caliper

Front Tyre
120/70 -R17

Rear Tyre
190/50 ZR17
Seat Height 815.3 mm / 32.1 in.

Fuel Capacity
15.5 Litres / 4.1 lb
Consumption average 17.1 km/lit

Standing ¼ Mile
11.1 sec

Top Speed
239.7 km/h