Kawasaki Z1000

The 2010 Z1000 is the most impressive sports naked ever to roll out of Japan. It has excellent performance, handling and is super-stylish to boot. It’s less intimidating and easier to ride than a fire-breathing European super naked too. For the first time the Z1000 gets a superbike-style aluminium twin spar frame, using the engine as a stressed member. The five-piece die-cast aluminium construction frame is 3-4kg lighter than the old tubular steel/cast ali mix frame, with torsional rigidity increased by 30%. It runs over the top of the engine, ZX-10R-style to keep the Z1000 nice and slim. The old steel subframe makes way for a lightweight aluminium item. The riding position is spacious, comfortable and friendly. Handling is predictable and the Z1000 can be hustled around with the best of them. The bike is equipped with radial brakes, fully adjustable forks, a shock adjustable for preload and rebound damping, sexy ‘quad’ exhaust cans and a three-way tilt-adjustable dash.