All Tests – 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 Test: the big bad look – Electronics are good for tourists …

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2014 Kawasaki Z1000 review: the big bad look

All Tests - 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 Test: the big bad look - Electronics are good for tourists ...

After the Z1000SX 2014, it is the turn of the new Z1000 to pass between the gloves of Site. Kawasaki’s outright roadster differs from the old model with a more bestial attitude and multiple mechanical tweaks. First try !

Electronics are good for tourists…

As it tumbles through the first corners of Andalusian back roads, the 2014 Z1000 is much more at ease than on the desperately straight roads. Obvious to plunge into the curves, the maxi roadster delights in the brand new asphalt that takes place under its Dunlops … and its driver too, suddenly !

Nestled in the hills to the north-east of Seville, the dark tar ribbon undulates endlessly, free from the slightest fold and offering a foolproof grip. The Z1000 is clearly in its element: the lightness of its front axle and the explosiveness of its engine work wonders !

The sound of the "Zed" plays an important role: past 7,500 rpm, the 4-legged roar – with pleasure! – via its admission: "the Cool Air system brings cool air to the airbox through intake ducts located in front of the side fairings, which minimizes performance loss due to hot air intake"- and maximizes his vocalizations !

Grayed out, the pilot must measure his interventions on the – wide – handlebars so as not to interfere with the stability of the machine once on the angle. Always in curves, the brakes can be important without locking the steering and undermining the trajectory. A good point on these Spanish roller coasters !

Too firm to circulate in complete relaxation in the small Andalusian villages infested with speed bumps, the suspensions work perfectly on this type of "circuit" … The rigor of the rear axle allows you to take advantage of all the power of the beast, slightly up in 2014.

The Z1000 4-legged now develops 142 horsepower at 10,000 rpm and 111 Nm at 7,300 rpm, in the free world of course! Compared to the previous version, the new Z1000 therefore has 4 hp and 1 Nm more.

Within our borders, the maximum values ​​of the "Big Zed" remain at 106 horsepower and 95 Nm, but these are reached earlier: at 9,000 rpm and 6,000 rpm respectively on the 2014 model, against 9,100 and 7,500 rpm previously.

The short draw of the transmission therefore allows acceleration and recovery worthy of a sports car, so much so that the front wheel tends to shed on the first three gears when touching the red zone posted at 11,000 rpm ( the breaker intervenes 500 turns higher) !

Despite the 51% weight distribution of the bike on the front wheel (see our video interview on the penultimate page), the rider has an interest in getting closer to the handlebars to maintain control of his bike which can be nervous during sharp changes of course.

On the rare portions of damaged road encountered during our journey (220 km on the first day of testing, 130 km the next morning), the new 2014 Z1000 suggested a behavior similar to that of the 2010 model, the rear shock absorber no. ” still not able to absorb all the bumps on exiting turns and making the bike less precise.

Under these conditions, the 190mm D214 fitted on the rear rim struggled more to withstand the load of Akashi’s 142 horsepower, although it did not cause him the slightest problem on perfectly smooth roads. And the reopening of the throttle must be all the more gradual as the new Z1000 is devoid of traction control….

Unlike the "SX", the "short" Z1000 from 2014 skips electronic assistance: KTRC therefore, but also the "Power mode" allowing the engine to be restricted. According to its designer, users of the nasty roadster would prefer to have the full potential of their motorcycle in order to satisfy their quest for thrills (see our video interview).

On the braking side, however, the Z1000 can still be fitted with ABS. This option costs 600 euros – why not include the "traction control" which is just an additional line of code to integrate into the Bosch system ?! – should appeal to French bikers who use their motorcycle on a daily basis, regardless of the level of grip on the ground.

The efficiency of the front brakes, already very satisfactory on the old Z1000, is further improved via a slightly more frank lever attack. The Kawa roadster doesn’t have the bite of a Superbike – Italian, by chance! -, but it should be suitable for arson lovers! The rear brake, however, is still too discreet.

Declared "best Japanese maxi roadster" by Site, the Z1000 should remain so (the CB1000R and the FZ1 are not moving this year) thanks to behavior similar to the old version, improved by subtle modifications. No bad surprise therefore for the followers of the "big Zed" !

For others it is not easy, without trying it, to achieve if one has enough willpower, skills, self-confidence and points on the license (!) To ride this beast and exploit it the huge potential…

The Z1000 "Special Edition"

Kawasaki declines its new Z1000 2014 in two solid colors Black or Orange, displayed at 11,999 €. The version tested by Site (Green and Gray) is called "Special Edition" and requires an extension of 200 €. In addition to its two-tone paint, this Z1000 offers green rim trims, a matching passenger seat, a golden fork and calipers..

From an aesthetic point of view, the new Z1000 gives a hell of a blow to its predecessor and stands out clearly from the rest of the production, especially European. But it is not easy either, without having crossed it "for real", to imagine the effect that the look of this Kawasaki will give you: hypnosis, fear, disgust, seduction, love at first sight ?

To answer this basic question, Kawasaki France gives you an appointment on December 12, 2013 in order to discover the big bad look of its new 2014 Z1000 … Notice to fans !

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