All Tests – 2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX Test: Everything is under control! – Pack your bags, we’re leaving!

2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX review: everything is under control !

All Tests - 2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX Test Drive: Everything is Under Control! - Pack your bags, we're leaving!

The new version of the Kawasaki Z1000SX will be available in dealerships in December, but MNC has already been able to discover Akashi’s sporty road roadster (!) On the occasion of its European presentation, organized near Vienna (Austria).. A little waltz ?

Pack your bags, we’re leaving !

We can not help but think that by organizing the press launch of their new Z1000SX in the depths of Austria at the end of September, European Kawasaki officials hoped to make the testers of the specialist motorcycle press run if not under the rain, at least in the wet…

Z1000SX 2014: availability, colors and price

  • Availability: early December 2013 in the

  • Colors: Green "Candy Lime", Black "Metallic Spark" or Gray "Metallic Graphite"

  • Price: around 12,800 € (ABS +600 euros)

Bad pick – for the Greens, but "good" for the testers! -, the weather was good and it was under sunny skies that Site got to know the second generation of this sporty 1043 cc roadster, which for 2014 receives a double ration of electronic assistance.

Indeed, as announced at the beginning of the month on Site, the Z1000SX will now be equipped as standard with the K-TRC (Kawasaki traction control) – disconnectable and adjustable on three levels – and two power modes. Hence the interest Kawasaki had in showing us its novelty on small wet roads !

Finally, Site takes possession of the new Kawasaki under a soft sun and the few gray clouds agglutinated on the neighboring hills are not enough to undermine our morale: the road is dry and the piloting aids should not serve the masses today..

Our attention is therefore turned away from these two assistances – and their common control located on the left stalk – to turn to the rear of the motorcycle, on which the Japanese engineers have worked well..

Not particularly useful for a press test, the new suitcases available as accessories are fitted to the entire fleet. Because during our face to face meeting with the development manager of this new "SX", Makoto Momosaki told us that his priority on this project was precisely these suitcases. !

The Greens readily recognize it today: the integration of the old elements had been sloppy and the hideous luggage racks disfigured the chiseled rear of the "Zed" too much when the 38-liter saddlebags were left in the garage..

"This time we wanted the style of the suitcases to match the bike, to be easy to use, more centered and less bulky. (25 liters, Editor’s note), but they both easily accommodate a full face helmet", explained to us the" Z Master ", Momosaki San, who previously worked on the Z750 and Z1000 roadsters.

Before getting on the Z1000SX, MNC therefore takes care to check the words of the Japanese "Large Project Leader": the bags (manufactured by Givi) actually swallow our Scorpion Exo-1000 Air, a rather bulky full face helmet model without coughing..

The opening mechanism of the suitcases is extremely simple, just like the one that allows them to be detached from the motorcycle. A quick jerk to the rear and the cases leave their plastic supports which also act as passenger handles, replacing the original aluminum handles, even more elegant than before.

Finally, a significant improvement over the old model as well: the barrels of the new suitcases fit the ignition key and avoid weighing down the pilot’s keychain. Even the steering of the bike is "lightened", since the lighter cases sit 35mm closer to the center of the bike, the indicators having been moved back accordingly..

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