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Rebel Rouser
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2008 Kawasaki Z1000
Jeff Buchanan
10/01/2007
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Photography by Kinney Jones
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A few years
back, Kawasaki embraced motor-cycling’s problem child—the hooligan bike—with the
introduction of its Z1000, and garnered the manufacturer a solid foothold in the
emerging naked bike category. The original Z1000 was a stripped down, upright
machine that quickly found its place on the upper tiers of the streetfighter
mantel. It merged the omnipresent aspects that inspired the movement—a
rebellious spirit and damaged bodywork. Now, Kawasaki’s resident bad boy has
undergone its first major overhaul to ensure continued membership in this
rough-and-ready club.
 RIDING STYLE
Helmet: Icon Mainframe Holligan
Jacket: Icon Pursuit
Gloves: Icon Timax
Pants: Icon Anthem
Boots: Sidi Vertigo Corsa. (Click image to enlarge)
The wedged, sharp angles of the bike have been exaggerated,
giving the Z1000 a stealth fighter appearance that is also controversial. An
orange seat and copper-chrome megaphone exhaust system contribute to the
polarizing design cues, helping to nurture the inherent, almost mandatory
rebelliousness of the hooligan devotee (even if the rowdy disposition is a
weekend disguise).
 The in-line 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, 953cc engine has
undergone a significant attitude adjustment over its predecessor. Retuned for
low-end and mid-range, the Z1000 bites with emphasis right off idle. An all-new
fuel injection system eliminates any hint of hiccups in the lowest register of
the tachometer, allowing for seamless, steady power, syncopated perfectly to the
demands of the rider’s right wrist. Flywheel mass was increased to smooth out
the power delivery. (Click image to enlarge)
The increased low-end and mid-range performance of the engine
is complemented with lower gearing to give the Z1000 exceptional snap and crisp
response. It is perfect for tight canyon running, while also accommodating the
real world situations of around town stop-and-go riding. A lower clutch spring
rate requires less effort at the lever, and accentuates the butter-smooth
transmission that responds to the slightest twitch of a toe on the ball bearing
shift lever.
 The single most pronounced visual statement on the bike is the
gold-anodized exhaust. The 4-into-2-into-1-into-2 configuration culminates in
dual megaphone end pipes—eye candy deserving of the boulevard—and delivers a
bird scattering, raspy tone when the throttle is twisted. All of these elements
add up to a wonderfully egregious power pulse that makes lifting the Z’s
front-end relatively easy business. Get over zealous with the throttle coming
out of corners and you will need a spatula to scrape up the rubber you leave on
the pavement. (Click image to enlarge)
Chassis stiffness has been reduced with the intent of helping
the rider interpret what the bike is doing. This combination of rigid and rubber
engine mounts help eradicate some of the vibration issues of the previous model.
The new cast aluminum engine sub-frame is augmented with load bearing frame
spars that wrap around the engine at the cylinders, adding to the "Transformers"
appearance of the Z.
 Initially our Z1000 had a disconcerting attitude in corners; a
wallowing sensation that was the result of the factory suspension settings being
far too soft for the average-sized rider. Stiffening up the preload on the new
41mm Showa forks eliminated the swimming front end and brought the Z back into
the realm of an aggressive canyon-carving tool (though at the expense of the
plush ride afforded on the softer settings). (Click image to enlarge)
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