KAWASAKI Z1000 (2004 - 2006) Review

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £200

It's a hooligan bike! Anyone who rides it comes back with a Cheshire Cat grin because it distills the raw essence of motorbikes - tons of power, usable torque, an eagerness to rev, connection with the road and elements and a rorty sound. It reminds you what bikes are all about. It's easy to ride around town and suprisingly comfortable on the backlanes, but being naked, it's not much fun on the motorway and feels vibey at constant speeds. The suspension could be sharper - it wallows through bumpy corners, and can be an exciting ride on poor road surfaces - but agile turn in means it can be thrown around accurately and there's plenty of lean to scrub the chicken strips off your tyres. Real fun on a track with plenty of bobbly tyre potential. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a riders' bike - usable, fun, mad grin, a good reason to be alive.

Rear shock could do with less rebound, Forks seem adequate (but maybe a good rear shock will show any faults). The engine is adequate, plenty of power to get to 100km/h in one breath and 200km/h seconds later. Faults: Suspension (wallowy in some corners, strong rebound causes concern in bumpy corners), The engine gets very vibey in the higher revs. Pro's: Engine has more than enough power to lose your license, do track days and power wheelies in first and if you try in second. Looks stunning, sounds good with an after market 4 into one. Brakes are a little lack lustre. I love this bike, but now I want to upgrade to a bike with better suspension, brakes and power. This bike would suit open road commuting, weekend blasts, track days and touring. Pretty versatile.

I bought this bike after owning the 750 a few years previous. The 750 was lacking in quality in regards to brakes and suspension. It lacked a little grunt and need a tad of wind protection. All of these are addressed in 1000. I had an RSV-R 04 before my z1000 and so if Your expecting manic performance bike I was, you'll be disappointed. What this bike is, is pretty good at everything. But not extreme in anyway. You can commute to work all year round, ride long distance in comfort(under 80), pull wheelies and get you knee down on the back roads, and keep up with your mates on sports bikes at the weekend. It is so reliable its awesome, and fast enough to get you band (for years). Just a good everything bike. Bad points: Exhausts get rusty in the winter and the polished wheels are a pain. (just get them painted). The handling is very boat like and needs proper suspension set up (as its quite crude) and stickier tyres to give you any kind of confidance. Brakes could do with braided cables and high performance pads. All in all nothing that a few quid and some time can sort out, and this bike is spot on all round.

wel ive owned my 2005 z 1000 for just under 3 yrs now and i have to update my review that i posted at the time i got her, simply put this bike is what made me fall in love with biking all over again. 100% reliable, 100% smiles per miles and with a few little tweeks a real head turner, people will always want to look at ya on this machine, a true beaut in every sense of the word, for more info, chat and general help with the big zed visit www.zedoc.co.uk

What a good bike! Ok the brakes arent the best, and the suspension is not as good as on the ZX10. But it still does axactly what it needs to. Although I like the standard cans, they really should be replaced with something that lets you hear the engine, it sounds so good! I have had 2 of these, both fealt very different to ride from each other, but both good none the less. The power is smooth and builds to a strong pull at the top, the only problem is, because of the riding position, if you want to release the ponies all at once, it is necessary to lean forward and hold on first, preparing for what is about to happen... Good for long rides, wrists and bum... no problems. Tank range is about what you would expect and pretty much the same as other jap bikes. Wind blast is an issue, but it is on all naked bikes. At least it stops you holding silly speed and losing your license! If you want something that can do it all, but don't want a full on supersport, look no further.

Test rides on everything from Blades to Fazer 1000 in 4 weeks. The Zed was sitting next to the Fazer I was there for in Perth M/cycles. Couldn't get back to the showroom quick enough. 5 miles later and I'm haggling with my ZX-6 and a wad of cash. Only 4 days later in -3degree temps and I'm back to pick it up. Covered 400miles that day stopping at every service station to get heat back into my hands. That was 2yrs and 26000mls ago. The bikes been 2 tours covering 2000mls each (one two up)in a week and covers 80mls by motorway to work every day. All done without a flicker. It does have cheap suspension but the slight vagueness just makes it even more addictive. If I'd wanted perfect stability I'd have bought a Blackbird. Only real problem with it is, what to replace it with. Mines a 2003 model and the new model is Horrendous. Super Duke R maybe?? (Best tyres so far though are Continental Road Attack. 7000 hard miles and they don't need changed yet. Stick to the road like glue and there cheap)

Saw it in a magazine had to have one, having had it two years now have added underseat pipes, make it different, bellypan, new screen for trips to Assen, new rear no plate hanger with built in indicators and colour coded rad covers plus others, this bike is awesome brakes are good if kept on top off and if you have braided lines, the off mark speed is top drawer beating the new R1 and Gixxer 1000 as proven on route to Assen (hehehe) from stand still, on the twisties cant fault the beast she looks after you, gets you out of trouble and gives you a grin like a chesire cat, Even it town you will be grinning as everyone always gives the zed a good old glance so overall sweet, just stay away from motorways or Autobahns as it gets tiring and boring even fitted with a good screen above 110mph gets a bit chooppy and top end well your front wheel is vibrating like a knackered washing machine but hey its fun. Strengths: Strengths everything power handling looks grin factor.  Weaknesses: Top end wobble but hey its a street fighter not a motorway mauler.

Just bought mine and only rode it once (200 miles), what a comfy bike....no back or bum ache at all. front folks are a little soft but live able, brakes are a little weak but hope that a change of pads will sort that out. Strengths:  Comfort, looks, grin factor. Weaknesses: Front folks, brakes.

Plenty of useable power in a comfortable package. You can ride for hours without wrist or back ache. I've read other reviews which have conplained about the hard seat - I cannot find a problem with mine, unless it's been fixed on the newer versions. I find the brakes are good but the front forks are too soft in standard trim for spirited riding, these need firming up. If you want a bike for posing on and then blasting them all away this is it! Strengths: Plenty of useable power, comfortable, handles well, looks fantastic and goes like a rocket. Weaknesses: Soft front forks, stepped pillion seat is too far away for comfortable 2-up riding and tank range too small.

I started out with the zxr400 then a 600 ninja and now the Z, I can not fault the Z from a female point of view, its so easy to get on with, I have added so many extra's because its just one of those bike you can, so far its had DB screen, CRG levers well worth the money for people with small hands, Belly pan, Art cans they sound so much better, Kawasaki after market mirrors, tail tidy, seat cowling,Rad cover,even had someone to make me a couple of Z injector covers. What more can be done? Wish I could afford a ohlins shock for it. Strengths: It small enough for people that are only 5ft 3". Weaknesses: Would love to have had 6 pot calipers the 600 was so much better at stopping with the 6 pots.

After years of sportsbikes and a supermoto I decided to kick back and relax a little. Got the Z1000 and lo! no more wrist ache when riding! If only the seat were more comfy.. Great bike, reasonable go (needs that ZX10R engine) but heavy, so heavy. Nice to handle but get moving and the cheap suspension shows you the line not to cross! I like it, even the mrs has ridden it :-). Strengths: Looks, easy of use, manouverability.  Weaknesses: Heavy! poor suspension, I actually dont like the 4 pipes either..