Motorcycle specifications KawasakiZ 1000 2003 The shock

september 2002 - Munich Motor Show. Kawa shakes things up, surprises, disconcerts... Introducing the Z 1000. Visual shock. Kawasaki's new roadster is unlike any other: stocky, torn by sharp angles, with a minimalist forkhead and a surprising personality underlined by its famous 4 exhaust pipes. The Z 1000 is uncompromising: you either like it or you don't... but the eye can't remain unmoved. A brute's face, a hypersport engine producing 144 hp, and a claimed dry weight of 186 kg. God, it's going to sh...

but once on the street, the picture changed. The ZX-9 R 's rebored block now boasts just 127 hp. So what's happened? According to the Japanese engineers, the 4 pretty exhaust pipes are eating up a lot of power. Aesthetically pleasing, but a penalty. Let's slow down a little more. The inverted fork is superb, but compression adjustment is only possible on one sleeve. And there's also... OK, I'll stop.

this new roadster is dynamite. The design is surprising and eye-catching, a blend of tuning and aggression. It's simple, there's nothing to add, nothing to take away. The half-painted, half-polished rims alone are a blend of extravagance and class. In the saddle, there's more than meets the eye. The dashboard is none other than that of the ZX-6RR, all digital, but there's no time to play with it. Immediately, the second shock: the machine looks incredibly compact. The crotch-slimming fuel tank is totally inconspicuous, despite its tortuous shape. The attractive aluminum handlebars call out to the hands, and the rider settles into an attacking position, sympathetic to the wrists and unequivocal about the Z's vocation: fun, sport, and as its looks have already made clear, a nice dose of hard rock. Don't think of it as a replacement for the ZRX 1200. It's more exclusive, more playful, with a very different engine feel.

contact! The 4-stroke is no show-off, castrated by exhaust pipes that are more aesthetic than melodious. That's all in slow motion, but it's about to change. The first few turns of the wheel are totally relaxed: you immediately feel at ease, and the machine is as easy to handle as you could wish. It turns in a flash. A short stretch of freeway will be an ordeal without a name: protection is non-existent, you take everything in the face, and the jacket is not up to the task. Quickly, we get out of the way and rush up the mountain. First switchbacks and questions: where are the horses? Not that the ZX-9R 's re-bored block is anemic, but from a 1,000 cm3, you'd expect more boot. I drop 2 gears, which the gearbox shifts with precision, and the mill reveals itself more generously. Pushing with more frankness around 6000 rpm, it becomes fiery and powerful after 8000 rpm, with a thunderous noise. At this revs, it rumbles, pushes and raves, revealing its aggression: this is a Kawa engine. Forget the big muscle at all revs. You've got to ride the Z 1000 like a maniac, using the gearbox without restraint... Hey, you couldn't possibly think you were riding an XJR 1300. And what's more, this bike vibrates. The design office seems to have given priority to comfort. As a result, the Z is built on a Diamond-type frame, with the engine providing some of the rigidity. And since the boiler has no balancer, it shares its palpitations with you.

now you're beginning to understand what the Z 1000 is all about. Combined with the progressive suspension, you're in and out of corners pretty quickly, then the machine registers with a gesture, almost on its own, reacting even before the brain has given the order. With the engine kept up to speed, you come out of the hairpin with ease, and it's off again like a bullet. A word about the mirrors: discreet and effective (from the cockpit), they're completely forgotten while you're riding, but a quick glance brings out the reflection that's essential for keeping an eye on your rear.

with this Z 1000, Kawa has taken the gloves off. The Akashi-based manufacturer offers a motorcycle with a strong visual identity, agile and virulent as can be, and with the character of a little moth. A machine with a formidable chassis that deserves an extra dose of gniak. And for what? To play... with the throttle, the gearbox, the brakes, the clutch - yes, a toy you'll never get bored of!

M.B - manufacturer's photos