Rumors have been swelling about Kawasaki introducing a full-faired version of its popular Z1000 street naked, and at Intermot today those rumors became true. Dubbed the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 (the bike is going by the Kawasaki Z1000S or Z1000SX name in other markets, which has lead other sites to misreport the model name for here in the US), the new heavyweight 1000 street bike uses the same 1043cc motor as the current Z1000, and remains largely unchanged from the Z1000 except for some modifications to make the bike fit a more touring-oriented segment.
Fitted with an adjustable windscreen and hard-mounts for panniers, Kawasaki hopes that the new Ninja 1000 will fill a sportier-touring role in the company’s line-up. Likely realizing that Z1000 owners like to log some miles on their bikes, the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 seems to be Kawasaki’s response to these adventurers’ wants, needs, and criticisms.
The three-way adjustable wind-screen and large full-fairing should protect Ninja 1000 owners from the wind blast associated with long-distance rides and also the heat generated from the inline-four motor, while the panniers and top box options should allow for owners to bring everything but the kitchen sink on the journey. Topped with a 5 gallon fuel tank, the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 sports a whole extra gallon of on-board fuel compared to the Z1000, which should come to much cheering from the touring crowd who have complained about the Z1000’s small tank (and rightly so). The riding position is upright, with clip-on handlebars rising to meet the rider’s hands. The instrument cluster is based off the ZX-6R’s and looks intuitive with an analog tach and digital speedometer.
While the Z1000 focuses on outright performance, the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 will come slightly blunted, with Kawasaki focusing on having a more responsive and smoother throttle response while at normal city pace. As such the Ninja 1000’s fuel-injection nozzles are slightly longer and fuel mapping has been redone accordingly.
In some markets the Z1000SX will also feature Kawasaki’s ABS package, which seems to be par for the course now from all the OEM’s and their street-oriented offerings. Kawasaki also has a number of accessories for the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000, including heated grips. No word on pricing yet, but the bike is coming to the United States.
2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Photos (US Market):
2011 Kawasaki S1000SX Photos: (EU and Other Markets):
2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Technical Specifications:
Engine: Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement: 1,043cc
Bore x stroke: 77.0 x 56.0mm
Compression ratio: 11.8:1
Fuel system: DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles
Ignition: TCBI with digital advance
Transmission: Six-speed
Final drive: X-ring chain
Rake / trail: 24.5 degrees / 4.0 in.
Front tire: 120/70 ZR17
Rear tire: 190/50 ZR17
Wheelbase: 56.9 in.
Front suspension / wheel travel: 41 mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.
Rear suspension / wheel travel: Horizontal monoshock with stepless rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 5.4 in.
Front brakes: Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with radial-mount four-piston calipers
Rear brakes: Single 250mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper
Overall length: 82.9 in.
Overall width: 31.1 in.
Overall height: 48.4 in.
Seat height: 32.3 in.
Curb weight: 502.7 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 5.0 gal.
Color choices: Ebony, Candy Fire Red / Ebony
MSRP: $TBD
Warranty: 12 Months
Source: Kawasaki
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