2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX ongoing review

[Blade]

Kawasaki must be laughing there heads of selling there entire 2015 stock so early. Says alot about the bike. Since you ve got one I notice them alot more and they are extremely popular which can only mean there very good.

[Kwacky]

M5s fitted front and back.

The carcass feels a bit stiffer than the BT020s but the braking is better (new rubber I guess) and turn in is more linear than the tip in effect you got with the old tyres.

Now to run them in

Mileage is just over 7400 so we'll see how they last.

[Kwacky]

25 miles with the reserve light flashing.

18.13 litres in the tank when I filled up

It's a 19l tank.

[Blade]

25 miles is not bad when your riding in the UK as it's that heavily populated your never far from a filling station.

Riding in Europe covering big miles every day is a different ball game and I tell you from bitter experience it takes some good foward planning especially on a very thirsty zx10r

[Kwacky]

Some blokes have had over 200 miles from a tank when they've been touring.

My tank does about 110 when I'm spanking it.

[Blade]

84 smiles tonight before the light came on.

It's thirsty but who cares it's too much fun to worry about being sensible

[Kwacky]

Commuting I average around 44mpg which isn't too bad for a mix of roads and my spirited style of filtering and use of open roads.

[Kwacky]

One of the 2016 colour schemes.



Not keen on the Blue. The 3rd is jet black.

[C00kiemonster]

The black looks mean

[Kwacky]

I think the black would look good with the silver underside from the green version.

[Kwacky]

Slipper clutch and ABS both standard on the bikes and no price increase for 2016.

Looks like another sell out year for Kwak and the SX.

[Perkles]

looks great in black

[Kwacky]

The Goodridge front lines have gone on, with a black billet reservoir pot and a Rizoma copy adjustable bracket.

The rubber line from the reservoir to the master cylinder is too long, but the hose I've used isn't the standard stuff and I hadn't got anything sharp enough to cut it, so it's staying long for now until the next time I bleed the brakes.

I'm not too keen on the current Bendix MF front pads so I'll be switching to the much better MRR when these run out.

[Rossgo]

I really need to read this thread Kwacky. When I first saw it I was away and the thread was getting bigger and bigger now it's huge and I keep putting it off because Id spend prob the next couple of days reading it haha! But for what you've put up in other threads I'm guessing your enjoying her!!

[Kwacky]

Thanks Rossgo.

Yeah, she's ace. A really good all rounder. So easy to ride.

[Rossgo]

When you took her to Wales that time with us all she could half shift!! Haha!! That's the main thing that you can throw her into any situation and your be happy doing so eg work and occasional cold weather hoon riding. Plus I like the colour too haha!!

[Kwacky]

The green paint looks really good in sunlight.

[Blade]

How does the performance compare to the zx6r Kwacky ?

I know the sx has 20 bhp more but probably weighs 20kg more.

[Kwacky]

depends what you're doing. The SX is all about twist and go. The 6r has to be worked but once you're in the revs it's a screamer and easy to ride fast

The 09-12 zx6r has pretty firm suspension so it's a bit jittery on the road, but the sx is the other way so it mops up the crappy British roads but the handling is no where near as sharp.

Both are easy to commute on but the SX is more comfortable and has better weather protection.

[Blade]

Sounds like you have the best of both worlds.