2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX ongoing review

[Rossgo]

Kwacky I'm sure the guys here will be happy to help you spend your dosh

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Itchy]

From what I can see there's no real reason to change it apart from wanting a new bike.
It's been your work horse and by all accounts it's acquitted itself rather well. If you've not had/having any problems with it then it seems daft to change it.

Although the ever-increasing mileage should be considered.

[Kwacky]

obviously the value of the bike decreases quickly as the miles go up, but I'm not really concerned about that.

Is it false economy to have a new bike when so much on an older bike needs replacing/repairing/upgrading?

When I picked mine up from a service they dealer had an earlier model SX in for its 70,000 service so they do carry on working.

[Itchy]

I suppose it depends on what do you have to replace on a bike in its first 2 years, compared to what you have to replace in the next 2.

Obviously mileage is a factor, but your bike is still relatively young.

My opinion would be to hang onto it, but I'm a tight arse and don't like spending anything. Christ, I'm loath to change my tyres because there's still tread on the edges!




But just to throw another spanner into the cake mix, would downgrading be an option? You had a Versys for a bit didn't you? What about something like that to reduce running costs and save more money for bling for the 675?

[Cav]

I rode a Versys 650 yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised by it - even more surprised by the early redline despite power still being available.

It has way more character than I thought it would have and the suspension was surprisingly good (although the guy who owns it has fiddled with it blindly). It easily pulled to 80mph (I didn't go any quicker) and the wind protection was really bloody good.

This guy doesn't like to clean his bike either but the engine paint was still in sound condition etc depsite 30k miles in 2 years and probably 3 bike cleans in that time

[Itchy]

I didn't know D6 had a Versys !

[Kwacky]

The 650 is an option. It's a nice little bike. I've not tried the 1000 version which is about the same price as an SX.

The 675 needs very little doing to it. The big mods like the exhaust and the front cowl and belly pan were on the bike, which was part of the reason I wanted it. I'll replace bits and pieces as I go along but stuff like suspension and the rearsets are fine for me.

[Kwacky]

I think it's the same ER6 engine they use for racing so there's certainly more you can get from the 650 engine.

[Cav]

Yeah I'd imagine it's the same. Surprisingly smooth power delivery too but that 10k red line is annoying. The bike just felt like it was getting going so it caught me by surprise.

Am I right in thinking your triple has the Ohlins front and rear?

[Kwacky]

It's a 650 flat twin so I guess it won't really rev too high. You're not the only one who was finding the rev limiter on a regular basis. I guess we're too used to IL4s.

Nope, not on mine. It's Kayaba/KYB suspension front and rear.

[Kwacky]

17.84 litres in this morning and 174 miles on the last tank. That's pretty good for a heavy 1 litre bike.

[Blade]

44 mpg you must be ragging it into work

[Kwacky]

It took 32 minutes to do 35 miles this morning.

I like it when the roads are a bit quiet.

[Cav]

The last time I got 44mpg I was 19 years old! haha.. Even on the road I get about 35mpg. On track is under 20mpg

[Kwacky]

46.7 is the average mpg since the last time I reset it.

[Kwacky]

New Bendix mrr pads on order. These have life left in them but i want a new set bedded in before the trip to France.

[Norfolknchance]

Just joined the Z thou club. 2011 with 9000 miles on the clock.

[Kwacky]

Pffft, barely run in

[Itchy]

Pffft, barely run in

Enjoy, Jack.

[Kwacky]

Here endeth Kwaky's ongoing review. The SX and I will part company on Tuesday.

It's been a blast.