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I voted cool. As others said it is cool, but lacking anything that makes it awesome. I actually like the exhaust, but what is the deal with that fender?

JVRR wrote:I voted cool. As others said it is cool, but lacking anything that makes it awesome. I actually like the exhaust, but what is the deal with that fender?

Interesting, I didn't notice that before... you are meaning the front fender right?

Yes, it looks like 1/2 a fender! And the rear passenger grab bars are strange too. But the front fender seems to not have a back piece, which won't be good for your engine as all the road rocks/stuff will get thrown into it!

totalmotorcycle wrote:

JVRR wrote:I voted cool. As others said it is cool, but lacking anything that makes it awesome. I actually like the exhaust, but what is the deal with that fender?

Interesting, I didn't notice that before... you are meaning the front fender right?

Yes, it looks like 1/2 a fender! And the rear passenger grab bars are strange too. But the front fender seems to not have a back piece, which won't be good for your engine as all the road rocks/stuff will get thrown into it!

Actually mean the rear fender, in a day where so many are cutting their fenders down, it looks like Kawasaki decided to extend it and make it hang awkwardly low and narrow...

JVRR wrote:

totalmotorcycle wrote:

JVRR wrote:I voted cool. As others said it is cool, but lacking anything that makes it awesome. I actually like the exhaust, but what is the deal with that fender?

Interesting, I didn't notice that before... you are meaning the front fender right?

Yes, it looks like 1/2 a fender! And the rear passenger grab bars are strange too. But the front fender seems to not have a back piece, which won't be good for your engine as all the road rocks/stuff will get thrown into it!

Actually mean the rear fender, in a day where so many are cutting their fenders down, it looks like Kawasaki decided to extend it and make it hang awkwardly low and narrow...

LOL, well then, you are right there. I don't really know what that rear fender is going to do for dirt/water/etc with it being so narrow. It's quite long as well, they must have needed to meet legal requirements for length but really didn't want it there so they made it narrow I'd hazzard a guess.

Lots of people do cut their rear fenders, but they are there to save your back from spray... You can tell a rider who cut their rear fender off from the Rooster tails on their coat! lol. But it does look more streamlined cut.

Mike

Awesome. Sat on this thing at the New York show, most comfortable sportbike I ever sat on. I'm impressed that Kawi developed a new engine for this and the Z1000, instead of the normal strategy of using a detuned previous-gen engine for the "lower spec" sportbike. A sportbike actually meant for enjoyment in the real world, instead of only at Ludicrous Speed on the track. Awesome.

totalmotorcycle wrote:

Markg1 wrote:I was on the fence with this one. Ten years ago it would have earned an awesome but I gave it a cool vote. After my V65 I wanted a zx-13 but it never happened. Now a little older I like the muscle bikes. But definitely awesomely-cool!!!

Funny enough, I'm in the same mindset it seems. Now a little older I like the muscle bikes. (But have always loved the naked standards). Drooled after the V65 when I was younger.

I agree...gotta love the V65!

The front fender is back there. On most modern sportbikes it's skinnier behind the forks than it is in front.


As for me, I voted Awesome. It's like a fully faired FZ1 with a better engine IMHO.

Wrider wrote:The front fender is back there. On most modern sportbikes it's skinnier behind the forks than it is in front.


As for me, I voted Awesome. It's like a fully faired FZ1 with a better engine IMHO.

Great photo in big size... I was going to ask "Where did you get it?!" then I hit "Quote" and saw it's from Total Motorcycle of course!! DUH.

Sure looks pretty awesome in that shot.

jstark47 Awesome. Sat on this thing at the New York show, most comfortable sportbike I ever sat on. I'm impressed that Kawi developed a new engine for this and the Z1000, instead of the normal strategy of using a detuned previous-gen engine for the "lower spec" sportbike. A sportbike actually meant for enjoyment in the real world, instead of only at Ludicrous Speed on the track. Awesome.

JS you are right on the money with that analysis. Most of the time the manufacturers do indeed take a sportbike engine, de-tune it for mid-range and pop it into a new chassis. As you said, the problem with that is it's really a half-butted solution as the engine really wasn't designed to be "lugged" around at 5,000rpm a typical street bike rider averages their RPM at (I have to run a poll on that).

Definately good for Kawasaki to create this engine for the Z1000 and the Ninja 1000, kudos to them.

Mike

Don't forget to vote! Tomorrow is the LAST DAY to vote and have it recorded in the final results. Voting will remain open after that but will not be counted in the final tally.

Mike

I voted awesome!!!