2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000

 

There was a time when Kawasaki made some of the most practical road going sportsbikes with exciting engines and good road-tuned suspension, combined with friendly ergonomics. The 1998 through to 2003 ZX-9R Ninja machines and the last carburetted 636cc version of the ZX-6R in 2002 in particular, are awesome road bikes. Then Kawasaki followed the trend set by other manufacturers in producing a more hard edged focus in suspension and ergonomics, influenced by production category racing.

Manufacturers are gradually starting to realise that consumer demand has changed again, with punters wanting big sportsbike power combined with comfortable ergonomics and suspension that is well damped enough to iron out rough roads, yet perfectly competent when the pace hots up. Kawasaki’s latest effort at cracking this market is the new Ninja 1000.

Pressing the starter button for the first time as I geared up for a ride, Kawasaki’s new Ninja 1000 emitted a fairly pugnacious snarl as it sucked its first breaths through the airbox and fed the fuel-oxygen through to a quartet of hungry oval shaped 38mm Keihin throttle bodies.

You instantly feel that this is no lightweight in the engine department as more than a litre of four-cylinder goodness rasps its intent and eagerly awaits your command.

 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000

 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000

2011 Kawasaki Ninja 1000