I love an “old school” sports tourer me so I’m surprised I haven’t got to the much improved Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX before now – Here’s my first ride review of this capable big mile muncher…. Big thanks to Tony at “On Yer Bike” in Aylesbury for making this review possible – visit them here https://kawasaki.onyerbike.net/
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24 Comments
Kawasaki needs to remove all those tacky stickers and graphics for a cleaner look.
I really like this bike great to hear your thoughts on it
I actually preferred the 4 pipe look but in the end bought a BMW R1250RS as the shaft drive proved to be the clincher for me
Hi Andy Iv been looking forward to this video I must apologise I didn’t realise how long it takes from filming to publishing the video well worth the wait 😀
Nice bike
Great review of a well proven sports tourer Andy, I nearly bought one some years ago and still like them especially this new model. I can actually see 4 examples on bike trader all for £9999 all demo bikes with as little as 50 miles on the clock, what a steal.
A lovely looking bike. I had a brief ride on one at the MCN festival. I was impressed. A lovely smooth engine and bags of power. I may revisit when I decide to change.
Kawasaki are my favourite Japanese brand. I have an 81 gpz11B1 (fifteen years in boxes, patiently waiting for me to put it back together, ahem !) But why are they so fugly these days? Thanks for the review Andy.
I guess the extra weight is due to additional CATs in the exhaust.
Did they ever fix the seat? Worst seat ever on my 15
For a complete novice interested in learning how to ride – would you suggest this bike or something less powerful?
Excellent review again, would be my go to bike if it had an L twin or a creamy Triumph triple . Don't like 4 cylinder bikes personally. Shame Ducati or Triumph don't make something like this. Top suspension and brakes are my things I look for . Only reason went for multistrada not much else to tour on two up.
Oh some 90s ZZR colours to instead of bland black . You comment on looks ha you have a GS may be a good bike but definitely not a looker.
Enjoyed watching that.
The way they set up the suspension when they send these out of the factory is shocking – I had mine set up properly at Greenham Kawasaki and the transformation was remarkable. Best £30 I ever spent on a bike.
Oh a "value" bike…yikes!
Almost forgot teapotone and missenden are different people, they speak almost closely resembled😅
Did you prefer this over the Suzuki gsx1000gt?
These powerful bikes have so much power that make twice the legal speed limit seem too slow are not good for my license or my career as a professional driver. I feel like I made the right decision buying my gs500f.
I think this bike is the benchmark for measuring other Sports-Tourer.
I wish we had that colorway in the U.S. More and more I'm leaning toward this over the GSX1000s-gt+
Great bike BUT, Kawasaki needs to stop with the 1980's sticker decals/graphics… they should remove them for a cleaner look.
Love the matt red.
Hard to believe it’s been 10 years since my purchase of a Ninja 1000, 26000 miles in two years. Very reliable and a lot of fun to ride.
I have the last double-exhaust model (2017 or 2018 I think), I can't get enough of that machine. It's everything I want a bike to be, long-distance capable, comfy yet with an engaging riding position, great stability, fantastic sound, tame when it must and hysterical when you want… and Kawasaki seems to be the only make that always get the torque-power balance right.
Such a privilege to live in time when marvels like that are made available to us.
But yeah, Kawasaki can't do mirrors right.
Great review, brilliant machine. Looks absolutely stunning in this shade of red..
Curious how you felt between this one and the Suzuki. Any difference in wind protection?
Very underrated bike IMO. It sort of flies under the radar because everyone tours on BMW GS's and 1000XR's these days. And I don't think Kawasaki have advertised/marketed the bike as well as they could have…? It's got all the tech and rider aids that you get on a euro bike too.
And the red/black looks superb!