Comments on: New 1441cc ZX-14R and Ninja 650 Revealed by Kawasaki; Ninja 1000 Gets ABS Option (Bike Reports) (News)

By: Jeremy in TX

Jeremy in TX — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:41:52 +0000

Good job Kawasaiki! I guess I’m getting older since I could really care less about the ZX14 (though I would love to peg the trottle just once!) and the most exciting part of this article to me was the fact that ABS will be available on the Ninja 1000. Some more precise fuel management to net a better range from the bike would make it very tempting to me. The new 650R looks fantastic; seems Kawi should offer an ABS option on that as well especially since the bike attracts many inexperienced riders.

Unfortunately, the best looking bike in Kawi’s lineup IMHO, the ER-6N, has departed US shores. Too bad modern nakeds don’t connect well with US consumers. I’m glad Kawi had the guts to bring it here. I guess it’s departure is a signal that other euro-cool nakeds from Japan like the Z1000 and the CB1000R days are numbered.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:52:19 +0000

ditto, same color. U.S. gets the “bling”. seat cowl, painted louvers, black/silver contrast rims, silver calipers, flame job, etc.

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By: billy

billy — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:04:15 +0000

Gotcha.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:34:19 +0000

re: “The bike makes little sense in America unless one is out in the remote areas of the far west.”

or into the exterior decorating and drag racing scene. creating “bat-pods” are all the rage in certain parts of the country. they don’t have gadson handling endorsement duties for nothing. in my travels it’s become more clear to me that motorcycling is as regional as music being played on the radio. a better parallel might be how accents and dialects seemingly spring up out of the SAME language based on nothing more than geography…? and so go-ith the niche business of motorcyling.

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By: Davis

Davis — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:57:23 +0000

Neil, if you have an ’02 FZ1 that is resitant to turn, I’d be happy to share my suspension and chasis mods with you.

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By: Davis

Davis — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:53:30 +0000

WHo said the Blackbird was faster? I was responding to this:

“about the Blackbird, “Nice bike, too bad it’s so slow”.”

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By: billy

billy — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 03:54:02 +0000

I’m not missing the point, Kawasaki tacked the R on, not me. I know what you’re saying but I would never travel two-up on any sportbike. Not a ZX-14R, Blackbird, or R1. That’s just me, my sportbikes don’t even have rear pegs.

I really need to ride the Kawi as it’s on my list for future ownership depending on. If it’s anything like the Blackbird forget it. The Honda’s pegs were as high as some true sports bikes. That was a deal breaker as well as the uncommunicative handling.

Davis, I don’t know what you mean. How could the R1 help but be faster? It has more peak horsepower and it’s got to weigh at least 100lbs less. I’ve ridden both and it’s not really a contest, even in a straight line. Bottom line is it’s a wonderful looking bike that does very well performance wise when compared to the ZX-11 which it was designed to conquer.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:50:06 +0000

re: “As a matter of fact it’s the only Japanese brand I don’t own currently.”

slacker…

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 23:32:51 +0000

i get what he’s saying though… why not make it an option…? ya know… a check in a box. how hard could it be. if someone want’s it…? they can put down a deposit. you can have anything you want if you’re willing to pay for it.

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By: joe

joe — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:27:32 +0000

You’re totally missing the point …
Try to put 2 people in the r1 and go travel and then compare with the BB …
Don’t compare bikes from different categories, or nobody will expect
your wisdom again

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