2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Review 

Just got back from a 5 300 km road trip with the 2017 Nina 1000. The bike it's self performed amazing. Everything from twisty forest roads, to grinding out hours on the prairies and into the Rockies. Had about 3 hours of moderate rain in the mountains. Power set to L and the TC on, never once had a moment where I felt it start to slip. Pre-dawn riding, the LED lights did a good job lighting to the sides of the bike, to pick out deer eyes, and excellent for down road. Signs a couple KM down the road lit up. Loved the bike. It has a lot more in it than I do. People don't buy this bike to be the fastest, carry the most luggage, or pound out the most miles. It's like a Swiss Army knife

We get so used to it, but motorcycle names are confusing as all hell. Imagine being someone who doesn't know anything about bikes. "This is a Ninja 1000. Not to be confused with the z1000, which is also a 1000 but not the same as the Ninja 1000. You also DEFINITELY shouldn't confuse the Ninja 1000 with the Ninja ZX10-R, which is ALSO a 1000 but it's definitely the most sporty and least comfortable, which shouldn't be confused with the Ninja ZX10-RR which IS similar to the ZX10-R but has a more racing oriented package. But don't confuse the Ninja ZX10-R with the Ninja ZX14R, which is a COMPLETELY different motorcycle from the others altogether" Like fuck.

RIP Evans B. Miss your reviews. You are gone too soon!

Kawasaki needs to drop the "Ninja" name on this great bike. First its a stupid antiquated and irrelevant to a sport tourer and second and more importantly it drives up insurance rates , a lot, which of course will kill sales. Lastly I know many "mature" folks who like the bike but just don't want to be cartoon green ninjas. I wonder if the marketing people even read youtube comments, pretty dumb if not.

I'm a simple man. I see motorcycle.com and Kawasaki, I hit like

I have now had this new 2017 Ninja 1000 (Green) for 4 months and completed just over 2200 Km, very impressed with the bike so far, looks to have great build quality, very comfortable for my 52 year old 178 cm body, very easy to ride and I was surprised at just how much power and torque this bike made out on the road, although the bike has the best gear box I have ever used, just stick in a gear and roll on and off the throttle. The adjustable screen is great and I find middle position best for all occasions, great to have the back-up of all the electronics including ABS, traction control, power modes etc all of which work behind the seen's and go unnoticed. Would have preferred cruise control but this really has not been a issue as with the light throttle and upright riding position taking a lot of strain off your wrists, hands, back and neck compared to my previous two bikes which were both Honda Blackbirds. I intend to purchase the panniers in the near future. Only one small issue is the low gearing and small amount vibes above about 6000 RPM, after I have done a little more research I may look at replacing the front sprocket with an extra tooth to lower the RPM when highway cruising. Very happy with my purchase and great all rounder.

Having had sports tours for the past 15 plus years its been a while since I was on a pure sport bike, which were a couple of Blackbirds and a VFR 800, I find the handing spot on it doesn't need a lot of muscle to get it to turn in and its also very stable through the turn. Its quicker and lighter to turn in then the Blackbirds were which I guess is due to the shorter wheel base and lighter weight, but definitely has a more sporty & firmer ride, although more comfortable due to upright riding position. I think if your looking for comfortable but sporty bike you wont go wrong.

Great review as always. It absolutely kills me that there's no center stand option for this bike.

I know someone who bought this bike thinking it's a supersports lmao

I wish they would bring back the blue from 2014. That color rocked. I ended up with a black 2014 and it just didn't do it justice.

I wish Kawasaki would have added cruise control, heated grips and an option for sport bars to lower the riding position a bit because I feel like I'm riding too high/upright on it and the wind is blasting my chest so then you have to tuck in and that gets tired after a while.

While I absolutely love my 2016 N1K, I'm totally jealous of those with the 2017 model! It's such a great bike - no complaints at all, just wish I had more of the Gucci tech gear.

Is the 2018 exactly like the 2017 all physical aspects of it?

Needs cruise control.

Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is an amazing bike with awesome features.

Nice mini review and I like the look of the dash. You seem to be cruising along at 55MPH in 3rd gear and running about 5500 rpm. Clearly your not racing each other in the test ride but did you feel the need to ride along with the engine revs so high? I would think it would still have plenty of pulling power in 5th or even 6th gear? I only ask because I'm curious about the power band.

Great bike. I was sorely tempted to buy one in 2015 and this one is better. But I got a Multi and I won't be trading anytime soon because: Ride by wire throttle. It's time, Kawasaki. Cruise control. See ride by wire throttle. Heated grips from the factory. Sport touring needs heated grips as an option, period. You guys are this close. Make it perfect.

ive got one these bikes in march , this bike is brilliant, this bike wins every time , the yamaha r1 i have is gathering dust ,

Maybe I'm not up on the bike jargon but "understeer" seems like a misnomer, since in the automotive world that generally means turning the wheel and scrubbing the tires/plowing straight on. Maybe heavier steering? Maybe slower turn-in? I dunno.

Nice bike! I'd like to know how this compares to the FZ-10 with an accessory windscreen.

Like the technical updates (but... cruise control?!). Apart from that i prefer the look and the thinness (the tank shape is too wide in my p.o.) of my 2014 model

How do you compare it to a super naked? Let's say that i want to do some canyon trips from 2/3 days to 10 days?

So it has cornering ABS, but no cruise control?

Love your videos

Wish they'd make a Grand Touring version for ppl that don't want a giant cruiser. Better seats, heated seats/grips, cruise control, gps etc. So you don't have to go to the FJR 1300.

I have one of these. It's a beautiful bike, visually speaking, especially once you get rid of the "lip" in the back as well as the blinkers. I've replaced mine with an integrated LED rear brake light / blinkers. Unfortunately the Euro 4 crap means that there's virtually no sound at all on the bike, making it feel very sterile and boring. Only 142 horses means it doesn't haul ass either. Sure you'll smoke just about every car out there, but it doesn't go fast enough to scare you, which my previous bike most certainly did (GSX-R 1300 Hayabusa). I went to my dealer and checked out if I can swap it out for a different bike, but since he's only willing to swap for a bike with a higher value, I'm kind of screwed. All the other bikes I want cost far less. He suggested throwing on some other mufflers to get more sound, which I might consider. But from what I know, the big "box" under the bike is responsible for much of the sound dampening, so there may not be much difference when swapping out just the mufflers. Lots of positive things about it though, so if you can live with a virtually silent bike (for a 1000cc sport bike) that doesn't go very fast, but is one of the most beautiful sport bikes around, certainly when looking at jap bikes, is very reliable and safe to ride in all kinds of weather and has very good looking panniers - it might be the bike for you. Out of all the bikes I've had, this is the one people have commented on the most. Several people have come over to me and told me how nice looking the bike is, even people who have never been on a bike before. Edit: I've upgraded just about everything that can be upgraded on it, including the seat. Got the overpriced Kawasaki gel seat, and I can ride about twice as long before my ass starts to hurt (approximately one hour before I need a quick rest). It's not good enough for long trips without an Airhawk though (for me personally).

Did they fix the issue of not being able to mount a top box and side bags at the same time?

I own the bike too. And I saw the same in this video, what many people do - riding with the brights. With some bikes and not so awesome headlights I can understand that, but I wouldn't recomment it with this bike, because the brights here are pretty nasty for anyone seeing them if not needed - especially the other bikers in front of you.

Those bag reflectors have GOT to go!

Does it come with a steering stabeliser ?

Thanks for the details.

If anyone plans to add electronic doohickeys to this bike, beware of the measly 336 watt stator. I just don't understand what Kawasaki was thinking with such a lack of electrical power.

throttle by wire gives you cruise control and its not on this bike. like the reflectors on the panniers, bmw gs got recalled for not having them haha.

Not traction control light,it’s the Rev limiter!

Great overall bike.

Does anyone know if you can remove the offending sticker?

suzuki gsx 250r review please

What's the difference between this and z1000sx??

Good lord! The production quality of these videos is so amateurish. Dolly shots are hand held. Video is straight out of a GoPro with zero post to fix contrast and saturation. Everything just wreaks of total lack of effort.

They need to give their "motorcycle.com" name up to a more professional channel.

Ninja 1000 abs or FJ-09?

What is the obsession with cruise control no use on a proper biking road with bends :-)

To bad Kawasaki is not available here!!!!! Company is to up yours for dealers in this aria!

Honda please update the vfr1200f or the 800 interceptor ,tired of seeing these terrible looking ninja 1000, plus they vibrate like a vibrator. Show Kawasaki what a real V-4 sport touring bike look like, bring back handling and quality

I wish I could ride one. I just can’t stand the riding position on them 🤦‍♂️.

Orange T-shirt psychology totally individual second heavy decline.

Conservative exclusive commonly bedroom magnitude disagree.

And as always, Kawasaki seems to be allergic to cruise control.

Sorry boys. Wait. Next year a 1187cc with 158hp will be released.

ABS IS TOO SLOW

Still sporting a face that only a mother can love. BARF. How long will this "SUPREME FUGLYNESS" Period it going to last ? Food for thought: They dropped the Z1000 . . . SO, how long before they drop the 900 engine in it or start using the Z900 bare bones as the foundation for this bike ? Can't have only one use for the 1043cc engine. Can they ? Also, will the 1043cc engine pass EURO5 emissions standards ?

I'm betting next years model adds ride by wire throttle, cruise control and TFT display. If Kawasaki does that they will have created the perfect sport touring bike in my opinion.