Evening NB, I love the sound of a good 4c bike engine, especially when you wind it up. As I've lamented in other comments - if I had a garage I'd have a zzr1100 sat in it as a second bike, always wanted one - since the mid 1990's - Anyway, the Z1000 is a cracking bike and this one has served you well. Nice round-up.
It's really satisfying to own a motorcycle that suits you in every respect, Noob. So often folk buy a machine and then find there are a few things about it that they can't quite gel with. The latest Ninja variant is a superb machine full of the latest technology at a realistic price. Kwaks are bulletproof too.
Joined the club! Closing in on 10,000 miles on my second hand 2021 1000sx. Love the bike and have used it for quick twisties with the BMW/Ducati crowd and multi day touring with the bags(yes, they’re pricey, but best in class!) my Kriega bag didn’t fit either. Added a larger screen but still get wind mid-visor up… Great review and I am looking forward to more trouble free miles ahead!
Welcome to the club! I recently added panniers (bought second hand, had to drill the locks, but only cost me £400 and came with the inner bags!!!). I'll be using the panniers instead of the top box going forward, except when my daughter is pillion. I have a new video up of a tour of Wales, which was awesome, and am working on videos from a tour of France also. Thanks for the subscription.
Brilliant bike i own a 2017 in green, seat isn’t the best ,that is the worst thing for me about this bike,now as 18500 miles,average fuel economy is mid 55 to the gallon , bought it new , , Nothing on the market that I fancy, even the new version / new dash doesn’t appeal, new bikes , colour scheme is boring mostly black not much colour 😮, I’m 66 years of age and it’s not so easy riding anymore several issues, but still get a thrill every time a ride ,
Hi Martin, thanks for watching and for the comment. It really is a great bike. I don't plan to change my one for a while, 22k+ miles in it now. I got used to the seat. You're getting great fuel economy from yours, I struggle to get better than 45-48mpg Hope you can still ride for many more years 👍
I have a 2018 sx from new, never had a single problem, have done TT week and use regularly around the Lake District. Have friends with RR beemers and Suzuki 1000,s and keep up easily. Very quick bike on any road except single carriage B roads where a dirt bike is king. Done all the passes in the Lake District too.
Very nice! My one is a 2018 plate as well. I bought it second hand with very low mileage. It does everything I want and need a d puts a huge grin on my face. On Saturday I'm leaving for France to ride for just over one week. Really looking forward to it. Thanks for watching and ride safe. Hope your Z-SX gives you many more miles of smiles 😁
I owned one one these in silver for 3 years and had no intention of changing it but then tested the newer Ninja version and as good as the SX is the Ninja is better. It maybe the same engine but minor changes make it feel quicker. It handles better, has cruise control and a quick shifter as well as the better clocks and a thicker seat and now a single sided exhaust. Having owned both the SX is a 4 star bike the Ninja 5 star. If anyone reading this is not sure which to go for get the Ninja if you can afford it if not the SX is still a really good bike
l love mine a 2015 model, had it just over a year now and have done 3 trips two up in France and Belgium so far with no problems. l have fitted a larger front sprocket which has worked well for dropping the revs at motorway speeds, l have fitted an after market seat for long range comfort and a top box and a few other bits and pieces. l was talking to a dealer the other week and he said do l want to sell her we can't get enough of them, but i'm not ready to let her go just yet.
I just had a problem with my one today. Two bolts holding the rear subframe snapped and the pillion/mudguard section is hanging low. Taking it to the garage tomorrow. I suspect touring with a top box may have contributed to it but will know more once it's investigated.
@@markpercy4277 Hi Mark, some further research in the forums indicate that you should check the subframe bolts regularly. I will be doing this to my bike once it is fixed. It's not an uncommon occurrence, and I suspect using a top box is the most likely culprit: www.z1000sx.co.uk/index.php/topic,13401.10.html
Smashed the like button👍 Love the sound of these Kwak engines under acceleration. Great engines and I'm loving my 2023 Versys SE at the moment. Agree with everything you said, they seem bulletproof. And the way I'm riding mine at the moment, I'm getting 55.6 mpg average ( if you can believe the readings) Ride safe bud
Exactly, the exhaust is quiet but the airbox induction and the engine give a lovely experience to the rider. That's great economy you're getting. I'm doing arou 45-48 mpg on A/B roads, a little better on motorways.
It's such an underrated bike in my opinion, definitely doesn't get the press it deserves. Whilst I loved my Sprint, I actually looked at one of these beforehand, and upon further thought, I accept that I got the wrong bike. It was great having the bike in the studio for Wolf Tales, you spoke very well and highly of the bike, I can't wait to see the episode released. Great video mate, hope you're doing well.
On the fence with this and the GT. The SX does look like the slightly better overall package but that is completly subjective. I wish more brands would have a stab at this sector in the way Kawasaki have.
The Suzuki is just a poor man's copy, not nearly as developed and refined. No adjustable screen etc. It probably has a slight edge with the engine only...
@@keithhill9047 thanks for the comment and congratulations on the bike choice. I used to not like the seat to start with, but I find it very decent now. I'm using a GoPro Hero 9 black with a Max Mod lens for extra stabilisation 👍
Nice bit of 'making good progress' in the closing shot. I tried the Suzuki GSX - S1000GT for size a while back and discovered that sports tourers don't really fit me... or rather I don't really fit them. It's not an age thing, I just don't scrunch up small, partly my height and partly as a result of a motorcycle (pillion passenger) crash I had when I was 17. Service intervals are an interesting one. The VStrom model after mine has 7,000 mile service intervals, mine is 3,500 and as far as I know there are no major differences between the engines. I am happy to change the oil and filter every 3,500 even if that is less than two months as it recently was. My thoughts are that for the sake of thirty quids worth of consumables, I help keep the engine reliable..... at least I hope I do.
Yes, I do the oil+filter and the brake fluids myself, but I leave it to a mechanic to do the spark plugs as they're a pain in the backside to get to. I'm happy to be a little leaned forward, but I don't have to put almost any weight on my wrists. Legs are a little on the cramped side, but nothing a mid ride stretch won't relieve
@@NooBiker It's the cramped legs I can't deal with, I have a not very bendy left knee. I do all my own maintenance, I don't enjoy it much on the VStrom as there are acres of bodywork to remove just to change something simple like an air filter, also the same amount of bodywork needs to come off just to lift the tank up enough to top up the coolant! Whoever thought that was a good idea? Put the opening at the back of the reservoir, or even 30mm further back and it would be a breeze.... modern bikes eh?
Really interesting review, great to hear your thoughts and experiences! Not my type of bike but really good to learn more about it, thanks for sharing 😊👍🏼🙏🙏
It is great to hear your thoughts on the bike after a decent period of ownership, wouldn't it ibe great if we could get these on brand new bikes before throwing our hard earned at them!
First of all, thanks for the kind words. Second, I totally agree that it would be great. Unfortunately our bike "press" is totally compromised to the manufacturers. They'll only get access to bikes for reviews (and jollies at the launch) if they play ball. Hence no investigations into reliability, no questioning of the tactics with "features". It's all "brilliant! buy!" It's why I'd much rather watch a review by the likes of you and Exeter Rider than one of the Bauer empire
@@NooBiker my trouble is I just love bikes, so very rarely would I dislike one... although to be honest, I only test ride bikes I have an interest in possible ownership
2022 owner here. Originally tried to buy the Suzuki, but had a bad experience with a dealer, and ended up test riding the Ninja. Very happy that happened. While I am a lifelong Suzuki fan, I am much happier with the Ninja riding experience and the Kawi owners experience.
They certainly are good looking bikes, I was on the verge of buying one but upon looking round the dealership the Z1000SX looked small in comparison to the ZZR1400. In particular the rider pillion seat seemed a bit cramped, though I did like the idea of the clip on matching panniers. Having looked through the comments, I see that the bolts holding on the rear sub-frame snapped, which you suspect is down to touring with a top box? Certainly Kawasaki are aware of this weakness as they recommend either panniers or top box, not both. It's rather worrying that the load of a top box, recommended at 5-6kg could cause such a failure. Imagine if this happened when carrying a pillion such as Ayse on your recent Hardknott pass video, the results could have been catastrophic.
Glad it happened last Sunday rather than in two weeks time when I'm taking my daughter to BSB Brands Hatch 😱 All sorted now. I only ever used the top box. Now I have a set of panniers and will be prioritising using them. Box only when I have a passenger.
How about the weight of the bike when stuck in traffic? I'm using a Ninja 650 as my commuter bike and the weight of it is sometimes a factor for me when traffic is heavy
I used to ride a Ninja 650 before this bike. The Ninja 1000 is definitely heavier, but with training and practice I learned to do slow manoeuvre like filtering, no problem. I commuted across central London on this bike for a while but in the end got a second bike (RE Himalayan) for that job.
Hi there. Thanks for watching and for the great comment and question. My model year doesn't have a quickshifter (cable throttle). But from 2020 onwards, the renamed "Ninja 1000SX" has a quickshifter. I've no experience of that, unfortunately. I believe there are after market quickshifter options you can fit to earlier models. Again, I've no experience of that as I don't feel the need for such equipment when doing mostly road riding. I sometimes do clutch-less upshifts, mind... Cheers 👍
