The Gen 1 Kawasaki Z1000! (03-06) (Very short review & brake test) 

I traded in my 07 Suzuki bandit 1250N for a 06 Kawasaki z1000 last month and i love it, it has a Unique sound with it`s 4-2-4 exhaust system, it is agile and i really like the aggressive design. it is my no.12 bike since i got my driver`s license 6 years ago and it is one of the bike`s that give me the biggest smile on my face when i ride it.

Great review mate, subbed. My dad just got one of these and you summed up a few things about it nicely. I've only got 8 months of experience so I refuse to take this past 5k RPM 😂

I bought mine new in 2005 and still have it - its totally standard apart from a steering damper ' I did have a full 4into 1 Akropovic but had to remove it when I moved to Spain as it wouldn't pass the emissions test when I registered it here on Spanish plates. I got an indicated 156mph on the Autobahn and I love it - After owning 4 Gixers, 3 Fireblades an RG 500 and a CBX1000 amongst many other bikes since I started riding in 1964 this Z is the one I'll keep until I give up biking. I'm mid 70's now and although pretty fit, can't do sport's bikes anymore as their too uncomfortable now. It's a pretty easy bike too ride though and I have never had any gear changing issues but have always used top quality oils which I change every 3000 miles- I religiously service it though as that's part of the pleasure of owning it. Great video by the way.

That's the first bike I ever got. Still have it. And I have to say I agree with all that you said. I like the analog feeling at the same time there is nothing to save you.

3:40 hank hill is that you?? JK, awesome video! I appreciate you taking the time to make this review. 👍

Nice review, love what you've done with the bike. I have an '03 Z1000 and I have also done similar modifications but instead opted for a streetfighter feel and look. Agree on the gearbox 100%, Ill have to try that Motul. I am using factory kawasaki oil. HyperPro dampner is the best upgrade I have done so far, saved my butt a few times. I try not to beat on it much but can't help it, it's a blast.

The part I like the best about it, is it's raw and there are no aids, and it doesn't look very out of place with some of the newer bike's, along with the Sound of the dual Yoshimura TRS cans. It wasn't a bad way to spend 3k on a used bike, had just under 17k on it and was well taken care of. It took a while for the orange color to grow on me, I wanted the red and black scheme but the orange looks amazing especially when she's polished up. Going to try and hang on to it for a long while, usually get bored with having the same bike for a time, been 3 years with it and she's got 24.5k on it now.

Greetings from germany I am just about to finish my license and i stumbled about your channel. Great content! I am very curious to ride my z1000 when i have my license ! Ride save!

I’ve been riding for 15 years too. I’ve owned my 04 for the last 12. I ride distances, I ride track days. The bike is not really as unforgiving as it seems, especially since its powerful but its manageable so the rider assists really aren’t a big deal IMO. In my experience the gear slippage happens but not often (it does suck when it does though, you have to brace for the bang putting it back in gear. 😬). I’ve never had a steering damper on but I get it. The only time I really ever get speed wobbles is under hard accel where its not enough to lift the tire but just enough to get it light enough to screw with ya. I have more aggressive bars on mine though, as you mentioned, I suspect this helps a lot. I wanted to mention I appreciate your videos about the old girl though. It was actually the bike I had always wanted to have when I first started riding back in 07. Lots of fun memories on it.

Hi there do you have a video and link for the dumper that you have on handlebars. Thanks for the videos and you time 👍

Hi, Nice videos of the DIY mods on the Z! I'm the proud owner of an '06 Z1000 for about a year now and loving the riding style of the bike. I'm also thinking about modding it with a quickshifter. Not to win any time or anything, but I think it's fun and addicting. Just for road riding, I'm not riding it on the track. I'm thinking about the Healtech. Do you have any recommendations or do you have reasons why you didn't put it on your bike? Thanks!

I also have a first-generation z1000, everything is original except the clutch is changed to z900rs and the rear mirror is changed to z900

Just picked up my 2004 Z1000 3 days ago. What steering stabilizer would you recommend? Great channel, love the content!

Hey man, could you do a video on adjusting the idle? 03Z1K

Bro. I love my Z1000. Is there any way you could share your power commander map? What kind of power commander you use and how to connect it? A video like that would really help!

Hey man did you change your handlebar seems a bit more angled

Hey I have an 04 z1000 having a weird wining/grinding noise when I start rolling into gear could that be my clutch or transmission

I’m looking at one first one I’ve seen for sale since I started hunting for a bike 1500 $ -vin is good- was abandoned at tow yard got to look into that Massachusetts is strict about titles

Como a minha de 2004 Laranja , falha de marcha, barulhos , mas o que há de se fazer gosto dela mesmo assim 100% stock 😀🤪

Where did you bought the handle bars?

does it have power in the lower revs?

hey lonelyrider, whats that steering damper setup on your z? looking for something similar. thanks!

Naked,s are the most fun, touring bikes just simply spoils a person

I keep seeing criticism of speed wobble on these bike but I've only ever got it from putting down a wheelie in a bad way over 15k miles, definitely gonna look into that M/C mod though. I've owned my bike for 3 years and always hated the brakes, currently have some after market rotors, HH pads and stainless lines. Might be a pad issue as I was in love with the brakes at track days but hated them for daily riding this summer. Absolutely love the gen 1 z1k though, fits my dickhead daily style perfectly. Gotta new sub for sure!

On a gen 1 z1000 and not a single dank wheelie!?!? Lol jk Gen 1 had a potential weld cracking that they fixed on the 04 with gussets, and 05 was revamped completely Kawasaki rewelded/swapped a few frames under warranty kinda quietly

I remember riding mine the first time and I wasn’t used to 1000cc Man the power compared to the 600s I was used to. Kinda laughable now. The z is slow compared to what’s out now

Did the 07 09 power commander fit without any mods to your gen 1.thank you