Burn the Hell's Highway

KAWASAKI Z1000 SX 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

Bodystyle : Super Sports
Warranty : 12 months
Manufacturer Country : Japan
Mode; Year : 2011
Displacement (cc) : 1043
Engine Type : Horizontal In-line

VEHICLE REVIEW

2011 Kawasaki Z1000 SX

Do they have a winning formula with this all rounder? We think so and we will do our best to get our hands on one for a full review. The Z1000SX offers street riding excitement wrapped in seductive full-fairing styling that embodies its sporty performance. Add a number of convenience features and the result is a unique package more than able to satisfy a rider’s every desire. Made an announcement of a new sporty bike. Planned to launch this sporty bike in 2011 known as Kawasaki Z1000SX. Upcoming Super radical ZX10R Kawasaki is all set to launch the new Kawasaki Z1000SX after the 2011 ZX10R and the naked Z1000. Released full details of the new Z1000SX. Without seeing it in the flesh, it certainly looks as though it will be a serious rival to the similar offerings from Suzuki and Honda. The spec looks good, as does the bike (well we think so) and Kawasaki look like they will have a rush to the dealers – just as long as the pricing is competetive. Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 1,043 cc in-line four engine offers an impressive power level of 138 hp (101.5 kW) and strong torque. Bore and stroke of 77.0 x 56.0 mm were chosen for optimal mid-range power. Throttle bore is ø38 mm, chosen for the ideal low-mid range response. The exhaust system is composed of a 4-into-2 pre-chamber, going into-2 layout silencer end-caps, thus creating a quad-style image. Thanks to the under-engine pre-chamber, silencer volume is kept to 3 liters each and silencer weight to 3,5 kg, contributing to mass centralization and a low center of gravity. Frame is a twin-tube aluminum frame design, with a narrow frame for comfort. 41 mm inverted front forks feature rebound damping and adjustable spring preloading. Brake wise, the Z1000 SX comes with twin 300 mm discs at the front coupled by 4 radial-mounted piston calipers. The rear brake features a single piston gripping a 250 mm disc. Sporty instrument panel features a large analogue tachometer and multi-function LCD screen. The bike has added storage under the seat as well as optional GIVI side cases with 35 liters of room each. The only two colors available are the striking Kawasaki Candy Lime Green and Ebony.

Whether looking to move on from a supersport or super-naked ride, or step up from a mid-size sport model, the Z1000SX offers the performance and versatility for a fuller bike life than ever experienced. The Z1000SX’s well-integrated full-fairing styling offers a good indication of its sporty character. Featuring a “personal jet fighter” motif, the sensuous styling is both audacious and subtle at the same time. The aggressive design gives the Z1000SX its own distinct appearance, yet is instantly recognisable as a Kawasaki.

Standard Features

Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve 1,043 cm3 In-line Four offers impressive power (101.5 kW (138 PS)) and strong torque.

Bore and stroke of 77.0 x 56.0 mm were chosen to achieve the desired engine character. The result is an engine very strong in the everyday rpm range most used in street riding situations.

Downdraft throttle bodies allow intake air to travel to the engine in the shortest possible distance, contributing to performance. While downdraft throttle bodies often use short intake funnels to maximise high-rpm performance, the Z1000SX’s are longer to offer the best power characteristics for street riding excitement.

Throttle bore is ø38 mm, chosen for the ideal low-mid range response.

Oval sub-throttles help keep the engine slim – important since the throttle bodies are positioned between the rider’s knees.

Engine tuning focused on the feeling the rider gets when opening the throttle. There is a strong torque feeling (torque was set at the maximum level before the rear wheel starts spinning). Get on the gas at any rpm and the engine pulls strongly – although the feeling is more like being propelled forward.

Good over-rev characteristics mean that power does not drop off suddenly at high rpm.

Power delivery is quite linear, but the engine spins up noticeably faster from about 7,000 rpm onwards. Silky smooth response from mid-high rpm ensures excellent driveability.

A secondary balancer, driven off a gear on the 6th web of the crankshaft, eliminates excess vibration. Of course, a certain amount of engine vibration was desired as part of the bike’s character (vibration contributes to the feeling of acceleration, increasing linearly with rpm), so vibration was not totally eliminated.

With the airbox nestled between the frame beams, intake air can be affected by engine heat. The Cool Air system routes cool air to the airbox from ducts at the front of the side fairings, minimising performance loss due to heated intake air. This should not be confused with Ram Air, where force-fed air becomes pressurised in the airbox. A resonator inside the airbox reduces noise at low rpm, and enhances intake sound at high rpm.

The exhaust system features a 4-into-2-pre-chamber-into-2 layout. Silencer end-caps create a quad-style image. Main and pre-catalysers ensure emissions are clean. An exhaust device is located upstream of the right-side silencer. Thanks to the under-engine pre-chamber, silencer volume could be kept to 3 litres each and silencer weight to 3500 g each, greatly contributing to mass centralisation (please see also Mass Centralisation below) and a lower centre of gravity.

A 41/15 (2.733) final ratio enables both sporty riding and short touring.

To ensure maximum riding excitement, the Z1000SX offers a quick-steering and light-handling package. A highly rigid aluminium frame with high mass centralisation balances sharp turning and firm handling. Supersport-style front brakes add to the high level of control.

Aluminium twin-tube frame design features frame beams that go over engine, allowing a narrow construction that is easy to grip with the knees. Lightweight and highly rigid, the frame uses the engine as a stressed member. The frame contributes to handling, offering a firm, planted feeling, good stability and light, nimble turning.

The frame is a 5-piece cast aluminium construction, consisting of steering stem, left and right main frames, and two cross pieces. The two main frame components have open C-shaped cross sections and were die-cast to ensure a smooth surface finish. As much as possible welds were eliminated, contributing to appearance.

The frame uses 4 engine mounts. All engine mounts are rigid except the upper rear crankcase mount, which is rubber. This, and using the engine as a stressed member, is what gives the frame its excellent handling characteristics. Feeling from the engine is also transmitted more directly to the rider. The rear frame is a 3-piece aluminium die-cast construction. Its light weight contributes to mass centralisation. The front part of the rear frame is an example of form and function combined, allowing the side covers to be eliminated. This also allows the width under the seat to be narrower, offering riders a shorter reach to the ground.

Rear suspension positions the shock unit and linkage above the swingarm.

This arrangement contributes to mass centralisation (please see below).

The suspension is located far enough from the exhaust that operation is not affected by heat.

Visible from the outside, the Horizontal Back-link rear suspension contributes to the appearance of the Z1000SX.

The rear shock features rebound and preload adjustability. A cam-style preload adjuster facilitates making adjustments to suit 2-up riding or luggage.

The exhaust system (with large pre-chamber and short silencers), Horizontal Back-link rear suspension and the use of downdraft throttle bodies are the greatest contributors to mass centralisation. The Horizontal Back-link rear suspension arrangement frees up space taken up by the Uni-Trak suspension lower linkage, enabling a larger pre-chamber, which in turn allows the use of shorter mufflers and contributes to mass centralisation. The lightweight aluminium rear frame also contributes. The result is lighter, sharper handling. Turn-in is light. Steering is neutral after the bike has been leaned over.

41 mm inverted front fork features stepless compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability.

Settings offer both sporty performance (contributing to light handling on the street and in the hills) and comfort.

Supersport-style full-fairing bodywork gives the Z1000SX a distinct, head-turning look of its own. The sleek styling also offers a good measure of wind protection, facilitating short touring runs.

The leading edges of the fairings feature a slat-style design that directs the wind around the bike, enabling the fairings to be slimmer in the middle.

The fairings flair at the rear, keeping hot air from the engine from hitting the rider’s legs.

Original-design front turn signals mount directly to the fairings. Turn signal units are attached to the inside of the fairing using rubber mounts to minimise fairing damage should the bike fall over.

Supersport-style front fender contributes to both aerodynamics and racy looks.

Slim and compact tail cowl design moves mass both physically and visually away from the rear and toward the front.

LED taillight design features red LED bulbs and a red transparent lens.

The short-style silencer design allows the rear wheel silhouette to be seen.

Swingarm features eccentric axle adjusters, contributing to the Z1000SX’s Kawasaki identity.

Supersport-style throttle case contributes to the Z1000SX’s sporty image.

With a relaxed riding position that can accommodate everything from city riding to touring to sport riding, and numerous bike-life-enhancing features, the Z1000SX complements its street riding excitement with a depth not available on Super-Naked or supersport models.

Relatively upright position (compared to supersport models) offers both control and comfort. (Rider triangle is essentially the same as that of the Z1000, with grips moved about 10 mm inward). Separate, raised handlebars contribute to the sporty, comfortable riding position. The handlebar stays are mounted to the fork tube tops, which extend above the upper triple clamp. Thick seat urethane ensures ample rider comfort. Tandem seat is wide and long, with thick urethane. Dampers on the underside of the seat help reduce vibration. Sculpted aluminium passenger grips are positioned and shaped to offer tandem riders a good ergonomic fit.

Front footpegs are rubber mounted to reduce vibration transmitted to the rider. Further, vibration-absorbing weights on the back of the foot guards minimise fluttering of the floating pieces. Both front and rear footpegs are rubber coated.

At the front, 300 mm petal brake discs are gripped by opposed 4-piston radial-mount calipers. Caliper piston size is 30 mm.

Radial-pump front brake master cylinder also contributes to the superb control and feel offered by the calipers.

The rear brake features a single piston, pin-slide caliper gripping a 250 mm petal disc.

The caliper is mounted below the swingarm and features a torque rod. The arrangement adds to the racy image.

For added braking reassurance, ABS models are available in certain markets.

Lightweight supersport-style 6-spoke wheels contribute to the Z1000SX’s sporty image while offering lower unsprung weight.

Windscreen has three available positions spanning approximately 20? and ranging from sporty to maximum wind protection. Adjustment can be done by hand (no tools required) by depressing the release button below the instrument panel. (Windscreen adjustment should be done with the bike stopped.)

The 19 litre fuel tank offers a substantial touring range. Dynamic fuel tank design with tall upper surface features supersport-style flared edges with a trim shape at the rear, a shape that is easy to grip with the knees. Steel construction facilitates the use of a magnetic tank bag. Slim-type fuel pump features a unitised fuel gauge. Fuel tank design and slim-type fuel pump minimise dead volume inside the tank.

OVERVIEW SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

Displacement(cc) : 1043.00

Displacement(ci) : 63.64

Bore x Stroke(mm) : 77.0 x 56.0

Bore x Stroke(in) : 3.0 x 2.2

Compression ratio : 11.8:1

Power(bhp) : 138 (101.5 kW) @ 9600 RPM

Torque(Nm) : 110 (11.2 kgf-m or 81.1 ft.lbs) @ 7800 RPM

Valves per cylinder : 4

Fuel system : Injection, 38 mm x 4 (Keihin) with oval sub-throttles

Lubrication system : Forced lubrication, wet sump

Fuel control : DOHC

Ignition : Digital CDI

Cooling system : Liquid

Starter : Electric

Transmission

Final reduction ratio : 2.733 (41/15)

Gear Ratio (1) : 2.600 (39/15)
Gear Ratio (2) : 1.950 (39/20)
Gear Ratio (3) : 1.600 (24/15)
Gear Ratio (4) : 1.389 (25/18)
Gear Ratio (5) : 1.238 (26/21)
Gear Ratio (6) : 1.136 (25/22)

Primary reduction ratio : 1.627 (83/51)

Number of speed : 6

Primary drive : Gear

Final drive : Sealed Chain

Clutch : Wet, multiple discs, cable operated

Transmission type : Manual

Frame & Suspension

Frame type : Aluminium twin-tube

Front suspension : 41 mm inverted fork with stepless compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability

Front suspension travel(mm) : 120

Front suspension travel(in) : 4.7

Rear suspension : Horizontal Back-link, gas-charged, with stepless rebound damping and cam-style spring preload adjustability

Rear suspension travel(mm) : 138

Rear suspension travel(in) : 5.4

Tires

Front tire (Full Spec) : 120/70 ZR17

Front tire Aspect Ratio : 70

Front tire Speed Rating : Z

Front tire Width : 120

Rear tire (Full Spec) : 190/50 ZR17

Rear tire Aspect Ratio : 50

Rear tire Speed Rating : Z

Rear tire Width : 190

Brakes

Front : Dual semi-floating 300 mm petal discs. Dual radial-mount, opposed 4-piston

Front Brake Diameter (mm) : 300

Front Brake Diameter (in) : 11.8

Front Caliper Pistons : 4

Rear : Single 250 mm petal disc, Single-piston

Rear Brake Diameter (mm) : 250

Rear Brake Diameter (in) : 9.8

Rear Caliper Pistons : 1

Colours

Candy Lime Green

• Ebony
• Fuel Capacity
• Fuel capacity(gal) : 5.02
• Fuel capacity(l) : 19.00
• DIMENSIONS
• Wheelbase(mm) : 1,445
• Wheelbase(in) : 56.9
• Height(mm) : 1,170
• Height(in) : 46.1
• Seat Height(mm) : 820
• Seat Height(in) : 32.3
• Length(mm) : 2,105
• Length(in) : 82.9
• Width(mm) : 790
• Width(in) : 31.1
• Curb Mass(kg) : 228 / 231 (ABS)
• Rake Angle(degree) : 24.5
• Trail(mm) : 102
• Trail(in) : 4.0