Forza Italia! Ferrari 458 Italia vs Ducati 1198S

Every day that I ride I discover that I enjoy riding more and more. Today I rode up Mt Charleston, a nice cool slow pace with the tunes playing some mellow music.

After words rode up to the world famous spring mountain bar. Sat for a while with a cold corona watching the sun go down.

How much more does one person need

Metro doing there thing

Coast Racing down Mt. Charleston tonight

Going to meet up with some buddies tonight and head up to Mt. Charleston.   Then we will do the Las Vegas famous coast race down the backside of the hill.  

Harley Is Doomed

Harley-Davidson Incorporated, the iconic American motorcycle manufacturer is doomed.

The confidant pitchmen now running the company into the ground understand that something has gone terribly, terribly wrong but they have absolutely no idea what the real disaster might be. Not even Willie G. Davidson, who has often been lionized as the savior of the company, knows. So the company is doomed.

Harley-Davidson is a deaf and blind man in a minefield. And, if you are a sentimentalist, if you are one of those people who got Harley-Davidson tattooed on your arm way back in the long ago, now you get to watch. Just watch. You can also jump up and down and scream, “Oh no, Harley! Don’t do that! No! No!” But it does not matter what you scream. Harley cannot hear you anymore.

Latest Bad News

Last week Harley announced that it lost $218.7 million between Labor Day and New Year’s Eve. Last year, when the economic meltdown had everybody in a panic, Harley made $77.8 million during the same three months. Sales were 40 percent lower this autumn than last year. Retail sales of “authentic Harley-Davidson” overpriced stuff fell 28 percent in the United States and 10 percent overseas. Twenty-eight Harley dealers closed in 2009. The company expects 15 more dealers to close in the next three months. Earlier this year the company dropped its Buell sport bike line and announced it was laying off half the workers at its York, Pennsylvania plant.

But the problems are really much worse than that because selling you a motorcycle and plastic bags full of “authentic Harley-Davidson” overpriced stuff is only half of the company’s business. The other half of the business is called Harley-Davidson Financial Services or HDFS. HDFS is the friendly “folks” who lend you the money you need to purchase a new motorcycle or an “authentic Harley-Davidson” leather jacket or whatever it is that the dealer has that you want. And, as sales income drops interest income drops, too.

“As we look at the year in front of us, we expect 2010 to continue to be challenging,” Harley boss Keith Wandell told investors last week. This week Wandell very publically demonstrated his confidence in Harley’s robust future by buying a thousand shares of his company’s stock, which probably cost him something like one half of one percent of his annual salary.

Outlaw Machine

Back in the 1990s Brock Yates, the screenwriter who gave the world Cannonball Run, very memorably named Harley-Davidson motorcycles the Outlaw Machine. It was a brilliant and incisive turn of phrase that described both the motorcycle and the real subject of Yates’ book which was actually “the long ride of the Harley-Davidson into the mainstream.”

That long ride began after the Second World War when restless and edgy veterans bought war surplus Harleys. The bikes were dirt cheap, easy to work on, went anywhere, ran pretty good and they were American. Some of these edgy veterans joined or formed clubs. Hollister happened and the more freewheeling clubs came to be called outlaws.

Which was also a brilliant and incisive turn of phrase. America still loved the idea of outlaws in the conformist 1950s. Bikers became outlaws because that was what the rest of the country really wanted bikers to be. Our tolerance for “outlaws” was one of the things that separated the good, old US of A from the “totalitarian states.” And, in the 1950s America still longed for the days of the frontier. The predominant television genre until about 1965 was called the “Western.”

Americans also still adored the idea of personal freedom, of just being able to take off and go somewhere without being tied down. America was the land of the fresh start before it became corrupted into the nation of free credit report dot com. One of the iconic TV shows of that era that was not a Western was called Route 66. It was about a couple of drifters who collected a lot of stories and broke a lot of traffic laws.

One of the best known novels of the 1950s was called On The Road. In 1960 the last, great, American champion of the common man, John Steinbeck, went on the road with a dog named Charley. He announced he was looking for the “real America.” In mid-decade Simon and Garfunkel released a hit song about going to “look for America.” And, none of this was ever considered pathological.

Motorcycle outlaws were all part of that vanishing Americana and Harley-Davidson more or less tagged along with its customers. The rule for the first patch holders was that prospects had to own a bike “manufactured by one of the allies in World War II.” Beezers, manufactured by British Small Arms, Trumpets and Indians were all okay. The Pagans started as a Triumph club. Harleys were the cheapest. After the hated Japanese started selling cheap bikes in the United States in the 1960s the rule eventually became you had to ride an “American motorcycle.” It was common in the sixties to hear, “I would rather see my brother dead than on a Jap bike.” After Indian went out of business that more or less meant you had to own a Harley.

Don’t let people kid you. The first two decades after the Second World War were a great time. At least compared to now. People still long for the country that America was before Vietnam ruined everything. Some people born after 1980 are still trying to live up to 1965.

Subcultural Commodification

One of the things that fell apart after Vietnam was Harley-Davidson’s business. All those war surplus bikes got used up. The new bikes were no longer cheap or particularly good. Only the outlaw mystique endured and when Harley came back to life in the 1980s it was because the company was selling the idea of the outlaw as much as it was selling motorcycles. Harleys became the Outlaw Machine because that is what Harley-Davidson wanted you to think.

If you couldn’t afford a motorcycle, the official outlaw company would sell you a tee-shirt. They cost more than just ordinary tee-shirts but that was only because they included a magic ingredient. The magic was, when you put them on you became an outlaw, too.

The simple fact is, Harley stopped being a motorcycle manufacturer long ago. For decades Harley has been a company that sells magic on credit.

Anthropologists call this magic business “late capitalist subcultural commodification.” And they aren’t just talking about making some money from the “biker lifestyle.” “Gangsta Rap” is probably America’s most important subcultural commodity. A close cousin of the ‘biker lifestyle” called “the counterculture” has become a most excellent way to sell boomers everything from organic produce to investment plans. An MTV show called Jersey Shore is currently hawking the “Guido lifestyle.”

The problem is that “subcultural commodification,” the selling of an instant identity, is at heart a pyramid scheme. The American economy is now largely based on credit and magic. And, that is the economic minefield through which the deaf and blind Harley-Davidson Company is now wandering. This magic minefield is the big picture Harley cannot see. All of those layoffs and unemployment numbers and diminishing wages are the big booms Harley cannot hear.

What Blind Men See

In the mirror of its own mind, Harley-Davidson thinks you are the problem.

If you work for Harley-Davidson you are the problem because you make too much money, your health plan costs too much and you take too long to build a motorcycle. If you want a big salary and health benefits why don’t you get a job as a prison guard?

If you are everybody else you are the problem because you are exactly who Harley still aims its motorcycles at. So you are too old.

“The Easy Rider Generation Is Aging” an investment newsletter recently advised its subscribers. The “massive drop in sales underscores Harley’s main problem; the company’s key Baby Boomer customer base is aging to the point where they’re trading the experience of roaring down an open road on a ‘hog’ for something more sedate like tooling around the links in an electric golf cart.”

Harley intends to “streamline its manufacturing” and what that means is the company intends to put more people out of work and cut the wages and benefits of the workers it keeps. The company also intends to “boost sales” by exploiting two new markets.

The first new market is women, and Harley doesn’t mean your woman. The company means women like Carrie Bradshaw and all the gang from Sex in the City. It has to be those women because those are the women who can afford to buy a Harley.

And, the second market is India. Harley is going to introduce twelve models for sale in India. India, makes sense because that is where at least a million American jobs in engineering, computer programming, customer service, phone sales and even the law have gone in the last few years. On the other hand, India does not make sense because the average salary there is only about $1,000 a year.

So the company’s future would seem to boil down to the question of just how much middle class Indians and upper class career women will be willing to spend for 600 pounds of outlaw magic? And, the obvious answer is Harley is doomed.

Some Really Cool New Tech stuff

What Is A QR Code And Why Do You Need One?

We all know that one of the keys to great SEO is making sure you keep your website updated, new and fresh. Weather you do this with a blog, or you change your homepage with new offers, coupons or new products, it serves to show Google that your site is ‘alive’. For many small businesses in particular, this is a real challenge.

As per David Ingrams article on video, we can’t emphasize enough just how beneficial it is to add video to your website, to your entries on directory, business review and IYP sites. At the time of writing this article, this business has had 10,425 views since May 2009. I am sure not all of this traffic is due to just having a video, but it has certainly contributed. What is also very telling, is that the majority of the top viewed pages on our directory (Brownbook.net) contain videos.

So you have new content on your site, you are using video or at least going to start soon, what’s next? Do you know what is coming that may benefit your small business?

Have you heard of QR codes yet? Here is a quick introduction:

What are QR codes?

They look like this:

They come to us from Japan where they are very common. QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to your cell phone. You may soon see QR Codes in a magazine advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in your cell phone, it may give you details about that business (allowing users to search for nearby locations), or details about the person wearing the t-shirt, show you a URL which you can click to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give you a coupon which you can use in a local outlet.

The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, including url links, geo coordinates, and text. The other key feature of QR Codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand-held scanner to scan them, many modern cell phones can scan them. The full Wikipedia description is here.

How does the cell phone read the code?

The cell phone needs a QR code reader, like this one from Kaywa. It takes literally 1 minute for someone with an iPhone or Android phone to find and install the reader.

How do you generate a code?

You can easily generate your QR code using a site like Kaywa.com or you can use the Open Source code to generate codes for you if you have a smart developer on hand.

How can you use QR codes to benefit search marketing?

We are only just scratching the surface of how they will be used. We have added one to every business listing in our directory. Here are a few examples of how others are using them.

A business card company showing how they are using them for businesses:

In print that links the user straight to a web site:Skip to half way in this video to see some examples:

You can also watch this BBC Click interview on YouTube.

How will Google see them?

If you add them to your website, the search engines will see that your pages have changed, and that you are updating pages. The search engine will see a new image and index it accordingly. At some point soon, the search engines will likely recognize QR codes and possibly index the content in them.

Will your customers use them?

Today, right now, few may use them, those that do will certainly appreciate your tech knowledge, those that don’t will certainly be inquisitive which may open the door for conversation and a potential sale. Those that do use QR codes will definitely have a high tech know-how and may be more receptive to your presence on the web, your Twitter presence, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube etc.

How could you use a QR code?

Your business, no matter how small or large, could use QR codes in a number of ways. You might auto generate one next to every product on your web site containing all the product details, the number to call and the URL link to the page so they can show their friends on their cell phone. You could add one to your business card containing your contact details so its easy for someone to add you to their contacts on their cell phone.

Add them to any print advertising, flyers, posters, invites, tv ads etc containing:

• product details
• contact details
• offer details
• event details
• competition details
• a coupon
• Twitter, Facebook, MySpace IDs
• a link to your YouTube video

What is it all about really? Well, some may not see it yet, but its another example of the blurring of the edges of media, as we all rapidly enter this totally connected world. It’s the blurring of the lines between our cell phone and the Internet, always on Internet connectivity wherever we are, whatever we are doing and whatever device we have on hand –whether it’s a cellphone, netbook, laptop, pc, camera, or TV.

Kolob Reservoir Road Southern Utah Winter Ride

About 174 miles or an hour and a half in sport bike terms, is a great get away from the hustle of Las Vegas. Even in the ever increasing popular escape of the Zion National Park this is a getaway from the getaway.  While the  Kolob Reservoir Road is the least traveled of the main roads through Zion National Park, and provides an easy way to quickly reach the wilderness and escape the crowds that can affect the more well known areas, it does offer plenty to see. 

This hidden treasure offers great views of distant cliffs and valleys, hiking trails to high overlooks and along narrow canyons, and varied landscapes reflecting the wide elevation range of 3,550 to 7,890 feet. The road passes close to Lava Point, the highest summit in the park except for two peaks in the far northwest region, and affords exceptional, near 360° views of the whole park.  It is a little known camping and fishing hot spot. The area provides a true respite from the hustle and bustle of regular wilderness venues.   

Well that is what the guide book said… but in actuality this is a great little road for motorcyclists.  During the summer it offers a great passage from Zion to the Cedar Breaks area.   Not to heavily traveled and some very scenic views  makes for a nice change of pace from Interstate 15.   It eventually becomes a dirt road that continues northward all the way to the outskirts of Cedar City

Just after you start out on the road you are welcomed by the Kolob Terrace Road which climbs steeply up from the town of Virgin up onto the wide and forested expanse of the Kolob Terrace. 

Kolob is a word from the Book of Mormon used to describe the star nearest the throne of God, signifying a high and exalted place, a good name for a high plateau towering above the burning desert below. It is a paved county road that skirts back and forth through sections of central Zion National Park leading to backcountry trailheads and an overlook located at Lava Point. 

During the winter most of the road remains closed and only snowmobiles can travel to the Kolob Reservior.   You can however travel a portion of the way if the road has been snow plowed and you are a brave and well prepared soul.   In a recent winter trip I traveled as far up the road as I could safely go and was rewarded with some stunning views as well as some much needed motorcycle time.    

As the road winds its way in and out of the Zion National Park you can determine if you are in or out of the park by the bright red finish on the roadway.  The road  is maintained but not always in the best of conditions, so be prepared.     If you are riding during the winter months be prepared for snow and ice on the roadway up until the point that it is no longer plowed.  From this point up until the reservoir it is snow mobiles only. 

Test Riding the BMW s 1000 rr

Ok

First things first, A big thanks to Las Vegas BMW Motorcycles, for lets us ride the new S1000 rr.


I road the S1000rr thru the Red Rock loop if you are not familiar with it, it is a one way 12 mile loop with some nice twisties. My first impressions were nice well put together bike. The display is well laid out and organized, overall easy to read.

While sitting on the bike it actually felt like a 600 but once you fired it up and started the ride, know your not on a 600. The bike has nice smooth power from way down low all the way to the top. Giving the bike a nice tame feel.

First thing I wanted to try out a full on shift under full power. BMW did a great job and a quick nudge of the shifter and the motor cut out for a mil-sec and your in the next gear. This really works great under full power, easing around in traffic works but you just don't get the full effect unless your under full power

Next thing I wanted to try was the anti lock brakes.. Gave myself a long straight part of the road and grabbed a handful of brakes. You know the kind you grab when a mini van pulls out in front of you. I was impressed I expected some back tire rise but I did not get any. Good job 

Then I was off to the twisties.

I pushed the bike a little but not like it was mine. The first thing I noticed was the suspension was noticeably different from mine own my 1000 rr. I ride red rock all the time and I know where the bumps are and what issues I normally have. WOW is all I have to say.. They did a great job.

My overall impression. The big four ( Kawi, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha )now have to compete with a major sportbike If you are not a squid and want a true sportbike you better consider this one.. even though it is a little pricey

I will post up some Video when I get it of us in the loop, but here is some photos


At the dealership... Yea that's a North Las Vegas Motor officer who came out to drool


At the overlook in the loop


My ride

2010 Kawasaki z 1000

For 2010, Kawasaki is importing a lighter, faster, and better-looking Z1000 streetfighter.

After a year hiatus, Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki returns to its high-performance street bike roots by bringing back the Z1000 to its U.S. motorcycle line-up for the New Year. And while the name remains the same, the 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 has been overhauled from top-to-bottom to deliver an easier and more entertaining ride for motorcyclists seeking a fun and civilized sport-oriented street bike.

Why Bring it Back?

The Z1000 is a Streetfighter-style motorcycle, which is essentially a sportbike stripped of some of its bodywork and fitted with a standard handlebar. While they’re the rage in Europe (I’ve seen them everywhere in Italy), here in the US of A, this style of motorbike continues to struggle on the sales floor compared to their full-fairing sportbike brethren. In spite of this, Kawasaki feels it has something special with the redesigned Z1000. So once again it is being imported into the States.

What’s So Special About It?

The previous Z1000 was a quirky bike. While there were certain attributes we enjoyed, including its spunky engine personality and sporty-yet-relaxed riding position, there were also elements that were just plain funky—the biggest complaint being its peculiar handling, excessive engine vibration and love-it-or-hate-it styling. The latest Zed-1 does away with those flukes, plus, it builds upon its fundamental fun-loving traits thereby delivering a fast, easy, and ultimately amusing motorcycle to operate. 

(Above) The front cowl has been widened and houses a double beam headlight. (Center) The angle of the digital instrument display is three-way adjustable. (Bottom) The Zed-1 retains its signature quad exhaust system.

Skin Deep 

Based on its similar exterior profile, one might assume that the new Z1000 is simply a modified version of the old bike. But that’s not the case. The new bike uses a purpose-built engine, frame and rear suspension (more on those later).

Visually designers gave it a thorough nip/tuck. The lines of the bike have been sharpened to give it a more contemporary shape. Additional bodywork was added in the form of the razor-sharp belly fairing and fork guards. The front fairing was also stretched and houses an updated double beam headlight. Towards the back, it retains a sleek high-mounted tail section with bright LED-style taillight and signature trapezoid-shaped quad exhaust pipes. The Z1000 comes in two color choices: Metallic Spark Black and Pearl Stardust White.

The controls are also upgraded and are highlighted by a thick tubular aluminum handlebar, compact LCD instrumentation, and stylized brake fluid reservoir. Furthermore, the angle of the instrument display can be adjusted in three positions via a tiny plastic adjustment knob. This gives the Z1000 an elegant, yet sporty cockpit similar in appearance to the Ducati Streetfighter.

Under the Hood

The Zed-1 now uses its very own 1043cc liquid-cooled Inline-Four engine. Kawasaki claims this new engine utilizes its own architecture and is not based off either the previous bikes’ 953cc ZX-9R-derived motor or the current one found in the Ninja ZX-10R. The 90cc bump in displacement is calculated via a slightly smaller bore (77.0 vs. 77.2 mm) and a larger stroke (56.0 vs. 50.9mm). Despite the added piston stroke, the engine’s exterior dimensions are almost the same as before. Fuel charge is compressed to a ratio of 11.8:1 and the engine features hot rod tuning tricks including a 16-valve cylinder head operated via dual overhead camshafts. An internal counter balancer, driven by a gear on the crankshaft, reduces engine vibration.

Intake air is captured via an air induction system that utilizes intake scoops on each side of the machine. Air funnels into the resonator chamber-equipped airbox which produces a similar sound effect to a person blowing over the top of an open glass bottle. This greatly enhances the intake sound while riding and ultimately creates a more thrilling riding experience. Air and gas are then mixed within a set of larger oval bore Keihin throttle bodies and injected into the engine via four fuel-injectors.

(Above) The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000 uses an all-new 1043cc Inline-Four engine that uses its own architecture not based off either the previous machine’s ZX-9R-derived engine or the one found in the Ninja ZX-10R. (Below) The Z1000 uses a horizontally-mounted back link hydraulic shock absorber. The design allows the shock to provide more consistent damping performance.

Exhaust is handled by a 4-2-2 exhaust system with a belly-mounted pre-chamber. This allows the mufflers to be lighter and more compact than before. A valve in the right muffler maximizes performance through its 11,000-plus rev range. Lastly, three emission-reducing catalyzers are also fitted within the exhaust. Engine power is shifted to the rear wheel through a cable-actuated clutch without slipper functionality and a 6-speed transmission paired to a chain/sprockets final drive system.

Chassis

The engine is hung within a lighter aluminum frame via a four-point mounting arrangement (one more than before). This is claimed to increase chassis rigidity and stability, as well as giving the pilot an enhanced level of feel at speed. The frame is constructed out of five pieces of aluminum and is almost nine pounds lighter than the previous model’s steel piece. Similar to the frame used on the Ninja ZX-10R and ZX-14, the Z1000 frame wraps up and over the engine which dramatically reduces the width of the bike at the seat. A new three-piece aluminum subframe complements the set-up.

In the suspension department, the Z1 utilizes an innovative horizontally-mounted back-link hydraulic shock absorber.
The two-way adjustable shock (spring preload and return damping) attaches between the main frame via a fixed linkage mounted on top of the aluminum swingarm. This allows the shock to be kept away from the engine and exhaust heat thereby giving it more consistent damping performance without compromising ease of adjustment. Up front a conventional Showa 41mm inverted fork offers independent three-way adjustment for spring preload, compression and rebound damping. 

The 2010 Kawasaki Z1000’s brakes are a mix of old and new. At the front sits a pair of 300mm diameter petal-style discs actuated by a pair of Tokico radial-mount 4-piston calipers as used on the Ninja ZX-10R.

New five-spoke cast aluminum wheels measure 3.5 x 17-inch at the front and 5.0 x 17-inch at the back. Both rims are painted silver and black and feature machined and polished edges on the spoke where it attaches to the rim giving the Z1000 a custom look. The wheels are shod in OE-spec Dunlop Sportmax Qualifier D210 tires (120/70-17 front, 190/50-17 rear).

Braking components are a mix of old and new. At the front, the same 300mm diameter petal-style discs are controlled via a pair of Tokico radial-mount four-piston calipers as used on the Ninja ZX-10R. A radial-pump master cylinder augments the set-up through rubber brake lines. A single-piston rear caliper mounts below the swingarm (provides a less cluttered look of the rear wheel) and pinches a 250mm disc, again through rubber brake lines.

Street Riding Impression

Hop in the saddle and the first thing one notices is just how low the 32.1-in. seat height feels. This aids the rider in keeping both feet firmly planted on the ground at a stop. Equally as impressive is how narrow the machine is between the rider’s legs—a clear benefit of the reengineered aluminum frame and subframe.

On the road, the Zed-1 retains its signature sporty-yet-relaxed riding position, which proves a sport rider can have the best of both worlds. The frame and fuel tank feature ergonomically correct cut-outs for the pilot’s knees. The location of the footpegs and handlebar in relation the seat contribute to the commanding seating position and were well received by tall and short riders alike during the course of our ride.

The Z1000 offers light, predictable, and easy handling on either one or both wheels.

Launching away from a stop is a simple affair due to the effective action of the cable-actuated clutch and short first gear. Wick up the throttle and one instantly appreciates the Z1’s ridiculously smooth powerband. Bottom-end power is stout without being overruling and at lower revs engine vibration is almost non-existent.

Keep the throttle pegged and the engine spools up leisurely, making it important to select the appropriate gear if maximum acceleration is your mission. At around 8000 revs the engine suddenly stands at attention delivering a solid mid-range push. As it does, the inside of your helmet will be overwhelmed by the addictive howl of the intake.

Kawasakis have always been known for induction noise, but this Z1000 takes it to a new level. Conversely, the engine’s exhaust note is still subdued. It’s about here that the engine begins to vibrate a bit, but it never becomes irritating. As you approach redline the sound of the howl backs off slightly, but the engine continues to dole out a steady spread of unintimidating power.

Aside from its robust yet mild-mannered power delivery, perhaps my favorite feature of the Z1000’s engine is its soft rev-limiter. As opposed to other motorcycles, when the rev limiter is encountered, the engine does not abruptly cease accelerating. Instead it gradually slows, signaling that it’s time to upshift. Grab another gear and you’ll appreciate the short and positive shift lever throw offered by the transmission.

Although the Zed-1 shares its front brake calipers with the aforementioned Ninja ZX-10R, the front brakes don’t feel quite as sharp as they do on the premium superbike. Feel isn’t quite on par, but is still plenty reasonable for day-to-day use on the street and won’t be missed to all but the most discerning sport riders. Meanwhile the rear brake functions spot-on with ample feel which allows you to better explore the traction vs. lock-up point of the rear tire.
 
At parking lot speeds, the Zed-1 exhibits some top heaviness which feels like it could be attributed to the top-high location of the four-gallon steel fuel tank. But as speed increases above 20 or so mph, the trait vanishes and is replaced with absolute surefootedness.

Lean on the handlebar and the Z1000 dips into a turn with surprisingly little effort for a 481-lb motorcycle. Keep on leaning and the bike falls onto the side of the tire predictably—never more or less than the rider asks of it. Additional speed only exacerbates its superb handling and even triple digit speeds have little effect on its outright chassis stability, whether cornering or during wide-open straight-line acceleration. This gives the rider the confidence he or she needs to investigate the motorcycles limits. 

Time is best spent aboard the Z1000 on one wheel as Waheed demonstrate with his wacky yellow Alpinestars Nero boots.

During the course of our street ride, the pace was never hot enough to find out if ground clearance issues plague this bike. Nonetheless, the tires complement the bike’s handling well, offering outstanding and predicable grip on both wet and dry pavement.
 
During acceleration, braking or cornering, the suspension offers excellent balance front-to-rear. Even more impressive is the way in which the rear suspension performs. It’s equally adept at soaking up rough broken pavement as it is a spirited smooth corner attack—offering the rider the best of both worlds in terms of cornering performance and ride comfort. Even though the shock doesn’t allow for compression damping adjustment, we never felt the need to change anything.

Instrumentation is legible; however, we’re not big fans of the small font of the bar-style LCD tachometer. We also would appreciate the addition of a gear position indicator. The mirrors, however, offer a clear, buzz-free view of what’s happening behind you regardless of speed, which is a remarkable attribute for any street bike.

Closing Thoughts

Before having actually ridden the new Z1000, I was at a loss to why Kawasaki would reintroduce this style motorcycle in the U.S. considering its tiny demographic and historically soft sales. After riding, though, I’ve learned this bike could actually be better suited to the hardcore sport riding enthusiast that would typically opt for flashy 

Priced exactly in-line with the Ninja ZX-6R, the $10,499 Z1000 is an excellent sport motorcycle option for the street motorcyclist who isn’t planning on spending all his or her time riding at the racetrack.

Supersport.

Not only is its $10,499 asking price the same as the 2010Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, for that cost you get a bigger, more powerful motorcycle that is better suited to day-to-day life on the street. The engine is smooth, flexible, and for the most part vibration free, and it offers more easily accessible real world performance. Its cockpit is the perfect balance between sport and comfort. Handling is both playful and predicable. And the suspension, especially the rear, offers outstanding compliance over virtually every pavement surface encountered. Factor in its striking new appearance and high levels of build quality and it becomes difficult to pass on the new Z1000 when it comes time to selecting your next street bike.