Thinking about jumping back in--Ninja 1000?

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Indydriver

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I grew up on Japanese sport bikes but haven't ridden for a few years and haven't really kept up on the market. I've been researching on the 'net for a week and stopped in a Honda/Kawasaki/Suzuki/Yamaha dealer yesterday to try 'em on. I quickly learned I no longer want the crouched, low bar riding position of the supersports. But at the same time, I don't care for the 600 lb behemoths in the 1400cc class. So I sat on the Ninja 1000, what a revelation! What a comfortable seating position. The higher, straighter bars seemed perfect to me. The seat was very comfortable, especially the back of it which pushes against your lower back. I haven't driven it yet but according to the reviews, it's got the torquiest, most useable engine for the street and handles well at 9/10ths while obviously not turning quite as sharply as a low bar SS. I love the styling (with the exception of the pipes-which can be fixed). So, after my short re-entry research, this seems to be the perfect bike for for my riding style.

Any other shoppers or Nk owners care to comment?
 
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I'd look at a yamaha Tmax scooter, i recently went from a VTX 1300C to a Suzuki Burgman 650 and don't plan on going back, comfortable, well shielded from the elements, smooth CVT automatic and with a top speed of 115 or so it's fast enough for me. The Tmax is more a sport equivalent as far as scooters go.

I know alot of guys that just scoff at scooters so if you don't like them, that's fine. I'm not here to convert you, just saying you should see about test driving one, it may be quite comfortable and a fun ride for you.
 
Originally Posted By: Indydriver
I grew up on Japanese sport bikes but haven't ridden for a few years and haven't really kept up on the market. I've been researching on the 'net for a week and stopped in a Honda/Kawasaki/Suzuki/Yamaha dealer yesterday to try 'em on. I quickly learned I no longer want the crouched, low bar riding position of the supersports. But at the same time, I don't care for the 600 lb behemoths in the 1400cc class. So I sat on the Ninja 1000, what a revelation! What a comfortable seating position. The higher, straighter bars seemed perfect to me. The seat was very comfortable, especially the back of it which pushes against your lower back. I haven't driven it yet but according to the reviews, it's got the torquiest, most useable engine for the street and handles well at 9/10ths while obviously not turning quite as sharply as a low bar SS. I love the styling (with the exception of the pipes-which can be fixed). So, after my short re-entry research, this seems to be the perfect bike for for my riding style.

Any other shoppers or Nk owners care to comment?


Not sure when you grew up but if you cut your teeth in the early 80's the new CB1100 looks to be a good bike. The other one you can look at is the Suzuki Bandit GSX1250.
 
Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Try the FZ1. A very comfortable bike with plenty of power.

I sat on it in the showroom in a direct A-B comparison to the Ninja and it wasn't close in comfort, for me anyway. That obviously isn't riding them but in every comparo I can find, the mag testers rank the Ninja higher.

The more I read about this bike, the more confirmed I'm becoming in it's suitability for my riding style: fast, good handler, mid-weight (no more than 500 lbs) capable for 9/10ths corner carving and light duty sport touring and a classic sport bike look (again excepting those stubby black exhaust cans). The only negative I can find are a number of reports of vibration at high rpm. I'd like some owners to comment on that.
 
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The Kawi Ninja1000 is awesome. It would make an outstanding sport tourer with offered hard bags and an aftermarket pipe. The stock cans are creepy....If I had room I would find a used ABS model..
 
Personally I find these size bikes too tight seat to foot peg and cause my legs to cramp. My hayabusa I cramp up too but find the smaller sportier bikes not good for more than a 20 minute right or so before I'm stretching my legs out.

BTW - if money is no factor, look into the BMW 1000, real good running bike right there. Small and expensive for my taste but awesome bike.
 
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Originally Posted By: BillyTheKid
Personally I find these size bikes too tight seat to foot peg and cause my legs to cramp. My hayabusa I cramp up too but find the smaller sportier bikes not good for more than a 20 minute right or so before I'm stretching my legs out.

BTW - if money is no factor, look into the BMW 1000, real good running bike right there. Small and expensive for my taste but awesome bike.

I hear ya on the cramped legs...I'm 6'-5".

Your 'Busa disqualifies itself at 580 lbs.
 
Have you considered a large Adventure style bike for a sport touring? I'm 59 years old, 6-1 with a 34" inseam and I have a bum knee. I can not get comfortable on most bikes. Then I bought a Versys 650 and it was a revelation. It had an upright, comfortable seating position and was just plain fun to ride. Then the wife decided she wanted to ride along. The 650 was too small for us both so it was sold.

I really wanted a Versys 1000 (based on the Ninja 1000) but Kawasaki will not bring them to the US. After careful consideration I bought a V-Strom 1000. What a great bike! It has a sweet engine, a comfortable riding position and is plenty of bike for the wife too. She tells me she is more comfortable on the V-Strom than she was on our BMW. There are more goodies and farkles for the V-Strom than you can believe.

Just something for you to consider.

IMG_0987Small_zps521a402f.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: cb4017
After careful consideration I bought a V-Strom 1000. What a great bike!

And if one likes the V-Strom, then one should also check out the Triumph Tiger 800.
 
Were I in the market for a new street bike, I would be hard pressed not to buy a Ninja 1000. It seems sporty enough to be fun to ride, while being comforttable and practical for long days in the saddle. All of the test reports have been great. Seems to me you can`t go wrong for a great real-world sport-tourer....

cheers
 
For not much more money, you can buy a BMW F800GT that is a sport bike which can accept hard luggage, weighs 470 pounds fully fueled, has more than enough power and will get much better MPG's than the Ninja. I've owned several bikes over the years. I now own an Aprilia Shiver 750. Most Japanese bikes to me are boring and lack character. BMW's are built for tall Germans. Your tall, you outta sit on one and take a test ride. You can actually test ride a BMW unlike most Japanese bikes.

2q0n5fp.jpg
 
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Check with your insurance agent. Because of Kawasaki's model numbering system they have them in the same rate category as the super sports. When I was shopping, the Ninja 1000 was double the rate of the other liter bikes such as the FZ1 and Tiger 1050.
 
I like both the multistrada and the vstrom, if I ever wanted to get a manual again I would probably get one of these two. . .
 
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