Kawasaki had been aggressively promoting the new Z1000 for a couple of months before it officially unveiled the bike at the 2013 EICMA Motorcycle Show. The standalone Kawasaki dealer at Wakdewadi in Pune went on to accept pre-launch bookings for the 2014 Kawasaki Z1000. Finally, the Japanese company has officially confirmed the launch date for the Z1000 in India as 23rd of December. The new bike looks more aggressive and meaner than ever. Bajaj Auto will not sell this bike at its dealership outlets like it sells the Ninja 300 and Ninja 650.
One of the most oblivious changes on the 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 is the new futuristic LED headlamp assembly. The bike weighs 2.72 kgs more than its predecessor and this increase in weight can be attributed to the bigger fuel tank which now comes with 17-litres capacity. Kawasaki has adopted the Sugomi design language even though the frame remains the same as that of the previous bike. The Z1000 is one of the most powerful naked bikes in its class. The bike will be competing with the likes of the MV Rivale, Ducati Streetfighter and KTM Duke 1290 globally while in the domestic market, it will rival the Yamaha FZ1, Suzuki Bandit 1200 and Honda CBR1000R.
The 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 is powered by a 1043cc in-line 4-cylinder motor that produces a peak power output of 140 BHP at 10,000 RPM and a torque of 111 Nm at 7300 RPM, mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The brakes are made of 310 mm twin petal discs upfront and 250 mm single petal disc at the rear. ABS will feature as a standard on this bike. The 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 will be a great addition to Kawasaki’s existing lineup in India consisting of the Ninja 300, Ninja 650R, Ninja ZX-10R and the Ninja ZX-14R. The Z1000 is expected to be priced at around Rs. 12.5 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) and will be brought in through the CBU route. The demand for performance oriented bikes is increasing steadily and the new Kawasaki Z1000 is a brilliant option for potential buyers to consider.
