Kawasaki Ninja 1000 Review 2014: Oriental Swiss Knife

PERFORMANCE

ENGINE & GEARBOX

Powering the 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is a 1043cc liquid-cooled inline-four cylinder engine- the same motor that powers the Kawasaki Z1000. Kawasaki states that the Ninja 1000 features new cylinder connecting passageways that reduce pumping losses and improves performance in the mid and high rev range. Also featuring are new intake cams for improved low and mid-range torque. All this results in the Ninja 1000 cranking out a scrumptious 140 bhp @ 10,000 rpm with max torque numbers reading 111 nm at a low (for a hi-performance sportsbike) 7300 rpm- all sent to the rear wheel through a six speed gearbox. A secondary engine balancer has also been put in place for elimination of excess vibrations at the higher rev range. We’re putting the rest of the tech crap in the spec chart later in the article. As for the moment, all the numbers of the Ninja 1000 had got us excited and it was time to get the Green Goblin howling on the blacktop.

After all the visual delight, the Ninja 1000 simply swept us off our feet with its refinement. We for certain were expecting the trademark Japanese refinement from the big Ninja, but for a litre class motorcycle, we assumed it to be at the higher end. To start with, the bike tends to overwhelm you with its size the first time you swing your leg across. You’d be caught in a cautious state to get the bike rolling- and then comes the surprise.

It would just take you a few hundred metres to realize how easy the Ninja 1000 is to ride. Slow moving traffic is a cakewalk for this Kwacker except for the engine heat which was acceptable considering it was a litre class bike. We were left with our mouths wide open on the way the Ninja effortlessly crawled through traffic. We anticipated frequent clutching, gear change and throttle modulation in a stop-go scenario. But this huge litre class motorcycle would put most street friendly single cylinder 150cc motorcycles to shame. At times we were riding the Ninja 1000 through traffic- stopping and starting over without realizing that we were in the second gear and not the first.

Though the happy realization did come to us later, but we decided to further test the mindboggling Ninja’s low end performance, not solo but two up riding. We were chugging along at a meager 30 kph in sixth gear and getting down as low as 25 kph with no downshifts on the slick 6 speed gearbox. Even speed breakers didn’t prompt us to go any lower on the box. The Ninja would pick up at the slightest wring of the throttle and showed absolutely no signs of knocking. The Ninja 1000 floored us with its refinement at revs which the best of street oriented motorcycles would simply go KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

After an hour of battling through traffic at which the Ninja 1000 came out winning, it was time for some high speed bursts. We again missed out on our VBOX, but it wasn’t hard telling that the Ninja 1000 easily clocks 0-100 at a shade over 3 seconds, 0-150 kph should take another 3 seconds with the engine showing amazing levels of refinement. We decided to keep patience till darkness fell and eventually managed to get a good empty road to stretch the Ninja’s legs. We whack the throttle ruthlessly with the rear wheel trying all its might and bite for traction, hitting the rev limiter to hit max speed in each gear (except the top of course). It’s not advisable to try and gun for the electronically limited top speed of 250 kph, but we can tell you that crossing the double ton mark isn’t a big deal with this one.

One thing we did notice was the taller sixth gear on the Ninja 1000. We did have the Kawasaki Z1000 (review coming up soon) with us for 2 days prior to riding the Ninja and where the Z1000 had more punch, the Ninja 1000 seemed slight lazy in picking up revs in the top gear. Also with the Ninja 1000 sporting a 39 teeth compared to the Z1000’s 41 teeth rear sprocket- the difference in acceleration was easily evident. But these numbers tilt in favour of the Ninja 1000 when it comes to highway cruising. A taller sixth gear and a smaller sprocket give the Ninja 1000 the long legs for an effortless cruise. The Ninja 1000 could munch miles like peanuts- you could lazily cruise along at 130 kph with the engine revving no higher than 5500 rpm.

Taking the bike into corners, there is ample torque till the fifth gear for the motorcycle to effortlessly sail through even at moderate speeds. The Ninja 1000 was again put to the knocking test by being ridden two up on the Lavasa inclines in top gear, and it had us floored again! From all the bikes we have reviewed till date, the 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 with its phenomenal levels of refinement seemed nothing short of an engineering marvel.

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