Which Kawasaki suits your needs? Z1000 vs Ninja 1000 vs ZX-10R

Kawasaki introduced a slew of high performance motorcycles for the Indian market last year. The list comprised of three litre-class machines: the naked Z1000, the sports tourer Ninja 1000 and the track tool ZX-10R. We compare the technical specifications and the nature of these Japanese siblings to help you decide which suits your need best.

Z1000

The Kawasaki Z1000 is a naked superbike with a predator like look. Minimalistic, yet aggressive looks are the USP of this Japanese motorcycle. This Z1000 is a blast to ride on the open road and feels at home in traffic too. The motorcycle packs in loads of torque and is quick… scarily quick. With revised ECU settings and camshaft timings, connectors between the header pipes and new cylinder connecting passageways, the Z produces improved punch in the mid and higher rev range.

Click here to read our review of the Z1000>>>

Ninja 1000

The Ninja 650 is famous amongst the touring community of motorcyclists and the Ninja 1000 takes the game a notch higher. The 1,043cc engine is super-smooth and a treat on highways. The tall fly-screen protects you from wind blasts and you can easily cruise in three digit figures throughout the day. The high placed clip-on handlebars provide a comfortable riding position while the switchgear performs duties like toggling between power and traction control modes.

Click here to read our review of the Ninja 1000>>>

ZX-10R

And then comes the race bred warrior, the ZX-10R. The ZX-10R is not only quick, but brutally fast. This is one of the most powerful litre-class motorcycle which churns out 198 stallions out of its 998cc engine. You will run out of courage before the motorcycle runs out of its ability. It’s not only fast on straight roads but also ridiculously planted around the corners. You can select from the three riding modes: Full (F), Medium (M) and Low (L) giving the rider 9 set of modes to choose from.

Click here to read our review of the ZX-10R>>>

Here is the comparison list of these three offerings from the land where the sun rises.

Specifications	Z1000	Ninja 1000	ZX-10R
Engine	Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four	Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four	Four-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, inline-four
Displacement	1,043cc	1,043cc	998cc
Power	140 bhp @ 10,000 rpm	140 bhp @ 10,000 rpm	198 bhp @ 13,000 rpm
Torque	111 nm @ 7300 rpm	111 nm @ 7300 rpm	112Nm @ 11,500 rpm
Bore X Stroke	77.0 x 56.0mm	77.0 x 56.0 mm	76.0 x 55.0 mm
Compression Ratio	11.8:1	11.8:1	13.0:1
Fuel System	DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles	DFI® with four 38mm Keihin throttle bodies, oval sub-throttles	DFI® with four 47mm Keihin throttle bodies with oval sub-throttles, two injectors per cylinder
Ignition	TCBI with digital advance	TCBI with digital advance	TCBI with digital advance and Sport-Kawasaki Traction Control (S-KTRC)
Transmission	Six-speed	Six-speed	Six-speed
Final Drive	Sealed Chain	X-ring Chain	Chain
Frame Type	Aluminum Backbone	Aluminum Backbone	Twin spar, cast aluminium
Front Tyre	120/70 ZR17	120/70 ZR17	120/70 ZR17
Rear Tyre	190/50 ZR17	190/50 ZR17	190/55 ZR17
Wheelbase	1435mm	1445mm	1425mm
Front Suspension/Wheel Travel	41 mm inverted SFF-BP fork with stepless compression and rebound damping and spring preload adjustability / 4.7 in.	41 mm inverted cartridge fork with stepless compression and rebound damping, adjustable spring preload / 4.7 in.	43mm inverted Big Piston Fork (BPF), adjustable stepless rebound and compression damping, spring preload adjustability / 4.7 in.
Rear Suspension/Wheel Travel	Horizontal back-link single shock with adjustable preload and stepless rebound damping / 4.8 in.	Horizontal monoshock with stepless rebound damping, remotely adjustable spring preload / 5.4 in.	Horizontal back-link with gas-charged shock, stepless, dual-range (low-/high-speed) compression damping, stepless rebound damping, fully adjustable spring preload / 5.5 in.
Front Brakes	Dual 310mm petal-type discs with radial-mount four-piston monobloc calipers with ABS	Dual 300mm petal-type rotors with radial-mount four-piston monobloc calipers and ABS	Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Braking (KIBS), dual semi-floating 310mm petal discs with dual four-piston radial-mount calipers
Rear Brakes	Single 250mm petal-type discs with single-piston caliper and ABS	Single 250mm petal-type rotor with single-piston caliper, with ABS	KIBS-controlled, single 220mm petal disc with aluminum single-piston caliper
Fuel Capacity	17 litre	19 litre	17 litre
Seat Height	815mm	820mm	819mm
Curb Weight	221 kgs	231 kgs	201 kgs
Length X Width X Height	2045mm X 790mm X 1054mm	2106mm X 790mm X 1171mm	2075mm X 714mm X 1115mm

After reading the comparison, which Kawasaki motorcycle would you pick up and why? Share your choice through comments below. Stay tuned to Motoroids for all the updates from the world of auto.