KAWASAKI Z1000 (2008-2009) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2008, the Japanese motorcycle maker launched the Kawasaki Z1000, a standard or streetfighter-styled machine that debuted in 2003 as a completely revamped model 30 years after the first Z1000 released in 1977.

The 2008 model came with the same package as the previous one, packing the same technical, visual, and performance specifications without any modifications. The latest update was in 2007, with a de-tuned version of ZX-9R's engine and a redesigned exhaust system.

The bike's appearance was identical to the previous model, featuring a small front cowl, a fly screen, side panels with integrated turn signals, a two-piece dual seat, a four-into-two exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and three-spoke lightweight aluminum wheels.

The bike was built around a tubular backbone high tensile steel frame with a 41 mm adjustable upside-down telescopic fork on the front and an adjustable bottom-link uni-trak shock absorber on the rear, offering excellent handling capabilities.

The braking performance was achieved by two 300 mm petal discs with four-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 250 mm petal disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear, delivering optimum stopping power.

As for the power figures, the 2008 Kawasaki Z1000 had its heartbeat set by a 953cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 125 hp with maximum strength at 10,000 rpm and 99 Nm (73 lb-ft) torque at 8,200 rpm.