The crows, cows and cowboys...
The crows, cows and cowboys weren't impressed with Justin's intrusion on their serene landscape.
Justin Fivella:
Associate Editor
Miles: 2400
Mods: N/A
A 500-mile day is a long run no matter how you cut the cake, even in a car. But try that haul on a bike and you’ll come to appreciate things like an adjustable windscreen, a comfortable seat, roomy ergonomics and a vibration-free drivetrain–all qualities the Ninja 1000 displayed.
Kawasaki touts the new Ninja as a do-it-all sportbike that’s as versatile as a Swiss Army knife. Being that I’m no stranger to a challenge I aimed to see if these bold words were in fact, true. As I mentioned in last month’s installment I plan on testing the Ninja on all accounts, from the canyons and the commute to the drag strip, the race track and out on the open road. This month I decided to make a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles in one day using as little freeway as possible. After all, what better way to see California’s beautiful countryside and put the big Ninja through the ringer?
Thirteen hours and 560 miles later I arrived in SoCal, dog-tired but content with the Ninja after the grueling ride. From high-speed blasts well into the triple digits to leisurely flatland cruising to tight twisty roads, the journey truly put the Kawi through its paces and never once was I disappointed.
Wind protection was better than I anticipated with the adjustable windscreen in the highest position, and even though the big mill produces some vibes in the upper RPM, the rubber-mounted rearsets and stock clip-ons did a great job of smoothing-out the tingles. In the top cog the motor turns just 5500 RPM at 75 MPH, and considering it redlines at 11,000 it’s just getting started.
Along with the monster midrange, the motor also happens to be frugal with fuel if you stay off the throttle. I averaged 38.5 MPG, and with its 5.0-gallon fuel capacity we’re talking nearly 200 miles between stops–I found that by the 150-mile mark I was ready for a butt break and a stretch though.
As the sun disappeared into the horizon I picked up the pace and found the Ninja more than comfortable even at speeds well beyond the legal limit. The stock headlights also offer an impressive spread of visibility, and the blueish-white backlighting on the gauges is easy on the eyes.
Now that I’m well acquainted with the Ninja I can safely say it does many things well, but don’t think for one second it doesn’t stand to benefit from some aftermarket attention. For starters, the front suspension can be harsh at times, so if tweaking with the settings doesn’t give me a good ROI then I’ll hit the aftermarket for a better solution. The brakes are strong when used with authority, but a swap to some more aggressive pads and steel braided lines will do wonders for power and feel. Uncorking the already pleasant sounding exhaust with some slip-ons will also give it some soul, while small touches like frame sliders, a fender eliminator and other tidbits will really turn this understated bike into a serious head turner.
For now I can scratch off the 500-mile tour on my Ninja 1000 to-do list. Next up, a few mods and then maybe some drag racing.
Next Month: Pipe dreaming.