<br />
NAKED<br />
While the other Japanese<br />
manufacturers have long<br />
since given up on the<br />
naked-bike segment,<br />
Kawasaki finally shows<br />
how it's done with<br />
the new Z1000<br />
BY KENT KUNITSUGU<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN WING<br />
FULLTEST<br />
BY KENT KUNITSUGU<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN WING<br />
FULLTEST<br />
THE LANDSCAPE OF MOTORCYCLE SALES IN THE USA IS LITTERED WITH THE<br />
carcasses of past naked bikes from the Japanese manufacturers. Naked versions of Suzuki's<br />
best-selling SV650 had very short life spans compared to the half- and full-faired versions<br />
that have sold like hotcakes for years. The naked version of the Bandit 1200/1250 quickly<br />
gave way to half-faired editions; even the Hayabusa-engined B-King never really caught on<br />
with American buyers. Honda has made numerous attempts with bikes such as the 599 and<br />
ELECTRONICALLY REPRINTED FROM MAY 2010<br />
919 that quickly faded into histo<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 1" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=1"> NAKED While the other Japanese manufacturers have</a>
<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 2" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=2"> ELECTRONICALLY REPRINTED FROM MAY 2010</a>
<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 3" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=3"> 919 that quickly faded into history. </a>
<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 4" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=4"> Eccentric rear axle adjusters not only ease chain</a>
<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 5" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=5"> 2010 KAWASAKI Z1000 MSRP: $10,499 ENGINE Type: Li</a>
<a title="2010 Kawasaki Z1000 page 6" href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e95aa52a?page=6"></a>