2009 Z1000

I love my GT, Ford did reto theme right with the Mustang and GM and Crysler fumbled to catch up and may have missed the boat. H-D has capitalized for decades on thier 1950's styling and 1930's engineering. What Kawasaki can't have heritage? Z1's bring an awful lot of $$$ in good shape, wouldn't that indicate a desirable product? But Kaw did make the w650 and that was a very cool bike, figures they discontinued that one two....


Then there is the KX-14, a feeakin 200 HP engineering marvel of the modern world, and it looks like everything else their comepetion makes. What if that engine were in a bike that looked like....

A ZRX... hmmmm, maybe? Please?:S

Not only Kawasaki. The 'problem' is the US market. About 80% of what sells is cruisers. Only the US buy those behemoths. None of the manufacturers does well on Naked Standards here. I believe the market is like a paultry 6%. With that kind of market, is hardly worthy certifying bikes to the strict US regulations. Also, because of this, they come with hardly any option, including colors.

The trend is reversed in Europe and Japan where they don't care for cruisers nor the car-like big tourers

The Suzuki SV1000 also bit the dust, and only the Honda 919, and Yamaha FZ1000 survive, just barely.

At least they let Yamaha sell the V-max in the US. That moster is not leagal in three countries in Europe. Don't know why it only 210 bhp...:blink: The problem is it is priced out of the common man's toy budget. There is a used ZRX at my local dealer with almost no miles on it. It keeps temping me everytime I get parts for my KZ. It has been there for 2 years now.

I wonder if all these cruisers will be in bone yards in 10 years while we watch Old CB 750's and KZ900's on the Barret Jackson... Maybe by then H-D will be required meed smoe cornering performance requirements too...

The V-Max is categorized as a cruiser. A 'power cruiser' to be more exact. Still, a bike like that is beyond any reason or sensibility, or usefulness. Size for the sake of size and show.

It's all show, I dorve the older version for a while and they are a bear to handle. I see them for sale all the time because poeple had no idea what they bought. They are quite fun run through the gears on a straight piece fo road though. The new one is rediculous by any standard. I wouldn't own one again becasue service is a nightmare on them.

I think the "suburban biker" crusier phase is comming to an end. There is no individuality to these bikes anymore. Every guy with a paycheck has a Virago, or a Shadow, or a H-D Road Queen in thier driveway and you can't tell them apart. Most people could care less about performance, as long as the bike sounds fast anyways. I wonder what's next?

Here is an example of Retro done right...

I love these things

Another for you touring fans...



Way to go Triumph!

What about the Zephyr

the zepher was a cool bike that everybody said they wanted agian but it came with a curse[tuned for the mid-range] i looked at buying one when i was working at a kawi dealership when they came out and it was a nice riding bike but it was a dog compared to the 1075 i had at the time so i didn't bite but apperently i was not the only one that didn't because eve though they were a great looking bike no one else bought them either. the same fate happened to the zrx11 and 12 tuned for the mid range i want sportbike power in a standard chassis, i hate plastic body work.

timebomb33 wrote:

i hate plastic body work.

Yup I can't stand it either... I want a bike that is low show with a lotta go

thirty years after these bikes were built people are still hot rodding these bikes harley finally listened to there customers and started building the bikes the customers wanted so why can't kawi. they always act like they know best so every few years they bring out a bike that makes me take a second look and then i find out they are just expensive turd's so i pass. that is one of the main reason the street fighter craze happened like it did in europe that guy's wanted standard riding position and sport bike power. so why can't kawi figure i out you can buy from harley big bore kits or complete big inch big power crate motors and all kinds of add on go fast stuff but not kawi. why?