I have the 2017 model here in the states and they fixed the most common issues with the bike. The seat is great and they added LED headlights that are fantastic and both stay on on low and high beam so no cyclops look. I dialed in the suspension and it made a world of difference. It takes some effort but is totally worth the time spent. I love the bike and have found no vibration in the motor as certain rpms either they seem to have fixed that as well. Great video and good luck with it.
Unfortunatley I can't comment on the bike as I've never owned one. But looking at it I wish I had one. It's a beautifull looking bike for sure, and I presume its FAST. Very interesting how they have come up with the ribbon to take away heat from the lamps. Nice bike and I wish you many great rides ahead. Thanks for sharing.
Indeed a stunning looking bike, the later ones have much improved handling and the latest tech too, the lighting upgrade was a vast improvement but I was constantly being flashed by drivers even though I'd lowered the beams as much as I could, I think a dedicated headlight lens was required to focus the light? Thank you for your comment 👍
m30fek - thanks for the comment, they are a great all-round machine, the 2017 model has some nice mods, more rider aids and led lights which will be a big improvement!
I have a 2015 plate. I agree with your point about the stock seat. Changed mine as well. Regarding vibration it seems when only as new around 6000 revs. Don't notice these days though. I have only just changed the tyre's to Michelin so I will be interested to see the difference. As a general rule I cannot fault the bike. You can ride in top gear at 30 mph and it will just pick up. Range wise I tend to get 47 mpg so 200 mile plus is manageable without sweat. Heated grips have now come in as an option but they should be standard to me. I also change my screen for a double bubble as well.
I found firming the suspension up helped my bike tremendously. I also purchased the gel seat and put a powerbronze screen on (not the greatest). I think I'll switch to the puig as my next purchase. I think the tyres are a wrong choice and may go for a set of pilot road 3/4's when a change is needed.
yeah I agree on the pilot road tyres, my suspension is running on stock settings so I will firm things up and give it a go, fitted a Powerbronze carbon hugger at the weekend it really looks the biz, it's the one with the steel mesh inserts, bit of a fiddle to fit but I'm well happy with it.
I've got the same bike same colour... 100% agree on the seat changed mine to a Sargent seat as well added heated grips same screen as yours evotech rad guard just upgraded the exhaust to Pipe werx they look fantastic.... Regarding the suspension I got mine upgraded and set up for my weight and riding style it made a big difference to me as I found I was running wide on slow speed corners :-( now it's fantastic.... The only mods left to do is the headlight like you have done, crash protection stuff, fender extender and rear hugger extender seen them on fleebay.... Forgot to say I also done the front 16 tooth upgrade it smooths out the power delivery not so jerky on small throttle inputs and virtually eliminates the vibes at 70ish mph and moves it up the Rev range to 80ish... On the last run down to Lands End from North Kent I was averaging 52mpg!!!
I have seen the Pipe Werx cans and I think they look mint, very tempted! Very interesting what you say about going up a tooth on the front sprocket, my feeling when I first had the bike was that it needed this as it never felt relaxed, like there was always another gear to go. Your fuel consumption figures show the difference, I only average around 47mpg and I am not a hard rider, my ZX10R did more even when ridden . . . enthusiastically!! I am going to go for a Powerbronze hugger with the silver mesh inserts and I will probably fit some crash protectors as well.
Many thanks for the comments John, I used to have a ER6F, I loved it, one of my fave bikes. If you make the move to a Z1000SX you will love the extra power and an amazing throttle response! Yes I do like going to Cornwall on the bike, the wife and I went to Polperro a few years ago on a ZZR1100 and we visited Mevagissey, then rode the Roseland heritage coast down to St. Mawes, awesome! As I am off to Cornwall in a week I will put another video together of some of my trips and show the new bits I have added to my bike! cheers for now
I had the same problem with the OEM tyres tracking on tar ridges etc! I have fitted my favourite tyres - Pirelli Angels, this time the GT version and not the ST's which i used on the ZZR1400. They have transformed the handling of the bike, and i have regained my confidence with both the front and rear grip including performance. Can you give me the full purchase details on the bulb upgrade please, and like you i am suffering a little with the seat on the longer haul's and was thinking about the Gel seat, but your Sargent seat looks superb! Does the upgrade make a big difference to your comfort? I had Kawasaki fit there rear Bobbin's on the bike at point of purchase, which are very narrow and allow plenty of clearance from the exhaust's... Cheers
Hi, thanks for your comments, since I have fitted the Sargent seat I haven't really done any decent distance but it does feel way more comfortable, I am off to Cornwall in October so that will be a real tester! thanks for the heads up on the tyres, did they speed up the steering in slower corners? Regarding the LED lights, I bought them off eBay (as I do with most things)! eBay item number:291740920162, just copy and paste this number into the search bar on eBay or search; 80W 9600LM H1 H4 H7 LED Headlight Kit High/Low Beam 6000K CREE LED Lamp, if you buy remember to message them with the bulbs you require (H7). They are real easy to fit as they are plug and play. Stay safe, cheers
thanks for that, you have a great holiday to,, the sidelight bulbs were off eBay too, 501 W5W cree (non canbus) make sure you get the cree ones they have the latest chip set.
when i got mine it was on original front bridgestone bt016,but fresh rear cos of puncture bt023,used to whiteline really bad,changed front to bt023 now fine,front sprocket changed to 16t much more relaxed cruising,and seargent seat,tail tidy sp engineering very good quality,oh and softened up the suspension 13 model was very hard,now handles lovely
Interesting what you say about Bridgestone's, I have used them in the past on ZX9R's and ZZR1100's and never had a problem. When I took my bike in for a service I opted for the 'scenic' route which took me on some very poorly surfaced B roads and the bike was really nervous to the point I didn't enjoy the ride, a different choice of tyre is a must when they're needed. Has changing the front sprocket to a 16t caused any speedo error? I changed the sprockets on my old ZX9R to gear it down slightly (a common mod) but the downside was it caused the speedo to read fast by around 10mph!
no in fact it corrected the standard error,im now very happy with the handling for how i ride,it was far to firm as stock,the front tyre change was a revelation,original was knackered at 4500mls
Hi mate, Just found your channel. Also a Z1000sx owner / vlogger in the UK here. I'm really interested in your seat. I don't suffer as much as you did. takes me about 100 miles of straight roads until I'm uncomfortable. but I do like the look of your seat combined with that rear pillion cowl. Also converted my headlights to LEDs, but I went to the BI conversion so both lights are on at once as they have dipped and main in both bulbs. I was a bit OCD about the single headlight. Subbed to support a fellow Z1000sx tuber :)
The seat cowl was from kawasaki, the seat I bought on the Internet, I can't remember where from? It made a huge difference! Cheers for the sub although I am not riding the SX now, I have a 22yr old Honda Blackbird, next year intend to buy another bike, either an SX, Versys or Suzuki 1000GT? Thanks for the comment 👍
Peter Marshall - 200 miles is possible with 'conservative' riding but expect the low fuel warning around 170-180 miles, I managed a 300 mile trip on less then two tanks of fuel, I still had around 50 miles left! it would had been better had I took it easier on the first leg of the trip, typical fuel consumption was 47mpg, thanks for your comment 👍
You seem to like going to cornwall, i love it to i lived there for a couple of years, If you've not been there in the summer take a trip to Mevagissey.
I had the 2015 sx in ebony also.The front bt016 never felt right to me. It felt like it was tracking around all the time. Dealer said pr4's would make a huge difference.There was nothing I didn't like about the bike but after 1400 miles from new I decided to trade it in for a bmw s1000xr sport se. The bmw is that bit more comfortable although the engine is not quite as smooth as the sx.But best of all the bmw looks a bit like a plodder but goes like a superbike on stilts.I had a race off the lights with a 2015 zx10r in lovely custom race paint.Lets just say that he nearly fell off when he looked in his mirror only to see me right up his exhaust pipe .He couldn't believe it and nor could I. Quick shifter helps though and he never had one.
I see the BMW S1000XR gets rave reviews in the motorcycle press, I had a BMW R1100S (the 'sporty' one with under seat exhaust) in 2003 even though it had the boxer engine it would still crack 150mph, I opted for sport suspension when I ordered the bike which was a mistake as it was rock hard!
I found the tyres terrible on mine but I never really got on with the bike. I tried to set the suspension for me. I ended up taking the rear preload to max and stiffening everything at the front. That made the handling much better and it didn't tramline at all after that.
CalmBiker - yeah me too, the bike constantly wanted to run wide in the corner's and was slowly eating away at my confidence, great machine just not for me, enjoy your Z1000, naked is the way forward 😂👍
That's what I had too. Even at speeds that were completely sensible the bike didn't want to turn in. Sorting the suspension out added a good percentage to by corner speed and changing the tyres to PR4's did another step in the right direction. It just never quite gelled. I thought about getting an uprated shock but in the end swapped.
I bought my Kwak from Wheels in Peterborough, when the first service was due I decided to ride from Leicester to Peterborough 'the scenic route' which was mainly B roads, the bike was bloody awful, I struggled to keep it in a straight line over the ridges and undulations in the road, I really didn't enjoy the ride, yet I have since ridden the GSX on the same road without any issues whatsoever. I loved the comfort of the Kwak and the handling on smooth roads was fine, but I wasn't prepared to start piling money into trying to sort the suspension, I know the 2017 Z1000SX has received a lot of tweaks so it would be interesting to see if the handling is any better?
Just love this bike, all of it except the seat as you mentioned. I got the same Sargent seat and what a difference it makes, it is even better than Kawa's gel seat. And the power, oh God what an endless power. Always had a Honda VFR which I really loved, but this really is a step up ;-) Question: is it easy to do the LED conversion? Which brand did you use? Could you give me some pointers?
Yes the sargent seat makes a world of difference especially if you're going to do any distance work, the LED upgrade was easy to fit after removing the panels around the dash, I bought them off eBay for £40, just search eBay using this item number 291729597603 you need the H7 kit, the side light bulbs are also eBay items 141974638331 hope this helps, thanks for the comments
Done 5000 miles in mine now (after a year) and done 400+ miles in a day. Mine is stock, apart from having scorpion exhausts fitted when bought. My thoughts...Pros: Nothing wrong with the bike, engine is good, controls are intuitive, looks great. Wind/weather protection is good and it does feel like a sport tourer should feel - not too committed, but not just a tourer either. Don't have the sore bum issue you seemed to have with the stock seat - feels ok to me.Fuel economy is good and lasts me a good 170 miles if I'm just doing a bit of motorway/dual carriageway riding.Cons: Fuel indicator gets down to one bar pretty quickly, then sits there for ages before the warning light coming on, so not really a linear fuel usage but you get used to that.The tyres are f*cking horrible, for the reasons you spoke about in the video. After doing a fair bit of research, it is only a tyre problem. I haven't changed mine out yet (I'm Scottish and cheap!), but putting decent tyres on it is supposed to fix the "near straight line issue". Tyres are ok in the wet, but it does appear to be a trigger between the harder centre compound and softer side compound being too pronounced, making it feel a little unstable at times.A personal bug-bear, I have a full set of Kriega luggage from my previous bikes and you can't fit these without drilling holes in the plate under the rear seat. I refuse to do this, so the luggage is sitting in the cupboard, but it does really annoy me.Final point - I can't really find much wrong with the bike, but I do have to say it doesn't excite me. I used to look out the window or at the weather forecast and think "ooh, weather looks ok, can I get out on the bike". I don't find that with the Z1000sx. I ride it when I prefer to ride rather than drive, but I just don't have the same excitement that I've had from previous bikes. Test rode a new Speed Triple and loved it so much I think I will be changing, despite the inconvenience I'll get from a lack of weather protection.
Many thanks for ur comment, interesting what you say about the seat, I have read comments from other SX riders that say they found the seat hard to start with then softened up as the miles increased, maybe I should have stuck with mine a little longer! Yes I think the 'white lining' is a tyre thing. On the handling I have just increased the rear preload by 5 clicks and decreased the front preload by 3 turns and this has helped the low speed turning, in fact the bike turns into corners better at all speeds. The Triumph Speed triple has been one of my faves for a long time, the bike oozes character and sounds beaut, I was very close to buying a 12 month old Speed triple before I got the SX, the pannier system and looks swung it for me, but maybe next time when I fancy a change! I recently bought a 1980 Benelli 250 2C and have been busy tinkering and carrying out repairs to it, it is great fun to ride (unless you have a strong headwind)! since I have had it I have only ridden the SX once! but I do have a weeks touring in Cornwall planned for October, on the SX of course!
I have the same issues with white lines, so nu-nerving feeling the bike trying to make its mind up which side to go. My old GSX650F did the same thing. Do you have a link for the light conversion kit?
To be fair to the bike I guess it is as much the road surface as the bike, the roads here in the UK are pretty poor in places especially with the councils policy of 'surface dressing' which leaves ridges and dips in the road particularly in the centre where the surface overlaps and then they paint a white line on top! But having said all that I never had the problem with my ZX10R or my ER6F that I had at the same time, I think tyre brands make a big difference, some work on one bike really well and not so good on another. The LED conversion kit was purchased on eBay, they are still on there, item number: 291729597603 Just copy and paste the item number into the eBay search bar :O)
Mine is a mint original 2011 bike and have no problems at all, no real vibes except as you'd expect when giving it the berries (even then just a bit of a zing), also absolutely no stability issues, I've always had Metzelers on it, I've been through both the Sportec M5's and the Z8's, both great even when worn. The only disappointment was the headlight, but looks like an easy fix with the LEDs, many thanks for that, otherwise I love.
Hi mate, I bought the same bike and I'm very happy for my selection! I would like to ask you what kind of LED lights did you install. Also did you install transmission?
Hello Charis, the led lights were bought off eBay (item number:291729597603) copy & paste this number into the eBay search bar, H1 H4 H7 80W 9600LM CREE LED Headlight Kit High/Low Beam 6000K LED Lamp, very easy to fit as they are 'plug & play' I can highly recommend them, they give an amazing white light, not sure what you mean about installing transmission? If you mean the gear indicator yes I installed that, very simple as it plugs into the diagnostic socket under the riders seat (it is covered with a blanking plug) I hope this helps.
+dennis cundell I agree mate. The headlights are shite. I had the same question about the gear shift indicator. It literally just plugs into the diagnostic plug?? Then stick display wherever? That sounds too easy? I upgraded to the Sargent seat as well. Sooo much better. Any problems with the cowl afterwards? Was thinking of ordering one but worried about the seat clearance. Cheers
Hi Mate yes the gear indicator plugs into the diagnostic socket under the riders seat, easy, plug & play! (you have to remove the cap from the socket) then you just velcro the display on the dash or wherever you want it. The seat cowl is a little tight on the rear of the Sargent seat but not that it creates any problem.
Good video mate, I'm interested in the headlight conversion, totally agree with you, I think they are a bit poor, were they easy to fit ? Any advice and pointers to where I can purchase much appreciated :) Mines a 2013 model, mods are the same , seat, screen, tail tidy, heated grips I went with the full acro system on the exhaust , ticks all the boxes now, 👍
Hi mate thanks for the comment, can't leave the link at the moment as I am on holiday and I can't do it from my phone but if you have a look at the other comments and replies you will find the link to the Led lights on eBay, cost around £43, easy to fit as they are plug and play and they make a massive difference to the lighting, hope this helps 👍
+dennis cundell thanks Dennis, I did read the comments and found the one after I left my comment :) Have a good holiday mate 👍, still got mine to look forward too :) I'll hopefully change them soon cheers
I tried that but when I select z1000sx 2017 it gives me a whole load of options and wanted to be sure to get a tried and tested. thanks anyways ;) www.motea.com/en/Kawasaki/Z_1000_SX/2017/12302/paddock-stands/rear-stand-4011.htm?CT=4011&n_pg=0&n_dis=2&n_srt=7&n_ipp=16
How well does the windshield deflector work and how tall are you? Is there any annoying vibration in the hands or feet at high rpm ranges? Man that bike looks good. Thanks for the video.
Daniel Cobb thanks for the comments, the windshield works very well for me, I am 5' 10'' tall. It does give some tingles at high RPM mainly through the frame and pegs but not excessive, you rarely need high revs as the engine has so much bottom end and midrange you can just leave it in 6th gear!
Just checked the item and it's same size as one I already bought the center hole of my stem nut is just over 11mm it's shocking trying to fine a mount to fit correctly
What a nightmare!! you would have thought the sizes would have been the same, I wonder if it would be possible to get an engineering firm to turn one down on a lathe?
Great video mate. Have you found the vibrations to be bad? I see loads of reviewers saying how badly it vibes at motorway speeds, numb hands and feet etc? It's the only thing putting me off. I hate vibey bikes
Thanks for your comment, no problems at all with vibration at any speed, slight tingle through the frame when revved hard but that's all. If you are thinking of buying one try and get a test ride, I have traded up to a Suzuki GSX S1000 as I never felt comfortable with the heavy, slow steering, but it is horses for courses you may not have the same issue, test ride is a must!
The seat cowl was ordered from Kawasaki, the seat came from Sargent UK, www.sargentcycle.co.uk/ I had Michelin Pilots on my ZX10R and they were brilliant.
Alright mate I am looking to get ram mount to fit my 2014 sx1000 the one that fits in bar stem any help as I I have tried loads but no good I see you had one on your sx1000
Blaby Biker cheers mate awesome see you sold your Kwaka for Suzuki I have only had my so for just over a month and love it just weather is poo at moment to get out on it but thank you for response and safe biking
Big T - yeah tbh it does get vibey at higher revs and the power flattens off, but you rarely need to rev the motor as there is plenty of low and midrange power, it will pull sixth gear from as low as 30mph with the need to downshift
Thanks Dennis - I notice you're now on a GSX-S - I'm in exactly the same predicament, which one to choose. On the test rides I preferred the Suzuki's engine, so it's likely to be that one. I'm currently on a Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 but would like to change to something lighter. I liked the MT-10 but it's going up £800 in the new year so I've decided that the Suzuki represents better value for money. I'm just watching your GSX-S videos now. Thanks again.
Big T - The Suzuki has a much lighter feel and much more responsive handling, the engine is super smooth with a real kick at 8,000rpm, don't worry about the twitchy throttle reports, the later models have an updated ecu, get a test ride if you haven't already 👍
Thanks Dennis, I got a test ride on blue one from Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter back in the summer, I didn't notice any issues with a snatchy throttle - I was aware of the issue beforehand so kind of went in expecting it but nothing showed up. I almost did a deal on a red/black F model that Damerells in Cornwall have for sale but we couldn't quite get there with the PCP rate - they've been very honest and said that I should get a good deal in January/February which is fine by me. I saw the new black/blue colour scheme at the NEC and liked that very much. Looks like it's going to be Suzuki after all.
Big T - You can get dedicated tank bag and tail pack if required, they fit the bike really nice, all the best I hope you find the right deal, thanks for the comments
Thanks for the comment and the sub, the headlight bulbs are LED bought off eBay item number 291729597603 just put this number in the search bar, the sidelights are LED cree also off eBay item number 121769829740 remember the sidelights are polarity sensitive so if they don't work just pull the bulb out and turn it around, hope this helps, cheers buddy
Blaby Biker ive got the new zx6r 636 id take it takes the H7 fitting, ive checked out the link u provided... can they actually be used on bikes as he is only advertising it for cars? I tried to check out the led side lights but he is no longer in business is there any other LED side lights u can guide me to? Appreciate ur love brother thank you
I'm 99% sure the 636 uses H7 headlight but double check first, yes they are advertised for cars but provided you get the correct type (H7) they should fit, they fitted my Z1000SX perfect, the sidelight bulb you need is a 501, have a look at these on eBay 141974638331, stay safe buddy
Blaby Biker awesome brother thank you, wanted to ask you if the Headlights u installed what is your take on them ie quality and how they look when riding in the dark and if you had any issues with them at all? Sorry to be a pain :)
The Z1000SX is a great bike but I couldn't gel with it, I was never happy with the handling, I have heard of other owners having the same issues, I have now bought a Suzuki GSX S1000 I fancied a naked/street machine for a change, I am very happy with it, just need the weather to improve so I can use it!
I have the 2017 model here in the states and they fixed the most common issues with the bike. The seat is great and they added LED headlights that are fantastic and both stay on on low and high beam so no cyclops look. I dialed in the suspension and it made a world of difference. It takes some effort but is totally worth the time spent. I love the bike and have found no vibration in the motor as certain rpms either they seem to have fixed that as well. Great video and good luck with it.
Dana Sherrick change the pipes I have a 2012 with max torque pipes and what a huge difference it will make.
Unfortunatley I can't comment on the bike as I've never owned one. But looking at it I wish I had one. It's a beautifull looking bike for sure, and I presume its FAST. Very interesting how they have come up with the ribbon to take away heat from the lamps. Nice bike and I wish you many great rides ahead. Thanks for sharing.
Indeed a stunning looking bike, the later ones have much improved handling and the latest tech too, the lighting upgrade was a vast improvement but I was constantly being flashed by drivers even though I'd lowered the beams as much as I could, I think a dedicated headlight lens was required to focus the light? Thank you for your comment 👍
Seriously looking at one of these in the new year. Great video, thanks
m30fek - thanks for the comment, they are a great all-round machine, the 2017 model has some nice mods, more rider aids and led lights which will be a big improvement!
Subbed, very interested in seeing more of your vids with this bike.
I have a 2015 plate. I agree with your point about the stock seat. Changed mine as well. Regarding vibration it seems when only as new around 6000 revs. Don't notice these days though. I have only just changed the tyre's to Michelin so I will be interested to see the difference. As a general rule I cannot fault the bike. You can ride in top gear at 30 mph and it will just pick up. Range wise I tend to get 47 mpg so 200 mile plus is manageable without sweat. Heated grips have now come in as an option but they should be standard to me. I also change my screen for a double bubble as well.
Just put the first hundred miles on 2017 today and it seems very reminiscent of my Sprint ST from back in the day. Liking it so far.
SMG1 - I like the updates that they have done to the 2017 model, have fun!
I found firming the suspension up helped my bike tremendously. I also purchased the gel seat and put a powerbronze screen on (not the greatest). I think I'll switch to the puig as my next purchase. I think the tyres are a wrong choice and may go for a set of pilot road 3/4's when a change is needed.
yeah I agree on the pilot road tyres, my suspension is running on stock settings so I will firm things up and give it a go, fitted a Powerbronze carbon hugger at the weekend it really looks the biz, it's the one with the steel mesh inserts, bit of a fiddle to fit but I'm well happy with it.
I've got the same bike same colour... 100% agree on the seat changed mine to a Sargent seat as well added heated grips same screen as yours evotech rad guard just upgraded the exhaust to Pipe werx they look fantastic.... Regarding the suspension I got mine upgraded and set up for my weight and riding style it made a big difference to me as I found I was running wide on slow speed corners :-( now it's fantastic.... The only mods left to do is the headlight like you have done, crash protection stuff, fender extender and rear hugger extender seen them on fleebay.... Forgot to say I also done the front 16 tooth upgrade it smooths out the power delivery not so jerky on small throttle inputs and virtually eliminates the vibes at 70ish mph and moves it up the Rev range to 80ish... On the last run down to Lands End from North Kent I was averaging 52mpg!!!
I have seen the Pipe Werx cans and I think they look mint, very tempted! Very interesting what you say about going up a tooth on the front sprocket, my feeling when I first had the bike was that it needed this as it never felt relaxed, like there was always another gear to go.
Your fuel consumption figures show the difference, I only average around 47mpg and I am not a hard rider, my ZX10R did more even when ridden . . . enthusiastically!!
I am going to go for a Powerbronze hugger with the silver mesh inserts and I will probably fit some crash protectors as well.
+dennis cundell I have sp engineering cans on mine, would recommend these, you need a tail tidy aswell fella, and some green wheel trim tape.
yeah I have been looking at some rim tapes, but I reckon the next upgrade will be a Powerbronze hugger the one with the silver mesh, sweet!
This is going to be my second bike, currently on an ER6F, I think if i get one of these i'd be happy with it forever.
Many thanks for the comments John, I used to have a ER6F, I loved it, one of my fave bikes.
If you make the move to a Z1000SX you will love the extra power and an amazing throttle response! Yes I do like going to Cornwall on the bike, the wife and I went to Polperro a few years ago on a ZZR1100 and we visited Mevagissey, then rode the Roseland heritage coast down to St. Mawes, awesome!
As I am off to Cornwall in a week I will put another video together of some of my trips and show the new bits I have added to my bike! cheers for now
@@Hinckley_Biker nearly one year later,an I'm off to Cornwall on the same bike(hopefully if the part ex for my RT goes ahead!!!)😁👍
@@markJones-yz6ke Enjoy! Cornwall is amazing, I am going to Devon in October so fingers crossed for the weather! 😆
@@Hinckley_Biker 👍😁
I had the same problem with the OEM tyres tracking on tar ridges etc! I have fitted my favourite tyres - Pirelli Angels, this time the GT version and not the ST's which i used on the ZZR1400. They have transformed the handling of the bike, and i have regained my confidence with both the front and rear grip including performance. Can you give me the full purchase details on the bulb upgrade please, and like you i am suffering a little with the seat on the longer haul's and was thinking about the Gel seat, but your Sargent seat looks superb! Does the upgrade make a big difference to your comfort? I had Kawasaki fit there rear Bobbin's on the bike at point of purchase, which are very narrow and allow plenty of clearance from the exhaust's... Cheers
Hi, thanks for your comments, since I have fitted the Sargent seat I haven't really done any decent distance but it does feel way more comfortable, I am off to Cornwall in October so that will be a real tester! thanks for the heads up on the tyres, did they speed up the steering in slower corners?
Regarding the LED lights, I bought them off eBay (as I do with most things)! eBay item number:291740920162, just copy and paste this number into the search bar on eBay or search; 80W 9600LM H1 H4 H7 LED Headlight Kit High/Low Beam 6000K CREE LED Lamp, if you buy remember to message them with the bulbs you require (H7).
They are real easy to fit as they are plug and play. Stay safe, cheers
thanks for that, you have a great holiday to,, the sidelight bulbs were off eBay too, 501 W5W cree (non canbus) make sure you get the cree ones they have the latest chip set.
when i got mine it was on original front bridgestone bt016,but fresh rear cos of puncture bt023,used to whiteline really bad,changed front to bt023 now fine,front sprocket changed to 16t much more relaxed cruising,and seargent seat,tail tidy sp engineering very good quality,oh and softened up the suspension 13 model was very hard,now handles lovely
Interesting what you say about Bridgestone's, I have used them in the past on ZX9R's and ZZR1100's and never had a problem. When I took my bike in for a service I opted for the 'scenic' route which took me on some very poorly surfaced B roads and the bike was really nervous to the point I didn't enjoy the ride, a different choice of tyre is a must when they're needed. Has changing the front sprocket to a 16t caused any speedo error? I changed the sprockets on my old ZX9R to gear it down slightly (a common mod) but the downside was it caused the speedo to read fast by around 10mph!
no in fact it corrected the standard error,im now very happy with the handling for how i ride,it was far to firm as stock,the front tyre change was a revelation,original was knackered at 4500mls
Hi mate, Just found your channel. Also a Z1000sx owner / vlogger in the UK here.
I'm really interested in your seat. I don't suffer as much as you did. takes me about 100 miles of straight roads until I'm uncomfortable. but I do like the look of your seat combined with that rear pillion cowl. Also converted my headlights to LEDs, but I went to the BI conversion so both lights are on at once as they have dipped and main in both bulbs. I was a bit OCD about the single headlight.
Subbed to support a fellow Z1000sx tuber :)
The seat cowl was from kawasaki, the seat I bought on the Internet, I can't remember where from? It made a huge difference! Cheers for the sub although I am not riding the SX now, I have a 22yr old Honda Blackbird, next year intend to buy another bike, either an SX, Versys or Suzuki 1000GT? Thanks for the comment 👍
Thanks for the great review. Have you an idea of the tank range say for touring rather than commuting?
Peter Marshall - 200 miles is possible with 'conservative' riding but expect the low fuel warning around 170-180 miles, I managed a 300 mile trip on less then two tanks of fuel, I still had around 50 miles left! it would had been better had I took it easier on the first leg of the trip, typical fuel consumption was 47mpg, thanks for your comment 👍
You seem to like going to cornwall, i love it to i lived there for a couple of years, If you've not been there in the summer take a trip to Mevagissey.
hi! where is the rear seat cover from? its awesome
I'm sure it was a genuine Kawasaki one?
The LED headlights. I think they are the same as i have just fitted, are they S7 type, come in a black box?
Yeah from what I remember? A bit of a faff to fit but worth it for the results 👍
I had the 2015 sx in ebony also.The front bt016 never felt right to me. It felt like it was tracking around all the time. Dealer said pr4's would make a huge difference.There was nothing I didn't like about the bike but after 1400 miles from new I decided to trade it in for a bmw s1000xr sport se. The bmw is that bit more comfortable although the engine is not quite as smooth as the sx.But best of all the bmw looks a bit like a plodder but goes like a superbike on stilts.I had a race off the lights with a 2015 zx10r in lovely custom race paint.Lets just say that he nearly fell off when he looked in his mirror only to see me right up his exhaust pipe .He couldn't believe it and nor could I. Quick shifter helps though and he never had one.
I see the BMW S1000XR gets rave reviews in the motorcycle press, I had a BMW R1100S (the 'sporty' one with under seat exhaust) in 2003 even though it had the boxer engine it would still crack 150mph, I opted for sport suspension when I ordered the bike which was a mistake as it was rock hard!
I found the tyres terrible on mine but I never really got on with the bike. I tried to set the suspension for me. I ended up taking the rear preload to max and stiffening everything at the front. That made the handling much better and it didn't tramline at all after that.
CalmBiker - yeah me too, the bike constantly wanted to run wide in the corner's and was slowly eating away at my confidence, great machine just not for me, enjoy your Z1000, naked is the way forward 😂👍
That's what I had too. Even at speeds that were completely sensible the bike didn't want to turn in. Sorting the suspension out added a good percentage to by corner speed and changing the tyres to PR4's did another step in the right direction. It just never quite gelled. I thought about getting an uprated shock but in the end swapped.
I bought my Kwak from Wheels in Peterborough, when the first service was due I decided to ride from Leicester to Peterborough 'the scenic route' which was mainly B roads, the bike was bloody awful, I struggled to keep it in a straight line over the ridges and undulations in the road, I really didn't enjoy the ride, yet I have since ridden the GSX on the same road without any issues whatsoever.
I loved the comfort of the Kwak and the handling on smooth roads was fine, but I wasn't prepared to start piling money into trying to sort the suspension, I know the 2017 Z1000SX has received a lot of tweaks so it would be interesting to see if the handling is any better?
Just love this bike, all of it except the seat as you mentioned. I got the same Sargent seat and what a difference it makes, it is even better than Kawa's gel seat. And the power, oh God what an endless power. Always had a Honda VFR which I really loved, but this really is a step up ;-)
Question: is it easy to do the LED conversion? Which brand did you use? Could you give me some pointers?
Yes the sargent seat makes a world of difference especially if you're going to do any distance work, the LED upgrade was easy to fit after removing the panels around the dash, I bought them off eBay for £40, just search eBay using this item number 291729597603 you need the H7 kit, the side light bulbs are also eBay items 141974638331 hope this helps, thanks for the comments
Done 5000 miles in mine now (after a year) and done 400+ miles in a day. Mine is stock, apart from having scorpion exhausts fitted when bought. My thoughts...Pros: Nothing wrong with the bike, engine is good, controls are intuitive, looks great. Wind/weather protection is good and it does feel like a sport tourer should feel - not too committed, but not just a tourer either. Don't have the sore bum issue you seemed to have with the stock seat - feels ok to me.Fuel economy is good and lasts me a good 170 miles if I'm just doing a bit of motorway/dual carriageway riding.Cons: Fuel indicator gets down to one bar pretty quickly, then sits there for ages before the warning light coming on, so not really a linear fuel usage but you get used to that.The tyres are f*cking horrible, for the reasons you spoke about in the video. After doing a fair bit of research, it is only a tyre problem. I haven't changed mine out yet (I'm Scottish and cheap!), but putting decent tyres on it is supposed to fix the "near straight line issue". Tyres are ok in the wet, but it does appear to be a trigger between the harder centre compound and softer side compound being too pronounced, making it feel a little unstable at times.A personal bug-bear, I have a full set of Kriega luggage from my previous bikes and you can't fit these without drilling holes in the plate under the rear seat. I refuse to do this, so the luggage is sitting in the cupboard, but it does really annoy me.Final point - I can't really find much wrong with the bike, but I do have to say it doesn't excite me. I used to look out the window or at the weather forecast and think "ooh, weather looks ok, can I get out on the bike". I don't find that with the Z1000sx. I ride it when I prefer to ride rather than drive, but I just don't have the same excitement that I've had from previous bikes. Test rode a new Speed Triple and loved it so much I think I will be changing, despite the inconvenience I'll get from a lack of weather protection.
Many thanks for ur comment, interesting what you say about the seat, I have read comments from other SX riders that say they found the seat hard to start with then softened up as the miles increased, maybe I should have stuck with mine a little longer! Yes I think the 'white lining' is a tyre thing.
On the handling I have just increased the rear preload by 5 clicks and decreased the front preload by 3 turns and this has helped the low speed turning, in fact the bike turns into corners better at all speeds.
The Triumph Speed triple has been one of my faves for a long time, the bike oozes character and sounds beaut, I was very close to buying a 12 month old Speed triple before I got the SX, the pannier system and looks swung it for me, but maybe next time when I fancy a change!
I recently bought a 1980 Benelli 250 2C and have been busy tinkering and carrying out repairs to it, it is great fun to ride (unless you have a strong headwind)! since I have had it I have only ridden the SX once! but I do have a weeks touring in Cornwall planned for October, on the SX of course!
Also which side light bulbs did you use ? If you've any links after you get back of course cheers matey :)
How is the vibrations at speeds 170+ kmph on the handle bars and foot pegs..I did a test ride and found it too much
Yeah vibration does start to intrude at higher engine rpm, never really a problem but you know it's there! Cheers for the comment 👍
@@Hinckley_Biker Thank you for reply!...Actually Vibrations are the only issue that keeps me preventing to buy this bike!
I did hear that if you put a larger tyre on the back its fixes the the problem with being stable
Michelin road pilot 4's work really well 👍
I have the same issues with white lines, so nu-nerving feeling the bike trying to make its mind up which side to go. My old GSX650F did the same thing.
Do you have a link for the light conversion kit?
To be fair to the bike I guess it is as much the road surface as the bike, the roads here in the UK are pretty poor in places especially with the councils policy of 'surface dressing' which leaves ridges and dips in the road particularly in the centre where the surface overlaps and then they paint a white line on top! But having said all that I never had the problem with my ZX10R or my ER6F that I had at the same time, I think tyre brands make a big difference, some work on one bike really well and not so good on another.
The LED conversion kit was purchased on eBay, they are still on there, item number: 291729597603
Just copy and paste the item number into the eBay search bar :O)
Get a set of michelin road pilot 4 lot more wear
A decent tail tidy
And crash bobbins for the fairings and the exhaust
I have a Honda Blackbird now and it has the Pilot 4's fitted and they are superb, best tyres I have ever used! Cheers for the comment 👍
Mine is a mint original 2011 bike and have no problems at all, no real vibes except as you'd expect when giving it the berries (even then just a bit of a zing), also absolutely no stability issues, I've always had Metzelers on it, I've been through both the Sportec M5's and the Z8's, both great even when worn. The only disappointment was the headlight, but looks like an easy fix with the LEDs, many thanks for that, otherwise I love.
Michael Wells - Interesting comment's, seems the earlier bikes had less of a stability issue, cheers Michael, ride safe 👍
Hi mate, I bought the same bike and I'm very happy for my selection! I would like to ask you what kind of LED lights did you install. Also did you install transmission?
Hello Charis, the led lights were bought off eBay (item number:291729597603) copy & paste this number into the eBay search bar, H1 H4 H7 80W 9600LM CREE LED Headlight Kit High/Low Beam 6000K LED Lamp, very easy to fit as they are 'plug & play' I can highly recommend them, they give an amazing white light, not sure what you mean about installing transmission? If you mean the gear indicator yes I installed that, very simple as it plugs into the diagnostic socket under the riders seat (it is covered with a blanking plug) I hope this helps.
Thanks a lot Dennis! Cheers!
+dennis cundell I agree mate. The headlights are shite. I had the same question about the gear shift indicator. It literally just plugs into the diagnostic plug?? Then stick display wherever? That sounds too easy?
I upgraded to the Sargent seat as well. Sooo much better. Any problems with the cowl afterwards? Was thinking of ordering one but worried about the seat clearance.
Cheers
Hi Mate yes the gear indicator plugs into the diagnostic socket under the riders seat, easy, plug & play! (you have to remove the cap from the socket) then you just velcro the display on the dash or wherever you want it. The seat cowl is a little tight on the rear of the Sargent seat but not that it creates any problem.
+dennis cundell Awesome thanks. Do you have a link for the gear indicator?
Great vid btw
low power mode give you70% power 100% in high. I've notice the back end twitch over white lines maybe the tyres
Yeah I tend to think it is more down to tyres than anything else, Michelin and Pirelli seem to be popular choices
Michelin road pilot 3 or 4 are good tryes
I think that's what I'll have fitted when new boots are needed, seems to be what most SX riders go for 👍
Same here😊
Good video mate, I'm interested in the headlight conversion, totally agree with you, I think they are a bit poor, were they easy to fit ?
Any advice and pointers to where I can purchase much appreciated :)
Mines a 2013 model, mods are the same , seat, screen, tail tidy, heated grips
I went with the full acro system on the exhaust , ticks all the boxes now, 👍
Hi mate thanks for the comment, can't leave the link at the moment as I am on holiday and I can't do it from my phone but if you have a look at the other comments and replies you will find the link to the Led lights on eBay, cost around £43, easy to fit as they are plug and play and they make a massive difference to the lighting, hope this helps 👍
+dennis cundell thanks Dennis, I did read the comments and found the one after I left my comment :)
Have a good holiday mate 👍, still got mine to look forward too :)
I'll hopefully change them soon cheers
Hey there. I noticed you have changed bike now but may I ask you what read paddock model from Constands did you get while owning the Z1000SX pls.
kawasael - I got them from the ConStands website, I can't remember model numbers but they were dedicated items for the Z1000SX
I tried that but when I select z1000sx 2017 it gives me a whole load of options and wanted to be sure to get a tried and tested. thanks anyways ;)
www.motea.com/en/Kawasaki/Z_1000_SX/2017/12302/paddock-stands/rear-stand-4011.htm?CT=4011&n_pg=0&n_dis=2&n_srt=7&n_ipp=16
How well does the windshield deflector work and how tall are you? Is there any annoying vibration in the hands or feet at high rpm ranges? Man that bike looks good. Thanks for the video.
Daniel Cobb thanks for the comments, the windshield works very well for me, I am 5' 10'' tall.
It does give some tingles at high RPM mainly through the frame and pegs but not excessive, you rarely need high revs as the engine has so much bottom end and midrange you can just leave it in 6th gear!
Just checked the item and it's same size as one I already bought the center hole of my stem nut is just over 11mm it's shocking trying to fine a mount to fit correctly
What a nightmare!! you would have thought the sizes would have been the same, I wonder if it would be possible to get an engineering firm to turn one down on a lathe?
Great video mate. Have you found the vibrations to be bad? I see loads of reviewers saying how badly it vibes at motorway speeds, numb hands and feet etc? It's the only thing putting me off. I hate vibey bikes
Thanks for your comment, no problems at all with vibration at any speed, slight tingle through the frame when revved hard but that's all. If you are thinking of buying one try and get a test ride, I have traded up to a Suzuki GSX S1000 as I never felt comfortable with the heavy, slow steering, but it is horses for courses you may not have the same issue, test ride is a must!
dennis cundell cheers for the quick reply. That GSXS1000F looks mint. Enjoy!
Jay Neutron i find mine a bit vibey at 5 to 6k. The only people who find it a problem are gripping the bars to tight!
Where did u get your sear cowl and seat from?
The seat cowl was ordered from Kawasaki, the seat came from Sargent UK, www.sargentcycle.co.uk/
I had Michelin Pilots on my ZX10R and they were brilliant.
Alright mate I am looking to get ram mount to fit my 2014 sx1000 the one that fits in bar stem any help as I I have tried loads but no good I see you had one on your sx1000
I bought mine on eBay, this is the eBay item number:141138639558 just copy and paste it into the eBay search bar, hope this helps.
Blaby Biker cheers mate awesome see you sold your Kwaka for Suzuki I have only had my so for just over a month and love it just weather is poo at moment to get out on it but thank you for response and safe biking
Stephen Lightfoot - No problem! It is so frustrating when the weather goes tits-up and all you want to do is ride! Stay safe, cheers buddy 👍
Hi
Its ABS model?
Where is abs Light on speedometer?
No, this is the non abs model
how do you find the engine vibration? on a test ride I found it 'buzzy' over 6000rpm or thereabouts.
Big T - yeah tbh it does get vibey at higher revs and the power flattens off, but you rarely need to rev the motor as there is plenty of low and midrange power, it will pull sixth gear from as low as 30mph with the need to downshift
Thanks Dennis - I notice you're now on a GSX-S - I'm in exactly the same predicament, which one to choose. On the test rides I preferred the Suzuki's engine, so it's likely to be that one. I'm currently on a Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 but would like to change to something lighter. I liked the MT-10 but it's going up £800 in the new year so I've decided that the Suzuki represents better value for money. I'm just watching your GSX-S videos now. Thanks again.
Big T - The Suzuki has a much lighter feel and much more responsive handling, the engine is super smooth with a real kick at 8,000rpm, don't worry about the twitchy throttle reports, the later models have an updated ecu, get a test ride if you haven't already 👍
Thanks Dennis, I got a test ride on blue one from Bridge Motorcycles in Exeter back in the summer, I didn't notice any issues with a snatchy throttle - I was aware of the issue beforehand so kind of went in expecting it but nothing showed up. I almost did a deal on a red/black F model that Damerells in Cornwall have for sale but we couldn't quite get there with the PCP rate - they've been very honest and said that I should get a good deal in January/February which is fine by me. I saw the new black/blue colour scheme at the NEC and liked that very much. Looks like it's going to be Suzuki after all.
Big T - You can get dedicated tank bag and tail pack if required, they fit the bike really nice, all the best I hope you find the right deal, thanks for the comments
Mich pilot 3 or 4 and you can't go wrong.
Hello mate nice video, are you able to provide links to the HID and the LED lights please many thanks , liked and Subscribed :)
Thanks for the comment and the sub, the headlight bulbs are LED bought off eBay item number 291729597603 just put this number in the search bar, the sidelights are LED cree also off eBay item number 121769829740 remember the sidelights are polarity sensitive so if they don't work just pull the bulb out and turn it around, hope this helps, cheers buddy
kingbullykutta - just a thought if you order the LED headlight bulb's make sure you order the H7's 👍
Blaby Biker ive got the new zx6r 636 id take it takes the H7 fitting, ive checked out the link u provided... can they actually be used on bikes as he is only advertising it for cars? I tried to check out the led side lights but he is no longer in business is there any other LED side lights u can guide me to? Appreciate ur love brother thank you
I'm 99% sure the 636 uses H7 headlight but double check first, yes they are advertised for cars but provided you get the correct type (H7) they should fit, they fitted my Z1000SX perfect, the sidelight bulb you need is a 501, have a look at these on eBay 141974638331, stay safe buddy
Blaby Biker awesome brother thank you, wanted to ask you if the Headlights u installed what is your take on them ie quality and how they look when riding in the dark and if you had any issues with them at all? Sorry to be a pain :)
hi mate, stock tyres are rubbish. the wandering over lines and bad low speed turn in completely dissapear with a new set of tyres.
Cosmic Arnold - yes I totally agree, stock tyres are scary bad!
Should have left it stock. Looks ugly as hell now.
spoonman73 - well you will be pleased to hear that I have returned the bike to standard trim now . . . . . as I sold it 😂👍
Why did you sell it? What did you get?
The Z1000SX is a great bike but I couldn't gel with it, I was never happy with the handling, I have heard of other owners having the same issues, I have now bought a Suzuki GSX S1000 I fancied a naked/street machine for a change, I am very happy with it, just need the weather to improve so I can use it!
I hope you changed the stock tyres first- transforms the bike!