Car and Motorcycle

Used Bike Guide : 2003 Kawasaki Z1000

Kawasaki got the balance between fun and functional just about right when it came up with the second coming Z1000.

While other Japanese manufacturers erred on the side of caution, Kawasaki took the path least travelled and came up with a bike whose nutty design blended perfectly with its blistering performance : 2003 Z1000 !


This was a time when Kawasaki went out on a limb, hiring Shunji Tanaka to take the motorcycle division off on a very different tangent. So 2003 Z1000 styling took centre stage on the Zed, and given the staid options available at the time, Kawasaki was onto a sure fire hit.





The 4-into-2-into-4 cans were a revelation (as were a catalyser in each can), the zesty colours a hit and the angles and patterns created a near masterpiece. On the engine side of things, the ZX-9R was the base and no-one could accuse the Z1000 of being a shrinking violet with an impressive midrange and a constant desire to travel further up the rev range.

The Kawasaki ZX-9R didn’t just give its 2.2mm bored out engine to the 2003 Z1000 (creating a 953cc motor in the process); suspension, wheels, brakes and the swingarm were also borrowed from the faired bike, using a diamond-like steel frame as its centre chassis. Still, it had sporty geometry and weighed a lot less than the likes of the Fazer 1000, meaning it was agile enough to impress. And impress it did, and still does to this day.




Fuel injection takes away any of the tired feel that carbs can give, and the bike’s 120bhp output is still enough to get you into trouble. The chassis and ancillaries do their best to get you back out of the brown stuff, but 12 years on the early bikes can feel their age.

In general, there are more good examples than bad, and unlike ZX-6Rs of the era, owners were generally a more caring bunch. Some converted the can configuration into a single unit, stuck on a steering damper and add a few cosmetic attractions. 2003 Kawasaki Z1000 is a vibey bike, and this put off many owners originally, and there’s not that much room on board with little in the way of ground clearance. But on looks alone this bike sells itself, and should be on the list of many a savvy buyer.

The Reason Why You Need 2003 Kawasaki Z100 : You like Your Zesty Colours – and A Big Helping of Grunt

2003 Kawasaki Z100 Price : £ 2,000 is where the action starts