I have now put 3000 km on the new Ninja 1000 SX Tourer and here are a few notes of my own: a) For me at 5'10'' the screen works best at its lowest position even on the German autobahn. The airflow around the helmet is just so smooth it's sometimes not even noticeable. b) I have kept the quickshifter/blipper turned off in the settings since the beginning. I like shifting gears with a smooth clutch as the Ninja's. That being said, the shifting could be more direct especially shifting up. c) For potting around the city or riding through towns, the bike is smooth and friendly even at around or above 2000 rpm. When you want a bit of fun, bring her up above 4500-5000 rpm and you can just feel her adding torque and horsepower all the way up the rev range adding smiles to your face all the way. d) Once you have tried the "sport" mode you really don't want to dial it down unless it's raining heavily. The bike's power delivery is so predictable and the ride-by-wire so precise and it's all so fun .... e) Yes, the crank case does protrude and it does keep your calf warm but not unbearably so. f) The display is a charm no matter the angle of the sun and not once have I felt anything missing. g) I was loaded up with two full panniers and a 30 liter rear-seat luggage (Oxford T40R - comes recommended) and the bike did feel a bit front heavy turning into corners (with all standard suspension settings). h) Expect around 275 km (170 miles) of sporty riding before a refill, and she'll still have a couple of litres in the tank for peace of mind. i) After around 6 hours in the seat I did wish the sides of the seat weren't angular ... j) Would I recommend the bike? Unless you are after sofa comfort, absolutely. It's fast, fun, and predictable. And a bit to my surprise people keep giving her compliments on the looks side.
Hold on a minute your review is better than mine! 😂 Honestly thank you for your comments, I appreciate that you chose one of my videos to add your thoughts 😊 I can also imagine you liking the bike even more as you put more miles on her. Its a great machine that's for sure.
I used to ride Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA and although I loved it, after 100 thousand Km I wanted something more modern. In my mind what I really wanted was the BMW R1250RS and I took it out for a test ride. Then I thought I should open my mind a bit and tried a Ducati 950S and then I decided I should give the Ninja 1000 SX a chance too. Much to my surprise I ended up buying the Ninja. It was just more smooth (inline four obviously), more versatile, and much better in the big city than the other two. The money I saved was enough for a whole lot of new riding gear too ...
I can see why you fell for the Kawasaki! To me it feels like a modern version of the Bandit to be honest - I love the sense of stability with the Ninja 1000SX chassis and its still plenty fast enough too. I could see myself owning one too, definitely 👍
@@RikkyTang My son had one of these a couple of years ago and he loved it but with the arrival of twins he sold it. I have one of the last 2016 1250 Bandits and very pleased with it but like most bikers i'm always on the lookout for my next bike. Unfortunately whilst the Kawasaki is a more modern bike its too tall for me (29" inside leg) so I would struggle also would miss the main stand. Its really hard to find a 1000cc plus bike these days that are really designed with a pillion in mind (and I can reach the floor) and as I always ride 2 up with the wife it is hard to replace the Bandit. Did ride the Z900 which is much much lower and loved it but once again rubbish pillion seat. Would be nice if Suzuki would revive a modern (lighter)version of the 1250 Bandit because at nearly 70 the Bandit is heavy for me now. Anyway good luck!!!!!
I went from a 2019 SX to a 2020 Ninja. The difference in seat height surprised me, and the effect it had on the whole rider geometry wasn't to my taste. I fitted the Kawasaki gel seat off my SX, which is less thick, and normal service was resumed. I had read complaints about seat comfort on the earlier bike, which is why I had the gel seat. I can't comment on the long distance comfort of the standard seat on either model. but I did over 950 miles in one day on the gel seat. This bike is amazing value for money, and I can't wait to be allowed to do some decent trips again.
That must have been a relief when your gel seat fixed the riding position! Can't wait till we can get on the roads again... has to warm up a good bit too mind!
I purchased on back in March new release.,.. I am so happy with it, was perfect. It is KQS Up and Down - and heated grips are additional extras, not kawasaki overall its a top top bike, if you are not a complete speed junkie, you will love this bike as it is quick just no insane, great acceleration and you can feel the power.
Alistair Smith I got mine in March too .. fab bike .. I use mine all year round and it’s a great all rounder..!!! Safety is fantastic IMU.. lean sensitive TC and ABS !!! And Slipper clutch !!!.. untouchable for this price !!!!
Good review. I have watched a few and your the first person to actually comment how compact the cockpit is , with its handlebar height and swept back. I had a vfr 1200 and the position was so low and forward I had to sell it. Looking at now getting one of these..
Another great review! You clearly put a lot of thought into presentation and the overall experience for the viewer. Like others I love the chapter headings. I haven't ridden this bike but it looks like Kawasaki have got their sports tourer package spot on with this machine - and at a decent price. One question though - other Vloggers have noted that this engine runs a bit hot on the Versys 1000. Did you notice an issue with heat on the Ninja 1000SX?
Thank you 😊 I do try to make the kind of video I'd like to see myself and hope that others like to see the same thing! With regards to heat, I can't say that I noticed any particular problems on the Ninja - then again I don't think I had any heat problems with the Versys either! 🤷♀️ Bear in mind that I only have these machines for about three hours or so and perhaps the heat problems occur in conditions that I didn't happen to replicate on the ride. I hope that there are no glaring problems on this one though, because I really took a shine to it!
lov yur reviews Rikky, who else says things like "creamy" in bike reviews...lol. what a value this thing is, has it all, does it all., at a stupendous price. I'd change the windscreen, mirrors, add a slip-on, and have the perfect bike. Lov these Kawy inline four's. May trade/sell the Concours 14 for one a these!! ??.
Well your Concours 14 must be incredibly creamy to ride!! But pretty heavy-feeling I would guess, so this 1000SX would be a more engaging ride and easy to modify to your tastes like you suggest. It would have been higher on my shopping list last time round if I wasn't quite so set on having shaft drive 😊
It is such a well balanced engine that when you go slow in traffic it will do it incredibly smoothly. Then should you ask it to get up and play it will be super eager to with an engaging air induction sound and super fun free flowing revs with a quick shifter for added fun. Return back to base on the motorway and pop it in the smooth cruise control making that seem easy with its incredible torque.
I've got a Mar 2021 21 plate Performace/Tourer and had the shad luggage rack and Givi Kawasaki topcase put on by the dealer. First 2000 miles I could not work out why the bike had so much chatter in the suspension feel, went soft and hard in my setup, no joy. At 2000miles I rode just with panniers and all good then with just the top box on I turned around when riding and put my hand on the topbox and although its solid as a rock it was kicking back at my hand. I now don't have the box or heavy shad rack installed. When riding as intended just with the panniers the bike is stable and gives a good ride. I did 1000miles in four days, days 1 and 4 did 380 miles on longest trip. My ass was very sore, why they chose to put straight squared off edges in the seat design I never know. Quick shifter needs getting used to, I leant from Turbo Tony by mistake, after slating him for doing it, that if you ease off the throttle slightly when changing up its VERY smooth and pick your down changes carefully which can be nice also, say 5-4-3 4000k-6000k ish. Clutch is one of the best light movements that its worth just using it anyway to save the box. Might try bar risers and a new custom seat setup sometime. Engine is a lot smoother than my 2019 Versys 1000SEGT, miss the cornering lights and electric suspension though. Oh and outside temp gauge is spot on, my brother has the R1250R and his was always showing 2-3 degrees more.
Thank you for your contribution! I would be interested in riding the Performance version - hopefully I’ll get a chance next year with a new bunch of demo bikes coming in at Frasers, the Kawasaki dealer I work with. I really enjoyed the 2020 model and I’m sure the current version features some nice improvements in ride quality and features. Isn’t it crazy the amount of trial and error we have to go through just to make sure that supposedly compatible equipment is functioning as it should (or to find the culprit if it isn’t).
ECU flash really wakes up the engine. The engine is really restricted and runs too lean and hot. ECU flash removes restrictions and makes it smoother, runs cooler and power is increased.
I find the engine more than powerful enough and runs very smooth. Maybe if you raced it on track and red lined every gear. Waste of money and effort due to how perfectly balanced this bike is. Of course that’s just my opinion.
An only everyday bike you say? Hmm, I think I'd have to take the... Kawasaki! It's got 90% of the performance (I don't think I'll miss the 10% on the road) and the handling is almost the opposite of the BMW - you can still throw it around but it feels totally planted while doing it and it gave me a lot of confidence! It's more comfortable and the 2020 has a better dash and bluetooth... I'm a sucker for gadgets 😁
RikkyTang! Yeah, the dash and connectivity is great on the new Kwaka. Will be interesting to see the new iteration of the BMW next year. Thanks for the reply.
I'm sorry to say that the Versys I rode did not have electronic suspension. So both the bikes I rode had manually adjustable suspension and I would say the the best handler is easily the Ninja 1000 SX. The Versys felt a bit remote/vague in its handling, although it was never actually bad. The Ninja just feels more connected to the road and it also felt very stable.
Nice review, Did you still think our beemer's much better? I didn't test any Kawasaki's before I bought mine, I do quite like the H2 version, but it's a bit of a porker, looking forward to that review. We've been using the new Stonehouse road, it is quite nice apart from the town, we tend to go down Oldens lane, and miss the coxit hammering from falling off the shitty ramps in town. This series seems to be going from strength to strength!
Thanks chap, well I have to say I'm really impressed with the Ninja 1000SX; now this exact model wasn't available last year when I bought the BMW, and to be honest I probably wouldn't have test ridden it even if it was! But.... if this model was available last year and I had ridden it, I think I would have got this instead of the Beemer. Bombshell! It just feels more planted on the road and I do like that sensation. I like the dash better (not to mention the smartphone connectivity) and I don't think I'd miss the 20-odd bhp difference to be honest. The H2SX is awesome but yes, too heavy (let alone expensive!) for me I think. I'm not back at work until the 1st September and so I hope to get a good few bikes ridden by then and keep this series going for a little while yet 😊
@@RikkyTang Question is will the new 2020-2021 S1000R BMW are currently testing make enough handing and engine improvements to top this bike in your book? Because you can guarantee they'll put the new BMW TFT on it, which is a fantastic looking set of clocks I reckon.
@@hyperthunk I would love to have the BMW TFT dash for sure! But I'm not sure if BMW can replicate the solid/planted feel from the chassis that I felt with the heavier Kawasaki. One thing that would tempt me would be if they came up with more torque in the midrange without losing it anywhere else... it doesn't need to be any faster up top, just meatier in the middle 😁
@@RikkyTang Yeah the naked version of the Z1K isn't anywhere near as planted imo, it's the weight of the Z1000SX that gives it that lovely feel. But the engine is a peach. Not ridiculously powerful, but turbine like pull with a wonderful induction howl.
@@RikkyTang Thinking of getting a test ride, I suppose it would make a difference according to what I could PX the S1KR for, if I liked the Ninja that is.
Hi Derek I hope the video helped you get prepared for your new machine! I'd appreciate it if you mention that you have seen my video... it just helps them know that it's worth their time letting me ride their bikes 😊
Hi thanks for your comment! That's a really tricky one... but I think I'd go for the Suzuki. That engine is pretty damn impressive. However I'd also have to accept that the bike needs an ECU flash and some money spending on the suspension (mainly a better rear shock). If I was buying the bike for longer distance stuff though, the Kawasaki is the better choice... still fast, really comfortable and great suspension out of the box 👍
Imho the only thing good about the gsx1000f is the engine, but that is also its problem as it’s all engine, it’s an engine that should not be in that bike as it just wants to scream but that was what it was made for all those years ago, the geometry of the bike , it’s suspension and the fact Suzuki can’t get its fuelling right for euro emissions also don’t match that engine. Suzuki really need to spend some money on R and D as they are getting left behind by the other 3 Japanese manufacturers. Yes I owned one and it’s not a patch on the 1000sx kwaka, I own that now 😀
I can't say that I noticed any particular issues with engine heat, but I didn't have the bike for very long so I suggest looking for longer term tests of this bike. Sorry I can't be of more help!
I've ridden this bike 7000kms so far, city, at stop lights, 32c ambient temperatures and no issue with engine heat for me. I wear leathers and textile, no issues. Hope this helps.
Hey Rikky, great review! Im interested to know how it compares against the Z900RS? I appreciate they are different styles etc but generally how do they compare? Cheers
Yeah that's a tricky one Nick because as you say they are quite different bikes. I could say that on one hand, the Z900RS has more style, sounds better (as standard) and makes you feel happier when riding! The SX is more comfortable & sensible, but faster and is the better choice for long distance riding. Both will commute happily... personally I think it's hard to look past the style of the RS!
@@RikkyTang Thanks mate, a good summary! I guess I need to ride the RS. I owned a 2018 SX and it was a fantastic bike so agree 100% with your review and summary here, but the RS is such a beautiful bike! It’s going to be a hard choice 😜👍🏻
@@nickbirt2860 Thanks Nick, as an previous owner of an SX I appreciate that you don't think that my comments are wide of the mark! Yes the RS is a lovely thing... I think a very sweet combo would be a black RS with the Lextek downpipes, yum 😍
I agree and I've been doing that for years myself, but an autoblipper matches the revs to the lower gear which is something not everybody gets right if they do it themselves.
I’ve noticed that the QS is a bit jerky on the up shifts at half throttle or less ... and much smoother on full throttle ..??? But not always ..??? 🤔🤔🤔and also at lower revs it’s a bit jerky on the down shift ..?? ... in my opinion it’s made for fast riding or track riding ... it’s absolutely brilliant then ..!! But around town or steady away it’s not as happy ..:-))) .. I still love it though ...I wouldn’t go back to standard shift now ..!!👍👍👍😁😁😁.... good review by the way 👌👌👌👌👌
Thanks for the kind words 😊 You might have a good point there... when quick shifters started appearing on road bikes a few years ago, there were designed for full throttle shifting and not to basically replace the use of the clutch in general riding. Perhaps the 1000SX q/s is an older generation unit that still needs a lot of throttle to shift smoothly. I should be riding a Versys 1000 tomorrow and I think it has the same shifter so I'll do some experiments! 👨⚕️😁 P.S. my original comment to you disappeared so you may end up seeing two similar comments from me lol
RikkyTang! I think the quick shifter is designed primarily for high speed and acceleration.. on Kawasaki’s website it says that it’s designed to maximise acceleration on the track .. so I don’t even think it’s really designed to be used when short shifting or riding slowly!!! That’s why it can be turned off ... why would someone who’s touring want to to have maximum acceleration...??? 🤔🤔🤔.. also it doesn’t allow you to upshift with a closed throttle and it won’t allow you to downshift with an open throttle...and it doesn’t work at all below 2500 rpm ..... so I think it’s designed for a specific task .. I don’t think it’s old school stuff I think we’re probably using it wrongly ..??? 😁😁😁.... because under the right conditions.. ie .. full on acceleration it’s a smooth as silk and so fast !!! 😁😁
@@dmandhelen You've been doing your research! 😁 Yeah sounds like you are right especially since it talks about how to use it on the website. I'll have to give the Versys full gas tomorrow then 🤣
If you are at any road legal speed on a 1000cc 4 cylinder bike, and your intention is to roll on the throttle to accelerate quickly, you should be in second gear, tops. 1000cc bikes will do any legal speed in second gear, so if you're trying to go fast, why would you be in fourth? Or sixth?!
Thanks for awesome review! Currently in the market for a new allround bike. And Kawa N1kSX with BMW S1kXR are on the top list. XR is 7000 USD more expensive and wide handlebars will be pain in heavy Moscow traffic. And that really stops from choosing BMW. But on the other hand XR got better suspension esp. for poor country roads. And I plan to travel a lot. But any way would appreciate any thoughts about comparisons between this two bikes, as I never seen anyone comparing them. And the problem is that Kawa is not available for test ride here in Russia. (((
Wow 🤨 I can't believe that the XR is so much more expensive than the Kawasaki. I have ridden the previous generation XR but not the latest version. The riding positions are quite different - the handlebars on the XR are more like a big dirt bike than a road bike. On the other hand the 1000SX bars seem surprisingly close to the rider compared to many road bikes I've ridden (but I think you would get used to it unless you had long arms and then it might feel a little strange). They are definitely more narrow than the BMW though so you will hit fewer car and van mirrors 😁 On the old XR, I didn't have much luck finding a good position for the screen - I was always getting some wind blast against my crash helmet... the 1000SX was better for me (but the new XR has a redesigned fairing so wind management may be better now). One thing that I found better on the 1000SX for sure is the seat... on the XR I felt "locked in" to the seat and there isn't much space to move around - I didn't like that feeling. The SX has a conventional seat and you could move around a bit on longer rides. On the other hand the TFT dash of the new XR would be very tempting!! The Kawasaki display and technology is good but I think BMW is better. In terms of performance I think I preferred the character of the SX over the old XR (apart from the quickshifter... the XR was better on upshifts for sure). In terms of suspension it is closer... I think the XR did feel great in the bends but I feel there is something a bit more planted/steady about the SX that I really liked. I didn't go over any really rough roads on the XR so I can't compare the two bikes but the SX did feel good over some pot holes in the road - the suspension was surprisingly good. One other difference between the old XR and the SX was vibes trough the handlebars... the SX did seem better but not sure which one would be better over long distances. If I had to choose between the SX and the *old* XR, I would choose the Kawasaki. I'm not sure how much better the new XR is but $7000 is a lot of money and I can't see it feeling a whole $7000 better than the Kawasaki. Hope this helps 👍
@@roadgent7921 Hi there, I'm comparing the XR to the Ninja because the guy I'm replying to had them both on his shopping list and asked to compare them. I hadn't ridden the Versys at the time of this ride so I couldn't comment on it, but on my Versys video I do make comparisons to this SX 😊
@@roadgent7921 well, in general I agree that Vesys vs XR would be more logical comparison. But Versys is too big for city use in my opinion and also I wanted a bike with a bit of sportiness in character and that is not the case about Versys. Also I need bike that would be great at both - filtering heavy city traffic and long distance runs. And I ended up with this two bikes to choose from. And actually already decided to go with Kawa (mainly because of the price first of all), but while I was making up my mind all local Kawa dealers run out of stock. (((
Дмитрий Романи FYI- 2021 Ninja with new colour schemes are due to be released soon. My only concern filtering through traffic on the N1kSX would be the mirrors, as they would probably need to be folded away every time you want to squeeze through tight gaps, as they don’t move with the handlebars like they would on the XR.
@@RikkyTang I've been a big fan of BMW bikes for sometime but have been drawn to Kawasaki. I've also got the Z900RS - amazing bike. Not missing the BMW one bit. Kawasaki smoother and dare I say it the suspension is better despite all BMW's tech.. Looking forward to a bit of a tour on the 1000SX - more so than I would've done on BM. The 1250R is a cracking bike though.
I am looking at the Ninja 1000SX this year. I've read conflicting information concerning the passenger backrest/top luggage rack is not an option or even possible to install for whatever reason. Can anyone verify this? Bit of a deal breaker for me (well... my wife anyway). Thanks!
I've been nosing around on the internet and it appears that you can either have the OEM side cases or the OEM luggage rack but not both together. Take a look at the 6th post here: www.riderforums.com/threads/ninja-1000-subframe-reinforcement.84364/ This might help (a bit) www.z1000sx.co.uk/index.php?topic=11137.10 It seems that if you go for OEM side cases, you can only fit a Shad or Ventura luggage rack. But you might have to look out for overloading the subframe mounting points! I think the Z1000 and Ninja 1000 are the same at the back but I can't be 1000% sure. However it does seems that people are running with top boxes and side cases. You might already know all this but I hope it helps a bit.
@@RikkyTang I didn't know people we're doing all three - good news as I REALLY want this bike. I guess if you use the top one for super light stuff/or as a backrest only it should be fine. Good to know it can be done. Appreciate the response and help!
I've got a Mar 2021 21 plate Performace/Tourer and had the shad luggage rack and Givi Kawasaki topcase put on by the dealer. First 2000 miles I could not work out why the bike had so much chatter in the suspension feel, went soft and hard in my setup, no joy. At 2000miles I rode just with panniers and all good then with just the top box on I turned around when riding and put my hand on the topbox and although its solid as a rock it was kicking back at my hand. I now don't have the box or heavy shad rack installed. When riding as intended just with the panniers the bike is stable and gives a good ride. I did 1000miles in four days, days 1 and 4 did 380 miles on longest trip. My ass was very sore, why they chose to put straight squared off edges in the seat design I never know. Quick shifter needs getting used to, I leant from Turbo Tony by mistake, after slating him for doing it, that if you ease off the throttle slightly when changing up its VERY smooth and pick your down changes carefully which can be nice also, say 5-4-3 4000k-6000k ish. Clutch is one of the best light movements that its worth just using it anyway to save the box. Might try bar risers and a new custom seat setup sometime. Engine is a lot smoother than my 2019 Versys 1000SEGT, miss the cornering lights and electric suspension though.
It will feel quite a lot heavier than you are used to, but it is an easy bike to ride and its an impressive machine, so I would say you'll probably be OK with it👌 Just build up your speed and experience gradually because its very fast!
I have now put 3000 km on the new Ninja 1000 SX Tourer and here are a few notes of my own: a) For me at 5'10'' the screen works best at its lowest position even on the German autobahn. The airflow around the helmet is just so smooth it's sometimes not even noticeable. b) I have kept the quickshifter/blipper turned off in the settings since the beginning. I like shifting gears with a smooth clutch as the Ninja's. That being said, the shifting could be more direct especially shifting up. c) For potting around the city or riding through towns, the bike is smooth and friendly even at around or above 2000 rpm. When you want a bit of fun, bring her up above 4500-5000 rpm and you can just feel her adding torque and horsepower all the way up the rev range adding smiles to your face all the way. d) Once you have tried the "sport" mode you really don't want to dial it down unless it's raining heavily. The bike's power delivery is so predictable and the ride-by-wire so precise and it's all so fun .... e) Yes, the crank case does protrude and it does keep your calf warm but not unbearably so. f) The display is a charm no matter the angle of the sun and not once have I felt anything missing. g) I was loaded up with two full panniers and a 30 liter rear-seat luggage (Oxford T40R - comes recommended) and the bike did feel a bit front heavy turning into corners (with all standard suspension settings). h) Expect around 275 km (170 miles) of sporty riding before a refill, and she'll still have a couple of litres in the tank for peace of mind. i) After around 6 hours in the seat I did wish the sides of the seat weren't angular ... j) Would I recommend the bike? Unless you are after sofa comfort, absolutely. It's fast, fun, and predictable. And a bit to my surprise people keep giving her compliments on the looks side.
Hold on a minute your review is better than mine! 😂 Honestly thank you for your comments, I appreciate that you chose one of my videos to add your thoughts 😊 I can also imagine you liking the bike even more as you put more miles on her. Its a great machine that's for sure.
Hey there ... thanks for your time... how’s the auto blipper on the bike??
@@awesomeagnihotrisvlog Up is good especially at revs above 3500 down I don't use much, it's not as smooth
@@awesomeagnihotrisvlog see also my channel for a coupe of videos I posted
@@nickthequick done...best wishes
I used to ride Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA and although I loved it, after 100 thousand Km I wanted something more modern. In my mind what I really wanted was the BMW R1250RS and I took it out for a test ride. Then I thought I should open my mind a bit and tried a Ducati 950S and then I decided I should give the Ninja 1000 SX a chance too. Much to my surprise I ended up buying the Ninja. It was just more smooth (inline four obviously), more versatile, and much better in the big city than the other two. The money I saved was enough for a whole lot of new riding gear too ...
I can see why you fell for the Kawasaki! To me it feels like a modern version of the Bandit to be honest - I love the sense of stability with the Ninja 1000SX chassis and its still plenty fast enough too. I could see myself owning one too, definitely 👍
the only thing that surprise me is that you didint give a try to the gsx s 1000F wich is basically the modern version
@@ragimundvonwallat8961 Too much sport, too little touring - and no cruise control ...
@@nickthequick that answer it =P
@@RikkyTang My son had one of these a couple of years ago and he loved it but with the arrival of twins he sold it. I have one of the last 2016 1250 Bandits and very pleased with it but like most bikers i'm always on the lookout for my next bike. Unfortunately whilst the Kawasaki is a more modern bike its too tall for me (29" inside leg) so I would struggle also would miss the main stand. Its really hard to find a 1000cc plus bike these days that are really designed with a pillion in mind (and I can reach the floor) and as I always ride 2 up with the wife it is hard to replace the Bandit. Did ride the Z900 which is much much lower and loved it but once again rubbish pillion seat. Would be nice if Suzuki would revive a modern (lighter)version of the 1250 Bandit because at nearly 70 the Bandit is heavy for me now. Anyway good luck!!!!!
I went from a 2019 SX to a 2020 Ninja. The difference in seat height surprised me, and the effect it had on the whole rider geometry wasn't to my taste. I fitted the Kawasaki gel seat off my SX, which is less thick, and normal service was resumed. I had read complaints about seat comfort on the earlier bike, which is why I had the gel seat. I can't comment on the long distance comfort of the standard seat on either model. but I did over 950 miles in one day on the gel seat. This bike is amazing value for money, and I can't wait to be allowed to do some decent trips again.
That must have been a relief when your gel seat fixed the riding position! Can't wait till we can get on the roads again... has to warm up a good bit too mind!
I just got a 2024 ninja 1000sx. I love it! Great video!
I purchased on back in March new release.,.. I am so happy with it, was perfect. It is KQS Up and Down - and heated grips are additional extras, not kawasaki
overall its a top top bike, if you are not a complete speed junkie, you will love this bike as it is quick just no insane, great acceleration and you can feel the power.
Agreed it's a great bike 👍
Alistair Smith I got mine in March too .. fab bike .. I use mine all year round and it’s a great all rounder..!!! Safety is fantastic IMU.. lean sensitive TC and ABS !!! And Slipper clutch !!!.. untouchable for this price !!!!
Got mine in March, 7000kms so far, fantastic overall sport bike with comforts to be in the seat all day. Longest ride in one day so far, 1028km.
@@jasong728 That's a hell of a journey to undertake in one day! The more I reflect on the bike, the more I like it...
What a beautiful and a meaningful video especially without music in the background... Thank you from India
I have un 2017 model, bought a month ago, very happy with, no quick shifter, but doesn't really bother, only a bit heavy, meantime extremely smooth!
My feelings exactly 😊
Great in depth review, glad I found the channel, subscribed!
Glad you liked the video and many thanks for subscribing! 👍
Must. Have. This. Bike.
On my 3rd sx with this new version one of the best bikes I've had to date I absolutely love it great review too mate 👍👍
Yep they are brilliant machines - underrated I reckon 👍
Good review. Using chapter descriptions and breaking up the video is great. Thanks for doing that.
Thanks - my reviews are a bit all over the place so chapters are a godsend haha
These bikes are so smooth...easy to ride and manage...
"Not 'make you cry in a corner quick'..." 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Good review. I have watched a few and your the first person to actually comment how compact the cockpit is , with its handlebar height and swept back. I had a vfr 1200 and the position was so low and forward I had to sell it. Looking at now getting one of these..
Your a brilliant blogger & your reviews are very honest. Keep them coming!
That's very kind of you to say so! Yep there will be more videos coming this year 😊
Another great review! You clearly put a lot of thought into presentation and the overall experience for the viewer. Like others I love the chapter headings. I haven't ridden this bike but it looks like Kawasaki have got their sports tourer package spot on with this machine - and at a decent price. One question though - other Vloggers have noted that this engine runs a bit hot on the Versys 1000. Did you notice an issue with heat on the Ninja 1000SX?
Thank you 😊 I do try to make the kind of video I'd like to see myself and hope that others like to see the same thing! With regards to heat, I can't say that I noticed any particular problems on the Ninja - then again I don't think I had any heat problems with the Versys either! 🤷♀️ Bear in mind that I only have these machines for about three hours or so and perhaps the heat problems occur in conditions that I didn't happen to replicate on the ride. I hope that there are no glaring problems on this one though, because I really took a shine to it!
lov yur reviews Rikky, who else says things like "creamy" in bike reviews...lol. what a value this thing is, has it all, does it all., at a stupendous price. I'd change the windscreen, mirrors, add a slip-on, and have the perfect bike. Lov these Kawy inline four's. May trade/sell the Concours 14 for one a these!! ??.
Well your Concours 14 must be incredibly creamy to ride!! But pretty heavy-feeling I would guess, so this 1000SX would be a more engaging ride and easy to modify to your tastes like you suggest. It would have been higher on my shopping list last time round if I wasn't quite so set on having shaft drive 😊
It is such a well balanced engine that when you go slow in traffic it will do it incredibly smoothly. Then should you ask it to get up and play it will be super eager to with an engaging air induction sound and super fun free flowing revs with a quick shifter for added fun. Return back to base on the motorway and pop it in the smooth cruise control making that seem easy with its incredible torque.
Love the induction roar of kawaski bikes
I've got a Mar 2021 21 plate Performace/Tourer and had the shad luggage rack and Givi Kawasaki topcase put on by the dealer. First 2000 miles I could not work out why the bike had so much chatter in the suspension feel, went soft and hard in my setup, no joy. At 2000miles I rode just with panniers and all good then with just the top box on I turned around when riding and put my hand on the topbox and although its solid as a rock it was kicking back at my hand. I now don't have the box or heavy shad rack installed. When riding as intended just with the panniers the bike is stable and gives a good ride. I did 1000miles in four days, days 1 and 4 did 380 miles on longest trip. My ass was very sore, why they chose to put straight squared off edges in the seat design I never know. Quick shifter needs getting used to, I leant from Turbo Tony by mistake, after slating him for doing it, that if you ease off the throttle slightly when changing up its VERY smooth and pick your down changes carefully which can be nice also, say 5-4-3 4000k-6000k ish. Clutch is one of the best light movements that its worth just using it anyway to save the box. Might try bar risers and a new custom seat setup sometime. Engine is a lot smoother than my 2019 Versys 1000SEGT, miss the cornering lights and electric suspension though. Oh and outside temp gauge is spot on, my brother has the R1250R and his was always showing 2-3 degrees more.
Thank you for your contribution! I would be interested in riding the Performance version - hopefully I’ll get a chance next year with a new bunch of demo bikes coming in at Frasers, the Kawasaki dealer I work with. I really enjoyed the 2020 model and I’m sure the current version features some nice improvements in ride quality and features. Isn’t it crazy the amount of trial and error we have to go through just to make sure that supposedly compatible equipment is functioning as it should (or to find the culprit if it isn’t).
Great video and great review!!!! Thank you
Thank you for your kind words 😊
Great review. Keep up the great work
Thank you! 👍
The windscreen need to be a bit wider and slightly higher on the next model please ?
nice camera setting..thanks for the review..Brother
No problem hope you found it useful
Surprised you went for the XR over the less expensive Ninja or GT.
ECU flash really wakes up the engine. The engine is really restricted and runs too lean and hot. ECU flash removes restrictions and makes it smoother, runs cooler and power is increased.
That is great to know cheers! It might make a future shopping list... it's a great bike
I find the engine more than powerful enough and runs very smooth. Maybe if you raced it on track and red lined every gear. Waste of money and effort due to how perfectly balanced this bike is. Of course that’s just my opinion.
Nice review, have the 2016 and love it, it grows on you! I’m curious, this or the BMW S1000R as an only everyday bike?
An only everyday bike you say? Hmm, I think I'd have to take the... Kawasaki! It's got 90% of the performance (I don't think I'll miss the 10% on the road) and the handling is almost the opposite of the BMW - you can still throw it around but it feels totally planted while doing it and it gave me a lot of confidence! It's more comfortable and the 2020 has a better dash and bluetooth... I'm a sucker for gadgets 😁
RikkyTang! Yeah, the dash and connectivity is great on the new Kwaka. Will be interesting to see the new iteration of the BMW next year. Thanks for the reply.
24:19 I think that should be " What seems to be the Problem Officer, not what seems to be the Officer Problem ?
The line I used was actually from South Park. I perhaps should have put a note on screen at that point with an explanation 😊
Got me one today. Mighty bike)
Hi Rikki, you have ridden both bikes, so which is the best handler, the Ninja 1000sx or the Versys 1000 SE with its electronic suspension?
I'm sorry to say that the Versys I rode did not have electronic suspension. So both the bikes I rode had manually adjustable suspension and I would say the the best handler is easily the Ninja 1000 SX. The Versys felt a bit remote/vague in its handling, although it was never actually bad. The Ninja just feels more connected to the road and it also felt very stable.
Nice review, Did you still think our beemer's much better? I didn't test any Kawasaki's before I bought mine, I do quite like the H2 version, but it's a bit of a porker, looking forward to that review. We've been using the new Stonehouse road, it is quite nice apart from the town, we tend to go down Oldens lane, and miss the coxit hammering from falling off the shitty ramps in town.
This series seems to be going from strength to strength!
Thanks chap, well I have to say I'm really impressed with the Ninja 1000SX; now this exact model wasn't available last year when I bought the BMW, and to be honest I probably wouldn't have test ridden it even if it was! But.... if this model was available last year and I had ridden it, I think I would have got this instead of the Beemer. Bombshell! It just feels more planted on the road and I do like that sensation. I like the dash better (not to mention the smartphone connectivity) and I don't think I'd miss the 20-odd bhp difference to be honest.
The H2SX is awesome but yes, too heavy (let alone expensive!) for me I think.
I'm not back at work until the 1st September and so I hope to get a good few bikes ridden by then and keep this series going for a little while yet 😊
@@RikkyTang Question is will the new 2020-2021 S1000R BMW are currently testing make enough handing and engine improvements to top this bike in your book? Because you can guarantee they'll put the new BMW TFT on it, which is a fantastic looking set of clocks I reckon.
@@hyperthunk I would love to have the BMW TFT dash for sure! But I'm not sure if BMW can replicate the solid/planted feel from the chassis that I felt with the heavier Kawasaki. One thing that would tempt me would be if they came up with more torque in the midrange without losing it anywhere else... it doesn't need to be any faster up top, just meatier in the middle 😁
@@RikkyTang Yeah the naked version of the Z1K isn't anywhere near as planted imo, it's the weight of the Z1000SX that gives it that lovely feel. But the engine is a peach. Not ridiculously powerful, but turbine like pull with a wonderful induction howl.
@@RikkyTang Thinking of getting a test ride, I suppose it would make a difference according to what I could PX the S1KR for, if I liked the Ninja that is.
Auto blipper performance please?? Awsmmmmm, review🙌
I was impressed with the auto blipper and had no trouble with it during my ride 😊
@@RikkyTang super ..iam looking at getting this bike.(current bike tiger xrx)...thanks a bunch
@@awesomeagnihotrisvlog From my quick ride on it I really liked it... easy to ride, comfortable and good power 👍
@@RikkyTang Iam 😃 happy..thanks
Great video I get min from Frazers soon.
Hi Derek I hope the video helped you get prepared for your new machine! I'd appreciate it if you mention that you have seen my video... it just helps them know that it's worth their time letting me ride their bikes 😊
Brilliant review mate. Between this and the gsxs 1000f which would you pick. I have a Tracer 900 GT and looking to add another pony to the stable.
Hi thanks for your comment! That's a really tricky one... but I think I'd go for the Suzuki. That engine is pretty damn impressive. However I'd also have to accept that the bike needs an ECU flash and some money spending on the suspension (mainly a better rear shock). If I was buying the bike for longer distance stuff though, the Kawasaki is the better choice... still fast, really comfortable and great suspension out of the box 👍
@@RikkyTang Good analysis, thank you.
Imho the only thing good about the gsx1000f is the engine, but that is also its problem as it’s all engine, it’s an engine that should not be in that bike as it just wants to scream but that was what it was made for all those years ago, the geometry of the bike , it’s suspension and the fact Suzuki can’t get its fuelling right for euro emissions also don’t match that engine. Suzuki really need to spend some money on R and D as they are getting left behind by the other 3 Japanese manufacturers. Yes I owned one and it’s not a patch on the 1000sx kwaka, I own that now 😀
You should have more subs!!
This bike is cozy compact i think
Thank you 😊 Yes it's a great bike and I enjoyed my time on it... looking forward to trying the 21/22 models.
Please share your thoughts on the engine heat primarily at traffic lights and in stop and go traffic. Nice video. Ride safe. 🏍️✌️🏍️
I can't say that I noticed any particular issues with engine heat, but I didn't have the bike for very long so I suggest looking for longer term tests of this bike. Sorry I can't be of more help!
I've ridden this bike 7000kms so far, city, at stop lights, 32c ambient temperatures and no issue with engine heat for me. I wear leathers and textile, no issues. Hope this helps.
Nice job!
Thank you 😀
Hey Rikky, great review! Im interested to know how it compares against the Z900RS? I appreciate they are different styles etc but generally how do they compare? Cheers
Yeah that's a tricky one Nick because as you say they are quite different bikes. I could say that on one hand, the Z900RS has more style, sounds better (as standard) and makes you feel happier when riding!
The SX is more comfortable & sensible, but faster and is the better choice for long distance riding. Both will commute happily... personally I think it's hard to look past the style of the RS!
@@RikkyTang Thanks mate, a good summary! I guess I need to ride the RS. I owned a 2018 SX and it was a fantastic bike so agree 100% with your review and summary here, but the RS is such a beautiful bike! It’s going to be a hard choice 😜👍🏻
@@nickbirt2860 Thanks Nick, as an previous owner of an SX I appreciate that you don't think that my comments are wide of the mark! Yes the RS is a lovely thing... I think a very sweet combo would be a black RS with the Lextek downpipes, yum 😍
Most bikes go down on a closed throttle! Fairly standard
I agree and I've been doing that for years myself, but an autoblipper matches the revs to the lower gear which is something not everybody gets right if they do it themselves.
I’ve noticed that the QS is a bit jerky on the up shifts at half throttle or less ... and much smoother on full throttle ..??? But not always ..??? 🤔🤔🤔and also at lower revs it’s a bit jerky on the down shift ..?? ... in my opinion it’s made for fast riding or track riding ... it’s absolutely brilliant then ..!! But around town or steady away it’s not as happy ..:-))) .. I still love it though ...I wouldn’t go back to standard shift now ..!!👍👍👍😁😁😁.... good review by the way 👌👌👌👌👌
Thanks for the kind words 😊 You might have a good point there... when quick shifters started appearing on road bikes a few years ago, there were designed for full throttle shifting and not to basically replace the use of the clutch in general riding. Perhaps the 1000SX q/s is an older generation unit that still needs a lot of throttle to shift smoothly. I should be riding a Versys 1000 tomorrow and I think it has the same shifter so I'll do some experiments! 👨⚕️😁
P.S. my original comment to you disappeared so you may end up seeing two similar comments from me lol
RikkyTang! 😁😁😁😁👏👏👏👌👌👌
RikkyTang! I think the quick shifter is designed primarily for high speed and acceleration.. on Kawasaki’s website it says that it’s designed to maximise acceleration on the track .. so I don’t even think it’s really designed to be used when short shifting or riding slowly!!! That’s why it can be turned off ... why would someone who’s touring want to to have maximum acceleration...??? 🤔🤔🤔.. also it doesn’t allow you to upshift with a closed throttle and it won’t allow you to downshift with an open throttle...and it doesn’t work at all below 2500 rpm ..... so I think it’s designed for a specific task .. I don’t think it’s old school stuff I think we’re probably using it wrongly ..??? 😁😁😁.... because under the right conditions.. ie .. full on acceleration it’s a smooth as silk and so fast !!! 😁😁
@@dmandhelen You've been doing your research! 😁 Yeah sounds like you are right especially since it talks about how to use it on the website. I'll have to give the Versys full gas tomorrow then 🤣
Unfortunately the Versys I rode was the standard version - no Q/S 😥
If you are at any road legal speed on a 1000cc 4 cylinder bike, and your intention is to roll on the throttle to accelerate quickly, you should be in second gear, tops. 1000cc bikes will do any legal speed in second gear, so if you're trying to go fast, why would you be in fourth? Or sixth?!
Thanks for awesome review!
Currently in the market for a new allround bike. And Kawa N1kSX with BMW S1kXR are on the top list.
XR is 7000 USD more expensive and wide handlebars will be pain in heavy Moscow traffic. And that really stops from choosing BMW. But on the other hand XR got better suspension esp. for poor country roads. And I plan to travel a lot.
But any way would appreciate any thoughts about comparisons between this two bikes, as I never seen anyone comparing them. And the problem is that Kawa is not available for test ride here in Russia. (((
Wow 🤨 I can't believe that the XR is so much more expensive than the Kawasaki.
I have ridden the previous generation XR but not the latest version. The riding positions are quite different - the handlebars on the XR are more like a big dirt bike than a road bike. On the other hand the 1000SX bars seem surprisingly close to the rider compared to many road bikes I've ridden (but I think you would get used to it unless you had long arms and then it might feel a little strange). They are definitely more narrow than the BMW though so you will hit fewer car and van mirrors 😁
On the old XR, I didn't have much luck finding a good position for the screen - I was always getting some wind blast against my crash helmet... the 1000SX was better for me (but the new XR has a redesigned fairing so wind management may be better now).
One thing that I found better on the 1000SX for sure is the seat... on the XR I felt "locked in" to the seat and there isn't much space to move around - I didn't like that feeling. The SX has a conventional seat and you could move around a bit on longer rides.
On the other hand the TFT dash of the new XR would be very tempting!! The Kawasaki display and technology is good but I think BMW is better.
In terms of performance I think I preferred the character of the SX over the old XR (apart from the quickshifter... the XR was better on upshifts for sure). In terms of suspension it is closer... I think the XR did feel great in the bends but I feel there is something a bit more planted/steady about the SX that I really liked. I didn't go over any really rough roads on the XR so I can't compare the two bikes but the SX did feel good over some pot holes in the road - the suspension was surprisingly good.
One other difference between the old XR and the SX was vibes trough the handlebars... the SX did seem better but not sure which one would be better over long distances.
If I had to choose between the SX and the *old* XR, I would choose the Kawasaki. I'm not sure how much better the new XR is but $7000 is a lot of money and I can't see it feeling a whole $7000 better than the Kawasaki. Hope this helps 👍
A comparison with Versys 1000 would be more appropriate with that BMW.
@@roadgent7921 Hi there, I'm comparing the XR to the Ninja because the guy I'm replying to had them both on his shopping list and asked to compare them. I hadn't ridden the Versys at the time of this ride so I couldn't comment on it, but on my Versys video I do make comparisons to this SX 😊
@@roadgent7921 well, in general I agree that Vesys vs XR would be more logical comparison. But Versys is too big for city use in my opinion and also I wanted a bike with a bit of sportiness in character and that is not the case about Versys.
Also I need bike that would be great at both - filtering heavy city traffic and long distance runs. And I ended up with this two bikes to choose from.
And actually already decided to go with Kawa (mainly because of the price first of all), but while I was making up my mind all local Kawa dealers run out of stock. (((
Дмитрий Романи FYI- 2021 Ninja with new colour schemes are due to be released soon.
My only concern filtering through traffic on the N1kSX would be the mirrors, as they would probably need to be folded away every time you want to squeeze through tight gaps, as they don’t move with the handlebars like they would on the XR.
I’ve replaced my BMW R1250R with one of these! 👍
Good choice! How are you finding it so far? Missing anything about the BM?
@@RikkyTang I've been a big fan of BMW bikes for sometime but have been drawn to Kawasaki. I've also got the Z900RS - amazing bike. Not missing the BMW one bit. Kawasaki smoother and dare I say it the suspension is better despite all BMW's tech.. Looking forward to a bit of a tour on the 1000SX - more so than I would've done on BM. The 1250R is a cracking bike though.
I am looking at the Ninja 1000SX this year. I've read conflicting information concerning the passenger backrest/top luggage rack is not an option or even possible to install for whatever reason. Can anyone verify this? Bit of a deal breaker for me (well... my wife anyway). Thanks!
I've been nosing around on the internet and it appears that you can either have the OEM side cases or the OEM luggage rack but not both together. Take a look at the 6th post here: www.riderforums.com/threads/ninja-1000-subframe-reinforcement.84364/ This might help (a bit)
www.z1000sx.co.uk/index.php?topic=11137.10
It seems that if you go for OEM side cases, you can only fit a Shad or Ventura luggage rack. But you might have to look out for overloading the subframe mounting points! I think the Z1000 and Ninja 1000 are the same at the back but I can't be 1000% sure. However it does seems that people are running with top boxes and side cases. You might already know all this but I hope it helps a bit.
@@RikkyTang I didn't know people we're doing all three - good news as I REALLY want this bike. I guess if you use the top one for super light stuff/or as a backrest only it should be fine. Good to know it can be done. Appreciate the response and help!
@@Ttwister No worries! I really like the bike too, so good luck and I hope you can get the luggage side sorted out 😊
I've got a Mar 2021 21 plate Performace/Tourer and had the shad luggage rack and Givi Kawasaki topcase put on by the dealer. First 2000 miles I could not work out why the bike had so much chatter in the suspension feel, went soft and hard in my setup, no joy. At 2000miles I rode just with panniers and all good then with just the top box on I turned around when riding and put my hand on the topbox and although its solid as a rock it was kicking back at my hand. I now don't have the box or heavy shad rack installed. When riding as intended just with the panniers the bike is stable and gives a good ride. I did 1000miles in four days, days 1 and 4 did 380 miles on longest trip. My ass was very sore, why they chose to put straight squared off edges in the seat design I never know. Quick shifter needs getting used to, I leant from Turbo Tony by mistake, after slating him for doing it, that if you ease off the throttle slightly when changing up its VERY smooth and pick your down changes carefully which can be nice also, say 5-4-3 4000k-6000k ish. Clutch is one of the best light movements that its worth just using it anyway to save the box. Might try bar risers and a new custom seat setup sometime. Engine is a lot smoother than my 2019 Versys 1000SEGT, miss the cornering lights and electric suspension though.
Good second bike after a 500cc?
It will feel quite a lot heavier than you are used to, but it is an easy bike to ride and its an impressive machine, so I would say you'll probably be OK with it👌 Just build up your speed and experience gradually because its very fast!
Riding on the wrong side of the road...scary! 👽
That's because I'm a bad MF'er 😂
Come over here and try riding on the other side, you’ll soon find out who’s wrong.
The 2020 MY ist Not a Z model, its a Ninja. 😉
So it's true... nobody reads the description! 😉
RikkyTang! It’s true 🤣! However inside the video you do call it a " Z 1000 SX!" 😂
RikkyTang! At 0:24 👍😉
Hi,
how tall are you ?
I'm 1.70m or 5'7"
What is this stupidity with dinosaver? Why?
Do you mean that you don't understand why I put the dinosaur there? Or you do understand why, but you think it is childish or silly?
@@RikkyTang That dinosaur was a pearl mate ;)
I think you were thinking of getting a divorce.
She did turn my head, briefly 😊