Tried buddies Kawasaki Z1000...

.....and am so glad I have a VFR. Maybe I'm just extremely biased as my VFR is also my first bike. But Damn!!! What a difference. The Z just seemed to ride really rough and didn't seem really that much faster. I did notice that although redline was 11K, the bike started to rattle alot at about 6K and really didn't want to get up and go. Then again, it doesn't have the vtech kicking in and the sudden "power band" type accelleration. I did like the sound of the bike and can't wait to put on the Staintunes on mine for that little added sound effect. The Z was lighter but didn't feel as solid in the corners. The handlebar layout was nowhere near as user friendly either.

If I had ridden different bikes prior to the VFR, maybe my opinion would be different. But as it stands, I wouldn't ever consider a swap for the Z. Actually, I don't think I'd ever swap my VFR for anything else.

 

Curious comment regarding the lack of power, the Z1000 powerplant is based on the 2002 ZX-9R engine, in that bike it is ballistic.

I'm with you on the riding position, the Z1000 is too much like a chook chaser ie upright and windsock with little fairing to protect you at speed. The VFR ergo's are about perfect, low enough to feel the front tyre a little through the twisties, high enough to enable long distance's to be covered without wrist pain.

 

I really liked the Z1000 the brief chance I had to ride it. Loved the dirt bike style handlebars and seat position. It didn't have as much low end grunt as I would have thought, but there was no lack of power in the higher RPMS. The thing pulled like a freight train as I remember, much faster than the VFR, but that's not really a surprise based on HP and torque figures. I wouldn't mind owning one some day, but I wouldn't trade my VFR for it.

 

I think that the Z1000's are about the nicest 'looking' bikes available today.