First Ride: 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX

MCN Senior Road Tester Adam ‘Chad’ Child will be riding Kawasaki’s 2017 upgraded Z1000SX in the south of France tomorrow, and will be sharing live updates throughout the day.

The new bike was unveiled to the public at the Intermot show in early October, and receives Euro4 upgrades, tweaks to the styling and improvements to its touring capabilities for 2017.  The SX gets upgraded electronics with the addition of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which means for the first time the touring SX comes with Cornering ABS and lean angle sensitive traction control, instead of the standard traction control system previously used.

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Kawasaki have also sharpened the styling, improved comfort, upgraded the clocks and switchgear, plus they’ve improved the pannier system. Chad will be riding the bike tomorrow so check back later for his live first impressions. 

What’s Kawasaki’s 2017 Z1000SX up against?

Suzuki GSX-S1000FA, £9999

We expect the Suzuki to be cheaper than the new Kawasaki, possibly sportier, but inconsistent fuelling and lack of touring ability let the Suzuki down.

Yamaha Tracer 900, £8149

We raved about the MCN award winning Tracer 900 earlier this year, and Yamaha improved the fuelling and front-end feel to make the Tracer a real giant killer at a really competitive price.

Honda VFR800F, £10,699

The legendary VFR800 is still with us and, following an upgrade in 2014, is still a worthy competitor to the new Kawasaki. The VFR comes with its trademark 782cc V-Four with variable valve timing.

 

Looking for the perfect two-wheeled companion? Visit MCN Bikes For Sale website or use MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.