[Jubei]

Hey everyone,

Just picked up a leftover '14 Ninja 1000, I have been lusting after this bike since 2011 but had other bikes in my stable and couldn't really justify it. I eventually sold my GSXR 750, my DRZ SM, my DRZ S and had some open spots to fill in my garage.

I was sad to see each of those bikes go but I just wasn't riding them anymore. The GSXR 750 was, and still is, my all time favorite bike that I have owned but I just wasn't enjoying everything involved with riding it. My lifestyle had changed a bit and I was just commuting back and forth to work on it, usually requiring a backpack to carry my lunch, change of work clothes, and room just in case I had to stop and pick up diapers or formula or something. The GSXR was relegated to straight line driving to and from work...seemed like such a waste and a hassle. If I had time in my life for a dedicated track bike, that would have been it.

The DRZ SM I had completely built, big bore kit, FCR MX 39 mm carb, cams, MRD full exhaust, slipper clutch, free power mods, etc, etc....by far one of the most fun bikes I have ever owned...referred to it as Smiles per Gallon...Wish I would have never sold it but at least it went to a friend.

DRZ S I had fully built the same way to be the ultimate trail bike...but it wasn't, and replaced it with a KTM 350 EXC-F (love it).

I'm a Demo Escort rider with Kawi and if you've been to any of the Good Times Street Demo Days or a Bike Week...chances are I've taken a good many of you out for a ride. Since 2011 I have loved this bike and would always grab it if nobody else was riding it. I love the ergos, power delivery, styling, luggage...everything...and as you can see I'm not specifically brand loyal. Well, I finally came across a deal that I couldn't pass up and just picked up a leftover 2014 for $8,000 Out The Door...did any of you guys use your Kawi Kash manufacturer's rebates??? I did... Also, employee discounts on luggage, heated grips, sliders, etc are a nice perk.

I will mention that, I have logged thousands of miles on this bike prior to ever owning one...along with each and every other Kawi street line up and I have to say that I never really noticed any of the "complaints" that people have about this bike. The vibration, the rear tire profile, the front counter sprocket...never noticed an issue...but now that I have one on my own "turf" perhaps they will reveal themselves in turns that I'm familiar with and roads that I know are smooth (or not) and should/shouldn't be a vibration. But seriously...never noticed any of these issues.
So, I just thought I'd stop by and introduce myself because I had been lurking here a little bit to see what other people's experiences have been after having owned the Ninja 1k for a while and like what I was reading.

 

[cowasockee]

Ohhhh....sounds like we're gonna have a really nice "resource" having you on board! LOL

Welcome. I rode a buddy's DRZ sm one time. What a hoot!

 

[Jubei]

LOL...I guess I should state that I'm here as an individual, not a representative of Kawasaki and any opinions, statements, etc are strictly my own...or something like that.

 

[Jubei]

Ohhhh....sounds like we're gonna have a really nice "resource" having you on board! LOL

Welcome. I rode a buddy's DRZ sm one time. What a hoot!

Big Bore, cams, exhaust and carb REALLY wake those things up...

 

[sprockethead]

Welcome Jubei, the fact that you picked the N1k tells me the rest of us made a good choice! Looking forward to your posts!

 

[sugarbear]

Welcome!

Hmmm. Did you ever do a Kawasaki Demo ride in Michigan?
That is what convinced me that I HAD to have this bike.

The power, smoothness and acceleration. Add the touring cases option, and I could no longer resist!!!

 

[Jubei]

Welcome Jubei, the fact that you picked the N1k tells me the rest of us made a good choice! Looking forward to your posts!

All I can say is that it is certainly the right choice for me. I deliberated for quite some time over the Kawi line-up and the Ninja 1k was the bike that I wanted to hate...but loved it. The audacity of calling a Sport Tourer a Ninja...the nerve. But it became the benchmark to which I was comparing all other bikes.

I seriously, seriously thought long and hard about the Concours...I love that bike (and please...don't ask me why it doesn't have cruise control...we don't know the answer), if anyone thinks the Connie can't be ridden just as aggressively as the Ninja...well then maybe you haven't been on my demo ride after all. AND THEN...they came out with the Versys 1000...ahh man...not making my choices any easier. Ultimately though the Versys just isn't for me. My riding preferences gravitate more toward the sport than the tourer. I just wanted something that I could live with everyday, leave my helmet on the bike (luggage), not have to carry a backpack (but still an option if needed), occasionally throw the wife on the back, tear up the streets (umm..I mean closed course) with the fellas.

For the price that I got my Ninja 1k at and the fact that they made it into a baby Concours i.e. luggage available, heated grips, etc...it was just too much of a sweet deal to pass up.

I'm always amused by the people that come to ride demo and they are on their 1st, maaaaaaybe 2nd bike and they just have to have the ZX-10R / 14R. 99.999999% of people are just riding back and forth to work. And I've been there and done that (RC 51, R6, 929RR, GSXR-750, list goes on), all great bikes but I've sold them all and moved on.

It wasn't until I rode the Ninja 1k for the first time in 2011 that I said..."this is what I've been looking for" but it was still missing "something". Then they "Baby Concours'd" it and that sealed the deal for me.

 

[Jubei]

Welcome!

Hmmm. Did you ever do a Kawasaki Demo ride in Michigan?

Yes

 

[BrokeSolid]

You sound just like me. My TL1000R is still my favorite bike, but life had changed and riding 40 miles to work just didn't seem worth the hassle. The bike kinda turned into a pain to ride.

I also own a XR650R with both SM and Enduro setups for it. Smiles per gallon is the right thing to say about SM. I've been an Enduro guy since young, so I always have a want to fill that void. The XR does both pretty well and it fits me well as I'm a pretty big guy.

I picked up my 14 for 8495 otd and that was the best deal I had seen, you smoked that! Congrats man and happy riding!

 

[GaryK]

Welcome! I think a lot of us our former sport bikers that wanted to ride more than race, but still had the need for speed just the same.

I still think the the n1k is the best SPORT touring bike for the money. The aprilla is really nice but no wind protection sucks.

 

[Jubei]

You sound just like me. My TL1000R is still my favorite bike, but life had changed and riding 40 miles to work just didn't seem worth the hassle. The bike kinda turned into a pain to ride.

I also own a XR650R with both SM and Enduro setups for it. Smiles per gallon is the right thing to say about SM. I've been an Enduro guy since young, so I always have a want to fill that void. The XR does both pretty well and it fits me well as I'm a pretty big guy.

I picked up my 14 for 8495 otd and that was the best deal I had seen, you smoked that! Congrats man and happy riding!

Ahh...The TILLER...What a great horrible bike, maybe horrible great bike (I'm not sure)...and I mean that as a term of endearment.

I was just casually searching online, almost daring someone to give me a good deal that I couldn't pass up and found a dealer still sitting on 3 2014 Ninja 1000's so he was motivated to move them.

 

[ToNY97]

Welcome

I thought I was the only one who used Kawi Kash on this forum. I even started a thread with that title to get the word out. Why leave money on the table. Dealers don't mind cause corporate is paying for it.

 

[Jubei]

Welcome

I thought I was the only one who used Kawi Kash on this forum. I even started a thread with that title to get the word out. Why leave money on the table. Dealers don't mind cause corporate is paying for it.

Yeah...I beat the stealership up as best I could (I also didn't pay doc fees, dealer prep, freight) and then dropped the OH BTW...I have a $500 manufacturer's rebate. At one point in time dealer's were matching it with another $500 off, but that was a year or two ago that I last saw that offered.

 

[Mikey1000]

Welcome & great pics!!!

 

[Jubei]

Welcome

I thought I was the only one who used Kawi Kash on this forum. I even started a thread with that title to get the word out. Why leave money on the table. Dealers don't mind cause corporate is paying for it.

I see you're from Queens...did you go to the Kawasaki Take Over when we were in Times Square??

Kawasaki Times Square Takeover

 

[Jubei]

I've pretty much just ordered the entire OEM accessory line up...minus the top case. Service manual, rear cowl, frame sliders, axle sliders, tank bag, heated grips, etc.

 

[sprockethead]

I've pretty much just ordered the entire OEM accessory line up...minus the top case. Service manual, rear cowl, frame sliders, axle sliders, tank bag, heated grips, etc.

Great choice... I had the dealership install my OEM heated grips and the tech said it was pretty easy clean install compared to what he normally goes through with aftermarket grips. The only thing about the OEM frame siders... they will protect the engine but not the fairings. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[Jubei]

Great choice... I had the dealership install my OEM heated grips and the tech said it was pretty easy clean install compared to what he normally goes through with aftermarket grips. The only thing about the OEM frame siders... they will protect the engine but not the fairings. Don't ask me how I know.

Good to know, sounds like you did the "research" for us..ouch. Have you been to any of the demo events in Long Beach (IMS Show) or San Mateo?

 

[sprockethead]

Good to know, sounds like you did the "research" for us..ouch. Have you been to any of the demo events in Long Beach (IMS Show) or San Mateo?

I've been to the IMS show in Long Beach but didn't hit any of the demo events... maybe this year!