[g steezy]

Hey guys,

I've been lurking on here for some time and I figured I would finally make an account. I actually don't own a N1000, but I've had my eye on getting one over the past several months. I've been riding for about 10 years and have had a few bikes, but nothing that is really close to the Ninja 1000 unless you count a ninja 650R.

I've rode a Suzuki SV1000S for the past few years and I like it, but my riding style has changed thus it might be time to change the bike. I used to ride the back roads probably faster than I should, but I took up going to track last year and that kind of tames my "go fast" addiction. I'm tired of asking my Dad to hold stuff in his bags on his bike (ST1300) and I'm tired of my back and butt getting sore after long rides. I'm not ready to throw in the towel and Goldwing it up, but I would like to get a bike that offers more touring options, but still leaves me some room for railing the back roads if I want to.

All in all I think I'm looking for a bike that doesn't exists, I want power, low weight, styling, handling, and touring ability. So far this bike seems to have all of those without sacrificing too much. So I plan to hang around on here and learn and ask questions before I pull the trigger on the N1000. I'm looking forward to getting back on a Kawi. Here's some pics of some of my past and present bikes just because

 

[g steezy]

Well, I had most pictures, but I guess they're too big. Oh well, you get the just of what I've been riding.

 

[Mikey1000]

You'll be glad if you decide on the Ninja 1000.

 

[ToNY97]

If Kawi offered more demo events, it would help riders like you.

You'll never regret learning from research. Smart people do their homework.

N1K should fit your requirements at a modest price point.

 

[BrokeSolid]

I looked long and hard at the SV1000S coming off a TL1000R. I was looking for a more pleasant ride, bag options that worked well, vtwin low end grunt, and the ability to still tear it up on the mountain roads. I also didn't want to get off a twin and also considered a Tuono. Lots of mods would've needed done to get an SV where I wanted it, but the initial cost would’ve been lower. The forums scared me away from the SV for one reason, power. Everyone claimed the SV had the same heart as the TL, but only it had be nutted. I can tell you, the N1K is the machine they should've made 10 years ago. No regret leaving a twin, but I think only this bike has the ability to do that. It's the only I4 I've been on that makes power like a vtwin, only more of it and smoother. I'm confident you will not regret purchasing this bike.

 

[g steezy]

I very much appreciate in input guys. I have been riding twins for so long it was a concern to me to move to an I4. The sv1000 isn't the fastest bike out there, but I'm a fan of the twistes not going 140 mph on the highway so it always did well for me. That being said the weight of the n1000 worries me a bit on low speed cornering such as deals gap if your familiar with those type of rodes. I like to visit there once a year and I don't want to be pushing a big hog around.

 

[Jubei]

If Kawi offered more demo events, it would help riders like you.

You'll never regret learning from research. Smart people do their homework.

N1K should fit your requirements at a modest price point.

Kawasaki would love to have more demo events for exactly this reason and these types of people. Not too terribly long ago we had 3 semi trucks on the road, one dedicated just for cruisers (Vulcan Nation) that would hit the events such as Sturgis, and the other two with a full complement of demo bikes. One truck started at each end of the country and hit all of the major Bike Week shows and cities along the way on the weekends.

The economy has certainly taken it's toll but almost equally are the "tire kickers". Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking shoppers that just bought a different brand, I'm talking about the people that never had any intention of buying a bike...just joy riding. Depending on some cities we were at we'd get some Stunt MC's show up in droves and try to dominate the availability of rides available and then think they were going to show us what "real" riders look like.

Add to that the Vloggers...not professional moto journalists but the wanna be YouTuber that is there just to do a video "review" and real world test ride. All I can say, is time and place.

I love seeing the actual people that are looking for their 1st or next bike and taking them out in my groups for demo rides. I enjoy even more the person that is a little unsure and not quite comfortable keeping up with the pace of the group and I will break off and ride just with them and let the group go with the other escort riders.

Unfortunately...there were a lot of "butts in seats" but not a lot of actual buyers, imagine what the cost involved with an operation of that scope is.

At the demo events you would usually qualify for a $500 manufacturer rebate and sometimes a dealer matched rebate. They would track that metric of how many rebates were being redeemed, they were only good for 30 days so it was effectively correlated as a result of the demo event. Just not enough buyers.

 

[g steezy]

Well, I wasn't messing around, I bought a N1000 this morning. It was my first vehicle I've ever bought on ebay which is kind of scary. It is a 2011 with only 1,536 miles! I go to Memphis TN to pick it up saturday. Wish me luck.

 

[sprockethead]

Well, I wasn't messing around, I bought a N1000 this morning. It was my first vehicle I've ever bought on ebay which is kind of scary. It is a 2011 with only 1,536 miles! I go to Memphis TN to pick it up saturday. Wish me luck.

You'll love it! Sounds like a great deal too...

 

[ToNY97]

Kawasaki would love to have more demo events for exactly this reason and these types of people. Not too terribly long ago we had 3 semi trucks on the road, one dedicated just for cruisers (Vulcan Nation) that would hit the events such as Sturgis, and the other two with a full complement of demo bikes. One truck started at each end of the country and hit all of the major Bike Week shows and cities along the way on the weekends.

The economy has certainly taken it's toll but almost equally are the "tire kickers". Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking shoppers that just bought a different brand, I'm talking about the people that never had any intention of buying a bike...just joy riding. Depending on some cities we were at we'd get some Stunt MC's show up in droves and try to dominate the availability of rides available and then think they were going to show us what "real" riders look like.

Add to that the Vloggers...not professional moto journalists but the wanna be YouTuber that is there just to do a video "review" and real world test ride. All I can say, is time and place.

I love seeing the actual people that are looking for their 1st or next bike and taking them out in my groups for demo rides. I enjoy even more the person that is a little unsure and not quite comfortable keeping up with the pace of the group and I will break off and ride just with them and let the group go with the other escort riders.

Unfortunately...there were a lot of "butts in seats" but not a lot of actual buyers, imagine what the cost involved with an operation of that scope is.

At the demo events you would usually qualify for a $500 manufacturer rebate and sometimes a dealer matched rebate. They would track that metric of how many rebates were being redeemed, they were only good for 30 days so it was effectively correlated as a result of the demo event. Just not enough buyers.

It was a demo event in Deer Park NY (Long Island) that started my appreciation and semi-loyalty for Kawasaki. I was impressed with the corporate philosophy that would take the time and money to makes stops around the country and let people ride their machines. The Times Square Takeover in September 2012 where the new Ninja 300 and 636 debuted was well done and must of cost a small fortune. At the Moto Shows every winter in NY, Kawi is well represented and the presentation is above professional.

The "show bucks" used to be $250 with 30 days to spend, but now it's "kawi kash" for $500 and 60 days to use. I am amazed how many riders pass this up and leave easy money on the table. Get your lowest price from the dealer and then lay the rebate on the desk. Dealers don't mind cause it's not coming out of their pocket. You can get it from a demo or any other large event that Kawisaki is part of.

I guess they can't keep doing the volume of demo events but either do fewer cities or do it every other year. Maybe it's easier to attach to a dealer for a weekend demo event like Yamaha. Find a large regional dealer and split the cost.

 

[Jubei]

I guess they can't keep doing the volume of demo events but either do fewer cities or do it every other year. Maybe it's easier to attach to a dealer for a weekend demo event like Yamaha. Find a large regional dealer and split the cost.

You would be surprised at the number of dealerships not interested or not willing to participate. Many of them don't want to pay the overtime or additional hours to have a staff person at a demo event that would otherwise be on the sales floor. The benefit to them seems to be obvious...it baffles the mind why our weekend demo events aren't at a dealership and instead Kawasaki has to pay for an event site ($$$), usually a shopping mall parking lot or similar. Even the "tire kickers" would probably at least go inside the dealership and buy some accessories. It seems like they would be able to convert many more Kawi Kash purchases on the spot vs. a consumer having to leave a demo event and then go to a dealership location. There are a lot of things that don't make sense, I don't pretend to know them/understand them all. I'm sure there are other corporate political / franchisee / dealership issues that I'm not aware of. But it seems like if only people would get out of their own way and do what made sense.

Trust me...when we do major shows, such as a Daytona or Arizona Bike Week, we deal with a lot of people that don't even have an interest in Kawi...but we were/are one of the only manufacturers that had tables and chairs and complimentary water/snacks, all of these "other" people would just hover at our truck. Don't get me wrong, everyone is welcome...but we were victim of "doing it right".

Obviously I have a biased opinion, so take that for what it's worth.

One of the other issues is that street bikes, for the most part, sell themselves. Only something like the Ninja 1000 really benefited from demo rides, and I honestly would not have probably considered it myself had my job not have been to ride it (a bunch).

Kawasaki also started doing a "dirt" demo to promote their side x sides (Teryx) to make an effort to capture market share from Polaris RZR. Again...that is/was a product that, not until people had a demo ride, was it really even on their "radar". Again, they don't demo KX 450's because product like that sells itself...but quads and side x sides are what you will find at the "Dirt Days" demo events.

 

[ToNY97]

On the East Coast, I know motorcycle mall in northern NJ is one of the largest dealers with 2 floors of a converted car dealership.
Events The Motorcycle Mall Belleville, NJ (973) 751-4545
They always host demo events.

Island Powersports on Long Island is much smaller but they also know the value of demo/marketing.

You're right about dealerships having the advantage of quickly converting kawi kash and increasing foot traffic. It seems like a no-brainer and a win-win.

 

[russperry]

Well, I wasn't messing around, I bought a N1000 this morning. It was my first vehicle I've ever bought on ebay which is kind of scary. It is a 2011 with only 1,536 miles! I go to Memphis TN to pick it up saturday. Wish me luck.

Way to dive into the pool headlong! let us know if there was water in the pool or if you impacted the concrete directly

 

[ToNY97]

If I may, what was the selling price of this ebay transaction?

 

[g steezy]

$5,500

 

[BrokeSolid]

So you picked it up today? How'd it go?

 

[g steezy]

Went great, couldn't of had a nicer seller. I'm staying with family in Memphis and taking it home tomorrow.

 

[CoachP7]

Sounds like a great deal G Steezy.

As for the demo shows, I can't say that I've seen any around my neck of the woods. It's too bad. For all the reasons mentioned earlier by Jubei, I can see the cost being too prohibitive to just do them everywhere.

As in my case, I was looking at two used KRS's both with lots of miles. And for the last 20+ yrs, I always thought I'd like a sportbike .. if nothing but to 'get it out of my system'. ie. the go-fast part Say, for two years. Then, move on to a Gold Wing or something. But, the last couple years, I thought why do I need a sport? I'm almost 50 for crying out loud.

Then, thought, hey, the ST's look/sound neat. FF to the KRS's .. I waited too long on the 02 KRS. Went to the dealership (same one I bought my N1K) and it was sold two days b4. I was so ticked at myself.

But, the dealership said if you're it interested in a ST, how about this 13 N1K? Was a leftover. I said I don't want a sport but they said it isn't. Higher seating, different tuning, lower pegs, bags, etc etc.

Point is I didn't even know they existed. It just fell into my lap. Had done some reading on ST'g and some of the bikes but didn't realize these (N1K's) really existed. Maybe a demo drive would have steered me earlier to it? I don't know. But, it seems like the ultimate bike .. for me. Got some Ninja quickness. Love the looks. Good gas mileage and a decent comfort factor.

Really see me riding this thing for many years and many trips. That's the plan anyways.