Ahhh!!! I'm Naked!!

[Zixxerpilot]

 

So, after a few months of physical therapy, and not beating up on myself, I was given the OK by the doc to ride again, as long as I take it easy. Much to the dismay of the wife, it took me all of a millisecond to start shopping.

So, SS bikes are out as daily riders for this old guy. What to do?

Go naked!!! Managed to find a good deal on a bike that has been on my short list for some time. '04 Kawasaki Z1000.

Forgive the crappy pic. This was just after getting home last night, and I totally misjudged the temp drop. 45 mile ride home in gear meant for 60+... I was cold!

[Rincewind]

Nice Z1000 - enjoy and welcome back to riding!  Nakeds are great - like skinny dipping at 100mph.  

[scottzilla]

Nice.

[mxvet57]

Nice find Rob.

Yes it's cold. I'm getting ready to head out to S/E Ohio in an hour and it is a little chilly here to.

[Zixxerpilot]

It wouldn't have been too bad, but I totally misjudged it last night and brought the wrong gear.

This morning I looked at the bike,  and jumped in the car.  Not ready to be that cold yet...  Lol

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[cbsnbiker]

Congrats!

If you're used to riding on a faired bike, you'll find that naked bike a significantly chillier ride on cool days.

Maybe heated gear is in your future?

[Zixxerpilot]

Heated gear is definitely on the list. I also think a taller windscreen and dome hand guards will be added,  a la the Buell CityX.

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[DogBoy]

Glad you're back on a bike. I love the first gen Z1000. Have fun.

[maddjack]

Good looking machine  

[motodog650]

Welcome to the 'nekkid' side Rob. Looks good. Glad your back in the saddle !!

[RedCBRRider]

Good score Rob.  Are you going to bring it to the Oct. 9th coffee meet?  It's in your neck of the woods.  

[Zixxerpilot]

Coffee?  Did you say coffee?

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[sprk_sprd]

Nice.    It's been almost a decade since I've ridden a faired bike.  I've pretty much gotten used to the wind blast on my naked SV650.  But do faired bikes really do a better job at protecting from the cold?  And more specifically, is there a large difference between a fully faired bike (e.g. Concours) and a half-faired bike (e.g. FZ1)?  I have heated gear for the winter months, but I find I'm looking more and more at Craigslist for a fully faired sport-tourer...

Thanks.

[Zixxerpilot]

Well,  I rode it to work this morning at 32 degrees,  and I can tell you I was missing my fairing.  The faired bikes don't so much block wind as they do channel it around you,  except around the hands.  They are protected by the fairing.

Not as bad as I thought it would be,  and it's manageable,  but there is a noticeable difference.

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[Imapilot]

I've got 115K miles on my 2003 Z1000.  Been a great bike to me!

[Hardware]

...But do faired bikes really do a better job at protecting from the cold?  And more specifically, is there a large difference between a fully faired bike (e.g. Concours) and a half-faired bike (e.g. FZ1)?...

Absolutely.  My RT provides way more protection against the elements than my Hayabusa or Bandit used to.  By far.  I've ridden it in all kinds of rain, cold (-5 C) and snow - even without heated gear, I was way more comfortable than if I'd been on any of my previous bikes.

[Windblown]

Nice.    It's been almost a decade since I've ridden a faired bike.  I've pretty much gotten used to the wind blast on my naked SV650.  But do faired bikes really do a better job at protecting from the cold?  And more specifically, is there a large difference between a fully faired bike (e.g. Concours) and a half-faired bike (e.g. FZ1)?  I have heated gear for the winter months, but I find I'm looking more and more at Craigslist for a fully faired sport-tourer...

Thanks.

I happen to have both an FZ1 and a C10 Concours and I can assure you the Concours is good for at least 15 degress cooler temps with the same gear with the same amount of comfort.

[fossil]

Nice looking ride. I added a Buell flyscreen to my naked SV to keep a tad o" the wind off. Looks like the Z will do you solid

[JSharp]

OP, you made a good choice. The Z's and my Ninja for that matter are sporty rides for us guys that can't fit on a 'real sport bike' anymore.

I rode mine home from the dealer last winter when it was 42 degrees, wearing clothing I used to wear on my Concours at that temp. Froze my ass off.  

[2DFlyer]

I happen to have both an FZ1 and a C10 Concours and I can assure you the Concours is good for at least 15 degress cooler temps with the same gear with the same amount of comfort.

Which was more comfortable in the dog daze of summer?

[Windblown]

Which was more comfortable in the dog daze of summer?

FZ1 by a mile. Just as the Concours wins by a mile in the winter. The Connie is my cold weather bike.