2012 Ninja 1000 for USA- New colors and optional ABS

[CheesyRider]

http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Product-Specifications.aspx?scid=6&id=567

I was expecting the colors we are getting, but the optional ABS took me by surprise!  
My wife and I are planning to get one within the next year, but now we'll need to save up a little more to get the ABS version.  If I was to be the only rider, I don't think I would pay the extra $$$ for the ABS, but my wife and I will be sharing the bike and she wants the ABS.

[1KPerDay]

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude....

[DogBoy]

I'm guessing the ABS for the USA announcement will be big news and drive some decent sales for the N1K.

Like the grey/black. Will have to see the green in person.

[Rincewind]

That is nearly the green option that was available in other markets besides the US for 2011.  "Nearly" because all they seem to have done was invert the color positions on the main fairing.

[1KPerDay]

Which looks way better IMO.  

[squeezer]

I still want the red.

[Joey Stalin]

aren't the oem saddlebags just a pair of Givi V35's at a ridiculous price, something like $1500?

[JSharp]

I still want the red.

Find a 2011 model...  

aren't the oem saddlebags just a pair of Givi V35's at a ridiculous price, something like $1500?

Yes, though they're more like $1100 +-

I'm unimpressed with the addition of ABS. You can stand the bike on it's nose with the front brakes and the rear on mine is almost impossible to lock even in gravel. So what is the ABS going to do for me exactly?

[Joey Stalin]

That is nearly the green option that was available in other markets besides the US for 2011.  "Nearly" because all they seem to have done was invert the color positions on the main fairing.

Looks like you could take the plastic from both bikes and make one all green bike.

[Bama67]

Aren't the greens slightly different?

Not that I care, I phucking love my red 2011 Ninja.  

[CheesyRider]

Aren't the greens slightly different?

Nope, they're both candy lime green.  I plan to try and get the green side cowling from Canada at some point after I get my 2012 Ninja to create this:

Hopefully in real life it won't look like a bad photoshop.

[camaroz1985]

I like both new colors, and really like the ABS.  I'm not in the market for a new bike, but I will be keeping my eye on this.

[rajflyboy]

Kawasaki is "BRINGING" It lately  

[JSharp]

Aren't the greens slightly different?

Not that I care, I phucking love my red 2011 Ninja.  

+1

I like the green but my red bike I like much better.

[Bama67]

Nope, they're both candy lime green.  I plan to try and get the green side cowling from Canada at some point after I get my 2012 Ninja to create this:

Hopefully in real life it won't look like a bad photoshop.

Okay, cool, when I googled them earlier they looked just slightly different.  Either layout looks good, I actually like all the color combos, also like the new black frame. Kinda makes me wish mine had the black frame. Oh well!


I also see you have a Bandit 1250. That was the last bike I had, and let me tell you, you will LOVE the Ninja. It is alot like the Bandit in some ways, but better in every way. If that makes sense.



 

[rajflyboy]

Where's the back seat?

only a 5th grader could sit on that seat  

[JSharp]

Where's the back seat?

only a 5th grader could sit on that seat  

I had a very nice and quite attractive adult female on the back of my Ninja yesterday. She said it was fine. Suppose it was my stellar personality and not the seat?

 

Geez... are you back?  

[Joey Stalin]

Surprisingly, even though I love Kawi green, I don't like that green (prefer the neon style), and I usually hate gray bikes/cars, but I like that gray/black.

I need to ride one of these. I rode an FZ1 and thought it was just ok. Didn't have the low end that I wanted, although it was definitely fast. And I think the FZ1 looks slightly better, but I've heard bad things about its touring ability.

[rajflyboy]

I had a very nice and quite attractive adult female on the back of my Ninja yesterday. She said it was fine. Suppose it was my stellar personality and not the seat?

 

Geez... are you back?  

 


Must be an awful "Small" adult  

[falconati]

They should make ABS standard/included in current price if they want to keep sales strong.

[JSharp]

 


Must be an awful "Small" adult  

You misspelled 'just right'

[KodiakRS]

Just test rode a 2011 model.  Here are the highlights:

+ It's comfy.  I'm 6'4 and haven't ridden in a few months.  No aches or cramps after 30 minutes of riding, probably the most comfortable sport bike I've sat on.    
+ The engine.  Really tractable power, which is good because it has a STUNNING amount of power at all RPM's.  
+ The engine.  No really, it's like a freaking cannon.  Pull the trigger and BOOM!
+ It looks good.
+ Decent wind protection for your lower body. Upper body not so much but that's mostly because I'm a giant.  
+ Fuel range.  190 mile interstate range, not bad for a sport bike.  

- A little EFI lurch coming off a closed throttle.  
- Front end felt "floppy."  At 280 LBS I'll be doing some suspension work anyway.
- Buzz around 6K RPM.  Well above 6th gear cruising speed.
- Expensive.  Around 12.5K OTD for the 2012 ABS version.
- Short on amenities, this is a very basic motorcycle.  
 
 

I'm checking insurance prices over the next couple of days and will probably be giving the dealership a $500 deposit in a day or two to special order me an ABS one when he puts his next big order in.  

[1KPerDay]

Thanks for the report.

[Joey Stalin]

how does the engine compare to that in the FZ1?

12k out the door does sound pretty ridiculous...can't you get a busa for that much?

[ray916mn]

I wonder if this model has really been the big seller that it is made out to be. I still have yet to see one on the road, and a local dealer is clearing out a 2011 at $9,150.

The bags are rebranded V35s, which are priced at the same retail MSRP as the V35s. The factory mounts on the other hand are roughly double the price of the Givi or SW-Motech mounts which are available for the bike and the factory mounts are not quick removable and do not allow a top box to be mounted at the same time as the bags like the Givi and SW-Motech mounts. Net, you can get Givi bags and mounts for under $700 for the bike

[KodiakRS]

how does the engine compare to that in the FZ1?

12k out the door does sound pretty ridiculous...can't you get a busa for that much?

ABS adds a quite a bit to the price.  The dealer invoice is about 10.5.

[bungie4]

ABS adds a quite a bit to the price.  The dealer invoice is about 10.5.

See, this is a head scratcher for me. I bought a Honda CBR250R mit der ABS. Retail price diff is $600.

[CheesyRider]

I also see you have a Bandit 1250. That was the last bike I had, and let me tell you, you will LOVE the Ninja. It is alot like the Bandit in some ways, but better in every way. If that makes sense.

That's good to hear!  I'll be keeping the Bandit, so I'll be able to do multiple back to back rides.  I hope I come to the same conclusion.

[blakebird]

Beautiful bike, and the motor is perfect.
Comfortable riding position, plenty of range....and light & flickable.

[CheesyRider]

Well, I decided not to get a Ninja 1000 due to the high insurance cost.  I'm going a completely different direction and will be getting an FJR.  I still might get one to replace the Bandit in the next few years if insurance costs go down.

Blakebird, that green sure does look nice!

[blakebird]

I put 34,000 miles on my '07 FJR in about 18 months - you won't be sorry, they're great bikes.
I wasn't really looking to sell the FJR, then found a new leftover Guzzi 1200 Sport for cheap, and went that way.

The Guzzi had 15,670 miles on it when I traded it in on the Ninja 1000.
The wife wanted to start riding two up again, so I picked up a used ST1300 last July ('04 with 10,900 miles)

I was originally looking at the new ZX-14R, as I'd had a first gen ZX-14 that I put 27,000 miles on in a year.
FANTASTIC bike....but the prices on many bikes from the rising sun have really climbed. The new 14 is $14,699 and since I'd had pretty much the same bike and this would just be a faster, gruntier version, I wanted something I hadn't had before that wasn't priced near a K1300S.

I sorta go back and forth on bikes. This is my 53rd since I was 13 in 1968, split between dirtbikes and streetbikes.

Going back to '04 --  I went from CBR1000RR to Multistrada to ZX-14 to Roadliner to FJR to Guzzi to Ninja 1000....
Rocketship to character-filled twin, repeat

[corndogs]

I almost got me a 12 ABS model yesterday.  Dealer only offered me 4500 for my FJR so I'm gonna sell it outright.  I do wish the 12 model did have the traction control like the european bike.  

[blakebird]

you think it needs traction control?

It's not a mega-horsepower motor, and it's very mid-range oriented.

[Dan K]

I need to ride one of these.  Seems like they designed it for me.  Might be the Sprint's replacement one day...if I don't figure out a way to justify a K1300S...

[Rincewind]

I need to ride one of these.  Seems like they designed it for me.  Might be the Sprint's replacement one day...if I don't figure out a way to justify a K1300S...

It's a strong motor but miles away from the Triumph 1050 in terms of engine smoothness in the higher rev range, IME.

[Dan K]

I love the Sprint and the 1050 power delivery, but I wouldn't mind some more oomph, which is what this bike appears to offer...

[XLR8]

Just need some bags and it's good to go.  A centerstand would be nice.