I know this is 3 years on from when this video was posted but did you ever ride it with the standard exhaust? - Because it is so much smoother with the standard exhaust. I bought mine new in 2005 and after running it in, I put on a full Akropovic 4 into 1 titanium system - street legal but with a removable baffle - Straight away it vibrated more- I had it on there until 2018 but had to remove it and put the standard system back on when I took it to Spain and re registered it onto Spanish plates. The Akropovic had no cat, so it would not pass the pollution test on the Spanish technical inspection. The big difference I immediately noticed was how smooth it was with the standard system ( which I had so forgotten, after riding it for many years with the Akropovic). Even though the Akropovic was superbly made and looked fabulous, I have not put it back on, as every time it needs an MOT I'd have to change it over. Maybe it's because I'm 15 years older but I love the way the bike rides with the standard exhaust. It is just so smooth. The Kawasaki engineers knew what they were doing when they designed the exhaust system. Your second point on MPG - Again when I ran it in from new the first 500 miles with the standard pipes on and limiting revs to 4000 it was doing over 60 mpg - but riding it hard with the Akropovic around 25 to 30 MPG. Now with the standard system back on riding very quick on Spanish roads ( which are so good) average has gone up to 35 - 40 mpg- So I know it's not that scientific but it seems aftermarket exhausts kill fuel consumption.

I love mine, replaced the end cans, fitted lots of carbon fibre, and swapped the disc to EBC wavy disc, still other to things to do, but make sure you tell your insurance company, others they won't cover you.

I must agree on the vibrations and the brakes. However I got between 280km - 320km on a those 17L (16.5 - 18.8km/l), depending on if I'm hammering her down the freeway or if I'm just ambling along. I found that by changing from a 15/42 sprocket setup to a 17/38 setup i get better mileage of 300km - 360km (17.6 - 21.1km/l) however she feels really sluggish on pullaway now which is understandable, but when riding on freeway keeping to the limit of 120km/h she sits at +/-4000 rpm.

Gorgeous bike either way! I LOVE the early Z1000’s!

Are those bars enthal ultra lows?

Mine had renthals with r&g bar ends....I'd say look at the headstock and wheel bearings... As for a sports bike...I've got an rsv4 factory and doesn't get anywhere near used as much!

Sounds lovely.

gotta keep the bar end weights on them to keep vibration down.

To improve the brakes on my Gen 1 I ordered braided front lines but got rid of the cross over line that runs across the front fender. Instead I ordered two long ones and ran them from the reservoir straight to each calliper. You do get used to the vibes. I have the original bar and bar ends still on mine and I don't find them that bad. That being said I used to ride a Ducati Monster before this bike and it was a vibey bike too. If I had to say there was something I dislike about my Zed it would be the dial up modem sounding fuel priming at start up ha ha. By the way I love the sound of your pipe. Arrow 4 into 1? I have twin Yoshis on mine. Yours sounds sweet.

And for these EXACT reasons i`m picking up a `07 next week. Not expecting better mileage but better brakes and those mindnumbing vibrations

My friend has 03 Z1000 and I have 2015 GSXR 600. I beat him from 130-170 and from 0-120 he wins. I’ve ridden the Z1000 and it gave me 164MPH 6 gears wide. This bike can most definitely beat modern 600s from 0-100. Still holds its own

As for fuelling. Get it on the dyno. I get 55 to the gallon on long motorway runs...

Only bad thing about the Z is the dam 1 on one off headlight.

I have two Z... don't have this "problems"....for me, very goods kawa

Vibe as heck? Ever ride a ducati 999 ?

If you had left it stock or had purchased it new, the vibes wouldn't bother you. Stock has bar ends and likely the original exhaust damps some of the vibes. Gearing up by a tooth (a 2004-2006 ZX-10 countershaft) slows the speedo (spot on accurate) and procrastinates the vibration as well(and helps milage/longevity). Your milage would be better especially if you had flashed it to compensate for the open exhaust. EBC sintered pads solved my brake issues along with periodic bleeding. Range in the 150 area...mind you 'reserve' is nearly a gallon so riding it 30 miles on it is doable.

wat do you call that exhaust set up , i want them for mine i h8 the fukn 4end setup fukn ugly

Had a gen 1 about 5 years ago (got a gen 4 now) must say i never ever had a problem with any vibration....if anything when i went for a test ride it was so smooth that was one of the main reasons i bought i and in turn my gen 4, which has, the same bottom end.

Brakes and the Engine temps ' Florida ' are my only complaints about mine, I don't get any vibrations in my stock bars ' With bar ends ' and pillow top grips.

sixty on a tank? I don't exactly ride slowly and a tank would last me a shade over 100 miles on a ten mile commute. Usyally got 30 ish mpg. forty ish on a long weekend run. Had a k&n, laser pipes and mapped pc3. The vibes were put to rest using lead shot in the bars and keeping the original bar ends. Only two things I had issue with. ... The recesses where the brake pads sit in the calipers wear at higher mileage... so keep an eye on that, oh and the fuel pipe was a pita to remove if you had to get under the tank. loved everything else about that bike. Probs why I kept it for over eight years and a shade over 100k miles XD

hi , yesterday I tried a friends Z1000 (2005) I can confirm it vibrates a bit. now I have found out it is a common problem of this model . so now I can tell the owner it is nothing unusual . I dont know the fuel cosnumption of the bike but I always put petrol in it when standing on it therefore I can put more fuel in the tank(up to the top) . maybe u do this the same way maybe not :)

I know u posted 6 years ago, but if you're still alive i'd like to ask what exhast you got. I'm looking for a 1-sided exhaust but most aftermarket Z1000's (1st gen) exhausts are on both sides (like the original ones).

What are you recording with in this vid?

I'm looking at one in supposedly excellent condition with 6,000+ miles on it for $3,500 (2,500ish pounds). I'm not loving what I'm hearing about the brakes or the vibeyness, but it might be worth it for the money. I don't know, what do you all think?... should I grab it up?. It's in the black and red, which I think is pretty dope

I like the color combonation.. Black on green... I bout my 2003 Z1000 in an orange color.. Then to a flat black and due to an issue with local law enforcement i painted it green. As far as the vibrations..i put a minimal stretch kit on mine... Vibrations significantly reduced! I went with a dual aftermarket Scorpion exhaust. And before it was stolen i rode it every day.. The handling is beyond what i thought. The Z1000 is a great bike with impecable handling...people should really give this motorcycle a chance..Tragically the top speed it reached was 154mph. Shes definitely not a fuel saver.. This bike.. Though not extremely fast was built to handle curves and turns so yeah if you know how to ride this is a great motorcycle to just cut lose on and push limits. Given the opportunity i would definitely own another one. So if by chance the motorcycle thieve that stole my z1000 is looking at this.... Just bring my jacket and helment

I get about 30-35 miles per gallon on mine, 40-45 highway without hammering too much. Maybe your bike needs a tune up?

Nice bike, I had the same, very good for wheelies. I have a zx10r gen 1 now

does drink the fuel! i found myself wondering what the hell am i missing that it drinks so much gas but if im easy i can do 38mpg but my sprockets are -1+1

So I just got a 03 Z1000 an it has headers an full exhaust plus a power commander just bought it as my first bike an I wanted to know if anyone might know the top out speed?

I also have a first gen Z1000 and I can confirm that the bike vibrates too much at high rpm

I have just got a Gen1 have no vibrations at all but it's not good on fuel. But who cares.

Sorry I’m 6 years late. I’ve owned my 04 Z for about 12 years now. I’ve seen this video pop up on several occasions, but I just realized you didn’t have bar ends at all. Its no wonder you were being vibrated to death. You’d get vibrations out of almost any bike without them. Thats why they’re supplied from the factory. What happened to your stockers?

First streetfighters? Surely they were only "first" generation of from factory streetfighters? Sorry to be technical, I just grew up loving streetfighters from the mid/late 80's onwards:). Nice bike though man :)

poor gay

Let me save ya 5 minutes of blah blah blah - Engine Vibration, Fuel Range, and Brakes.