RideFast Dec 2019

N E W K A W A S A K I N I N J A 1 0 0 0 S X , Z 9 0 0 & Z 6 5 0
LEANER, GREENER
& MEANER
After launching their new supercharged Z H2 Naked Hyper bike a few weeks before the
EICMA Show, Kawasaki released a few more updated models for the 2020 season.
NINJA 1000 SX
So what’s new for 2020? Quite
a number of things starting
with a new face. The Ninja
1000’s fairing was subtly
reworked, showcasing a few
minor line changes that only
really stand out when you
compare the previous and
current model-year side by
side. The two dual-tip exhaust
pipes have been swapped for
a single-sided, single exhaust
unit, the windscreen has been
redesigned for improved wind
protection, and the pillion
seat gives the bike’s tail-end
an upswept look. The slight
modifications made to the
2020 Ninja have allowed the
model to shed a few kilos, now
weighing in at 233kgs.
Behind the windscreen, the
Ninja 1000SX receives a new
TFT color screen that allows
the rider to easily navigate
through the four new riding
modes (sport, road, rain, and
rider (customizable))and the
traction control modes. The
system is also compatible
with the Kawasaki Rideology
smartphone app that not only
records riding data but also
allows the owner to change
certain settings from a distance.
Also new to the 2020 modelyear
is the electronic cruise
control, making the bike more
comfortable on longer rides.
The engine underlying the
Ninja remains the same 1,043cc,
inline-four we are familiar
with but inside the block, a
few changes were made. The
cam profile has been modified
to reduce running noise and
cylinders one and four’s intake
funnels are now shorter
which helps reduce the bike’s
emissions. At the back, the
new single muffler is the last
step of the new four-into-twointo-one
exhaust system. The
six-speed transmission mated
to the engine is now equipped
with Kawasaki’s proprietary up
and down quick shifter.
With these upgrades, the
new 2020 Kawasaki Ninja 1000
sheds a little more of its crotch
rocket image to become more
touring friendly. Prices and
availability of the new model
have yet to be announced.
Z900 & Z650
For 2020, the Z900 has a
new, strengthened frame
and new, revised front and
rear suspension settings. It
also boasts integrated Riding
Modes, including KTRC and
Power modes. A new TFT
full-color dash with Bluetooth
connectivity for your phone is
at rider fingertips. As everyone
expected, the new Z900 boasts
cleaner emissions, as well—and
LED lighting all around isn’t
surprising either, but is still
nice. It comes shod in Dunlop
Sportmax Roadsport 2 rubber.
Meanwhile, for 2020, the
second-generation Z650
features engine refinements
to deliver both increased
mid-range torque and cleaner
emissions. Like its big brother,
it features a full-color TFT
display in its dash, along with
the Bluetooth connectivity
most of us expect from most
bikes sold in 2020. LED lighting
and Kawasaki’s signature
aggressive styling all around
make this middleweight look
acceptably mean.
Also like its big brother,
the 2020 Z650 comes shod in
Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport
2 rubber. The pillion seat was
also redesigned to offer added
passenger comfort, so you
can load up your pillion with
confidence.
The styling on both the
2020 Z900 and Z650 is more
aggressive and insect-like
than ever. We definitely don’t
mean anything negative in that
assessment; Those otherworldly
metallic and neon colours,
and sharp angles not seen
elsewhere in nature are just
some of the reasons why—and
are also why that’s where these
Kawi designs fit, in our minds.
BRIT ART
This curvy, flat-helmeted thing is the result of an all-British partnership between Aston Martin and the revived
N E W A S T O N M A R T I N A M B 0 0 1
Brough Superior brand. Built on a 180-horsepower turbo V-Twin, the AMB 001 is Aston’s vision of what a
cutting-edge motorcycle should be.
One of a flurry of new bikes
to be released at EICMA 2019
in Milan, this isn’t a concept
bike. It’s a limited-edition piece
of “automotive art” that Aston
and Brough plan to build just
100 examples of for the wellheeled.
It’s not, however, streetlegal,
lacking much of the
compliance gear you’d need to
get out on the road, but which
would also sully the purity of a
beautifully weird design.
Beyond the big 997cc V-Twin
motor, little remains to identify
it as a Brough build – and even
that takes a back seat to the big,
variable geometry, intercooled
turbo spools. Aston’s creative
fingerprints are all over this
thing, and its car-like curves
are not unintentional. Look at
that front fairing – you’ve never
seen anything like that on a bike
before. But that underhanging
carbon shape will be familiar
to car people, because it’s a
riff on a front splitter. Will it
do anything on a bike? Look,
probably not. But it’s cute, that
can’t be argued.
The chassis uses the motor
as a stressed member, and
includes a CNC-machined
“backbone” with a carbon
fibre rear subframe and
“titanium interfaces.” The CNC
machined swingarm has a
very pretty curve to it, and the
front suspension is built on a
double-wishbone aluminum
fork with a monoshock behind
the front fairing, separating
braking from suspension forces
and removing brake dive from
the riding equation as well as
looking deadly cool.
The carbon bodywork
features a unique ridge
down the centerline, which
terminates right in the
middle of the full-color dash,
splitting it in half and blocking
a sizeable portion out of the
middle. We’re not sure why
you’d put one of those there,
but perhaps that’s part of why
these guys are Aston Martin
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