Sat on one of these the other day...

[JustAnotherSquid]

https://www.kawasaki.com/products/2021-ninja-1000sx?cm_re=MPP-_-PRODUCTTRIMLIST-_-VEHICLEDETAILS

Man, that is so close to being the perfect Mountain Run bike.  Decent riding position, good handling, good wind protection, plenty of power, abs, tcs (with the new Bosch IMU no less), heated grips ($300), color tft display, and available saddle bags, all for under $13K.  Really, the only negatives I could come up with are that it's a four-cylinder and has a chain drive.  If it was a big twin (or even a triple) I'd have bought it on the spot.

I can't believe Kawasaki is the only one of the big four making a bike like this.  (The FJR is significantly larger and heavier so it's kind of in a different class.)  The GSX-S1000F would be an option, but they really need to update it with some of the nifty tech the Ninja has, LIKE CRUISE CONTROL.  

Or BMW could make an F900GT.  That would work too.  

 

[juncc]

Glad I actually read your post instead of just looking at the picture. Totally thought this was just another bike that would make my wrists hurt. That handlebar position looks comfy.

Total side note - I really like what Kawasaki has done with their naming conventions. Using "ZX" and "H" to differentiate between the lines is slick. H is clearly the better commuter option. Did I do that right?

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Total side note - I really like what Kawasaki has done with their naming conventions. Using "ZX" and "H" to differentiate between the lines is slick. H is clearly the better commuter option. Did I do that right?

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's how it works. This is your commute, right?

 

[juncc]

Jay - "Yeah babe, the commute was crazy today. I stuffed it up the inside of this guy. Yeah, at the corkscrew -- right through dirt!"
Wife - "Is that him flopping in the dirt at 11?"
Jay - "HA! Sure is. Can't lie - he's got a long career ahead of him. Guaranteed."

This post is brought to you by a Casey Stoner fan boi

 

[2slow]

Ah go ahead, get it! KK has 2 so should you. Btw, got that track bike yet?

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Thanks for the encouragement! I have to be careful about buying bikes though because I don't want to end up in this situation again:

...or do I?

 

[2slow]

All i can say is wow! Dirt bikes too? Where did you put all the bicycles?

 

[KrashnKaren]

All i can say is wow!  Dirt bikes too? Where did you put all the bicycles?

Haha!  This photo is from our 2002 heyday of dirt and track riding.  Our two bicycles are in the way back of the garage and probably had flats since we were spending all our time riding things with motors!

 

[2slow]

All i can say is wow!  Dirt bikes too? Where did you put all the bicycles?

Haha!  This photo is from our 2002 heyday of dirt and track riding.  Our two bicycles are in the way back of the garage and probably had flats since we were spending all our time riding things with motors!

Hate I  didnt know you guys back then.   I'd like to see ya'll  on them dirt bikes.  I had some great times on dirt, I just gave it up when I got a driver's license. Haven't been on dirt since.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

All i can say is wow!  Dirt bikes too? Where did you put all the bicycles?

Haha!  This photo is from our 2002 heyday of dirt and track riding.  Our two bicycles are in the way back of the garage and probably had flats since we were spending all our time riding things with motors!

Hate I  didnt know you guys back then.   I'd like to see ya'll  on them dirt bikes.  I had some great times on dirt, I just gave it up when I got a driver's license. Haven't been on dirt since.

You know, we're not dead yet.  There is still time. 

(Not gonna lie; I wasn't into big jumps.  Crashing hurts and I'm a wimp.  But the little ones were fine.)

Even KK was into catching some air:

 

[2slow]

Back in my day that was Big air. Of course my Harley has more suspension travel than my first dirt bike and is only slightly heavier.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Back in my day that was Big air. Of course my Harley has more suspension travel than my first dirt bike and is only slightly heavier.

So what you are saying is ... a set of knobbies and you are good to go?

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

So the new Busa was announced last Friday and you can read about it in every motorcycle link you know of plus 87 more you don't. Of the many changes, the things that stood out to me were:

• ABS (yeah I know it had it already but stay with me here)
• Bars moved closer to rider
• Available factory heated grips
• Cruise Control (!!!)

Are they trying to make a Mountain Run bike out of the Busa??? Sure sounds like it! Might be a good choice while we all (meaning no one but me) wait for the BMW F900GT.

Side note to Ohlins: Please make a shock and fork kit for the BMW F900GT that BMW is never going to make. Thanks.

 

[bmart]

They found a whole team to make it even uglier...like Honda did with that VFR1200.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Caring more about function than form, I always seem to end up with Mountain Run bikes that hurt your eyes. I mean, you've seen our street bikes, right?

(Although, the R1100S has aged well. It was pretty ugly in 2001 but it doesn't look too bad in 2021.)

 

[bmart]

I quite like(s) the looks of the S bike. I've owned some ugly bkes. You've got nothing on me. I'm nearly all about function also, and I don't seem to like what the masses like, especially the transformer looking bikes. I prefer bikini fairing and little cowl, and so see the engine. I'd love this.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Yes! I want good wind protection but not a full fairing. The R1100S fairing is about as good as it gets IMO.

You can break buyers into two general categories I think ... those that buy a bike because they intend to ride it and those that buy a bike because they think it will make them look and feel cool. Of course, the second category always sells way more bikes.

Love that Honda. Also the old FZ-1, SV1000S, VTR1000, etc. Great bikes all, and I'm sad I never bought a VTR1000.

 

[bmart]

The only new bike that I'm even remotely interested in is the Tracer GT, because I rode one and it was quite good right out of the box. In 5 years if i'm not wearing diapers and using a walker, maybe I'.. swap the VFR for one.

A few other favs. Just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[JustAnotherSquid]

Ahh the T-Rex. I still haven't forgiven Yamaha for not bringing that to the States, although I might try again later this year.

 

[bmart]

I'm not a fan of parallel twins or triples, but geez, that thing is gorgeous.