With the KTM Super Duke 1290 R debuting today, and BMW Motorrad set to show its BMW S1000RR-based streetfighter in a couple weeks, we get news that Kawasaki will be upping its game in the street-naked category as well — debuting an all new 2014 Kawasaki Z1000 at the 2013 EICMA show in Milan, Italy.
Teasing the bike for the past few weeks, this is the first news confirming the date and model in question from Kawasaki. Big Green isn’t talking specs at this point in time, but instead is using the Japanese wordsugomi — “the intense aura or energy given off by a person or object of greatness and felt by the viewer” – to pitch the new Z1000.
With the liter-bike streetfighter segment pushing 165+ hp on new models, it will be interesting if Kawasaki’s “emotion and feel” pitch works on buyers. In our opinions, anything over 150hp just silly on a street bike, but street-naked owners are victim to the same spec-sheet racing forces that drive the the superbike market’s quest for more peak horsepower.
We assume the new Kawasaki Z1000 won’t quite have the same jaw-dropping horsepower figures that are found on the 2014 Aprilia Tuono V4 R, 2014 KTM Super Duke R, or 2014 BMW S1000R, but Kawasaki could really bring a potent package with a budget price tag to fruition here, which could really get the attention of riders who commute during the week and canyon carve on the weekend. We’re certainly excited.