2008 Kawasaki Z1000 User Ratings

At the heart of the matter is the oversquare Inline-Four, with a 77.2mm bore and 50.9mm stroke resulting in the most diminutive motor in the test. Kawasaki modified the engine's cam profiles and shrunk intake and exhaust valves by 0.5mm, as well as utilizing a new crankshaft and increasing flywheel mass to smooth it all out. They also kept the Z's distinctive four-pipe look, with a new 4-2-1-2 exhaust system with a flared-out faux dual-pipe cap. The changes are meant to both comply with new emissions standards and improve performance in the lower half of the powerband. On the dyno the Zed's engine is lowest in horsepower, producing 107.5 ponies at 9700 rpm.