By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 (515NJ) vs Kawasaki Z1000 (ZRT00A)
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 vs Kawasaki Z1000: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Through a long sweeper's turn-in, the Triumph Speed Triple 1050 settles on its line and doesn't wander. The Kawasaki Z1000 snaps in the moment you point it.
So which one do you buy?
The Speed Triple 1050 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: Speed Triple 1050
Through a string of corners, the Speed Triple 1050 feels a little more eager. That comes from better suspension and a sportier chassis. The gap is small, so ride both.
The Z1000 has the edge if…
Riding two-up with a passenger
Inches ahead: Z1000
Carrying a passenger, the Z1000 noses ahead. What tips it: a better reliability record. The person on the back may well disagree.
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: Z1000
Day in, day out, the Z1000 nudges ahead in traffic. Most of that is lower running costs. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
What makes each one tick
Speed Triple 1050
Hard braking at track pace leaves the Speed Triple's front end planted, and the brakes modulate exactly right. The triple pulls evenly as the throttle opens and doesn't keep a savage hit waiting at the top of the revs. Tight corners want round inputs at the bar, since a hard flick meets resistance. The chassis exits where it's aimed.
Z1000
Wound up, the Z1000's inline-four swaps its smooth pull for a rush that's hard to quit. In town, there's no snatch in the throttle, and the compact chassis slots through traffic. There's serious torque underneath. The stacked gold cans howl like a naked should.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Speed Triple 1050 makes more peak torque: 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) vs 71 lb-ft (96 Nm).
- The Speed Triple 1050 has the larger engine: 1050 cc vs 953 cc.
- Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS): option on the Speed Triple 1050, not offered on the Z1000.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
Traveling with luggage
Wrong job for both
Neither of these was built to haul bags. A tail bag and a credit card is the realistic plan.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
Speed Triple 1050
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Tips In With One Input
- Brakes You Can Trust
- Planted When You're On The Gas
- Clean, Honest Fueling
- A Big Naked Anyone Can Ride
Trade-offs
- No Savage Top-End Hit
- Rewards Smooth, Not Sharp
- Tight For Bigger Riders
- Gearbox Still Feels Vague
Z1000
Strengths
- Big four, real drive
- Four pipes, honest noise
- Turns in without arguing
- Deep parts bin, proven hardware
- Addictive mid-range engine with top-end rush
Trade-offs
- Check the headstock first
- Highway buzz numbs your hands
- Nothing catching your mistakes
- Weep points around 22,000 mi
Known problems to check before you buy
Speed Triple 1050
- Sprag clutch/starter gear failure The starter sprag clutch and starter idler gear can fail, producing a loud grinding noise during engine startup and leading to starter slipping or failure to crank.
Z1000
- Valve cover gasket oil leak (left side) A persistent oil leak from the left front of the cam cover, typically due to a failing valve cover gasket. The leak is usually minor but can worsen over time, requiring gasket replacement.
- Exhaust headers coming loose The exhaust header nuts can work themselves loose, causing exhaust leaks and rattling.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.8 US gal (18 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| Speed Triple 1050 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.1 in (815 mm) | 32.3 in (820 mm) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1050 cc | 953 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | Inline-four |
| Power | 128 hp (96 kW) | 127 hp (93 kW) |
| Torque | 77 lb-ft (105 Nm) | 71 lb-ft (96 Nm) |
| Speed Triple 1050 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 320 mm | 300 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 190/50-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.1 in (1425 mm) | 55.9 in (1420 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| Speed Triple 1050 | Z1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
