2004 Kawasaki reviews

The bike does have power but not as much as people claim for it to have. I ride tracks and woods and it has plenty of power to keep up with all my friends on their 250s and 450s. The problem is that the bike is too small for anyone over 5'6. When I bought the bike I was only 5'4 and now I am 5'8 and still growing. A lot of people say they have trouble keeping the front end on the ground but I don't know what they are talking about. I have a bore kit, carb rejet, and fmf system. I have almost everything you can think of for the bike and it just isn't worth it for something so small. If you are a smaller guy and you can't fit on a full size bike but you can handle the power, then no doubt this bike is for you. But, if you can fit on the 125 or 250, go for it and learn on a real bike so you don't waste your money on a bike you are just going to grow out of (skill not size). The bike has been good to me though. I have had some problems with it due to my lack of knowledge of 2 strokes but a top and bottom end later it is better than new. Show less

This was my first bike that I bought this year used. It's an excellent beginner bike for sure. Light, agile, handles corners well and will definitely keep you out of trouble. It's got ample power for a 500. My only negative feedback is the seat. It's not the most comfortable seat for long distance riding. Other than that, it's a great bike and I'm enjoying every minute that I take it for a ride. Show less

Bought Nomad new in June, 2004. 33748 miles now and no problems as of yet. During winter I did preventative maintenance such as greased swing arm bearings and drive shaft universals. Next winter I plan to grease piviot bearings on front end. July, 2006 we made a 3700 mile rount trip to Grand Canyon then back thru the Colorado Rockies, the Nomad preformed great at all altitudes. Have been getting 43 to 46 mpg. Would definitely buy another Nomad if they were as good and smooth as this one. Show less

I've been riding street bikes since 1977, and have always owned Harley Davidson street bikes. Mainly because they were big, and are the type of bike that I like to ride, a cruiser. That all changed in July of 2004, I bought a Kawasaki VN2000. There is nothing that this bike doesn't do well. The only complaint that I had was the seat, which I remedied with a new Mustang seat. I think that Kawasaki has out done themselves with this one. Show less

The Z1000 is my eighth bike and I have been riding for 35 years. About 6 months ago, I traded up from a 99 ZRX1100-which was a beautiful bike to this bike-an orange Z1000. I was surprized how much lighter this bike felt-50 pounds lighter. It is a small bike but is very comfortable for my size. The power is delivered differently than the ZRX- this one is more dependent on a few revs than the ZRX and the Z1000 is quite a bit faster once the revs start to build. The handling is wonderful and I am not bothered by the vibs others talk about. I thought I would miss the ZRX but this bike is a quantum leap forward- 6 speeds, fuel injection, 125 hp and 50 lbs. less and it sounds so nice as the revs build. It howls! Show less

I am fortunate to own a 2004 KX500. Even stock no other motocross bike can compete with its acceleration, speed and stability at high speeds except another good 500 2-stroke KX. I can outrun 450 four strokes in 4th gear with a gear to spare over very rough terrain. My only mods are a 46tooth renthal rear sprocket and a 16 tooth front. Top speed in first gear of 40mph. Racing mx, I never get out of second. In the desert, third and fourth. The stock gearing is too low and 1st-3rd are interchangable. Gearing up decreases the violence of the acceleration and allows for a fifth gear that can give low rpm high fuel effeciency cruising or if the road is long and clear 120mph bonnieville dust cloud behind you. I also own a 2005 CRF 450 and the KX500 will not turn with it, period. It wasn't designed to. The KX absorbes massive hits at scary speeds and never shakes its head, wags or bottoms hard (I'm 215lbs expert mx and compression dampening is on softest settings!). It's suspended and powered for Baja and geared for Anaheim. Sorry to go on and on but these bikes are unfortunately for now, a very young relic. Hold on to your 2 strokes. Some day they'll be like 69 Camaros. P.S. Always be mindful that the KX500 can loop out in any gear at any time! Show less

I bought the 2004 Nomad from a private party through a dealer in Shrewsbury, Ma. The bike had about 6,300 miles on it and was in like new condition. Now has 13,400 and running great. Being the biggest and heaviest bike I've owned was a problem until I learned how to handle it. (a few drops in the first few months) To help the sluggish low end I installed a TFI fuel injector module and V & H pipes. Nice sound. Switching over to Amsoil full synthetic motorcycle oil immediately made the shifting much smoother. This is a great bike and I'd buy another. Show less

I bought mine used with 7700 miles on her. I added bags and lots of chrome. Just did the 8500 miles service where they adjusted everything. Then I put Metzlers Marathon 880s on. WOW! This bike was incredibly great since day one and now it's even better. Getting ready to put s&s type thunder air, vance and hines big shots and a power commander 3. Read the reviews on the Harleys and am so glad I went metric. I want a Harley too someday if they ever go with liquid cooled engines with dual brakes. Super smoooooth cruiser and set it up for touring too, you won't be disappointed. Show less

I purchased my 2004 ZZR1200 last October 2006. When I bought the bike it had approximately 2800 miles on it. Now being March 2007 I'm approaching 10,000 miles. I love this bike! It's smooth and powerful. The first thing I did was buying the Converibars for the bike, and the double bubble windscreen. These improvements have made this already comfortable bike to something you could ride coast to coast, which I'm planning to do this summer! The ZZR is a heavy bike and once you get used to it, the bike is quite agile. All in all I'm very happy with it! Show less

It's everything I thought it would be. I'm 37. I've owned an RM125, CR125, GSXR750, and a ZX10. I don't race but if I had the money and the time I would. I've read articles about all the new 4 strokes and I've ridden a few. They are smooth but they remind me of an enduro and they sound like tractor or a lawnmower. The KX500 is a mans dirtbike. It's not for kids, guys who complain, fat guys, or guys who don't work out. It is a powerful beast. I have a 2002 with a RAD valve and an FMF Gnarly. It pulls hard, real hard and it vibrates a lot. If you're not ready, this bike WILL get away from you. The previous owner flipped it because he hit the throttle too hard. Now, it's mine. You need to understand what it is before you buy it. If you are into adrenaline and excessive power, this bike is for you. Show less