Kawasaki Z1000SX Tourer
£10,739 + 1043cc inline four + 140bhp + 235kg + 19-litre tank + 815mm seat + Miles so far: 5824
LOADING THE Z1000SX Tourer should be easy. It is, after all, a touring bike with 28-litre hard panniers. The shape is… unusual; they have a V cut-out so the indicators are visible from the side.
They come with 27 litre liner bags, so that’s one litre of capacity wasted straight away, plus the shoulder straps and handles have a habit of getting in the way, making closing fiddly. Still, the bags are well-made, with an internal net divider holding bottles in place as I pack: two large bottles and seven small on each side. That already exceeds the 5kg limit, with loads of water left.
I do find the panniers underwhelming for touring. With shoes, jeans and wash kit, I can get only three days’ clothes in one side. The other side can get in seven days’ shirts/pants, but only if I don’t put tools or spare gloves in too. They don’t really hold enough for two-up travel.
The SX has a metal tank so my trusty Givi EA102 tankbag can take some. I never expand it to the full 25 litres, as it gets too tall and a bit unstable. Even like this, it’s high enough to obscure the sat nav at the front of the tank. It takes 11 small bottles, exceeding its 3kg load limit but boosting my total.
Still, it’s not enough to beat Si H so desperate measures are called for: my Ortleib 89L Moto Rack Pack XL. This lovely rubbery waterproof rolltop duffle bag normally totes my camping kit. Now it swallows the remaining water. It’s heavy, but still less than a pillion so I win. But only if I’m travelling solo.
“It’s heavy and I win. But only if I’m travelling solo”