It might seem like the 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX brings only modest updates to Team Green’s liter-bike street bike, what with Kawasaki touting the machine’s “double-bubble” adjustable windscreen, LED headlamps, revised rider and passenger seats, and pannier mounts.
Yawn. Nothing to see here, right? Thanks for playing Kawasaki…but wait…hold on a second. What really sets the new Kawasaki Z1000SX apart is the fact that it also includes a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU).
This ties into the brakes, traction control, and riding modes on the 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX, adding another level of sophistication to this popular sport bike, while also raise the high-water mark in the street bike market.
This all is of note for two reasons, 1) because the 2017 Kawasaki Z1000SX will likely come to the US market as the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000, and 2) because it shows that the power of the IMU is not longer reserved for the superbike offerings of motorcycle manufacturers.
Some of this movement comes thanks to the Bosch MSC system, which adds cornering ABS to any motorcycle it features upon, but that is only part of the equation.
To truly take advantage of this technology, the power of the IMU has to be implemented beyond the braking system, giving all the different riding systems on the motorcycle access and understanding of the telemetry the IMU has to offer, in six axis of space.
Expect to see other manufacturers following suit, and expect also to see Kawasaki debut its US motorcycle offerings later next month. We’ll see if the 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 gets a similar update.
Source: Kawasaki
As always, Asphalt & Rubber will covering all the new bikes debuting at the INTERMOT and EICMA shows this year. Be sure to follow our coverage for the most recent news and photos.
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