I am 1200 miles into Z1000 ownership.
As background, here's where I'm coming from: 1990 Honda 650 Hawk, CBR-F4, bunch of dirtbikes, have ridden various other stuff (inlcuding some Buells a couple years ago), roadraced the Hawk and an SV650 for a couple of years. 37 yrs old.
I absolutely adore my Z. I desperately want to love Buell, being an American engineer, but the motor just kills it. I can't stand vibration. Motors must be smooth to earn my respect.
The Z does have a buzz zone between 6500 and 7000. That correllates to 90+mph in top gear. You don't have enough fairing to ride that fast for long, so it isn't an issue. At cruisiing speeds from 40 to 85 mph, it is glass.
The motor is a real gem. The brakes are maybe a little soft at the lever, but they have great strength and feel. The seat takes a few hundred miles to break in, but now I am OK with it. The ergos are great.
And MO is totally full of dookus about the instrument binnacle. It is extremely easy to read in all conditions as well as being cool to look at.
It is fast and fun. If I put a throttle stop on it at 40%, I could teach a newbie to ride on it. On the other hand, it wheelies a little bit at the 100mph 3rd to 4th shift. Fast bike.
Mine is pearl blazing orange. I paid $7250 out the door and it gets plenty of attention.
Happy happy joy joy.