This is my second Kawasaki. My previous bikes:
1983 Honda Magna V45
1988 Honda Hurricane 1000 (CBR1000)
1983 Honda Nighthawk 650
2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250
2010 Kawasaki Z1000
I have been very impressed with Kawasaki lately. They have a great lineup of motorcycles. They are one of the few manufacturers to offer sport bikes geared towards *street* riders (e.g. Z1000, Ninja 650). Their bikes are also fairly inexpensive, when compared to, say, Honda. I went to a motorcycle show last winter and noticed that Kawasaki's fit-and-finish on most models is excellent. My $3,999 Ninja 250 had a higher quality look than many more expensive sport bikes.
The Z1000 is one of the best motorcycles I have encountered. So smooth and easy to ride, yet wicked fast.