ZZR1200, the forgotten Kawasaki

[sportridertex]

Highway 14, near Stevenson,Washington

[FiremanBob]

All it needed was a good bird of prey name so that people would recognize it belonged with the other two big birds.

This bike is on the my very short shopping list which consists of VFR, Blackbird, ZZR1200. Once fitted with cases, it would be ideal for the combination of all-round local riding and long business trips.

[Dave the slave]

Those are great bikes    I had one for a while, put about 12000 miles on it.  Mine was the light blue "metro-sexual" color, but DAMN I loved the black one...  In fact if I had a ton-o-money I'd have one again.  It's just a great bike.  Ahhhh the memories.

[BradleyRas]

I got two in my garage!  My trusty 02 with 50K miles and my friend's 03 with less than 10Kmiles.

[kevin_stevens]

Why would I want one of these instead of a ZX-14?  I know why I'd want one eight years ago, but do they have anything to commend them as a used bike today other than maybe price?

KeS

[Dave the slave]

Why would I want one of these instead of a ZX-14?  I know why I'd want one eight years ago, but do they have anything to commend them as a used bike today other than maybe price?

KeS

Depends on what you want, it's a bigger bike, with a slightly bigger fuel tank and more open ergos.  But price would be the major factor I guess.

Still a great bike... I'd own one again if it were in the cards.

[kevin_stevens]

Ok.  Wasn't trying to knock the ZZR, just place it in the grand scheme of things.

KeS

[jamesgino]

Great engine, but I hated the vibration when you hit 75-80mph. It was okay for a day tripper, but I would be killing myself if I rode for more than a day. I had mine for about eight months before I traded it in on a V-Strom 1000. I miss the power, but I'm just more comfortable for my long tours.

ZZR


V-Strom

[Ack535]

I loved my ZZR, but the ergo's weren't quite good enough for the long trips. Great 1 to 2 day trip bike. Really miss that sweetheart of an engine!

Here is my old ZZR from a few years back in Northern MI.



Replaced the ZZR with this:



As far as the ZZR vs the ZX14 comapro goes, I have ridden both bikes, and the ZX14 is smoother and a bit faster on the top end. But my ZZR could match or even pull away from the ZX14 in the lower end. That engine made great torque in the low end. Plus you can buy one for a song, and the insurance is cheap!

Pete

[mcrider007]

Why would I want one of these instead of a ZX-14?  I know why I'd want one eight years ago, but do they have anything to commend them as a used bike today other than maybe price?

The ZZR's handlebars are 2 inches higher than the 14 (legroom and reach to the bars are about the same) and its much easier to do valve checks/adjustments on the ZZR, especially since you do not have to remove the cams to change the shims.

[peacemaker24]

I didn't forget it.  I just bought one today.  

~~~Jesse

[chornbe]

Forgotten...?  

[Dave the slave]

Once upon a time in a place know as ST-N the forlorn and forgotten and possibly misunderstood ZZR1200 had an entire thread dedicated to it......



....in the Suzuki section.

[Punchdude]

Oddly enough, I saw two for sale at local dealerships this weekend. I've only ever seen one in person before yesterday. weird. then thought of this thread. One at Montgomeryville Cycle in Hatfield, PA. $5,995. Nice shape. Forget where the other one was...

[jamesgino]

Oddly enough, I saw two for sale at local dealerships this weekend. I've only ever seen one in person before yesterday. weird. then thought of this thread. One at Montgomeryville Cycle in Hatfield, PA. $5,995. Nice shape. Forget where the other one was...

That is still pretty expensive. You can find them in really good shape for a lot cheaper than that.

[Punchdude]

That is still pretty expensive. You can find them in really good shape for a lot cheaper than that.

Agreed. It didn't strike me as any kind of deal. Way overpriced.

[FiremanBob]

I'd sure like to have one. Saw on westbound on I-84 in NYS this morning. The rider must have been pretty cold, because he wasn't going fast.

[PhilBiker]

Forgotten...?  

That's what I was thinking.  The is a sport touring message forum, right?  This bike is far from forgotten here.

[GRN]

....in the Suzuki section.

Nice...

[Kraz]

That's what I was thinking.  The is a sport touring message forum, right?  This bike is far from forgotten here.

+1.


Great bike - ergo's were never great for me - but awesome, simple, low tech, bike.  I saw a lot of this country on one.  

[ZZR Rob]

Loved mine, if the economy hadn't gone to shite I'd still have this one
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[CrazyTrain]

Forgotten???

Dang - the world has passed me by. Or more likely I've passed it ...  

[J-Mac]

Forgotten???
Go Home, Chris!

It's boring over there without ya.

Dang - the world has passed me by. Or more likely I've passed it ...  

[CrazyTrain]

Yeah, sweetpants?

I saw a thread about a Zed that needed a reply, so I've registered here for the 3rd time. I'm logged into zzrbikes.com right now too.

 

[J-Mac]

Yeah, sweetpants?

I saw a thread about a Zed that needed a reply, so I've registered here for the 3rd time. I'm logged into zzrbikes.com right now too.

 

Well post something, Goofball.

 

[GS1100GK]

I bought my 04 new and put 25K on it before I had to sell it.  I added full luggage, Genmar risers, Gustafson screen, Corbin seat, MIT100 Audio/CB/Intercom/Phone system, THEN IT WAS PERFECT!!!  Slight motor buzz between 4500-5000 RPM, but smooth everywhere else.  It was comfortable enought for me to do an Iron Butt on it.  







Since I now own a C-14, if I were to get another ZZR I would make it more sport then Tourer this time.  That motor had arm stretching power when asked.