Kawasaki GPZ1000RX 1000

Top bike mate, goes hard, handles, only real riders should ride em, not for the inexperienced,good honest reliable old cycle, no computer BS, you ride it, it don't ride you!

plenty of grunt, handles well, if you know how to ride, comfortable, i'm 6'1 and have plenty of room, hop on a modern bike you will find they are very cramped.only thing needs sorting is suspension, by todays standards shes a hard ride, but it rides better than a lot of other bikes out there. I've had her for 23 yrs, will never sell it. still looks good today and gets looks and admiring comments where ever you go. todays bikes all look the same.

i liked the look of this bike so i decided to buy one as a spare bike. my main ride was a 2000 GSXR 750 and now is a ZX12R. But the RX still live after numerous abundance of money spent. It owes more than i will get back so i keep it only for that reason. I does handle like a pig, but for a long ride on the freeway it would be ideal, and as long as yr not over 6ft tall as as no leg room. but i am glad to still own her, as a second bike. Engine is still strong 240km with a pillion, ha ha ha.if yr looking for spare parts i bought a whole bike just for spares as you may need them for the old girl. i have replace tank, rear shock,front disks,paint,screen,headlight,fork seals,chain and sproc, almost everything but elect, and engine, although i did fix the altanator adjuster 1400 bucks. but runs like a dream.

top bike if ya know how to ride you will find she handles good. i regularly corner at 2ookmh no probs,

I presently own a rough 87 model that I'm working on but you've guessed it the engine's still sweet at 21 years old. I also own a 2001 GSXR1000 a 1989 FZR1000R EXUP and a 1978 Phil Read Replica CB750F2 and my Kwaker to me is as much fun as any of them.

Way back in '87 I bought one of these bikes brand new from a dealer and loved it. Sadly 3 months later I was .... ermm shall we say too exuberant on the throttle and hit a sheep on a moors road, killing the bike.

I've just bought myself another one, this time an '86 Jap import and I have to say I love it to bits. I also run a Triumph Sprint 900 and I have to say the GPZ handles much better than the '99 Triumph I have, it's much more responsive, has a far better turning circle and does go in the direction I want it to go.

Wet riding is a definite 'no-no' but I don't think that's really down to the bike, it's due to the limited choice of tyres on 16 inch wheels. If I could get some BT0121's I'm sure the bike would be as good in the wet as it is in the dry.

The low center of gravity means you can sling it into corners, some say it handles like a boat but then what do you expect for a 22 year old bike? Yes you do have to work it and you do have to be a competent rider to ride one. Not a bike for the 'Power Rangers' on modern day sports bikes though which are all too easy to ride.

It feels like a real bike under you not a lump of plastic and aluminum that weights as much as a wet feather. In my view, it's the sort of bike a true biker who wants a machine that will bite him if he's not careful would love.

In a straight line it'll keep up with and possibly beat a lot of the modern day liter bikes, but it is cornering where the handling does let it down if you're expecting a bike that will do a lot of work for you.

A years worth of dedicated riding on one will sort that out if you're willing to persist. It's not a cold weather bike either, icing carbs are a problem but once it's warmed up it's fine. Though it can flood if you don't pay close attention to the carbs due to sticking floats.

As I say it's a true bikers bike you need to work all of the time. It's tiring to the point you'll be glad to climb off it on long runs, but 5 minutes later you'll want to be back on revving it's guts out and taking it through and past the red line.

RX " should be T-Rex. This bike is a dinosaur. It does not handle, the riding position is uncomfortable, and there are plenty of vibrations too. I think that fitting a smaller chain may cure the vibration " but can it handle 125BHP?

I live in the UK and I can tell you that RX ' s do not like cold weather. Effectively, this means it ' s not practical to ride between October and April because this is when carb icing can strike. Oftentimes I ' ve been stuck at the side of the road waiting for the residual heat from the engine to melt the ice. The bike will not re-start with iced carbs. I believe heated carbs can be retrofitted, may be a worthwhile mod.

The engine pulls like a train and is easy to service. My bike is an early 86 model and the engine developed a rattle at 6000 miles. Replacement of the camchain tensioner and slipper (Kawasaki redesigned this) effected a cure. Tyre choice is limited due to 16 inch wheel size. Fixings are prone to corrosion, so too is the frame and the fuel tank. There are plenty of bikes being broken at present so spares should not be a problem. Watch out for hydraulic locking as fuel has been known to fill the cylinders on these bikes (bent con-rods).

I've had this Kawasaki GPZ1000RX 1000 bike for 3 years and not one thing has gone wrong with it. I bought it as a Jap grey import in Australia, with a questionable 17,000 ks on the clock. I've since done another 20,000 ks. I have travelled outback on it over 4,000 ks with no problem, most of those on broken undulating bitumen.

Suspension needs upgrading, I think the air suspension is stuffed. Every time I think about an upgrade, I ride it and come back with a big grin.

Ideal first bike, get used to riding this Kawasaki GPZ1000RX and you can ride anything. Plenty of power but only use it in a straight line. Ideal bike for touring as the engine is totally bulletproof (after 2 years + 46k on the clock It still lives!). Ride it like a sports bike at your peril, it is possible but a serious lack of breaking/handling hampers things. Cheap insurance, Cheap to buy, Cheap to run, overall, buy one if you have never ridden a post '95 bike - stay clear if you have.