Kawasaki ZZR 1400

Picked up my 2014 ZZR Performance Edition new in March. Just about run in now. Kawasaki dealer in Hull really good. I've had dozens of big bikes over the years including Hayabusa's & Blackbirds but this has them all licked. Did a good deal & got the Akra cans & screen & scottoiler in the winter deal. Ok so what's it like...........fast yes clearly but I didn't get it only for that. It feels solid, sweet steering, beautifully balanced , lovely slick gearbox with very good ratios. Well made, gorgeous deep paint. Is more free revving than you might think so going at 40 50 60 is surprisingly easy, just drop into 3rd and trickle along. No snatch or anything fuels beautifully. Empty of fuel its about 233 kg which is pretty damn reasonable. It's not a lightweight sports bike so you have to make it want to turn in but personally I prefer that, more involving. That's why I say it's the equivalent of a big Bentley, goes like stink when you want it to but it's also perfectly happy tooting along effortlessly. It's genuinely so easy to ride and not intimidating at all. I think it's the best road bike you can buy no question. I have been riding 25 years now buy the way. Negatives.............none.

Swapped my beloved 2009 Mt01 1700cc sports tourer for a new zzr1400 sports tourer thinking excelleration,cornering, mpg, weight, build quality etc would be very similar, the attraction to the zzr was the yamy runs out of steam too soon but still very quick sounds fantastic with akrovolic exhausts, really can,t believe anything could be better or look better than my yamy. So after a most horrible experience with Yamaha uk and local dealer, reluctantly bit the bullet and got rid of yamy.

The Kawasaki dealership and the local branch where servicing takes place are out of this world and haven,t got enough space to tell you about them but is a very important factor in your experience with the zzr.

Picked my new gleaming metallic green bike up with a few optional extra,s thrown in and fitted by the dealer two being centre stand and double bubble screen, never ridden a flared bike before so all was a new experience and didn't,t test ride before purchasing so took a chance.

The first noticeable thing was how light and manoeuvrable, also to put it on the centre stand. The clutch has taken a bit of getting use too staling a few times before getting used to it. Once riding, it ..straight away became apparent that it doesn't compare with the Mt01 in any shape or form and was closer to the rsv1000 I,d had the fortune to take for a 200 mile blast.

The larger screen still allowed air noise onto my helmet so later added a mra deflector which does the job fantastically allowing the bike to be ridden at hi speed with air deflected over me and think looks good! I,ve also added 25mm bar riser,s which has made the bike even better balanced.

A dislike and the only dislike about the bike is there isn't,t a digital speedo display and the analog speed is difficult at a glance to check speed so had stuck gem,s on the 30, 50 & 70 positions which has done the trick.

The bike is absurdly quick pulling your arms out of there sockets when excellerating and as you have traction control for different conditions it still excellerates as quick in the wet with confidence, Abs is fitted if your stupid enough to get your self into trouble. The reason why gem markers have been fitted to speedo is because you get no speed sensation as it,s so smooth, agile, stream lined and your hi speed before I,ve even written 'hi'.

Fuel consumption even when blasting around is 40mpg plus, you,ll get around 200 to a tank with plenty of notice. Not used to all the electronic gadgets like on a well equipped car which are great, air temperature, av mpg, instant mpg etc etc.

In the low power mode the bike seems smoother and more controllable but seems to pull back a bit needing more throttle to move off but hardly noticeable, in the High power mode the engine feels free BUT which ever power mode you use there is endless power and torque in any gear smooth delivery and far more than would ever need in normal day to day use, you,d never wear this fantastic engine out. Take it over 8000rpms and you better hold on and hope the Ktc works.

It,s not a sports bike but probably mimic,s one and not a tourer but with a few optional extra,s to personalise does a good job, you may need a cushion after around 150 miles but may be because my sitting position is more upright than standard.

The bike confidently corners well, just wants to go around easily, grip in all conditions is great with the factory fitted tyres. The brakes effortlessly just stop you without any drama,s with the lightest touch of the front break lever, the back brake position is not adjustable and taking a bit of getting use to. At low speeds around town or manoeuvre ring is easy like a smaller bike. The bike is very quiet and could do with after market noisy exhausts so car drivers know your there. After market accessories are available now but still a bit pricey, akrovolic end cans only are £1850.00?? Need to be rich but there are others popping up now.

Hope this helps I would recommend if I didn't want this bike to become even more popular than it is but got to be the best multi functional bike in the world, voted USA bike of the year 2012. Haven't read a bad report yet!!

The ZZR emblem has symbolised to motorcyclists for twenty odd year’s one thing; pace. At its introduction, the bike boasted the title as the world’s fastest production motorcycle. The latest incarnation is a bid to capture the hyperbike performance crown having the Suzuki Hayabusa firmly in its sights. The ZZR and Hayabusa have for many years fought for this title with the Suzuki having legendary status amongst bikers through cult like following of the ‘Ghost Rider’. The tables have now firmly turned with Kawasaki producing the most eagerly anticipated bike for years.

With a manufacturers’ agreement to limit motorcycles top speed to 186mph, that’s 300kph for our continental friends, the team responsible had one aim; to make the fastest accelerating production bike in the world. Through numerous tests and reviews it is clear that this aim has been firmly achieved. The ZZR1400 from a standstill reaches 90mph in under five seconds and 0-180mph in under 20 seconds. The 0-90 figures is quicker than most sports cars can reach 60mph with the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS taking 5.4 seconds to hit 62mph costing around £90,000. The machine is limited to speed but with the restrictor removed, the bike has been recorded at 196.8mph. As if that is not enough, the project leader, Mr Oshima, expects the bike to be able to surpass that given a longer road and ‘better’ conditions. At first sight the bike looks menacing and large, but the bike is unbelievably nimble. The almost superbike handling and controls allows the ZZR1400 to dance around corners before rocketing down to the next.

The updates enabling this ferocious performance is an increase of capacity rising from 1352cc to 1441cc. This raises the claimed power to an astounding 200bhp or 210bhp with ram air producing 120ftlb of torque. With such increases, changes have been made elsewhere with 50% of the bikes frame being new for this year. Such changes included are a new headstock to increased rigidity with further strengthening of the frame to cope with the lengthened swingarm. Kawasaki have been careful not to alienate riders who will use the bike for touring and not a pure drag racer obtaining an 8% increase on fuel economy via an improved fuel injection system and ECU.

All that power does seem monumental and potentially daunting to some, however a raft of electronics have been installed to make all the performance manageable and importantly useable. The restrictor is based on speed and not rpm, and works by slowing the ignition timing so that the restriction is barely noticeable. Anti-lock brakes come as standard and are phenomenal at stopping the bike without being too intrusive. There is even a two-way power mode switch that can be operated on the move restricting power by 75%. Traction control on sports bikes is still a contested subject, but for a hyperbike such as this, it is a requirement. The Hayabusa does not have this facility and falls much behind the ZZR1400 because of it, not only for usability but safety. The Kawasaki traction control system (KTRC) operates in three modes, which again can be manipulated on the move when the throttle is closed. For the confident (and clinically insane), the system can be turned off completely unlike the ABS. Again as for the ABS, the KTRC acts as a confidence inspiring safety barrier and does not intrude on your riding enjoyment. There is even a neat horizontal indicator that highlights how much of the KTRC is being applied and can become an absorbing game in itself. The new body work is as a result of significant wind tunnel testing and ensures that regardless of the astonishing pace, the majority of the near 200mph wind is deflected with the bike feeling incredibly stable. Nick Ienatsch, a respected reporter goes further stating the bike to be “as stable as a granite coffee table”. These changes are joined with new clocks and convenient hidden hooks for stowing luggage making it great for long journeys.

The ZZR1400 as previously mentioned was aimed for breath-taking acceleration, but in a useable way balancing performance with the requirements of everyday normal riders. Counterbalance weights on the engine make the bike incredibly smooth. So that the rider may be the same, a back torque limiter, slipper clutch, has been installed on this model. The addition reduces rear wheel chatter or lock upon shifting down gears at high rpm further improving usability. The bike was hailed as a fantastic tourer being renown for comfort, both rider and pillion which is a huge relief with a range of close to 200 miles per tank.

For fans of the last bike, the update encompasses a substantial redesign in all areas but maintains the beautiful four headlight front cowl and v-shaped rear light cluster. The bike is a fantastic tool, regardless of the power the electronic aids make the bike hugely enjoyable. The ZZR1400 can be thrown into corners with confidence knowing the traction control will manage any over exuberate acceleration whilst being able to comfortably eat up mile after mile. All of the changes result in a stunning motorcycle with blistering pace, power and torque being as comfortable tourer suitable for any occasion.

Read full reviews at http://kawasakireviews.blogspot.co.uk/

I bought my ZZR1400 in July 2010, trading in my Blackbird. Instantly I felt the huge leap forward in technology.

I was a little worried that it might be too fast and aggressive but it felt smooth and manageable right away and the ABS brakes are incredible.

I commute 60 miles per day into London mostly motorways but also through dense traffic and the bike handles everything gracefully.

The bits that make the ZZR1400 the greatest bike on the planet in my opinion are as follows:

Mirrors - awesome and the right height to go under van mirrors when filtering

Headlights - amazing I ride all year and they make all the difference in Feb

Seat - comfortable for 2 hours

Economy - I average 38 miles per gallon and get 180 miles to the tank

Acceleration - nothing is faster

Pillion - I gave a pillion virgin a ride home and he enjoyed it despite the weather.

The only negative thing from me is that for some reason 2 fasteners on the right hand panel kept loosening themselves and falling out. They were replaced by Lloyd Cooper in Watford free of charge.

Ride one before you die.

Smooth, fast, controllable power, and lots of it, I got mine new in September this year and I just love it. I never owned a bike like it. It handles like a much smaller bike, it really does. Everything about it is absolutely top notch. Riding position is good I'm six footish and could ride it all day. Going to do a long trip this summer and really looking forward to it. Spain,Italy, back via france . Brakes are top class it's got ABS and I find that a real plus! If your thinking about getting one, rush out now and do it. You won't regret it. There is nothing about this bike I don't like .

Wow, after swapping my FZ1Fazer,a bike that i loved for my ZZR1400 it took a little time to get used to the lower bars at low speed around town. I bought bar risers that lifted the riding position about 25mm higher and it made a big differance. Would recommend the raisers for anyone who is suffering wrist ache. The performance is fantastic and i will never be able to use the full power of the engine on the road. I often do a 300 mile round trip to see my dad,using the motorway to get there and I come back on A roads and get 47+ mpg and I am not pottering along.

It is typical Kawasaki with a fantastic motor.

Hey all, bought a 2010 zzr 1400 last year, moved up from a 2007 fz1 fazer, love the bike but 1 thing that I find irrates me is that the gear box is clunky, been in for first service 600, second at 4000 but still clunky, they say all ok, chain is oiled but still up and down the box is bang bang, surely this is not right, help, Paul, 07970934843

bought one in 2008 mid saf blue loved it just bought green 2011 even better than first one cannot be beaten love it

Mine is a 2008 with SW quick detach pannier racks, double bubble, Venom GP silencers in Midnight Blue which is virtually black until you see it in strong sunlight. I have had many machines over the last 33 yrs of riding and this one is right up there. Comfortable, uber fast, high 40s MPG and great engine management. It's so easy to ride. Yes, I'm impressed. First Kwacker I've owned so can't compare with previous generations of ZXs or ZZRs but I defy any motorcyclist not to enjoy the sheer power and general smile worthy qualities of a machine that will do most things on the road better than most things on the road.

ive got 2007 bike in ocean blue, once the flies were out (WOW)What a different bike, fitted some yoshi trc's, dna filter, flies out and a custom map done ,Warp speed mr zulu.

What a tremendous bike , smooth riding 2 up and looks the dogs, well its time for a change i've test rode all the big bikes and nothing compares to the zzr 1400 so i'm picking my new one up next week in silver and black, i can't wait