2002 Kawasaki ZZR 1200 Super clean, super fast, silver, touring sport bike

Description

Features a twin-spar aluminum frame withfour-stroke, OHC,four-cylinderliquid-cooled engine. It has double fans, ouble fuel pumps, nd double headlights. Additionally, ard touring bags can be added as an option. With factory rear wheel horsepower of 145HP;it is widely regardedto be the most powerful production motorcycle ever built with carbureted induction.
The revised powerplant is hung in a ZX-11-type aluminum perimeter frame with tubular-steel front downtubes that are removable for engine service. Thicker rails and a new reinforced steering head stiffen the aluminum chassis for better handling. Steering rake and fork offset were both reduced to "maintain a light-steering feeling," and the aluminum box-section swingarm was lightened and pivots slightly lower in the frame to improve traction and squat characteristics. To accommodate the extra weight and stress from a pair of hard saddlebags, he original aluminum seat subframe was replaced with a stronger steel unit.
To firmly position the ZZ-R as a sport-tourer, awasaki says it will offer a pair of color-matched hard saddlebags for it made by Givi in Italy. Although not yet available at press time, hey are similar to the aftermarket company's E360 series (www.giviusa.com) and will cost about $700 with mounts. Corbin is also finishing up a color-matched pair of his Beetle Bags for the ZZ-R as I write this—see www.corbin.com. And you can always stick some clear shelf paper or the motorcycle-specific equivalent over those bulbous side panels to protect them if you go with soft saddlebags.
To compensate for changing loads, he ZZ-R's 43mm cartridge fork has adjustable spring preload, nd the new single shock in back offers both a remote hydraulic adjuster knob for preload and a four-position rebound-damping adjuster. Hot days in the East Texas hill country and cold nights and electric vests require more cooling and electrons, o a more powerful 600-watt alternator and larger 14-amp-hour battery help power a pair of radiator fans and an accessory outlet under the large dual seat.
Stylish new bodywork on the ZZ-R affords more wind protection with a larger fairing and wider, aller windscreen than the ZX-11's, nd that cushy new dual seat sits atop a fatter tailsection with a new taillight/clear turn-signal combo that looks from behind like the face of an alien. Searingly bright and sleek-looking twin-beam headlights and integrated clear turn signals cap the front of the bike, nd the expanded instrument panel houses a digital clock and analog fuel gauge, s well as the usual indicators. The coup de gr‚ce was moving the ZZ-R's handlebars back and its footpegs down and forward, hich Kawasaki says gives the bike all-day touring capability with a new and comfortable riding position.

This ZZ-R fires up instantly every time, nd a gear-driven counterbalancer in the engine makes it very smooth throughout the powerband. Twist the grip hard and the ZZ-R will flatten your eyeballs against the back of your skull, oo—nothing stays in its way for very long. Even at a standstill on the Borla Performance dyno and therefore without any benefit from its twin ram-air induction system, he ZZ-R delivered 137.1 peak rear-wheel horsepower at 9,650 rpm, nd 81.3 pounds-feet of torque at 8,100. That's almost 25 more horsepower than the ZRX1200R (remember those bigger carburetors?). The torque curve stays above 70 pounds-feet from 4,100 to 10,000 rpm, oo—redline is at 11,000—so no matter when you ask something of its powerband, he ZZ-R delivers right now. The clutch shifts through the ZZ-R's gears smooth and clean.

On the highways, nd in the canyons and corners with the ZZ-R, e found that it absolutely loves smooth, ast sweeping turns, here it feels like it's on rails. On the highway you'll find yourself streaking along at 90 mph without even realizing it, hanks to the prodigious power and smoothness.
Braking from the triple discs is very good front and rear—linear in feel, ith no locking of the rear brake—but hard, ownhill braking sometimes requires four fingers on the front lever.
Though all of the changes made to create the ZZ-R add a little more competence on long rides without any additional weight, he ZZ-R still measures 603 pounds wet—only one pound less than the old ZX-11, nd the ZZ-R holds 0.2-gallon less fuel. True, t will smoke any of its competition in a straight line, ut most of those bikes weigh about 10 percent less, ven with bags, r have more wind protection, tandard saddlebags, haft drive and other features and weigh 5-15 percent more.
The ZZ-R's revised powerplant does make gigantic power and torque. Kawasaki seems to realize this, s it says that a pair of 1-inch risers will be available, ither through its accessory department or directly from the American vendor.

The ZZ-R's passenger accommodations are excellent, ith good grab handles and legroom, nd no buzziness. There's lots of storage under the seat, large 6.1-gallon fuel tank and plenty of wind protection and ample tank-top space for a magnetic or strap-on tankbag.

Some of the other details on the ZZ-R are good. Mirrors, eadlights, nstruments—all super. Both the brake and clutch levers are adjustable, nd there's a useful helmet lock. Kawasaki's Positive Neutral Finder system makes finding neutral at stops a snap, nd load capacity is pretty good at 391 pounds. The remote adjuster knob for the rear spring preload is very handy for quick changes.

ClassSport Touring/SupersportEngine1,164 cc (71.03 cu in)
4-Stroke, iquid-cooled,DOHC4-valveinline-4
Carburetors, eihin CVKD 40mm ? 4
Electric startPower160hp (120kW) @9800 rpm[citation needed]Torque92lb·ft (125N·m)[citation needed]Transmissionsix-speed,chain driveSuspensionFront: Cartridge fork with preload adjustment. (Rebound added '04 onwards) Rear:Uni-Trak, emote reservoir, ith preload adjustmentBrakesFront: Dual semi-floating 320 mm discs with four-piston calipers

Rear: Single 250 disc with twin-piston caliperTiresFront 120/70-17 Rear 180/55-17Rake,trail25.0°Wheelbase1,506 mm (59.3 inch)DimensionsW: 754 mm (29.7 inch)
H: 1,245 mm (49.0 inches)
Seat height800 mm (31.5 inch) If adjustable, owest setting.Weight235.9 kg (520.0 pounds)[citation needed](dry)
Fuel capacity23L (5.1impgal; 6.1USgal)

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