swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 06, 2003 04:50 AM
Poll Question:
How much longer will KHI produce the ZX12R?
What does everyone think? With the rise of the 1000cc bikes as preeminent track tools AND well represented in competition. With top speed no longer a consideration, where does that leave the big bikes, like the ZX12R, the Blackbird, the Hayabusa? Even looking at Sport Touring, there are newer models in those classes among all four manufacturers. The monocoque frame has never caught on anywhere else in the lineup, so the technology has never really gotten cheaper. My personal opinion is another two years for the ZX12R, and probably the same amount for the 'Busa. Honda can afford to keep making the Blackbird as long as they want to, but you would think that both Suzuki and Kawasaki would want to concentrate their development resources on the 600 and 1000cc bikes.
Poll Results:
 13 votes (29%)
They'll make them for at least 2 more years
11 votes (24%)
They'll make them for at least 4 more years
2 votes (4%)
They'll make them until my kid buys one
18 votes (40%)
Doesn't matter to me, I've got mine!
1 votes (2%)
I wish they had never made one in the first place!
  
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted May 06, 2003 03:06 PM
i'd say uf called it at 2 years in their current configuration, but i doubt they'll get rid of them entirely. to this point their main selling point was top speed & power. since the liter bikes are fast approaching the same power and are much lighter & better handling, these "hyperbikes" seem pretty pointless. but so far noone has been able to knock them off the dragbike throne, so i'd say they'll stick around in some form for that audience. one other advantage, they're more comfy than the L bikes. if i want something for nice long rides, but still want something stupid fast and capable, the 12, busa, and blakcbird are readlly ur only choices. zzx1200 is definitely much improved but still leans heavily on the touring side.
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted May 06, 2003 03:35 PM
You know Swft...Kawi and Suzuki still have to produce a big bore bike for "iconoclastic" riders like yourself...hehe
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted May 06, 2003 03:40 PM
Isay one more year and they're history.Around here they are just not selling and dealers are resorting to extras to get rid of three year old stock.They may in fact be ruling the 1320,but if they don't sell enough,good business practice says goodby.
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I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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Megabyte
Pro
Posts: 1047
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posted May 06, 2003 06:00 PM
My brother was talking about getting an 03 GSXR 1k, & I jokingly commented, "Then I will only have about 60 more hp that you  " I guess I think Kawi is winding down on their 12, even seems like the 03 is a move in that direction.
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We First make our habits and then our habits make us.
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mrfast
Expert Class
Posts: 114
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posted May 06, 2003 06:46 PM
In typical Kawasaki fashion, they will reduce the selling price and keep building it until they cant give them away.My guess is 2008.
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted May 07, 2003 03:50 AM
Yep.....
quote:
In typical Kawasaki fashion, they will reduce the selling price and keep building it until they cant give them away.My guess is 2008.
I don't know about the reduction in the selling price, but I agree with the rest of your statement. History tells us that Kaw will more than likely build these things for atleast 5 more years, maybe more. Look @ the ZX-11,ZX-7R,the 9R, the Concours, the freakin' Voyager fer crissakes. I'm sure there are more examples.
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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TurboBlew
Moderator
BUSY DOING THE SCHIAVO
Posts: 4590
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posted May 07, 2003 04:01 AM
Well I think the KLR650 and the ZX7 should get some kind of special retirement package...lol
Both of those models should be on their "X" or "Z" designation...lol. (i.e. KLR650A, B, C, D, E, ...etc)
Too bad there is only 26 letters in the alphabet...otherwise Kawi would have additional selling years...
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Ninjaman12R
Needs a job
as a Deal's Gap tour guide.
Posts: 4767
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posted May 07, 2003 04:17 AM
LOL!!!!
I forgot about the good ol' KLR. 
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What we're dealin' with here is a complete lack of respect for the law.
Sheriff Buford T. Justice of TEXAS
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swft
Needs a life
Full throttle!
Posts: One MEEEEEELLION
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posted May 07, 2003 06:11 AM
Yah, the voyager, the concours, the zx11/zzr1200, the klr are all still rolling on. the ZX7 is a goner, I believe.
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted May 07, 2003 09:31 AM
 Edited By: worm~hole on 7 May 2003 10:33
...my dealer has BRAND SPANKIN' NEW 0-mile silver 01' sitting on his showroom waiting for me to pick up if I ever get freeky and go crazy-wild...I still say the 00-01s were the best 'in-your-face' 12s out there...the 02-03s are more refined and 'sophisticated' (if that's even possible with these beasts!)....it'd be nice to own book-end 12s...the alpha nd the omega models...perfect high-speed GTs for the touring sportbiker in you...sure, I'd love for it to be lighter and more powerful and keep the ergos the same 'just because'...and riding one doesn't make my ass look fat (much!): ...LONG LIVE THE 12s!!! (or 13s or 14s )
...now if only that sexy-new radial-braked/undertail-exhausted 10 would come along....another worthy addition....
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stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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