Greggy
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted January 22, 2012 04:42 AM
Visor Down's review of the 2012 ZZR-1400 (ZX-14R)
I thought some of you may be interested in this...
http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/2012-kawasaki-zzr1400-review/19900.html
Greggy
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2012 ZX-14R ABS - Spark Black - Two Brothers V.A.L.E. Carbon slip ons P1X tips - Powerbronze DB screen.
1990 ZX-10 Ninja - Megacycle stainless steel mufflers - gear-sack rack - tinted screen.
  
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robrooter
Expert Class
Posts: 178
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posted January 22, 2012 06:38 AM
Road Tests: First Rides You are looking at: Home : Road Tests: First Rides
2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 review - ZZR1400 review page 2 of 2
Does faster always mean better? We ride the new ZZR1400 to find out
Posted: 20 January 2012
by Ben Cope
The trouble with having a big bike that handles well and makes a lot of power - from the moment you tap the throttle - is that you can get carried away. On track, the ZZR's ace is really its traction control. The chassis is good; there's plenty of feel, it holds a line, you know where's you're at. However describing the motor as 'strong' is like describing a shark as 'a big fish'. Driving out of a hairpin in second would - without traction control - require 1 part clenched teeth, 2 parts timing and 3 parts throttle control. When the traction control's this smooth, you can just concentrate on getting the bike pointing in the right direction and winding the motor up.
You can feel the traction control waving its magic-wand when you really take the piss, but until then, it just encourages you to trust in the bike's natural traction and get the most out of the motor.
It's well worth mentioning Bridgestone's new S20 tyres that are supplied with the bike. They're another part of the new ZZR that slants it much more towards sports than touring. They've got great feel and massive outright grip. Pegs go down with ease and the fairing will go down too if you're feeling ambitious. I'm not sure how they'd cope in terms of outright mileage, but to put a bike as capable as this on a touring tyre would be like getting Heston Blumenthal over to cook a three-course meal for your dog.
Most owners will never go near a circuit but if you did, you'd have a proper laugh hunting down sportsbikes on the ZZR.
Talking of superbikes, the riding position of the ZZR is probably what most superbike riders secretly lust after. It's much more sports than touring but it doesn't pitch you onto your wrists. There's plenty of room between the seat and the bars, meaning you don't feel like your elbows are going to clash with your knees. Think about riding a roomy mid-90s sportsbike and you'd not be far off.
The seat is like Supernanny: large but firm. I don't doubt you could cut through France in a day in comfort, but if I was going to do that, I'd fit a larger screen.
There are two power modes on the new ZZR: Full Power or Low Power. Low isn't strictly accurate, as it limits the engine to 75% output which is still a good 150bhp. The Low power mode also softens off throttle response which makes it slightly easier to get off the line but more of that later.
There are three traction control modes: 1,2 and you guessed it, 3. Mode three is designed for poor use in poor weather or on poor road surfaces. In mode 3 in the dry, the system steps in at every opportunity. It'll also cut out any wheelies. It's ultra cautious and would get on your nerves for day to day riding, but if you're caught out in the rain or if you're riding home after a long day, there's no doubt you'd welcome it.
Modes 1 and 2 feel similar to the S-KTRC featured on the ZX-10R. Mode 2 lets the bike move around to a point where most riders would be entirely comfortable, but stops short of acting like a performance aid. Mode 1 goes that bit further and while you could feel it working on track, it never felt like it was cutting power delivery, just tweaking it. You would probably be faster around a circuit without traction control than with mode 3 enabled, but I don't think many people could hustle the ZZR around any quicker than with the traction control set to mode 1.
Visually the new ZZR looks very similar to the outgoing model but there are a whole host of changes. The front end is sharper and its four projector headlights carry the same - to me at least - daunting look of a tarantula. Fins are the order of the day, with four running through the fairing and more on the mudgaurd and even fairing stalks.
The cockpit feels slightly old-school with its twin analogue rev-counter and speedo. It's understated rather than under-delivering. the central digital display shows what power mode you're in, your traction control setting, engine temp, air temp, gear position, clock, trip, fuel gauge, odometer, last week's lottery numbers. Ok, so maybe not the last bit, but it's got everything else you could ask for.
When talking to the ZZR's engineers it's clear they were focussed on how to make an already really fast, really capable bike even better than it was. It's the outright power figures that have been the subject of all the marketing hype and with that, you can't help but feel the team behind the new ZZR have been short-changed. Sure, it's got the horsepower but all of that hype detracts from the fact the ZZR is a seriously capable bike with a hefty bottom end, sharper handling and performance that's been made much, much more accessible.
If the ZZR was a sportsman, it would be the size of a rugby flanker, with the pace of a sprinter wearing running spikes. You wouldn't mess with that in a hurry would you?
The 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 is available in dealers now, priced at £11,499.
Click here for the 2012 Kawasaki ZZR1400 genuine accessories..
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Read more: http://www.visordown.com/road-tests-first-rides/2012-kawasaki-zzr1400-review/19900-2.html#ixzz1kCKyKFHH
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Ride it, Respect it, It can an will bite you when you least expect. /smilies/smile.gif" border=0>
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LeoVinceZX14
Expert Class
Thankfully...its paid for...
Posts: 386
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posted January 22, 2012 04:24 PM
Sounds good to me...
Greggy:
Good article and great feedback about the 14R's handling. Of course it is a stupidly fast bike, but having a big bike that can turn is great fun because people don't expect it. Being one who will pitch the 14R though all the corners I can find on...really remote roads. All the commentary from Visor Down has me counting down until I get mine in a few months. In the meantime you guys keep after it, downunder giving your bikes the business whenever possible.
thanks,
Leo
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'12 14R SE
PC V
Custom map
BMC filter
Leo Vince 4-2-1 w/ carbon can
Sato frame sliders
Supersprox 42T
Cox radiator guard
DID 530 X-ring chain.
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