Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

so...

it's been a long time coming..... but Have settled on a zx-12 as next bike.. (even though i know it's wayy more bike than i'll ever need)..

anyway.... question is:

Is there any specific year model that is better than the others?
ie: is there a major advantage to the 05/06 over the 2001 models?

Supafrog wrote:so...

it's been a long time coming..... but Have settled on a zx-12 as next bike.. (even though i know it's wayy more bike than i'll ever need)..

anyway.... question is:

Is there any specific year model that is better than the others?
ie: is there a major advantage to the 05/06 over the 2001 models?

Personally i'd say 04 onwards - unless you want bragging rights of an "unrestricted" one. The first model wuth the radial brakes. The 03 had the new cowl shape but still the old 6 piston Tokico calipers. Funnily enough most of the 12's I've ridden with were the supposedly "restricted" ones, not that I saw any evidence of that

Thanks Phil, that gives me a start ;o)

Am i going to notice a dramatic difference in brake effectiveness between the years (and i know.. i really should test them to find out..)?

Phil is correct.

140 updates up to the 2004, same bike to the last model 2006, paint schemes being the only difference.

Brakes are slightly better on the 04-06, better with braided lines.

I could go on about a lot, but the last models were more refined and would be my preference.

Sorry I havnt given more detail as I am away and using my phone to reply.

Personally , I lurrve the 06 LE (black/Gold) edition and would happily purchase a good one in the blink of an eye.
IMO unless you do a lot of track time you are not going to notice or need any percieved gain of an earlier vs a later model .

PS = how the faaark are ya Jonno??

ok.. so i'm hearnig that 04 is the year to go for

Thanks!

They are all good mate.

I went thru the same questions as you and ended up buying an 04 in Blue

The bikes looked more aggressive with the fairing changes between the A and B models
B Models park light is a triangle under the screen where the A is more rounded

As said - the B3 onwards (2004) got the Radial Brake Upgrade - They are a smaller calliper but easier to upgrade

I still have an unrestricted CDI unit off a 2000 ZX12R if anyone is interested......

Appreciate the input guys ;o)

You got all the good oil here Frog. B-model is the pick of the 2. There is a massive difference in the radial brakes v 6-piston....radial brake upgrade to late-model Nissin calipers is dead easy....

My personal fave is the B4 model.....

B6 leaves the b4 for dead

hoffy V2.0 wrote:B6 leaves the b4 for dead

Whats the difference Mr Hoff?

They are all B4 2004- 2006 afaik???

Except yours which is a B52 on all accounts

Jonno wrote:They are all good mate.

definitely Jonno...

but hey I dont get all this..this one is better than the other one

styling was changed...like it or lump it (I like all the various models)

power? more than adequate on all..but the A delivers it quicker/sharper/more agrressively than later ones
but no more in total (my seat of the pants opinion having ridden As and Bs)

brakes? there is stuff all difference in the standard braking systems fitted to the various models (again based on having ridden A's and various Bs)
yeah..you get bragging rights coz this one has radial calipers and this one doesnt . The original 6 potter front setup works as well as the
later setup ..and all benefit from the fitment of braided lines (as do all bikes)

my 2c

Any day on a 12R is a good day

The brakes are fantastic........Until you ride a one with upgraded brakes.


Yup braided lines, decent pads (Iam trying Bendix sintered), For the +2004 B model upgrade to CBR or better still, Nissen calipers off a ZX14. ( I have my eye on a set but he would notice them gone, eventually)

The master cylinder is Nissen stock and is good as is.

I have 2008 CBR tokico calipers on one of my 12's and stock tokico on the other, big difference in feel and power between them. They look very similar until you have a harder look, i am unsure to why they are better, whether it is piston size or how they are made? anyway they work.I have braided line sets to fit to both but been to lazy to do it.


From what I know and that isn't a lot, the CBR calipers are very common over many models usually found on the 600 and 1000cc models and I dont know if the later ones are the ones to aim for?
It is best to find a good second hand set from the CBR1000 as you DO NEED the spacers in between the caliper body and the fork leg as the rotor diameter is larger where the 600 is smaller dia' and no spacers.

Another trick with the rear brake feeling wooden is to crack the banjo and introduce a bubble of air inline, I found it works for me.