Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

A mate of mine has a schmick limited edition '03 R1 - black with flames that he wants to swap for my ZZR1200. I have never really liked Yamahas at all (especially FN Viragos) but I must admit this thing is HORN. Seems stock except for Yoshi exhaust and crash knobs. Don't like flames on a bike but it suits this one. Sitting on it it seems perfect to me- feels like a 250 (and handles like one presumably) and goes like the proverbial. My mate reckons it would eat his ZX12r that he had before the R1. I know a couple of guys here have R1s- so whaddyas reckon- is it a fair swap? I would have to get my bike RWC first (Rear disc and tyre) and his bike has 6000 fewer kms than mine. I'm guessing insurance will be dearer too. I have always considered the R1 to be a bike that wankers ride (not all R1 riders are wankers conversely, but a lot of wankers ride R1s.) Maybe I am just a wanker in the making?

Why ??????

If it suits your style then go for it as you only live once.........alright as a track tool I suppose, but why would you??
If you wanted an R1 in the first place surely you'd have bought one then instead of the 12

Guess I am looking more for a handling bike now. Got the GT for touring so can get something really sporty coz I don't intend going far on it. Not real keen on R1s, but I like this one. I think my licence span could be measured in seconds with the R1 though.

Licence span in seconds.... check
Wanker in the making.... check
Same factory as Viragos... check

Yeah mate looks like you're across all the issues!

Paging Hemi... he's our resident wanker in the making... erm R1 expert.

The 2005-2006 R1 is the best one they made, the R1 is a good handling bike and you can't be lazy on it like the ZZR1200
As far as the R1 eating a 12R that’s debatable, maybe through the twisties with a decent rider but on a straight line not much will go past a 12R. When I insured my ZX12 with Suncorp it was the same as when I insured the ZZR1200, and the R1 would be slightly cheaper I think but check it out first. You will find a dealer would give 5 fifths of F%*K all for the ZZR, I know, the R1 would be about the same value wise imo. Take it for a ride and see, but I thought you were over that by now

I would have to question why your mate who after owning an R1 and a 12R wants a ZZR1200?

Anyway ask Hammer (Stu) as he has owned both the R1- 2006 model and a ZX12R.

I don't know why you would do it but if that R1 looks so good and you think you are getting a good deal, go for it. I won't hold it against you . Personaly i am not a fan of the ZZR1200 .

But remember this:

Mojo67 wrote:Licence span in seconds.... check
Wanker in the making.... check
Same factory as Viragos... check

Yeah mate looks like you're across all the issues!

Do it...

Cheers for the replies.

I would have to question why your mate who after owning an R1 and a 12R wants a ZZR1200?

Wifey. Wants to carry her and her hairdryer. Can't go on hols 2 up on the R1. She has been on the back of my 12 and liked it.

Personaly i am not a fan of the ZZR1200 .

Me neither! Was much happier with my ZZR11. Kawasaki missed the mark with this model and it was reflected in the sales. Guess an R1 would be heaps easier to sell. Wrong badge on the tank.

Well we all aready knew ya needed help You know deep down you wanna do it so just do it..... The R1 was my first choice in a new bike but wayyyyyy to high for me

Just do it dude there is too many Kawasaki's here anyway

If you like the bike then you should do it.

from the sounds of the deal i think i would be doing it.

hopefully someone will come up to me soon desperate to do a swap on their brand new 06/07 zx10 for my 05 zx6

LOL@ Bladefella.


Well I own a racebike version of that model R1 and all I can say is it is great. The things are nice and fast, handle and break really well too. They are obviously fuel injected, and have 4 more valves than a Kawasaki . At the end of the day, they are not as quick as an 04/05/06 R1 but they are not that far off it. Great bike for hunting through the hills.

Some things I would do to it include:

Steering Damper - A must if it does not come with a good one.
Braided Brake lines - If you plan on riding it as intended.
Top Shelf brake fluid - bleed all the old stuff out of course
Good Tyres - Obvious, and they react badly to bad tyres.

PC is an option, it depends on how fast you need it to go. It will help at trackdays. This model R1 does have less power than a 10 etc., so if you want to keep up with them at the track it will help. Mine has head porting and skimming, total loss ign, full high-power race exhaust (nice n loud too), K&N filter and PC and still only puts out about 150 RWHP on the dyno (apparently). That is about what you get from a stock 10R.

But I can say they are a great bike, and the R1 and ZX10R have always been the 2 fastest bikes in Masterbike etc. tests. At the end of the day there is really not a hell of a lot of difference between the top Jap bikes, so as long as you are prepared to cop a hiding for it in here, I say go for it!

BTW it will totally eat your old ZZR.....

Yeah what he said

I would do it......

Then there would be one less R1 riding wanker.......

yeah go for the swap....it's got to be worth a laugh