Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ok im after your advise(good or bad)lol
I like the zzr1200 and would like to hear from anybody who has one.
I am after a good touring bike soon and the zzr 1200 is pull me towards it! So be kind and give your opinion!
Most of my riding is highway and every now and then I will hit the Swistey stuff!
Cheers
R-shippy

ZRX1200 would be a better bike in my opinion. Either an S or an R.

If you can spare a few extra dollars towards the purchase, the ZX14 is like a later model ZZR but not as heavy. 26kg lighter........

ZX12R is a good option, being a ninja bred bike and also very comfortable it would be my choice far beyond of a zzr and zrx mainly it does what both those bikes do well but much better with the exception of pillion comfort which they both have in buckets.

It has all the suspension settings both rebound and comp, has way more torque and hugely more HP and you can pick one up for 10k with low kms.

Fuel economy and rear tyre wear is another downside.

I had a zzr1200 and it was cruisy in comparrison to the big ninja, once I upgraded the difference was stark.

I do hear loudly the zrx is an awesome bike, still it is nothing imo on a 12r.

Meh............ there has NEVER been a 12R go around the Rex in a turn. Not even with Goz on board. I don't think you could consider the sporting abilities of either bike to be superior. I nave ridden zzr,SD and zrx and my choice for his usage would be a zrx.

Jonno wrote:ZX12R is a good option, being a ninja bred bike and also very comfortable it would be my choice far beyond of a zzr and zrx mainly it does what both those bikes do well but much better with the exception of pillion comfort which they both have in buckets.

It has all the suspension settings both rebound and comp, has way more torque and hugely more HP and you can pick one up for 10k with low kms.

Fuel economy and rear tyre wear is another downside.

I had a zzr1200 and it was cruisy in comparrison to the big ninja, once I upgraded the difference was stark.

I do hear loudly the zrx is an awesome bike, still it is nothing imo on a 12r.

I had a ZZR1200 from new and to be honest I didn't like it much. I traded it on a ZRX1200r which is much better.To compare I had the ZZR for five years and did 29000km on it. ZRX I have had for just over two and done 26000km. Handles better, brakes and seating position are better also. Mid range power is better but ZZR has better topend. If you are chubby like me the ZZR may be a reach to the bars as the rear of the tank sticks into your gut. Build quality was dodgy. Painted surfaces were mismatched, and there is a design fault where the upper fairing rubs the paint off the fuel tank, exposing the metal and causing it to rust. Plastic feel to it. Headlight and dash are plastic unlike the excellent ZZR1100 which was glass. I'd be looking at a good ZZR1100D as a touring bike rather than the ZZR12. I had the 1100 and the 1200 was a disappointment after it.
The only downers regarding the ZRX as a touring bike are no centrestand, and a smaller fuel tank- 19L. IIRC the ZZR11 was 24L and the 12 23L. Panniers don't work well on the ZRX either. I had Givi panniers off my ZZR fitted to my ZRX and they caused it to understeer badly. The pipe on the ZRX is too high for full size panniers.
Regarding the ZX12R I rode one years ago and my vague recollection was that it was a bit faster than the ZZR12, and handled somewhat better. I don't think it would outhandle a ZRX. Guy I subcontract for has a ZX12r streetfighter and he reckons the handling is nowhere near as good as my ZRX. (He has ridden my ZRX a couple of times.) He reckons the longer wheelbase of the ZX contributes to the slower steering. I guess you need stability over 300km/h!
There is a tosser here who I am surprised hasn't chimed in yet to tell you how great the ZZR is and how crap the ZRX is. I guess we'll see it shortly.

If you like it maybe it's the bike for you. Have you ridden one? Give one a go and see if it's all you've expected of it, there's nothing more fun than going and test riding a bunch of bikes.

If you end up deciding on an 1100 I know a guy with a super low km ZZR1100 who keeps telling me it will be for sale soon.

Macca had a ZZR1200 and I only rode it a few times but it seemed very very capable as a sports tourer.

Good luck with the hunt .

What Bogan said... ride one, ride them all and then buy the one that you like best... I loved mine, but dont regret for a second swapping it for my 9

Bonester, I have hepco & Becker panniers on my Rex n it doesn't effect it any more than throwing any weight above the rear axle on most bikes? Even when I have had it overloaded it steers as well as you could expect of any bike. Mind you, mine is an S rather than an R, so that might make the difference now I think about it.

Macca, if you love your 9, be careful as it appears to be common in here to then progress onto a Rex, just ask Phil, Jet Pilot or me!:)

If you want to be kicked over the horizon by the boot of God, get an 04/05 ZX10, a steering damper, a tank bag a back pack..... and perhaps a lot of insurance.

From someone whao actually uses their ZZR just over 80,00 kms since new in 2005. These are a good all purpose bike especially good for long rides, they need a good stiffen up in the suspension (Ohlins) with the right setup they can be good in the twisties, A set of aftermarket mufflers and a jet kit proffesionally fitted using a dyno to get the AF ratio set. The only downside and the same problem affects the ZRX are cam pitting with some bikes, does not neccesarily affect performance, see zzrbikes.com or zrxoa.com for details regarding this problem. If this bike is setup properly it will surprise a lot of sportbike riders as to its performance. But as others have said try one before you buy, these bikes suit the "Ah" larger rider, so if your 6' 2" or longer try it out, as I say setup properly they wont disapoint!


Neil

Bonester, I have hepco & Becker panniers on my Rex n it doesn't effect it any more than throwing any weight above the rear axle on most bikes? Even when I have had it overloaded it steers as well as you could expect of any bike. Mind you, mine is an S rather than an R, so that might make the difference now I think about it.

I wonder if it is the mounts? I made the rack to suit my ZRX out of my old ZZR rack. Maybe differently placed it would handle better?

WTF !!!! get a Ventura Bag !!

That pannier looks big enough to carry a spare motor(or bike)!!

I like it

Thanks to all for your input !
I hve decide on a 2003 zzr1200 and will post some pics once it h been delivered!
Cheers
Rshippy