Kawasaki ZX-12R (2000-2006)

At 6'4" I have had problems with a lot of bikes instantly being dwarfed when I sit on them. I was concerned that the ZX12r would be too much for my aging body and would not be comfortable especially on long journeys. I have been very suprised to find it feels great. The bike makes me smile all of the time, except when trying to bleed those front brakes - aaaarrggghhh!!!! Quality is great and handling is superb but then I am not a track day fan therefore probably dont push it enough to detect any short comings. I have wanted a ZZR14 for many years but wanted to ensure I experience the ZX12r before I move beyond it. To be honest I think it will be a while as the Ninja is just great, but perhaps not that great for my Missus - after 2 hours its hell apparently!

The zx12 was my dream bike I had zzr1100s & found the handling a touch awkward as were the brakes.On my first run down a country lane I was impressed it handled amazing for such a big bike riding position was nice and with pirelli corsas it handled fantastic in the wet very forgiving for such a powerful motor. My brakes were not so good so gave them a rebuild and braided hoses much better but still not great and they fade also the disks don't last that long. My bike had a race can on that was way to loud so I brought a sports can k & n filter & had a power commander fitted and had it set up on a dyno. The problems started when I went to do a Lands end to John o groats with a friend on a Blackbird we went to John o groats from Birmingham by the time we got there it was no longer my dream bike. People only say 1 thing when they talk about the zx12 power this power that but no one talks beyond that as a tourer it is rubbish the fuel range is crap and the seat is very hard. The brakes are poor at speed (6 pots). The engine is great but kills the chain and with no center stand you can't adjust on the go. It says that the engine is not as fast as the busa or bird but I think it's faster than the birds just that it's all top end. The busa is a better tourer and the bird better than that. I managed to swap bikes for a while and the Black bird is a better package. If you want a sports tourer get a black bird if you want a sports bike get an R1 or GSXR1000. If you want power get the Busa it's less peaky and tougher motor although the zx12 has good build quality. tip make sure you have an extension from the battery to charge it as the battery is a pain to get to also the clutch can be a bit fragile.

it is mind blowing an unique misle

In 2002 I jumped on my cousin's ZX12R (2000 A1 Model) & I couldn't believe how comfortable it was & how it handled. So I got my 1st ZX12R (2002 B1H Model). Cut a long story short, I'm now on my 3rd ZX12R (2005 B4H Model). Based on my size/build I dwarf the R1's, BLADE's & the GIXXER 1000's so the big 12 is for me! Don't like the look of the Busa& the ZX14, to UGLLY!!! The ZX12R speed/power is second to none. Love it, love it, love it!!! I get told that when I shoot off I'm gone & it's hard to catchup & these guys are on 600 - 1000cc. LOL!!! The brakse are very good, even better when/if you change the pads to Sintered ones. Pros: Looks wicked-(people still stop % stare & turn their heads). It's big & it's my size. The power is somthing to respect - trust me!Very comfortable. Handles good. Cons: Fuel consumption is like an alcoholic! What do you expect, it's a BEAST! It eats rear tyres but that depends how you ride. Slightly heavy in weight. Make sure you fit an aftermarket exhaust it will sound wicked!!! Overall, I can't see my self looking/buying another bike for now unless the manufactures design something simialr & better.

I have a size and weight issue (large) so opted for a 2003 (B2H) 12R a few years ago. At first I really thought I'd made a big mistake, as the bike's smoothness and power kept tricking and luring me into situations whereby I'd be going insanely quickly without realising it, all at the wrong times. Thankfully my licence and I just about survived those first few months and I eventually got to grips with the 12R and decided to keep it. I go out with blokes that ride a broad spectrum of superbikes with differing riding abilities and my 12R ensures that my fat carcase is always there with them, on whatever type of road we might choose to ride. The handling is truly awesome and I have no complaints whatsoever. I can only assume that those who do complain about the handling are too small in stature to throw such a powerful ride around. I'm now in a situation whereby my bike is beginning to age but I don't want to be parted from the 12R because there's nothing out there that ticks my boxes like a 12R does. I plan on eventually selling my current bike and buying another out of a box and registering it new. That is how much I like this bike....

Love my bike so much power it's untrue, just pulls amd pulls and your eyes get sucked to the back of their sockets. Not good on tight bends snake pass type but loves the open high speed A roads. First time I saw a black & gold 12 I knew I had to have one terrible to keep the black clean.

I wrote last month about the ZX12 that I had recently bought, and I've now been on my 1300 mile sojourn through France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium and thought I'd drop a few lines down here on my thoughts of the bike and how it performed. Naturally, I'm biased because I bought the bike - so I arranged to be accompanied by a buddy who was riding an Aprilia Caponord. He would also comment on the ZX from an unbiased position - However, after one short ride on my ZX 3 weeks ago, he went out and choped his in for a 2002 model... there went impartiality! The ride! We took the tunnel from Folkstone and darted all the way down to Strasbourg using the French Autoroutes - 690km door to door and in the last hour we were beginning to ache. Mainly in the bum department, but it was 7 hours in the saddle so it was to be expected. The neck ache from high speed windblast was addressed with the use of an Alpine Stars "Neck" brace. Speeds on the way down probably 'averaged' 100mph and the ZX ate that for breakfast (and lunch). The run then took us though the Black Forest, which was an excellent ride location in the late sping sunshine, but in the twisty roads that took us up over the top of the hills the ZX's weight and high CoG made it's self apparent (added to by probably another 50kg of gear) and the fast hairpin decents became a little too hair-raising. The blast along the B500 to Baden Baden was a blast to behold! From there it was up the Rhine to Koblenz and then down the Mosel valley to Luxembourg. On the short autobahn stretch we were comfortably able to chase a porsche at 160mph (with luggage!!) and then comfortably cruise up the river roads... the ZX's took it all in their stride and really were a pleasure to ride. The final 400 miles, yesterday, in the wet, were great too. The ZX's were comfortable, and the levels of weather protection were better than I thought they would be. I got home, safe and sound, but more importantly still able to move and walk after 4 long days in the saddle. The ZX can be a beast, but is relatively easy to tame and an absolute joy to ride.... However, it's eaten an almost new Dunlop D207 in a little over 2,000 miles...

I've had by ZX12R for a little over a month now, and at first I was very dissapointed after previously having a Gixxer Thou and a Mille. The handling was woefull and the fueling felt awful... I can only assume the previous owner was a guargantuan ape, as all of the suspension settings had either been turned to max or min. Sorting those out (return to stock settings) has been a revalation and now I have a beast of a bike that can really handle well (better than the K2 Gix!). The power is awesome! Some would say that they would want more mid range and that a 1200cc shouldn't deliver this much power this high up the rev range. However, I like it like that as it means you have to make a conscious effort to use the power and its therefore less likely to catch you out. Comfort is better than I thought too. A recent run took me down 245 miles in an evening (first long ride of the year too), and whilst I had neck ache and the starting of numb bum syndrome it was not as bad as I would have thought. I'm planning on taking the ZX on a 2000km buzz through Germany next month and I'm not overly concerned with the comfort (although I will report back!!)

I have recently swapped my GSXR 1000 for a 2002 model zx12r. I wanted somthing slighty bigger for touring and commuting but still be able to excite me on sunday blast. The hayabusa was an option but seem very expensive second hand compared to the ZX, so i got a later model Red ZX12r. This bike is the BEST all round bike i have ever owned (R1,ZX9,GSXR1000,CBR600,TL1000r,Monster,Bandit) it has power anywhere and everwhere, handles supurb for a big bike, is great at motorway cruising and cant be beaten in a straight line by anything ! The ZX12 is heavy when moving around but loses the weight when it gets rolling, it is also very, very comfy. All in all i do not regret making the change from litre class sportsbike to sports tourer although its much more sports than it is tourer!!

Not trying to sound to smug , but lm a one of the lucky one`s , at the moment l own a 12r and a busa at the same time. Bought the 12r as an impulse thing, glad l did aswell . Its a total different bike to the busa , better at low speeds, due to the increased height it flicks about a bit easier. Wasn`t totally overwhelmed at first but its grown on me considerably. Swapped my GSX1400 as l never wanted to ride that after buying the busa. Thought if l got a similar performing monkey there`d be more chance of it entertaining me. At first found it a distant second on power to the busa(due to the busa`s mods) upped the 12r`s power and made it a far better bike to ride. Quite a handful now. Clocks could be better, like the busa digital items would be better, can`t read em at a glance once over the ton mark. For tyres l run Avon Storms, what a tyre, the both bikes are shod in em. They`re amazing, used to use Azaros on my bandit, good but killed em quickly. The storms do 3000miles on the rear on the busa , done 2000 on the 12r and plenty left. Engine hunting at tickover, nothing major just annoying at junctions, caught it on the down side at a lazy take off only for it to stall on me. My fault as much as the bikes. Mine is met. green a stunning colour, if it wasn`t that it would av to be black. Insurance , got 3 bikes on my policy with Express insurance , a cbr1000 streetfighter to, all for 450 quid fully comp protected , 3yrs NCB, 3 points. Brick garage.