Kawasaki ZZ-R1400 (2006-2012)

I bought the bike just under a week ago, after spending about 6 weeks trying to find one, being let down by a dealer who was telling customers he could get one, when in fact they knew they couldn't. Ended up by chance going to Rossendale Kawasaki, Tim was fantastic and made the purchase a dream. I've done 300 miles on it within the past week and it is amazing. From starting it up watching both rev and speedo dials flick round and the Kawasaki logo appearing on the information screen to setting off, this bike is excellent. My old bike was a blackbird, the zzr is far, far better in terms of quality, performance and comfort. I'm in the 'running in' period, so no chance as yet to find the bikes true performance but as I pass 3100revs the bike suddenly unleashes some performance, similiar to a VTEC engine in a honda. Lighter than the honda and no fairing around the knee area is a bit strange but means no scuffs to paintwork. Strengths: Looks are fantastic, seat is excellent find this much better than the honda, quality of the bike is excellent, performance so far excellent, wind resistance excellent, engine noise above 3000revs has a nice deep throaty sound.  Weaknesses:  Lower arms and wrists ache after a few miles, bars seem lower than the Honda. Underseat storage, if you have a few single matches or a single cig to carry then its ideal otherwise don't bother.

Bike arrived last Thursday, I clocked up 500 miles in two days, so back to the dealer to beg he does its first service. That done, I can now give it some.... Brilliant bike, its more like a 600... so light, Its stable as hell at any speed, gear changes are smooth as silk, Its rocket thrust appears at around 6000RPM. I'm gonna have an incredibe summer on this thing, and to think I nearly bought one of those moped hyabusa things. Definatly no regrets. Strengths: Stability at very high speed, acelleration is awsome, handles like a much smaller bike, very comfortable over long distanc, even for the pillion. Weaknesses: Underseat storage is limited to one ciggarette and a match.

Thankfully Im still running it in...only 100 miles so far! After the Blackbird it feels like a 600 - its lighter and far more nimble, but shares all the same smoothness. Power does feel a bit too tamed at the bottom end but I doubt if it will bother me after a while...you just feel a bit cheated! Minor gripes would be that the fancy digital display gives the useless info - since when did we need average/inst fuel consumption??? This is obviously for the Yanks. Id prefer actual speed, average speed, ambient temp etc. The fuel range is handy though. Strengths: I used to think Honda built the best quality bikes - this is proving me wrong. Weaknesses: There is absolutely zero underseat space - so where is the autocom going to go Mr Kwak? This is because half the tank is under the rider for better centre of gravity I guess... Its hardly a weakness though.

I am now at 800km and the second stage of breaking in. So far this is an incredible machine, Hayabusa will only see your tail lights, its that fast. I have driven both. Smooth and solid even at 50km gusts of wind, it realy stays on line. It is unbelievable how the zx14(canada) can be so nimble taking corners, not quite as easy as the zx10R, but still supprizing. Strengths: Great sport bike and for a long distance trek. Solid ride in all types of weather, bridgestones are great. Torque there's no lack of that, after 5,000RPM hang on. Riding position is just right, plenty of leg room and almost no pressure on the wrist. Its friggen fast, and will make you giggle like a school girl passing others at.... whatever speed. Weaknesses: The only weakness I see is the wind blast, I think that maybe a double bubble wind screen may solve this problem.