KAWASAKI ZZR1400 (2006-2012) Review

Great bike can’t wait to tour some more!!

Nice, easy-to-ride rocketship. Love it!

Best feature is the turbine like engine. Pulls like a train in any gear, supervise killing performance but all day comfort. Worst feature, uses rear tyres and sprockets pretty quick id ridden hard down to the amount of grunt the thing has.

Fast, capable, mile muncher with a naughty side

Best features , power above 6000 rpm, ride position, brakes, handling,reiability. Worst features stock low end power delivery,but is easily fixed, heat from engine can roast legs at times.

Fantastic bike. A true hyperbike and a good looking one too.

Yes, excellent performance and presence.

Where to start 10 years away from motorcycling for genuine reasons hadn't stopped me continually looking to see what I would like if the day came when I could afford another bike that day came and there was only one bike I wanted zzr 1400 never rode one, never saw one up close but allways admired from a distance. I love the front end, it's the stuff of legends, I travelled to Taunton from Cumbria to pick up the bike of my dreams and jesus the 350 mile journey home was a mixture of euphoria and trepidation in equal messure had I made a big mistake the first 100 mile I thought Yeh after a break the rest of the journey put a massive smile on my face which I've had ever since this is without doubt the best bike I've ever had the pleasure of owning by a mile big thanks to kawasaki purs like a big cat mile after mile

AS stated by others the bike is a little heavy to move around the garage but once moving gives a solid planted feeling on the road. It'll never match a sportsbike for handling but is far more comfortable and good for a couple of hours continuous riding between fill ups.

Best bike I've ever owned by a mile!! It does it all from pulling your head off it's shoulders (0-60 in 2.5secs) to cruising all day at motoway speeds in comfort. My wife loves going on the back, we can be in traffic at 50 and just effortlessly twist the throttle in top to nip back up to 70ish. handling around corners is as good as most people would want to try, any faster and you should really be on a track!

I cannot fault this bike's performance or reliability, think millenium falcon and Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs, and you will be close, only build quality lets it down a little

The zzr 1400 is the sought of bike that leaves you trembling, a little frightened yet you want to go again. The bike has endless power and you quickly run out of road or bottle one or the other. As some have already said, the engine is a little rough low down, like it really resents going slow, and the clutch is a little too light for me, with little difference in lever movement between grab and go The suspension set up is soft as standard, especially on the front end, where the slightest pot hole will make the forks bottom out, i plan to have mine set up soon in the hope it will solve this issue. The brakes are awesome, as you would expect and otherwise things are properly sorted Crazy fast lots of fun mostly in straight lines tho

After a year and 2,500 miles the bike has had highs and lows for me. Nice in poor wintery conditions even on sports tyres but clumsy and not that sporty in the dry...until I dialled in the suspension and got rid of the stock cans. Comfort isn't as good as the seat makes you think and even with a higher screen the windblast can hurt the neck much more than the Busa ever did. Wife loves the pillion side of things but having tried the gen 2 Busa out she finds its broader seat better on long runs. Its stupidly fast but flighty as well near the red line in 3rd and 4th so could do with a steering damper just to add confidence and with the suspension working as it should its much easier to go constantly quick than on any sports bike as gear changes are rare so you can focus on where your going rather than what gear you need next. Now it runs true and smooth from low revs and is filling in the job of my old busa quite nicely so no regrets just yet and a nice 48+mpg.. Build quality is so so..plastics are like tracing paper and are beginning to show cracks around the dash infill screws and the fur on the radiator core just makes it look cheaply made. I tried the new 2012 model and apart from having a better from the shop suspension I see no real benefits for road use as i've never had any traction issues with my riding style. I would consider getting a slipper clutch fitted as the downshift can get the back end moving about when on it coming downhill. Doing a back-back test against a Gen 2 Busa in a few weeks so that will be a fun day.

Had bike for just under 3years, 48,000kms. Minor weeping at valve cover gasket and tip over sensor that won't stop vibrating. Recently did valve adjustment, throttle sync and plugs -much smoother in all conditions. Been using PR2's and can't see a reason to try anything else. Have Yosh R-77 slips and blocked off kleen air recirc, and mra dbl bubble racing screen. Otherwise stock. Huge difference getting suspension sorted. For me, settings are very sensitive and took forever getting close to perfect. But once do, very controlled, predictable and just can't ask for better. Well, ohlins might make so but fine tuning gets to where I no longer feel it can get much better. With suspension working just so, everthing just seems to fall into place. Braking, shifting, turn in, exit. All good. Only major complaint is there always seems too much traffic and never enough pavement to ride. It goes without saying that it's fast but that's not what makes this bike such a great street/sport tourer. It's it's effortlessness, no fuss, any condition/road, do it all ability.

just got an 09' model after 4 yrs on a Gen 1 Busa.......so far it is lighter to control, faster and better in the wet.....but engine low down aint that smooth and theres no onboard storage of any kind....engine is less vibey and a bit more economical...its early days but so far happy with the change.

2 years and 11,000 miles later...it's time to give my silver ZZR1400 a review. Let me start with the negatives first... The part of the fuel tank under the seat is prone to corrosion. Keep it covered in ACF50 and then everything's fine. Erm... I guess that's it! It has been 100% reliable. Great build quality. Rides and handles brilliantly after the suspension has been set-up for your weight. The engine is just stunning. I've never been on a drag strip, so I'm still to reach it's limits. Absolutely shed loads of torque torque and more torque. 80mph is just 4k rpm, and returns a 180+ mile tank range, comfy, confidence inspiring, (relatively) forgiving, fantastic brakes, oh and did I say it was fast as ****? If you're reading this review and wondering whether to buy one...look no further, just go put your money down.

I've just bought an 07 ZZR1400. What a bike, my god I thought my ZX10r was fast but this thing is just in another league. The engine is so smooth, just roll on the throttle in 6th gear at any speed and it just keeps pulling like a train. 150MPH on the way home no problem (71mph honestly officer)It's friendly round town and the weight keeps it smooth and planted in bends. Very comfy, with loads of room, I'm 6' and have no trouble. This bike is immense, if you want a bike that is fast and comfortable, this is the bike for you. Ok, ZX10's and the like will out corner you, but you'll catch up on the straight bits with out any trouble. If you're thinking of buying one, buy it, you won't regret it.

I took a bit of a gamble on buying this bike, I saw one of the last black models with gold wheels at the old price and prior to the vat increase. My Blackbird had served me well but was 10 yrs old now, snow and ice meant a much shorter test ride than I would have liked. First impressions were this was a bike designed to fulfill a number of roles. A sporty riding position, but not extreme as my mates blade.The engine was a revelation, I thought my Blackbird was smooth and had power but the ZZR is in a different league. Initial acceleration is rapid but get into the mid range and it really takes off, you either run out of road or bottle it. Overtakes are a dream and the combination of smooth engine and a slick gearbox ensure progress is rapid but controlled. Plenty of room for pillions and luggage, but my Autocom used the last of underseat storage space. Another nice suprise was the buld quality, huge improvements in all areas and definitley up there with Honda now,the clocks are fabulous with a mix of digital info on consumtion and fuel range etc which I find useful! this is my 5th Kawasaki and I have no regrets buying the ZZR. Handling, power, stability, looks, brakes, this bike ticks all the boxes and a trip to France in summer beckons, I can't wait to give this bike a good workout. This is not a bike for novices or those with poor anger management skills though, I have had to recalibrate my riding as everthing happens so much quicker now, when compared to my Honda. I am glad I bought my ZZR and my gamble has paid off, I have no hesitation in giving this bike full marks in all departments, one hell of a bike.

i bought a 08 zzr 1400 and i have just got back from a 3000 mile european tour through france , switzerland, and spain , the bike was immense and extremely comfortable and practacle, and for a big powerful bike fantastic on fuel, it carried me and my luggage all over without any hassle and with great ease , this has to be the best bike i have ever owned, i have had a blackbird, hiyabusa and a sprint st , this is the best bike ever, a real credit to kawasaki , they have produced a real class leading sports tourer...:-)

To date (2010) there are really two flavours, pre-2008 and 2008 onwards with one big difference. Early (06/07) models have gutless low down caused by Kawasaki restricting them to make them easier for new riders, somehow having CG125 power up to 6,000 rpm, then immediately exploding into a ZX10R on steroids made them safer? From 2008 Onwards this was fixed, but early bikes can be easily sorted if you remove secondary butterflies and fit a Power Commander, this costs a few hundred quid so be aware if looking at used bikes. Every owner I know who has done this rates it as the best mod they have ever done to any bike. Some early ones were re-called due to frames cracking where the engine mounts had been overtightened in the factory, should all be sorted now but wirth checking if you have 06 / 07 or are planning to buy one. Generally they are quite good out of the crate: Later models or flyless early ones are mega grunty from 3,000rpm upwards, even two-up with luggage you rarely need to go above 6k or drop more than a gear or two for overtakes. Early ones with flies in are very flat and often need 3-4 downchanges when overtaking - very tiresome. Handling is OK for a big bike, but can be made much better, they are better than ZZR1100's and such like but the front end is a bit harsh and the rear struggles with two people especially if you tour with luggage. I had my forks and shock re-sprung and revalved and it became a different bike, cost about £500 but improved handling, feedback and comfort immensely. Felt about 20kg lighter afterwards, much closer to sportsbike handling. Everything else is OK, clocks etc work well, comfort is pretty good, some serious mile munchers add bar risers, taller screens and Gel Seats but compared to any sportsbike it is a sofa. Reliability is generally OK but there are some common issues, early bikes could leak oil from head or balancer shaft area, discs warp repeatedly, the Kawasaki ones are awful and can go in as little as 3,000 miles, I am on third set in under 10k - once warranty is up replace with aftermarket items. Top fairings can crack around screws where lowers meet up as screws are so close the edge, look out if buying and be very careful when removing / refitting panels. Tanks can rust under the seat, keep clean / dry and apply something to protect them. I have been abroad quite a bit two-up with luggage, with the lowdown power sorted it was very good but suspension struggled first time on the roads of the Pyrenees, especially when loaded. Second Euro-trip involved reworked suspension and the handling was excellent, bends could be enjoyed even with two people and full (hard Luggage) Stable wallow free handling with stacks of feedback - perfect. Generally a very good bike let down a bit by a few niggles, but they are very easy to sort and can be massively improved quite cheaply making early ones a bargain. Running costs are HUGE, Service every 3750 miles, minors are about £200 and Majors (every other) over £300 at stealerships. OE tyres are poor, fronts feel vague and many owners get well under 2,000 miles from rear, I shredded two in under 3,000 steady (ish) mainly touring miles. Better rubber will see 3-6k depending on "Style", Roadsmarts and BT-021's are popular as all round tyres. loads more info on www.zx14r.co.uk

A great bike- smooth and with heaps of torque, great stability, easy to read at a glance uncluttered instruments and good views from mirrors (although everything in them soon becomes a micro dot!). ps Keep an eye out for what's up in the sky in North Wales- it's not the clouds I'm talking about!!!!!!!

i bought mine in march and have done 3700 miles of biking heaven,a truly awesome bike nice and docile round town if you want it to be but just crack the throttle open and mayhem breaks loose without a doubt the best bike i have ever owned

Hei, guys, I like the bike, I did not ride it until now and I ride only in the summer mostly at around 30'C, I heard about overheating problems for the ZX14 and also that it is a recall about a very dangerous situation with the frame. Are your bikes overheating and has someone had problems with the recall? Thanks

Had my zx14 for 6 months now and clocked up 18700km so far and my only real gripe is the paint work, i brought the limited edition with "the special paint job" and let me tell you it's not so special , marks very easly and almost impossible to keep clean, im going to get it repainted. Other than the paintwork the bike is fantastic, grunt like no other bike i've had including my 1999 busa and so much smoother. My running in method is somewhat controversial... i just ride it like i stole it .... redlined it right from the word go and considered it runin after 30mins. So far its not missed a beat and runs so strong its really easy to get into strife even in first gear... anymore tickets and my licence is toast so i have to pull my horns in. Tis the perfect tourer and i just completed a 4000km tour 2 days before xmas 2008 and it performed flawlessly . In fact i love it for its comfort, handling and power. If you get one of these beasts be prepared to shell out lotsa bux for tyres and gas as neither last long if you use this beast to its potential... it loves to be hammered, and for those of you that have never tryed it the rev limiter kicks in about 12k revs. Yes I love this beast and have a feeling we will be firm friends for many years, would i recommend this bike .... well yes if you have at least 10 yrs of big bike experience under your belt, if your straight off a 250cc and feel you have the measure of this beast you had better think again, put ur pecker back in ur pants and live to play with it another day. Cheers from NZ

I recently purchased the big Zed 14 after having a very pleasant time with an older ZZR1200 which covered a good many miles and a trip to the Nurburgring, I was expecting much the same kind of machine but found I was in for a bit of a surprise. Firstly I noticed the size of the ZZR1400 was actually smaller than the 12, it had a much sportier attitude and felt considerably lighter - This is good. Once I had become familiar to the new 14 the improvements began to become very noticeable. In true big boys toys fashion I fitted a power commander, removed the secondary flies and fitted a set of Yoshimura Cans, My ZZR14 was now personalised the way I like it. Braking is nothing short of astonishing, my old 12 use to anchor up quick enough but the new ZZR14's vented petal discs up front and rear rip speed off so easily and with alarming agreesion if you squeeze that brake really hard, This a very major plus - as this bike travels quickly with the minimum of effort. The suspension is leaps and bounds ahead of the old ZZR12, it never feels vague in cornering and behaves far better than it should, getting the pegs on the floor can be done without any drama. Comfort is another big plus, My old 12 use have me zinging and tingling after a few hours in the saddle, but the 14 is way more comfortable and although the bike feels smaller there feels like you have more room to move around. The futuristic lighting on the front works fantastically, in fact I would go as far as saying that NO other bike lights up the road at night as well as the ZZR14. Then comes the power, which is why you probably thinking of buying one, it is just staggering, open the throttle in an gear and the bike surges forward effortlessly, red line it and your in for a serious white knuckle ride, it accelerates so fast and hard that the first few times you let rip you mentaly cant take all of the data in, you have to re-develop you gear changing technique as releasing the grip on your clutch hand makes it very difficult to hold on to the bike under warp acceleration. Dont get me wrong the bikes not perfect and has it's niggles, like a digital speedo would have been better, paint work on the front mud guard seems not to be very durable, one thing you need to take into serious consideration if your thinking of buying one of these bikes is the tyres - The worst mileage i ever managed to get from a brand new rear tyre was 700 miles before it was totaly goosed

i have done 12600 miles on my 14 in all weathers,uk and europe it does it all with ease,solo or two up, servicing is not to bad and i have been putting avon storms on it which are very good and last a lot longer than the bt014. and its quick

Before I start let's get one thing clear before people start crusifying me. I really do like this bike its just I'm going to start with the negatives first and finish with the positives as everyone goes on about how great this bike is (and it is mind), but I think you should know about some negatives. (even though it is only a few). That engine is awesome, above 6000rpm its off like a banshee on Hyperdive, however what happened to all that low down grunt, this is a 1400cc bike afterall. Below 5000rpm its like a 600cc bike, no go at all. God forbid get it in the wrong gear around 4000rpm and crack that throttle hoping it will take off and your in for a shock, you will have to bang this bike down a gear to get round that arctic wagon. Luckily the man I bought mine from fitted it with a centre stand but why don't they come as standard? After all this is a bike worth £9500 new. I also do like a bike with a bit of underseat storage but this bike has none (and I mean none), unless you remove the tool kit and it has space for, well a small tool kit. I also have to say 40mpg? hmm, maybe on a run, but more like 30mpg in town and giving it a handful when you get chance, must be my riding, but isn't that why you bought this bike? Lastly though, if you cant watch your speed, this is not the bike for you, think your just cruising at 70mph? guess again I bet it's 85-90mph more like. Overtake that car thats only chugging along and if your not careful you will be 15-20mph over the limit in a split second. This bike is seriously fast but so smooth with it. I have heard people say to me I'll lose my licence and I have replied "yeah right, a bike is only as fast as you twist the throttle", but this one makes me think "check your speed" many times over. Right thats all the negatives out of the way here comes the positives. Super smooth engine and as everyone including me has said WOW this is seriously fast and a buzz with it, ever done the "WHOH-HOO" under your lid and grinned like a Cheshire cat, if not have a go on one of these. Secondly the brakes are just superb but not dangerous, for such a big bike you may just kick that back wheel off the ground without thinking or even trying, there that good. Handling and ride for such a big bike is also good, yes its heavy pushing it round in the back yard but just get it above 2mph and its like a 600. Yes maybe a quick left to right bend takes a bit more work and it will never flick like your last 600RR but its pretty good for a big bike and as its a big bike it handles those pot holes, man hole covers, rubbish tarmac far better than your flighty sports bikes. That is a good thing in my book with Britains ever increasinglly bad roads, but thats another subject. It has plenty of usefull stuff on the digital panel, comfy riding position. Its one of those postions that you think I bet after 200 miles I'll be uncomfy but then for some reason your not, (Im 6ft 1" tall by the way). Overall I really like this bike, but I wouldn't say love it, its just bikes these days are just so good I think they lose a bit of character, anyone remember the original 1200 bandit? great engine but spongy suspension, but didn't that give it character? (might just be me on that one). This bike does deliver some of that back though. Anyway enough Jackanory, go have a ride yourself and see what you think. Ride Safe.

After months of thinking about it, finally went for the '08 ZZR14. Absolutely no regrets, this is one awesome machine! As a real world, road bike it's just about perfect. The riding position is spot on, with no aching wrists or sore shoulders. Power delivery is smooth as you like and the brakes are phenomenal. Apart from the motor the thing that impresses most is the quality of the ride, this thing has top drawer suspension components that give a superb magic carpet ride that feels sorted whether attacking bends or doing mundane stuff. Handling is both flickable and planted in the bends. Love the trick digital read out. Everywhere it goes it gets attention. Will replace the exhaust with a Yoshi 4-2-1 system when I've got a spare £1k knocking about ;-). Off to Europe this summer to take on France, Italy and Spain with friends on BMW K1200Ss, I just know the ZZR is the bike of choice for a trip like that. Top marks!!

Been charging around on the 14 for 4 weeks now since trading my zzr12. Can't believe the difference...sharper, lighter, flickable, focused and much much quicker. Thank you Mr Kawasaki, I'm in Heaven!!!

Everything said before is right (except the stone-chip sufferer - sounds like a warranty job cos I've had none after 4000 miles). Replaced the screen on mine with a Puig double bubble and the pipes with an imported Tsukigi full system - lurvely! Also, and this is crucial, you MUST do the 'flies out' mod (removal of secondary butterflies). It's dead easy and it puts back all the power and torque below 6000rpm that mama kawasaki dialled out because she didn't think you'd be safe with it. Woohoo! You need a power commander with this mod but you'll need it for the new zorst anyway. Flies out, Tsukigi and pc have together added just short of 20bhp. The front goes airborne in 4th now as well as 1, 2 and 3. Handling was a bit soft to begin with (factory set-up optimised for lightweight riders) but firming up the preload and compression at both ends has sharpened things up nicely.

This is it !!!!!!! Far more sexy than the jelly mould Busa and when you twist the throttle you better have arms of steel cos this baby will rip them clean off ! WHAT A BIKE !

Blinding acceleration at moderate revs, utterly ballistic if you use all the revs. It's the unabated acceleration at very high speed that makes the ZZR special. Crack open the throttle at 150mph in 5th and it still threatens to rip your arms from their sockets. Keep going and it remains totally stable and confidence-inspiring all the way. The bonuses are low speed docility, long-distance comfort / ride quality, beautiful build, crowd-pulling looks, comprehensive instrumentation and superb lights. It's also excellent through the twisties, though not quite as flickable as, say, a ZX10R. The standard screen is for tucking behind - if you want high speed wind protection while upright, especially if you're 6ft+ like me, get a proper tourer instead. The only downsides I can think of are running costs - fuel consumption (if you use it to the full), tyres and insurance. But if you want a missile that uses a completely different scale of speed from anything else on the road, the ZZR is king.

Paintwork poor, millions of stone chips only 2500 miles! rubbing off tank sides Makes loud clunk when put in 1st (clutch drag??) but what an engine!! Handles well for a big bike too

It's magic

After a painful and long wait we got our first at the end of May last year. Fantastic handling and styling. After its first service it was decided to fit Yoshi cans and a power commander to smooth out the power delivery, losing that no grunt below 5000revs. Also fitted a double screen reducing that uncomfortable wind blast. Overall fantastic and great for touring, comfortable for rider and pillion. Though only side panniers are available from Givi. Managed to fit Meta alarm, intercom and scottoiler. Now bought a second ZZR14, only because bloke prefer it in the dark blue (not the candy blue)madness. Lol.

This is a test

This bike replaced my GSX-R750 K4, and the only concern I had was that it would feel big and heavy. There was no need to worry. You can feel the weight when wheeling it around, but it doesn't feel heavy when riding, and the weight gives it a planted feel. The bike is amazingly agile, it handles well, is rock steady, and is easy to ride fast. It is unbelievably fast, to the extent my brother's ZX-9R actually feels slow! Get it over 6000rpm though, and the acceleration is mind blowing. It’s comfortable too. I’ve done 5 hours in the saddle, without a single ache or pain. Here we have a real continent crossing blend of performance and comfort, which will also be happy doing a few laps of your favorite race tracks along the way. If I had to find something negative to say, it would be that there's a relative lack of grunt below 4500-5000 revs. Even this though can be a positive thing, since it means this 200hp motorbike can be extremely docile and easy to cope with for less experienced riders. The only other minor gripe is the lack of under seat storage, but this is not a major problem for me. I’ve managed to fit my Autocom under there without having to lose the tool kit, and I can carry my two way radio for bike-to-bike communication. Anyone who has any doubts whether to buy one of these bikes has no need to worry, just go for it. In case you hadn’t noticed, I love this bike, and it’s definitely the best I’ve owned in 11 years of biking. Has to be the best real-world all rounder you can buy.

This bike replaced my GSX-R750 K4, and the only concern I had was that it would feel big and heavy. There was no need to worry. You can feel the weight when wheeling it around, but it doesn't feel heavy when riding, and the weight gives it a planted feel. The bike is amazingly agile, it handles well, is rock steady, and is easy to ride fast. It is unbelievably fast, to the extent my brother's ZX-9R actually feels slow! Get it over 6000rpm though, and the acceleration is mind blowing. It’s comfortable too. I’ve done 5 hours in the saddle, without a single ache or pain. Here we have a real continent crossing blend of performance and comfort, which will also be happy doing a few laps of your favorite race tracks along the way. If I had to find something negative to say, it would be that there's a relative lack of grunt below 4500-5000 revs. Even this though can be a positive thing, since it means this 200hp motorbike can be extremely docile and easy to cope with for less experienced riders. The only other minor gripe is the lack of under seat storage, but this is not a major problem for me. I’ve managed to fit my Autocom under there without having to lose the tool kit, and I can carry my two way radio for bike-to-bike communication. Anyone who has any doubts whether to buy one of these bikes has no need to worry, just go for it. In case you hadn’t noticed, I love this bike, and it’s definitely the best I’ve owned in 11 years of biking. Has to be the best real-world all rounder you can buy

This thing is slipperier than an eel along the bendiest A roads. I picked one up on Wednesday and it was ready to be serviced by next Monday with the sweetest 600+ miles I've ever done on a bike. It's now beginning to purr like a cat and move at the speed of thought. I always carry a change of pants now..

Absolutely sublime, had almost 70 motorcycles in my 22 year biking history and never ridden anything this good. Lovely to look at in pearl meteor grey, double bubble fitted, rear hugger, OE 3 piece tank pad and Datatool system 4 alarm/immobiliser. Superb speed, smoothness, comfort and brakes, a truly incredible motorcycle that must be tried to be appreciated. Strengths: Looks, speed, brakes, comfort, build quality - everything you could want in a modern motorcycle and astonishing value for money. Weaknesses: Except for tool kit holder - no underseat storage at all really.

A stunner to look at, very comfy seat for me and wifey, seems a little tame at first during running in , but the brief time I had after that WOW its a Gem, Just had 3 Gixer 1000's so aint been riding slow, but this bike wakes up and moves, well worth being the proud owner of a spanker. Strengths:  Solid build, light even though the intial look you think Heavy, Well built fast enough for a pilot, wind noise takes some getting used too at the front grill anyone else get that? Weaknesses: Only the underseat space, as everyone else has mentioned for a touring sports, poor!

When I first saw it I was amazed how long and low it was and I must say I thought it wouldnt handle. To my surprise it is so light and nimble easily a match for my old R1. Who says you cant do a track day on this bike! Rock steady in corners for those who dont like the flighty bikes. Currently 150 miles on the clock so I dont know what lies about 5k RPM. Yes there isnt much below that but it makes the top end all the more of a rush. Cruise or Warp drive. I like the choice as I am not always up for it. Minor niggle is my alarm has upset the clock so it resets every time the ignition is off/on. Dealer to sort hopefully. Comfort is very good for me (6ft 2) and screen doesnt obscure the clocks like on most bikes. Titanic fairing gives good weather cover and a hot engine keeps legs warm. Hopefully this will be great for winter use. A great site for owners www.zx14.net. Strengths: Looks, Comfort, Handling, Speed.
Weaknesses: No underseat storage. Can't fault it otherwise.

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.