ZX-12R updated for ’04

Kawasaki’S high velocity ZX-12R has been updated with upside down forks and radially-mounted brakes for 2004.

The changes bring the bike into line with the ZX-6R and ZX-10R (revealed in MCN last week).

The forks actually appear to be the same as those used on the ZX-10R – and that would offer Kawasaki an economic way of sourcing the fork bottoms required to fit the bike with new radial caliper mounts.

The new ZX-12R also uses smaller brake discs, reducing the bike’s unsprung weight and the amount of weight that spins with the wheel. Both alterations will help make it steer more quickly.

Surprisingly, the bike isn’t available in Kawasaki green for 2004. Instead it will only be offered in black or silver. The wheels are also painted black rather than silver, and there’s a revised heat shield on the exhaust.

Other colour changes in the Kawasaki range include the addition of a silver

ZX-6R, replacing the current black option.

The green Z1000 is also dropped in favour of a less retina-scorching red version. The black and orange models will still be available.