anyone got the scoop on zzr1200s

i want a bike i can take 4-5 hr trips on and not sweat it.
some guy had a zzr1200 with a muzzy pipe and we're talking by a coffee shop, and he got me to sit on the bike...i fit..and i'm huge...i could get my feet in the pegs and foot in the shifter..it's got a bag set (on some)...it is big enough for two adults...huals @##$%...is a kawasaki...is allready as trick as i need...and this guy says he loves it...
?1 ...the back seat looks to slope into the drivers seat..not good for brisk riding..anyone???
? 2.....every one i see for sale says about 5000 miles ..why are'nt they being driven more and why are they getting sold all with similar millage..is that how long it takes to realize it's a pos?
?3 ....$4.500 is a lot of cheese but look at the specs i'll finance part to get a used bike that i can ride for more than an hour and show her some weekend trips...if needed...anyone know these bikes..oh yeah she does'nt like the look says it's star trek but you can't see the bike when your on it and shes gonna forget that ]a half hour after we ride it.....any one rode one..peace craig

i guess this is what some folks think of em

www.epinions.com/reviews/2003_Kawasaki_ZZR1200

looks like every other early 90s ninja to me!:laugh: i had a 91-92 zx-11 years ago that was heavily tweaked and here to tell ya it was a freaking misile but i couldnt ride it for a 100 miles at a time without hurting like hell when i was done.if you want a cruiser with some balls try a kawasaki eliminator

I have NOT owned one of these but a buddy of mine has had both the 1100 and 1200 versions and I've ridden both of them.

The ZZR's are great bikes for what they are....sport tourers with the emphasis on "sport".....but the two biggest knocks on them are:
1) HEAVY, and
2) The weight is up high, which is a bad thing for most folks

However, if you're a big dude (6 ft +) and fairly strong/athletic then neither of those two drawbacks should pose a problem.
They ARE as durable as your favourite jeans and will run away from many modern pure sportbikes.
All in all, they're true Kawasakis, for sure.
I would have considered one as a candidate when I bought my Bandit.....except for the riding position on the Kawi.
My back and wrists would not handle that position for more than a half hour at a time. They are definitely a younger man's bike, IMO, because of the riding position.
My .02 worth...

basically a big bore zx-11 and that bike is incredible i have gone 170 mph plus numerous times on one or have putted around town doing 30 mph it can do it all i have ridden thousands of bikes in my career and the zx-11 is still one of my absolute favorites i've heard people complain about the weight of the bike it is less then 600 pounds i've never had a complaint about any i've ever ridden. you can throw all your gear on it and still be comfortable on a long ride the zz1200 is almost the excact same bike so i would not have any problem recommending it.

thanks i wanna try and ride one first. this is why
..my friend wanted a bike so i showed him the basics on my kz ,he goes and takes a m.s.f course on a 125 , and starts going to shops...well the guys selling bikes are telling him a bunch of sh#t and he's getting advice from guys who "had a motorcycle once"
he makes big bucks and i tell him your gonna want a zrx or something you can grow into..we walk in a shop ...they got a 2007 fz1 and he sits on it and smiles...i tell him "you won't be needing a bike any time soon you buy tis big bike"
we get it home "barely" and one little spill later he's riding it soon like he's been riding for years..
I think it's top heavy,cheap finish,no under seat storage for even a pair of glasses,and!!! get this this !!!!NO HELMET LOCK i'm not kidding,,he's gotta use mine and my bikes 33 years old ...it has two locks...i;m gonna research my 4.500.00 befroe i buy,,, i aint rich like him....peace and thanks for the reply ...iwant one baddddd

bite the bullet and go for it if that's what you want you wont be dissapointed it has always been 1 of my favs

yeah let's see if work picks up ..slow building trades..here on the ca coast...it's a six month thing...gotta keep bringing up the subject and showing her people on long hauls...peace craig...why do you think they are selling with 5000 miles...one time riders getting out maybe???

too much bike probably it has one hell of amotor after all. it can scare alot of people.

trianglelaguna wrote:

i want a bike i can take 4-5 hr trips on and not sweat it.

Hmmm, I'd have to say that my 79 KZ750 twin is at least as reliable as most of the new bikes, and even more reliable than some. Maybe you just have a tendency to worry to much? Or are you just looking for an excuse to buy a new bike?

If you have to look for an excuse to justify buying a bike that you want, then you must be married

If you just have a tendency to worry to much, then look at it this way. Can you ride your bike to a location (such as work) 1/2 hour away, and back again five days a week without breaking down? That's equal to a 5 hour trip.


If you just really want to own a ZZR1200, then buy it and have fun

An option to possibly consider, but don't recall the ergonomic fitment for those of larger statue.



Good Luck!

yes steell i find myself reading my trip meter sometimes between repairs and re-setting it befors starting again and it has gone 650 miles between glitches ...but i don't have a chase truck and am not in a hurry to leave my bike with some roadside gas station and finishing our trip on a bus...however...i do think the bugs are getting worked out enough that it could be pssible to make the trip up to S.F ca....one last white wire under the left side cover that is refussing to crimp tight allways and can start killing the bike on rides....also...i would like to keep the 900 for local tear arounds of 100-200 and really flog a sport tourer for a long ride....but..point well taken ,and i think the same math sometimes...peacesteell wrote:

trianglelaguna wrote:

i want a bike i can take 4-5 hr trips on and not sweat it.

Hmmm, I'd have to say that my 79 KZ750 twin is at least as reliable as most of the new bikes, and even more reliable than some. Maybe you just have a tendency to worry to much? Or are you just looking for an excuse to buy a new bike?

If you have to look for an excuse to justify buying a bike that you want, then you must be married

If you just have a tendency to worry to much, then look at it this way. Can you ride your bike to a location (such as work) 1/2 hour away, and back again five days a week without breaking down? That's equal to a 5 hour trip.


If you just really want to own a ZZR1200, then buy it and have fun