The
low-down
is perfect for commuting, giving the rider great
control over the bike, plus a good view of the
road ahead and the antics of nearby traffic. At
790mmhigh,theseatmakesthebike accessible
to most prospective owners.
The compact bikini fairing and screen are
surprisingly effective at protecting the rider
from wind loads during fast open-road action.
WhiletheZRXisabitheftyat223kg dry,
once you’re on the move it’s not an issue – if
anything, it makes this competent-handling
bike feel more stable in fast touring on
imperfect country roads.
Theengineisacharmer,combining
smoothness with really gutsy performance.
Ononehandyoucanrideitlikeatwist ’n’ go
scooter, seldom needing to change down a
gearwhetheryou’retricklingthrough traffic
or pulling a rapid pass at highway speeds. On
theotherhand,riddeninanger,itmarches past
classmates like Bandit 1200s, XJR1300s and
CB1300s. And if you’ve got diplomatic immunity
you can enjoy its surprisingly high top speed
(foranaked)ofaround250km/h.
Throttle response and general fueling
provided by its Keihin carburettors are
excellent. Clutch action is good, gear shifting
isaccurate,ifalittlenotchy–theyall clunkintofirstfromneutral–andbrakingisquite
powerful and progressive.
Although a ZRX can be a bit thirsty when
stirred, the 19-litre tank is good for a safe range
of 270km-plus in calmer touring mode.
The softish front suspension, fine for most
riders most of the time, can be improved
for those who simply must beat sportsbikes
through the twisties. Stiffer springs and
re-valving will do the job.
Here’s a little trap to avoid: the sidestand
can dump the ZRX on its side if the bike rolls
slightly for ward, so park it pointing uphill or
consider grinding a couple of millimetres off
the sidestand-stop to make it more stable.
Also sold alongside the ZRX1200R naked
from 2001-2004 was the ZRX1200S version that
ditched the retro looks in favour of a modern
fairing, with a matching instrument panel
replacing the clock-style tacho and speedo. The
ZRX-S was otherwise pretty much identical,
apart from costing $1000 more.
Emotion and hubris aside, the ZRX1200R is
a well-designed, super-reliable machine that’s
quite a versatile allrounder. Truth be told,
though, if you simply can’t get enough of big,
charismatic, old-school muscle bikes, this is
your motorcycle.If you simply can’t get
enough of big, charismatic,
old-school muscle bikes,
this is your motorcycle
1999 – Kawasaki releases a new
big-bore naked, the ZRX1100,
again recalling the Eddie Lawson
glory days of the 1980s, paving the
way for the faster ZRX1200R that
followed.Building Bricks
1973 –Thereleaseofitsfirst
four-cylinder four-stroke, the
900cc Z1, sets Kawasaki on the
road to real success and lays the
foundation for all its subsequent
fast fours.1982 – Kawasaki releases the
limited-edition Z1000R Eddie
Lawson tribute model, closely
resembling the American champ’s
Kawasaki superbike that he raced
to success in 1981-82.New Price
$13,990 (2001)
$12,990 (2009)
Second-Hand
$4100 - $6900PRICE GUIDESERVICE
HISTORY
Capable DIY owners
can look after a lot of the
normal servicing on a
ZRX1200R.
Being a naked, it offers
pretty good access to
most of the mechanical
stuff once the fuel tank
is removed – although
some tasks such as
servicing the air filter can
be a pain.
Normal servicing every
6000km, with the big one
including valve clearance
checks at 24,000km.
Valve-shim changes,
when needed, don’t
require removal of the
camshafts.
How the ZRX built its muscle...WHAT TO
LOOK FOR
The ZRX1200R is a
robust, well-engineered
motorcycle with a
bulletproof engine.
According to our
sources in the trade,
there’s no pattern of
known problems.
Because the 1200
motor is remarkably
quiet mechanically, treat
any rattles or the like
with suspicion.
As always, adjust
your offer to cover worn
consumables such
as tyres, chain and
sprockets, steering-head
bearings and brake
pads, as well as brake
rotors that are close to
minimum thickness.
The ideal prospect has
been well cared for and
comes with a full service
record.