Hmmmm.....do I really need a hyper-sports bike?

You need a big bike?
What riding position?

How about the following for a thought?
Suzuki Bandit 1200s
Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird
CBR1000RR
Suzuki SV1000S
Aprilia SL-R

 

Well, it would like having to choose between a porsche (ZX10R) and a minivan
(ZZR1200).

THe ZZr1200 is just as extreme a choice as the ZX10R but at the other end of
the spectrum. I can't see how a ZZr1200 could make you feel good about it
or invoke even the slightest bit of excitement when you rode it. IT is
another one of those stuck in the 80's/90's timewarp bikes (GPX250,
ZZR600).

The current crop or 600s/1000s really are exciting to ride. And I reckon
that is what a MODERN bike should be all about.

Richard

 

u've gotta change gears alla time

 

Heres an extract taken from a bike review in 2002:

The ZZ-R1200 is an updated, even more powerful incarnation of the dearly
beloved ZX-11. Which, you'll no doubt recall, reigned as the world's
fastest streetbike for nearly a decade, before the new sheriffs in town,
the Honda CBR1100XX, the Suzuki Hayabusa and Kawasaki's own ZX-12R
muscled it out of the spotlight.

Our last, best ZX-11 pumped out 134.4 horses. This, safe, sane,
soul-of-maturity ZZ-R churned out an entirely adequate 145.2 horsepower
at 9750 rpm, an 8 percent gain. And 87.1 foot-pounds of torque, exactly
the 9 percent gain we were led to expect.

Which means, dear reader, this ZZ-R, which weighs less than 10 pounds
more, can rip a ZX-11 a new one, all the while exuding its new-found
aura of taste, innocence and restraint. It also means the ZZ-R conceives
more ponies than anything short of a ZX-12R or Hayabusa. It out-studs
the Honda XX or any of the liter-class sportbikes, including the mighty
GSX-R1000. And don't forget that those 145 horses were not energized by
the ZZ-R's ram-air system, lifted straight from the ZX-11.

snip some stuff about suspension - which is the only let down on it.

It takes full choke to get it fired on a cold morning, and a few blocks
before it wants to run without. After that, this motor gives us one big,
goofy happy face for the rest of the day. It's obviously
hell-for-strong, from idle all the way to the ignition cutoff, and yet,
for all its urge, it manages to feel friendly, eager, almost puppylike
in its willingness to please. There's a slight buzz in the bars and the
mirrors between 4500 and 5500 rpm, which migrates to an equally slight
sizzle in the seat as the revs rise. But overall, vibration is admirably
controlled. The powerband is as wide as Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico
lined up end-to-end. You could stay under 6000 rpm forever--and still
leave anything with four wheels way behind you. And when you want to
simply disappear, just drop the six-speed down a couple, let 'er spin up
past 8000 or so, and hangeth thou on. You get a great moan out of the
intake system and a determined launch into the middle distance. There's
no dramatic burst of power as the revs rise--like an F-18 on
afterburner, it just keeps pulling. And pulling. And pulling.

My own comments after owning one for 18000km and counting:

Cant get excited about a ZZR1200? How does around 140 rwhp and about
11.4kg/M of torque at 6000 rpm sound? If that bores you then get a jet
kit and tune it up to about 145 - 150 rwhp. You can also drop a fair bit
of weight off them, like about 15kg no problem... puts them into the 221
kg dry category....hmmm like having a VFR800 or wait... a ZX12R - only
more comfortable (albiet lacking around another 20 ps too but hey). At
times Ive had trouble with the weight of the bike but in hindsight it
was trouble with tyre selection and poor suspension settings. This has
been fixed.

The ZZR can tour in reasonable comfort and it will pull harder than a
10R from just 3000 rpm - whereas you will have to be sitting around
8000rpm to get the 10R to actually wake up. It delivers real power in
all gears and will hit 300 km/h without too much fuss.

You can put panniers on the ZZR too. And you can commute in reasonable
comfort, have pretty good weather protection and a centre stand for
those orrible days or shitty parking spots.

If you want to go cornering on it, it handles it pretty well and can
dish out more than most riders can give it. It has excellent ground
clearance and unless your 250lbs you wont bottom it out. The only
problem is a lack of front end adjustability, but like the 10R you would
have to modify it to your bodyweight to get the most out of it... and
even then... you should ask yourself whether your pushing the bike hard
enough to warrant it.

It can wheelstand like jesus christ himself.

It will sound awesome with a set of cans.

It has big 'get the **** out of the way' headlights on it, with an
excellent spread of light.

It has clear to read dials, a fuel gage, temperature gauge odo and trip
meter.

You can add things to it like heated hand grips, GPS nav systems, radar
detectors, a bag for carrying little marbles to throw at cars or plastic
astronauts on ZX10R's. etc etc. And you can pillion in reasonable comfort.

The Zed 12 is both pussy cat and devil, depends entirely on how you
treat it. The Zed10 R is all devil, its all or nothing, when doing
nothing you will be uncomfortable. Not so on the ZZR1200, you can punt
along at 100km/h and still enjoy it.

Richard you said a modern bike should be really exciting to ride - have
you ridden a ZZR1200? Ive ridden the current crop of 600's and they are
asthmatic pathetic little things when lined up against the power of the
Zed. The ZZR makes the respectable performance of a VFR800 seem piss
weak. A ZZR will eat a fireblade 954 alive, and it will beast a
GSXR1000. It will pass a sports twin like its standing still. In fact it
will beast a Hyabusa up to about 180km/h - then the busa will reel it in.

For all round riding, whether thats cornering on the weekends or
commuting to and from work, the ZZR is a very versatile and highly
underestimated steed. Highly recommend them.

 

I remember how nice it was on the 1100, cruising down the highway without
the engine screaming it's tits off all the time. On the highway on my ZX7,
I was always thinking "Geez, an overdrive gear would be good right about
now." A 600 would be even worse than that. I'm just not sure I want
another bike I have to 'ride' the whole time, particularly on the highway.

MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

 

Richard,
I've owned a few bikes over the years. The list being (in no
particular order):
Z200 (bought for the GF as her first bike)
KR250
GPZ900
ZZR1100 (times 2, first one written off in a rear-ender crash)
ZXR750
ZZR250 (GF's second bike)
ZX7R

Sure, the ZXR and the ZX7 were great fun to ride, but to go any distance at
all resulted in me having to reach over my shoulder to get my wallet out of
my back pocket. Comfortable? Hell no. Good for short blasts on the
weekends, but not something I think I could have used as a commuter. Ditto
the ZX10R. My original decision to get one of these was the typical
'gottahaveoneitis' thing, based purely on aesthetic value and the thought of
a balls-out, weekend blast-o'-rama. However, in speaking at length to
several people who use their bikes for much more than this (ie. commuting to
work and doing regular highway travel), it got the thought processes working
properly and reminded me of just how uncomfortable a 'full-on' sports bike
can actually be. I even remember commenting to the bike shop guy about the
amount of vibration in the ZXR750, compared to the ZZR1100 (which was so
smooth it was like sitting on a turbine). His explanation was that I'd been
'spoiled', having stepped off the ZZR to get onto the ZXR.

Exciting or not, the thought of a numb arse and sore body parts (namely
wrists, legs, back and neck) has made me consider all my options carefully
before I make my final decision.

MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

 

I remember how nice it was on the 1100, cruising down the highway without the engine screaming it's tits off all the time.
Did the same on the VFR, never screamed its tits off, not even 200
would. My old FZ750 was a perfect touring bike, semi upright posi, and
very capable.

Race based one yes. without doubt.

Yup. Bikes are becoming more narrow focused by the day.

 

Try a BMW K 1200 LT and then you will understand what a "real" bike is all
about! Smooth, comfortable and great for chicks.
Garry

 

My ZXR and ZX7 didn't scream their tits off so to speak, but after riding
the ZZR1100, they both felt like they weren't 'doing it easy' as such. The
ZZR was a really easy bike to ride on the highway......no need to worry
about the gearbox, just wind the throttle on and go.

MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

the engine screaming it's tits off all the time.

 

Yeah.....*real* expensive. I'm not even going to entertain parting with
$30K+ for a bike. Nice thought, but I certainly don't need something like
that for commuting to work on!

MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

 

I was thinkin the same thing!

 

It's a nice looking rig, for sure. If I was in the market for a
'super-tourer', I might even be tempted, but it's well in excess of what I
need at the moment.

MrBonk
www.mrbonk.com

 

On the other hand, A K1200LT is cheaper per kilo of bike you get than a
litre-class sportsbike.

 

Baron Von Rotter said....

What about comfort? My ZZR11 wasn't bad. It was better than my current
bike, a CBR1000. I'll be looking at a new one soon, and I've pretty well
narrowed it down to the ZZR12 and the Blackbird.

 

Not quite. More like choosing twix a 911 GT3 and an AMG Merc sedan.
S.

 

<gobsmacked>

OUCH !!

JL
(harsh week is CLEARLY not over !)

 

I second paulh

 

Ummm but there's about 150Kg difference between the ZZR and the LT. And
besides since when was a "real bike" a car with 2 wheels missing ?

JL
(I guess you could call an LT an anaemic Goldwing ? If you're gunna do
it you might as well buy the original.)

 

Heheh he should buy Hammo's Zed then - That's a whole lot of kilos for
your dollars !

JL
320Kg for what, a grand or two ? Bargain !

 

On Mon, 24 May 2004 00:30:49 +1000, Baron Von Rotter

Deleted shitloads.....

bloody leg-rooting spamming bitch~
Almost sounds like you own one

John