Kawasaki ZRX1200R

High Plains Rider

I really enjoy my ZRX1200R. It's powerful, fast, and looks real clean. It was purchased at Colorado Powersports in Boulder, CO, on August 23, 2001. The salesman was a guy named Greg. Price was $7399 minus trade-in. Nowerdays, I hear a new one will sell for $6999. That's ok, mine's paid off.

The ZRX1200R's liquid-cooled, 1164 cc, dohc, 4v, in-line 4 runs real smooth and quiet. Motorcyclist gave that engine a torque rating of 79.6 ft/lbs with 112.8 horsepower. Unlike a 600 supersport, this engine pulls hard even at low revs. Starting it cold means using the choke, but only for a minute. In the Summer - not even that long. My ZRX still has the stock stainless steel exhaust. To me, it looks better than any of those aftermarket cans. At idle, the engine sounds like it belongs on a Honda Civic. Fine with me. After all, It's an in-line 4. Roll the throttle good and hard, and acceleration from a stop will feel like a catapult launch from an aircraft carrier. That sensation will continue well into the triple digits (mph). At this point the engine roars like a glass-pac V8 muscle car from the late 1960's. At highway speed, it can hardly be heard due to the wind. Somewhere below highway speed, the sound is a nice combination of electronic hum and jet turbine whine. All-around, real nice.

I wish my ZRX had a 6-speed. Instead, it only has a clunky 5-speed, plaqued with false neutrals. With each ride, I continue to catch myself trying to shift to that nonexistent 6th gear. Why Kawasaki chose a 5-speed is a mystery to me. I would gladly have paid a little extra for a 6-speed. The old ZX11, whose engine the ZRX1200R is based on, had 6 gears. So does the relatively new ZZR1200. Bad move on the part of Kawasaki.

In terms on handling, the ZRX1200R is no 600 supersport. Still, not in any way bad. The bike feels really solid and inspires confidence. It also fits me perfectly. On interstates, strong, gusting wind has nowhere near the effect on the ZRX as it did on my old EX500.

Brakes are good enough. They will stop the bike real fast if you clamp on them real hard.

The seat on the ZRX is nothing special. Like seats on most all Kawasaki motorcycles, it slopes forward too much. I hate having to keep pushing myself back up the seat. Still, it's not all that bad. Keep in mind, I was able to make two high-mileage, overnight trips on the ZRX this year. Ergonomics are such that I never get sore wrists, and that is no small matter.

Wind protection? Who needs it? Really, I only think about that when riding for hours on some interstate. There isn't much protection from the wind on a ZRX. Still, it's better than one might think. Like the seat, not great, but ok.

Gas mileage depends on how the ZRX1200R is rode. I usually get 200 miles on a tank (about 50 mpg).

One good thing about the ZRX is it doesn't have much in the way of plastic fairings to worry about. If it falls over, there isn't much to damage. I once forgot to put the kickstand down while parking it in my driveway. The ZRX just fell right over. Luckily, the only thing broken was a direction light cover. Price for a new one was $6.99. When picking the bike back up, grab the handlebar end lowest to the ground with both hands. Lift up with your knees while keeping your back straight. Think of weight-lifting. If you can lift up a bag of cement, carry it, you should have no problem picking up a downed ZRX. Remember, the guy with the Harley has another 150 lbs to deal with. And the guy with the Gold Wing, I won't even go into that...

In conclusion, if you want a fast, powerful, high-torque streetbike, the ZRX1200R is probably the best one out there. It has some faults, but the good outweighs the bad. If you look at the alternatives, they all have smaller engines. They won't give you that big torque offered by the ZRX. I forgot to add it doesn't have a center stand. Who ever heard of a streetbike with no centerstand? Well, with that nifty aluminum swingarm, think sacrifice.

--Matt V