Monday 17th October 2011

PH2: Kawasaki ZZR1400 Revealed

More power and traction control, but 186mph remains sufficient...

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There is a certain amount of irony involved in Kawasaki unveiling its new ZZR1400. The original ZZR1100, which was launched way back in 1990, stole the headlines by being the fastest production bike in its day.

We are talking genuine 175mph speeds from a road bike. This then spurred Suzuki to create the Hayabusa in 1999, which showed over 200mph on its speedo and, on a good day, could top a genuine190mph. At this point governments started to take notice and decided that speed was a bad thing. The Japanese got scared, as they tend to, and introduced a 'gentleman's agreement' that limited all Japanese bikes to 186mph, or 300kph - something that is still implemented to this day. What difference does this make? Next to nothing, but it makes the Japanese feel good...

So what's new with the 2012 ZZR1400? The 1441cc water-cooled inline four engine gets an increase in capacity thanks to 4mm longer stroke (up to 65mm), boosting the midrange and along with a redesigned head the ZZR now boasts an estimated 200bhp (Kawasaki won't say exactly how much). To keep this in check the ZZR now comes with traction control, two power modes, a revised ECU for better fuel economy and a slipper clutch, which seems a little pointless on a bike that isn't really designed to go on track.

The ZZR is one of the few bikes to use a monocoque aluminium chassis (Ducati is believed to be using a similar design on its new Panigale) and for 2012 Kawasaki has altered the stiffness of the frame and updated the suspension to improve the ZZR's handling and increased the length of the swingarm for better stability. Useful at 186mph...

The crazy thing is, after all this talk of power and performance, Kawasaki has still limited the ZZR to 186mph. Not that this is much of a hassle, loads of companies will sell gizmos to de-restrict it, but you have to wonder why they still bother restricting the bike.

Interestingly, not all the European manufacturers bother restricting their bikes and MV Agusta actually boasts about their bikes being able to top 200mph! Kind of makes a mockery of the whole 'gentleman's agreement' really... Expect the 2012 ZZR to cost around £11,000.

[sprinter1050]

Heck of a lotta bike for 11 grand I'd say.


Shame I don't need one- sure would be entertaining though.

[ktm301p]

It looks good, except for the silly massive exhaust on the end of it

[theJT]

Well, it's the same crap we've been getting from the Germans with their cars for years. "We've got FIVE HUNDRED bhp! Our old car had but a paltry 400bhp." "Is it any faster?" "NO! That's the best bit! It's still pegged at 155mph for your safty and convenience!"

[PaulMoor]

sprinter1050 said:

Heck of a lotta bike for 11 grand I'd say.


Shame I don't need one- sure would be entertaining though.

You probably don't need more than 33bhp... Dosn't meen you should not have it.

[_g_]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DB0ejbV1zY

9.74s quarter mile from a seemingly stock production vehicle. That is really quite rapid, regardless of top speed and a bit more 'real world' useful (ie, embarrassing >£1m cars at the traffic lights ).

[WhiteBaron]

I 'need' the green one

[Mr Gear]

Thoughts on the slipper clutch... Is it needed to allow the traction control and ABS to do it's thing properly, whilst also preventing the engine from over-revving?

Without a slipper clutch, you could change down too many gears and either have valves hitting pistons, or a rear-wheel lock up, neither of which is desirable to either rider or manufacturer. Makes sense to me...

[Castrol Craig]

PaulMoor said:

sprinter1050 said:

Heck of a lotta bike for 11 grand I'd say.


Shame I don't need one- sure would be entertaining though.

You probably don't need more than 33bhp... Dosn't meen you should not have it.

Our local police force agrees, they have been trying to catch ghost rider sprinter on the a16 for years...

[DayTrader]

theJT said:

Well, it's the same crap we've been getting from the Germans with their cars for years. "We've got FIVE HUNDRED bhp! Our old car had but a paltry 400bhp." "Is it any faster?" "NO! That's the best bit! It's still pegged at 155mph for your safty and convenience!"

The top speed may be the same but it will be quicker getting there - so it a bit silly saying its "not faster".

[_g_]

On the Slipper clutch - seen quite a few people want or get them for their road bikes to make it a bit less hassle (don't have to think about blipping going down).
In my experience it's power not torque that is the issue - had a lot more trouble with needing well timed blips racing my r6 than SV650 (both similar torque). Can see dropping down a gear to get 200hps worth of engine slowing the rear wheel down quite justifying a slipper clutch personally!

Of course, doesn't mean standard ones will work perfectly in all situations - got the stock ones on my GSXR1000 and KTM690 enduro and still quite possible to provoke slides in both.

[richb77]

Very nice...But whats with the current trend of sticking the worlds fugliest exhausts on these bikes?

Spoils the looks completely. (he says not taking a huge shine to the styling anyhow)

[sprinter1050]

Castrol Craig said:

PaulMoor said:

sprinter1050 said:

Heck of a lotta bike for 11 grand I'd say.


Shame I don't need one- sure would be entertaining though.

You probably don't need more than 33bhp... Dosn't meen you should not have it.

Our local police force agrees, they have been trying to catch ghost rider sprinter on the a16 for years...

Oi ! Shush.

[_g_]

I thought the bit 'stylised' design of the exhausts was one of the less ugly parts .
Suspect they have to be pretty 'big' for current sounds/gas emissions stuff.

[GingerNinja]

Is this the same John Urry of T.W.O. fame?

[Hooli]

Bugger, that means I'll no longer own the largest modern cc four cylinder production bike anymore.

[Smiler1]

err V-max??

Hooli said:

Bugger, that means I'll no longer own the largest modern cc four cylinder production bike anymore.

[sprinter1050]

Smiler1 said:

err V-max??

Hooli said:

Bugger, that means I'll no longer own the largest modern cc four cylinder production bike anymore.

Or get a Rocket 3- a different club altogether then

[bakerstreet]

They have to do some styling for the exhausts other wise they would just end up with a round tube on the back and it would like like bike from the mid 90s.

I also had a bike that was goverened by japan's gentleman aggreement. My 1994 Yamaha YZF750R had a 125bhp at the flywheel and apparantely that was the power limit of the agreement in that era

[T5AMX]

The 186mph is what all japanese bikes do now i think its from 07 onwards...
Having worked directly for Kawasaki this bike isnt all that new and still on tests will not match the power and torque of the Busa... Hence the RRP price...The ZZR is planted at the front more i can say that from experience.
I personally would have a Busa anyday over this and I think..... most people feel the same who want these bikes...
My Rant over lol

[RemaL]

Looks so much better than the New ZX10